scholarly journals Log Truck Value Analysis from Increased Rail Usage

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 677
Author(s):  
Sangpil Ko ◽  
Pasi Lautala ◽  
Kuilin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Upper Midwest ◽  
Time Efficiency ◽  
Value Analysis ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
The Impact

Over the past several decades, the transportation of raw materials (logs) has increasingly shifted from the railway to trucks. However, the long-term sustainability of this shift is being questioned due to the shortage of truck drivers, fluctuation of fuel prices, and changes in hours of service laws. The industry is interested in the possibility to shift more logs back to the railway but the impact of such a shift on truckers has not been investigated. This study attempted to quantify the impact of such a change on the operations of log truckers by calculating time efficiency (percentage of daily hours of service for revenue activities) and value efficiency (average loaded versus total ton-kilometers per day) between a truck only and multimodal (truck/rail) alternatives. We used actual data from the forest products industry companies and truck performance data from an earlier study to investigate the impact through case studies in four different locations of the upper Midwest, US. The results of our analysis revealed that in three out of our four case studies, re-routing log movements through rail yard/siding improved the time efficiency and value efficiency. Finally, our sensitivity analysis found that increases in average truck speed and maximum hours or service had higher impact on multimodal transportation than in truck-only system.

scholarly journals Innovations in the Forest Products Industry: The Malaysian Experience

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jegatheswaran RATNASINGAM ◽  
Lim Tau WAI ◽  
Ganesh THANASEGARAN ◽  
Florin IORAS ◽  
Cristina VACALIE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
The Government ◽  
Market Needs

The forest products industry is an important socioeconomic sector to many developing countries, both in terms of foreign exchange earnings and employment. In the case of Malaysia, the industry has been one of the fastest growing manufacturing sectors in the country, driven primarily by comparative advantages derived from factor inputs. However, with increasing competition from other cheaper producing nations particularly China and Vietnam, the Malaysian forest products industry is forced to transform and move along the value-chain through innovation and value-addition. Although the government has played a pivotal role in providing a broad policy framework to support value-adding and innovative activities, success on the ground has been limited. The creativity environment, which is plagued with by low-wage economy, coupled with limited network between research, market and industrial enterprises have stifled innovation within the industry. The lack of information and the poor quality human capital has also contributed to the limited innovation within the forest products industry in the country. Against this background, most innovation within the industry is confined to the realms of alternative raw materials, with minimal technological and design variations. Although extensive research and development activities are undertaken, the commercialization potential of the research outputs is limited due to being not market-driven. Inevitably, innovation in the forest products sector must be based on market-needs and must be driven through technological and design change in order to ensure long-term competitiveness.

Linking Scientific Research to Development Agenda

2018 ◽  
pp. 374-391
Author(s):  
P. K. Kenabatho ◽  
B. P. Parida ◽  
B. Matlhodi ◽  
D.B. Moalafhi
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, the scientific community has been urged to undertake research that can immediately have impact on development issues, including national policies, strategies, and people's livelihoods, among others. While this is a fair call from decision makers, it should also be realized that science by nature is about innovation, discovery and knowledge generation. In this context, there is need for a balance between long term scientific investigations and short term scientific applications. With regard to the former, researchers spend years investigating (or need data of sufficient record length) to provide sound and reliable solutions to a problem at hand while in the latter, it is possible to reach a solution with few selected analyses. In all cases, it is advisable that researchers, where possible should link their studies to topical development issues in their case studies. In this paper, we use a hydrometeorological project in the Notwane catchment, Botswana, to show the importance of linking research to development agenda for mutual benefit of researchers and policy makers. The results indicate that some key development issues are being addressed by the Project and the scope exists to improve the impact of the project.

scholarly journals Analyzing the impact of implementing a logistics center for a complex forest network

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Sarrazin ◽  
Luc LeBel ◽  
Nadia Lehoux
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Profit Maximization ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Wood Fibre ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Logistics Center ◽  
The North ◽  
The Impact

The challenges faced recently by the North American forest products industry have forced it to review many of its key operations. Implementing logistics centers for such a context may therefore help in allocating the wood fibre more efficiently and in reducing sorting and transportation costs. This paper aims to better understand the interaction between a forest logistics center and a complex forest network while exploring the business environment favoring the use of such a structure. A profit maximization model is proposed and applied to a real case in the Mauricie region in Quebec, Canada. A total of 18 groups of scenarios are tested, based on the use of a sort yard and of backhauling. Results show that a logistics center already in operation adds $0.52 in profits for each cubic metre of wood available for harvest (over 2 580 411 m3 per year) for the network under study ($1.4 million annually). A sensitivity analysis also highlights that higher prices and sorting error rates have the greatest impact on the logistics center’s profitability.

A leasehold tenure system for publicly owned forest land

2010 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-600
Author(s):  
Tony Rotherham
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Contract Law ◽  
Land Ownership ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
Forest Land ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tenure System

The forest products industry is in a period of profound transition. Several provinces are reviewing forest land tenure systems. Perhaps a new approach can be tried, but we must not forget the lessons of the past 30 years during which the delivery of forest management has improved based on clear lines of responsibility and accountability. A leasehold tenure system based on contract law providing security of tenure and designed to accommodate both SFM Certification and Forest Carbon Projects might be worth consideration. Key words: forest land ownership, tenure, leasehold, long-term planning, forest crop planning

Measuring the Impact of Additional Rail Traffic Using Highway and Railroad Metrics

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel L. Sogin ◽  
Christopher P. L. Barkan ◽  
Yung-Cheng Lai ◽  
Mohd Rapik Saat
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Single Track ◽  
Economic Study ◽  
Utility Models ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rail Traffic

Long term demand for freight movements in North America is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades. The railroads are poised to take on this additional traffic assuming the capacity is available. Measuring the capacity of these rail lines is complicated by the interrelationships between asset utilization, reliability, and throughput. There is not a single metric that captures these intricacies. Capacity can be determined by delay-volume relationships, utility models, or economic study. For many case studies, railroads use parametric and simulation modeling to determine the train delay per 100 train miles. This metric does not tell the full story; especially when comparing different train types. The highway industry uses a different portfolio of metrics that can be adopted by railroad capacity planners. These metrics can be more sensitive to the worse performing trains. Additionally, these metrics can control for increased delay simply due to additional traffic. These concepts are illustrated by simulating the impact of additional 110 mph passenger service to a single track freight line.

scholarly journals 2001 Economic Impacts of the Forest Products Industry in the South

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Tilley ◽  
Ian A. Munn
Keyword(s):  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Ripple Effect ◽  
Direct Effects ◽  
Forest Products Industry ◽  
The South ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The economic impacts of the forest products industry in the South on state and regional economies were estimated using the Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) System, an input–output model. Economic impacts were characterized by the (1) direct effects of these industries through their own output, employment, value added, and total and personal income and (2) associated economic multipliers that illustrate the magnitude of the ripple effect direct effects have on the rest of the economy. Direct effects and social accounting matrix multipliers for 2001 are presented by sector (i.e., lumber and wood products, paper and allied products, and wood furniture) for the 13 southern states individually and the region as a whole.

Sustainable Energy and the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

2016 ◽  
pp. 773-790
Author(s):  
Ruby Melody Agbola ◽  
Evans Sokro
Keyword(s):  
Survey Design ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Power Outages ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Petroleum Fuels

The chronic shortage of petroleum fuels, especially gasoline and LPG, and the prolonged and indiscriminate power outages coupled with the recent increment in fuel prices appear to be taking their toll on Ghanaian businesses; hence, some have questioned the degree of security, reliability, and long-term sustainability of the country's energy need. The chapter assesses the impact of the recent power outages on the growth and profitability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The study employed a survey design consisting of structured questionnaires involving a total of 190 SMEs across the country. An eight item Likert scale used to assess the impact of the energy crisis on three key measures of business growth revealed a strong positive correlation between the power outages and reduced profitability but a weak correlation with business expansion by way of market development and a statistically insignificant relationship between the power outages and growth in number of employees.

scholarly journals Pig effluent-P application can increase the risk of P transport: two case studies

Soil Research ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt R. Redding
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Land Application ◽  
P Sorption ◽  
Effluent Irrigation ◽  
P Application ◽  
Soluble P ◽  
Net Load ◽  
The Impact

Land application of piggery effluent (containing urine, faeces, water, and wasted feed) is under close scrutiny as a potential source of water resource contamination with phosphorus (P). This paper investigates 2 case studies of the impact of long-term piggery effluent-P application to soil. A Natrustalf (Sodosol) at P1 has received a net load of 3700 kg effluent P/ha over 19 years. The Haplustalf (Dermosol) selected (P2) has received a net load of 310 000 kg P/ha over 30 years. Total, bicarbonate-extractable, and soluble P forms were determined throughout the soil profiles for paired (irrigated and unirrigated) sites at P1 and P2, as well as P sorption and desorption characteristics. Surface bicarbonate (P B , 0–0.05 m depth) and dilute CaCl 2 -extractable molybdate-reactive P (P C ) have been significantly elevated by effluent irrigation (P1: P B unirrigated 231, irrigated 2906; P C unirrigated 0.030.00, irrigated 23.90.2; P2: P B unirrigated 7248, irrigated 39501960; P C unirrigated 0.70.0, irrigated 443287 mg P/kg; means.d.). Phosphorus enrichment to 1.5 m, detected as P B , was observed at P2. Elevated concentrations of CaCl 2 -extractable organic P forms (P OC ; estimated by non-molybdate reactive P in centrifuged supernatants) were observed from the soil surface of P1 to a depth of 0.4 m. Despite the extent of effluent application at both of these sites, only P1 displayed evidence of significant accumulation of P OC . The increase in surface soil total P (0–0.05 m depth) due to effluent irrigation was much greater than laboratory P sorption (>25 times for P1; >57 times for P2) for a comparable range of final solution concentrations (desorption extracts range 1–5 mg P/L for P1 and 50–80 mg P/L for P2). Precipitation of sparingly soluble P phases was evidenced in the soils of the P2 effluent application area.

scholarly journals The profitability of organic soybean production

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.D. McBride ◽  
Catherine Greene
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Crop Acreage ◽  
Soybean Production ◽  
Fuel Prices ◽  
Price Premiums ◽  
The Impact

AbstractResults from long-term experimental trials suggest that similar yields and lower costs are possible with organic compared to conventional soybeans, but there is little information about the relative costs and returns of these systems on commercial farms. This study examines the profitability of commercial soybean production using a nationwide survey of soybean producers for 2006 that includes a targeted sample of organic growers. Treatment-effect models are specified to characterize adopters of the organic approach and to isolate the impact of organic choice on operating, operating and capital, and total economic costs of soybean production. Organic soybean producers tend to be younger, have less crop acreage, and are less likely to work off-farm than conventional producers. Organic soybean production costs range from about $1 to $6 per bushel higher than those for conventional soybeans due to both lower yields and higher per-acre costs, while the average organic price premium in 2006 was more than $9 per bushel. Long-term cropping systems data suggest significant returns to organic systems result from similar yields and lower costs than conventional systems, but the high returns to commercial organic production found in this study can only be attributed to the significant price premiums paid for organic soybeans. Average organic soybean price premiums have remained high since 2006 despite much higher conventional soybean prices as users of organic soybeans attempt to retain and attract more acreage. However, increases in conventional soybean prices and fuel prices reduce the incentive for planting organic soybeans by improving returns to conventional production and increasing the relative costs of organic production.

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