Rad obrađuje dimenzijske značajke utovarnoga prostora forvardera, a koje norma ISO 13860 (2016) određuje trima dimenzijama zasnovanim na neposrednom mjerenju (duljina utovarnoga prostora, širina između držača tereta, visina držača tereta) te dvjema posrednim (računske) dimenzijama (površina poprečnoga presjeka utovarnoga prostora forvardera i visina težišta tereta). Iako za te pokazatelje utovarnoga prostora forvardera norma ISO 13860 (2016) daje definicije, za dva računska pokazatelja nije objašnjen način njihova izračuna te na kojim se dimenzijama utovarnoga prostora zasnivaju.Poticaji za pisanje ovoga rada jesu: 1) pojašnjenje važnosti poznavanja dimenzijskih pokazatelja utovarnoga prostora forvardera, 2) izrada prijedloga načina izračuna poprečnoga presjeka utovarnoga prostora forvardera i visine težišta tereta forvardera te 3) određivanje dodatnih potrebnih mjernih dimenzijskih značajki utovarnoga prostora.Na osnovi predloženih mjerenja prikazane su dimenzije, ali i računske značajke utovarnoga prostora osmokotačnoga forvardera Komatsu 875.

During the seven-year research period, the average annual removal was by 3274 m3 higher than the average annual removal prescribed by the existing management plan (MP). The main reason lies in the high amount of salvage felling volume at 55,238 m3 (38.3%) in both the main and the intermediate felling due to oak dieback. The analysis of forest accessibility took into account the spatial distribution of cutblocks (with ongoing felling operations) and the volume of felled timber for two proposed factors: (1) the position of the cutblock and (2) the position of the removal. Cutblock position factor took into account the spatial position of the felling areas/sites, while removal position factor besides the spatial reference took into account the amount of felled timber (i.e., volume) both concerning forest infrastructure network and forest operations. The analysed relative forest openness by using geo-processing workflows in GIS environment showed four types of opening areas in the studied management unit (MU): single-opened, multiple-opened, unopened and opened areas outside of the management unit. Negative effects of the piece-volume law and low harvesting densities on forest operations are highlighted in this research due to high amount of salvage felling particularly in the intermediate felling by replacing timber volume that should have come from thinnings.

Izvoženje drva forvarderima, obilježava kotrljanje drva na kotačima, prihvat i sakupljanje sortimentnom metodom izrađenoga drva hidrauličnom dizalicom, iz čega proizlazi i zahtjev za paralelnom mrežom sekundarnih šumskih prometnica međusobnoga razmaka dvostrukoga dosega dizalice. Rad se bavi prikazom: 1) dimenzijskih i masenih značajki forvardera u svijetlu norme ISO 13860 (2016) te 2) plana raspodjele tereta forvardera kojega je razvio njemački Kuratorij za šumski rad i šumsku tehniku (KWF), s ciljem pomoći šumarskim stručnjacima pri nabavci, odnosno korištenju ovih šumskih vozila. Za primjerni forvarder odabran je teški osmokotačni forvarder Komatsu 875, za koji su na osnovi mjerenja prikazane njegove dimenzijske i masene značajke, kao i plan raspodjele tereta s ciljem njegove ocjene. Kritički osvrt je dan i na normu ISO 13860 (2016) s obzirom na neobuhvaćanje nekih dimenzijskih (duljina i visina prednjeg te stražnjeg prepusta forvardera, kutovi i polumjeri prohodnosti vozila) i masenih (položaj točke težišta) pokazatelja forvardera, a koje opisuju i/ili služe modeliranju njegove kretnosti pri izvoženju drva s obzirom na smjer i uzdužni nagib terena. Isto tako, norma izrijekom ne spominje niti jedan pokazatelj okolišne pogodnosti (npr. nominalni tlak na podlogu).

Based on the knowledge of the dimensional and mass features of a forwarder, a model was developed to assess its mobility during timber forwarding uphill in a safe and eco-efficient way. The model is based on knowledge of the position of the forwarder’s centre of gravity, its declared payload and the length of the loaded timber, as well as the gradeability for uphill timber forwarding based on the traction characteristics of the vehicle. The model connects two research approaches, (1) vehicle–terrain approach (distribution of axle loads depending on the longitudinal terrain slope) and (2) wheel–soil approach (estimation of the traction characteristics of the forwarder based on the wheel numeric), concerning previous research: (i) underload on the front axle of the vehicle, (ii) overload on the rear axle of the vehicle, (iii) permissible tire load, (iv) minimal soil bearing capacity, (v) wheel slip. Simulation modelling for the assessment of the forwarders’ mobility range during timber forwarding uphill was conducted on an example of an eight-wheel Komatsu 875 forwarder, with a declared payload of 16,000 kg, equipped with 710/45-26.5 tires, for which the position of the centre of gravity was determined by the method of lifting the axle. The results of the distribution of the adhesion load on the front and rear axles of the forwarder indicated that, during timber forwarding of 16,000 kg and 4.82 m long hardwood logs on a terrain slope below 68%, there is no critical unloading on the front bogie axle, nor overloading on the rear bogie axle, i.e., wheel tire overload that could limit forwarder mobility. For the specified range of longitudinal terrain slope, a minimal cone index of 950 kPa for an exemplary forwarder is an environmental factor and was calculated based on the nominal ground pressure of the reference (heavier loaded) rear wheels of the vehicle. The forwarders’ mobility range was determined by the intersection curves of the gradeability (based on forwarders’ traction characteristics at wheel slip of 25% vs. cone index) and the curve of the minimal soil cone index.

In any planning, so even when planning the network of forest roads, it is an imperative to know the existing situation, and to have a detailed and accurate insight into the existing forest road network of the forest area in the process of opening, usually enabled by the forest traffic infrastructure registry. To validate the quantity of the existing forest traffic infrastructure (road density), it is necessary to precisely and unambiguously define the criteria for determining the density of existing forest traffic infrastructure. In Croatian forestry, the currently valid criteria for determining the density of primary forest traffic infrastructure are defined by the »Technical Requirements for Economic Roads« (Šikić et al. 1989), which are summarised in the Forestry Management Regulations (NN 111/06, NN 141/08) and (NN 79/15). The criteria mentioned are insufficiently precise and unclear, which leaves the forestry experts to make a series of subjective decisions in calculating the density of primary forest traffic infrastructure. To avoid/reduce any subjectivity, to obtain objective data and to make comparability of the calculated primary traffic infrastructure density of different management units, a set of completely criteria have been developed that will serve to accurately, objectively and transparently determine primary forest traffic infrastructure density. The criteria have been developed and described in detail in the Form for the Effectiveness Study of Primary Forest Road Traffic Infrastructure, an integral part of the Bylaw on measure implementation M04 »Investments in physical assets«, by-measure 4.3 »Grant for investments in development, modernization and customization of agriculture and forestry«, operation type 4.3.3. »Investments in forest infrastructure« from the Program of Rural Development in the Republic of Croatia in the period from 2014 to 2020 (NN 106/15, 65/17). The most frequent/characteristical examples of the application of criteria in determining the primary forest traffic infrastructure density are presented in the paper based on orthophoto maps together with photographs (image part of the primary forest traffic infrastructure registry from case studies).