Optimal road spacing for multistage cable yarding operations
Equations needed to determine the economically optimal spacing of roads for multistage, one-way to roadside cable yarding were derived. The equations were used in a case study of optimal road spacing on four grapple yarding operations in coastal British Columbia. Two-stage yarding was cheaper and led to closer road spacing than one-stage yarding in all cases. The break-even point for two- and three-stage yarding with respect to road cost was defined as critical road cost. Three-stage yarding provided cost savings and a substantial increase in road spacing once critical road costs were exceeded. Critical road costs for three-stage yarding were within the range experienced in coastal British Columbia for the operations included in the case study. The potential for cost savings and reduced site disturbance from multistage yarding warrants serious consideration of these systems during harvest planning.