Using the Leykam Logline to evaluate chuting in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Timber harvesting and extraction on sloping terrain has alwaysproved to be a world wide problem. It is, often associated withitrenuous work and / or possible damage to the environment.Vehicular movement is normally handicapped on slopes exceeding30 %. Their maximum payload volume decreases 2.5% for every1 % increase in the slope (Warkotsch, 1985). The introduction ofchutes provides an acceptable alternative extraction method.One, of the first chute systems used in South Africa was theLeykam Logline, imported from Austria in 1986. General interestin chutes led to the development of several local versions,culminating in a coordinated project to determine the chute's applicability in South Africa.The initial technology transfer for the Leykam Logline wasinsufficient with the necessary knowledge to operate that chutecorrectly lacking. European working procedures and principleswere applied to determine their applicability under South Africanconditions. It was found that although some changes, for exampleto the braking system, were needed, these· principles could beapplied. Productivity during these trials averaged 0.8 to1.2 m3/man hour.Despite drawbacks and initial teething problems, the chuterepresents a new dimension in modern harvesting technology inSouth Africa. It represents an important improvement in ergonomics when compared to the traditional hand-rolling methodand it is a practical extraction aid. Finally and of greatimportance is the fact that the chute is an environmentallyfriendly extraction method.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University