The Study of Operation Efficiency, Production and Cost of Timberjack 450C (Case Study: Namkhaneh District in Kheyroudkenar Forest)

Abstract Economic evaluation and optimization of various aspects of forestry project will guarantee the continuation of forestry project. Meanwhile, an exploitation operation as the most expensive part of a project is specially important. The purpose of the present research is to study the production and cost of skidding by Timberjack 450C skidder in Namkhaneh district of Kheyroudkenar forest. In this study, after determining the components of a skidding turn from cutoff place to the place where timber is accumulated along the road, 53 samples were recorded. In addition, variables such as skidding distance, skid trail slope, the number of timber at every turn, load and tree species were recorded. Data analysis and mathematical equation to predict skidding time was determined. Production rate with and without delay were 7.92 and 12.1 m3/h, respectively, and the vehicle cost was estimated 66.13 dollars per hour. Skidding cost based on the cost of finding the proposed agenda of the operational plan of the watershed, range and forestry organization per cubic meter taking into account the number of delays and without it were 11.3 and 7.7 dollars respectively. Total delays, departure time with and without load component constitute the most of skidding time by Timberjack 450C. The effect of variation of each variable on skidding time by Timber Jack 450C indicated that the increase of each variable will increase the cost as a power subject.