Browsing by master's degree program "Master's Programme in Forest Sciences"

Alueellisen PEFC-ryhmäsertifioinnin piirissä on valtaosa Suomen yksityismetsistä ja se on ollut pääasiallinen metsäsertifioinnin toteutustapa Suomessa vuosina 1999-2020. Suomessa järjestelmä perustuu siihen, että metsänomistajien lisäksi metsänomistajille ja metsään palveluita tarjoavat tahot ovat sitoutuneet noudattamaan toi-minnassaan PEFC-vaatimuksia ja vastaavat näin merkittäviltä osin vaatimusten toteutumisesta. Tämän työn tavoitteena on tarkastella alueellisen PEFC-ryhmäsertifioinnin toteutusta ko. aikajaksona ja tulevaisuuden kehitystä laadullisin menetelmin. Työssä kuvataan ensin järjestelmä, jolla sertifiointia käytännössä toteutetaan ja tuotetaan tietoa vaatimusten toteutumisesta riittävällä tasolla PEFC FI 1002 -metsäsertifioinnin- kuin PEFC FI 1001 -ryhmäsertifioinnin standardiin nähden. Järjestelmä kuvataan niin, että saadaan kokonaisymmärrys tämänhetkisestä sertifioinnin toteutuksesta. Tämän jälkeen kuvataan ISO 9001:2015 –standardi, missä esitetään laadunhallinnan keskeiset käsitteet ja periaatteet, jolla organisaatio voi varmistaa, että sen toimintajärjestelmä vastaa sille asetettuja vaatimuksia. Aikajakson 1999-2020 poikkeamia tarkastellessa tulivat esille kriteerit, joihin tulee kiinnittää jatkossakin erityistä huomiota pyrittäessä jatkuvaan parantamiseen. Sosiaalisten, työn tekemiseen liittyvien kriteereiden huomioiminen on edistynyt sertifiointikausien aikana, mutta kriteerit ovat edelleen säännöllisesti poikkeamien kohteena. Puutteet vesiensuojeluun kohdistuvissa toimenpiteissä ovat myös esiintyneet poikkeamina säännöllisesti. Valmisteilla olevat uudet PEFC ST 2018 –sertifioinnin edellyttämät muutokset lisäävät järjestelmän tuottaman tiedon uskottavuutta. Jatkossa toiminnan läpinäkyvyys pitää pystyä osoittamaan entistä tarkemmin. Toteuttamalla laadunhallintaa ISO-9001:2015 standardin mukaisesti vastaa toiminta kansainvälisesti hyväksyttyä tasoa, jossa toimintaa tarkastellaan kokonaisuutena toisiinsa linkittyvinä asioina ja toiminnalle on olemassa selkeä rakenne. Tarkastelua voidaan myös hyödyntää uuden PEFC FI 1001:20xx -standardin edellyttämän jatkomäärittelyn tukena. Tämä työ tarjoaa hyvän lähtökohdan uuden toimintamallin laadinnalle ja auttaa sitomaan uudet toiminnot yhtenäiseksi kokonaisuudeksi. Järjestelmään kohdistuvat vaatimukset parantavat toiminnan laatua siten, että toimintaa seurataan kattavammin ja se antaa työkaluja siihen, että ei-toivottuun toimintaan voidaan paremmin puuttua. Työn tuloksena on kattava kuvaus alueellisen PEFC-ryhmäsertifioinnin toteutuksesta ja näkemyksiä toiminnan kehittämiseksi. Työ voi osaltaan toimia oppaana PEFC-sertifioinnin käytäntöihin perehtymisessä ja pohjana, kun luodaan osin ISO 9001:2015 –standardiin perustuvaa uutta toimintamallia PEFC-standardien päivittyessä.

Raakapuun autokuljetus edustaa merkittävää kaukokuljetusmuotoa teollisuuden ainespuulogistiikassa, sillä autokuljetus edustaa noin 98,5 % kaikista metsäteollisuuden raakapuun kaukokuljetuksista. Teollisuuden ainespuun autokuljetustoiminta on suurien haasteiden edessä, sillä toiminnan korkeat tehokkuusvaatimukset, pula ammattitaitoisista kuljettajista sekä rapautuva tieverkko pakottavat etsimään uusia ratkaisuja toiminnan jatkuvuuden ylläpitämiseksi. Automaatiolla on arveltu olevan mahdollisuus paran-taa ainakin tehokkuutta, sillä ihmisen oman toiminnan tehokkuutta on vaikea enää parantaa. Tässä tutkimuksessa selvitettiin automaatiolla tavoiteltavia hyötyjä ainespuun eli pyöreän kuorellisen raakapuun sekä sivutuote-hakkeen (sahahake) autokuljetusketjuissa, ainespuun autokuljetusketjujen automaation kehitysnäkymiä sekä automaation haas-teita ja kehitystarpeita ainespuun autokuljetustoiminnan toimintaympäristössä. Tarkastelu kohdistui pääasiassa ainespuun kuljetus-ajoneuvoihin sekä puutavaranostureihin, mutta jonkin verran myös ainespuun tehdasvastaanotto- ja purkutoimintoihin. Automaati-olla tavoiteltavia hyötyjä tarkastellaan erikseen tehokkuuden, kustannusten, turvallisuuden, ympäristövaikutusten sekä kuljettajien työssä viihtyvyyden ja kuljettajatyövoiman saatavuuden suhteen. Tutkimus perustui kirjallisuuskatsaukseen sekä teemahaastatte-luihin. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen painottuessa yleisemmin tieliikenteen automaatioon, syvennettiin tietoutta ainespuun autokuljetusket-jun automaatiosta teemahaastatteluilla, joissa haastateltiin 18 asiantuntijaa, jotka edustivat erilaisia suhteita ainespuun autokulje-tustoiminnan automaatioon. Kirjallisuuskatsauksen rooli tässä tutkimuksessa oli teoriaohjaava, eli se ohjasi haastattelututkimusta ja tulosten tulkintaa. Kirjallisuuskatsaus ei toiminut hypoteesina eli haastattelututkimuksella ei pyritty testaamaan kirjallisuudessa esitettyjä teorioita. Ainespuun autokuljetus ja eritoten raakapuun autokuljetus, joka suuntautuu tienvarsivarastolta tehtaalle, edustaa aivan ääriesi-merkkiä tieliikenteen automaatiosta. Raskaan liikenteen automaation pääpainopiste on maanteille suuntautuvassa kappaletavara-liikenteessä. Maanteillä olosuhteet automaation toiminnalle ovat suotuisammat kuin metsäteillä, joiden kunto vaihtelee huomatta-vasti. Seuraavan 3–5 vuoden kuluessa ajoneuvojen automaatio painottuukin maantieajamiseen ja täten metsäteille automaatiota ei ole sovellettavissa. Ajoneuvojen puutavaranosturit tulevat kehittymään ja kärkiohjausautomaatio yleistyy. Merkittävimmät kehitys-askeleet ajoneuvon sekä kuormanpurkukoneiden osalta tullaan kuitenkin saavuttamaan suljetuilla tehdas- ja terminaalialueilla, joskaan ei aluksi laajassa mittakaavassa. Puutavaranosturin täysautomatisointiin liittyy paljon haasteita, joten täysautomatisointi ei ole tarkastelluilla aikahorisonteilla todennäköistä. Yli viiden vuoden kuluttua suljetuilla alueilla nähtiin olevan laajasti käytössä korkealle automatisoituja ajoneuvoja sekä kuorman-purkukoneita. Maanteillä korkea automaatio on mahdollista ja erilaiset letka-ajamisen muodot eritoten vakioreiteillä sivutuotehak-keen kuljetuksessa arvioitiin olevan operatiivisessa käytössä. Yli viiden vuoden päästä jonakin ajankohtana nähtiin myös metsä-tieajamiseen suunnattu automaatio mahdollisena, joskaan ajankohtaa ei osattu määrittää. Automaation arviotiin kohtaavan paljon haasteita ainespuun autokuljetuksen toimintaympäristössä, ehkä merkittävimpinä teknolo-giset haasteet, tieverkon kunto sekä vastuukysymysten epäselvyydet. Vastuiden epäselvyydet osin myös haittaavat automaation hyväksyttävyyden syntymistä. Mikäli automaatiojärjestelmien ja kuljettajan väliset vastuut eivät ole selviä ja yksiselitteisiä, eivät kuljetusyrittäjät halua ottaa automatisoituja ajoneuvoja käyttöönsä. Automaatiolla kuitenkin arvoitiin olevan saavutettavissa hyötyjä tehokkuuden, kustannusten, turvallisuuden, ympäristövaikutusten ja kuljettajien työssä viihtyvyyden ja kuljettajatyövoiman saata-vuuden suhteen. Hyödyt arvioitiin olevan helpoiten saavutettavissa suljetuissa tehdas- ja terminaaliympäristöissä, joissa muuta liikennettä on mahdollisuus rajoittaa. On kuitenkin otettava huomioon, etteivät kaikki hyödyt ole täysin yksiselitteisiä, vaan niiden tavoittelulla automaation keinoin saattaa olla myös kääntöpuoli. Esimerkiksi turvallisuuden parantuminen automaattisin ajamis- ja kuormaustoiminnoin voi vähentää inhimillisistä virheistä johtuvia onnettomuuksia, mutta voi tuoda uusia riskejä tullessaan, esi-merkkeinä ohjelmointiperäiset virheet sekä älykkäiden järjestelmien toiminnan ennakoimattomuus.

Water interaction at cellular level has been investigated in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood section of acetylated and paraformaldehyde-treated woodblocks. Unmodified wood samples were used as reference samples. Acetyl group from acetic anhydride bounded to H of OH sorption site whereas paraformaldehyde bound to the sorption site and also create a cross-linking. Both mechanisms cause hindrance towards the accessibility of available sorption site but up to what extent which is unknown. With our designed approach, we can estimate the moisture uptake in both treatments. Knowledge of the cellular level changes is important to define wood physical properties. Wood is hygroscopic material which tend to reach to equilibrium moisture content. It causes dimensional instability and fungal degradation. The number of accessible OH sites correlates with wood’s ability to uptake moisture. Acetyl and methyl groups occupy the accessible sorption sites and limit the availability of free sites. Gravimetrical estimation of the available OH sites can relate to the effect of cross-linking and hindrance towards water molecules. Both modification methods reduced the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and the sorption hysteresis. Maximum WPG of acetylation (17%) reduced 15.63% moisture content (MC). Maximum formalization WPG (7,5%) reduced 15.09% MC. Acetylation reduced water sorption through the relative humidity (RH) range 0-95%, whereas formalization reduced water sorption steadily, but only above 20% RH. This difference was caused by the cross-linking, which increased the stiffness of the cell wall polymers. The shape of sorption hysteresis was similar in all the samples. Still, formalization reached the maximum hysteresis at a lower point related to the other samples. Accessible sorption sites also reduced by modifications. Acetylated wood reduced the greatest amount of OH groups according to its high WPG value, 16%. The reduction of OH accessibility was steady with acetylation. In formalization, the reduction of accessible sorption sites was rapid and constant. With our developed method, we can precisely investigate the OH accessibility of both treatments, which can reveal the fundamental aspect of water uptake related to its structural changes at the cellular level.

The purpose of this study is to explore the economic and operational environment factors that are contributing to the development of the secondhand smartphone market. The secondhand smartphone market is a fascinating subject. The market is relatively young, only coming into existence in the last eighteen years after the introduction of the first smartphones. However, it is in recent years that the market has seen massive growth and is considered to hold a great amount of potential for further growth. The case of secondhand smartphones and its growth are intriguing from a circular economy perspective. The example that smartphones represent for product life extension, added value creation and circular flows of consumption via systems of recycling, refurbishing and reselling offer insight into the potential of circular economy frameworks for other industries and product categories. Seeking to understand what factors are contributing to the secondhand smartphone markets development also offers insights for actors, such as businesses, policy makers and academics. Such research enables the various actors to better understand the dynamics of their operating environment. Essentially, understanding what factors are contributing to the market’s development allows actors to make more informed decisions, to develop sound strategy and to allocate resources. This study was conducted as a combination quantitative and qualitative research. A quantitative approach has allowed for the sampling of a population of industry actors and to measure specific concepts, such as economic factors, via a survey. With the procurement of such data statistical analysis has been applied to understand the frequencies, correlations, and significance of the specific concepts under measurement. A qualitative approach has allowed for a more in-depth understanding and context of the survey results or where the survey results have been minimal. The results show a tendency for the business environment to be populated by companies that are vertically integrated, relatively new enterprises and have relatively small annual revenues. Additionally, the results show several clear factors that are contributing to the secondhand market’s development. The factors highlighted include the following: - The price of wholesale stock is not the main point of supply competition. With other sales terms playing such as available volumes, payment terms and stock quality playing a major role in terms of competition. - The improvement over time in the availability of smartphone devices on the wholesale market. - The strong role of relationships and developing long term partnerships. - The low barriers to entry and ease of acquiring secondhand smartphones on the wholesale market. - The growth in business networks and the need for specialization in business acumen and establishing industry wide standards. - Repairability of new models of smartphones is critical to growth and the protectionist position of OEMs. The finding paints a picture of a business environment that has low barriers to entry, generally localized small players.

Uneven-aged forest management with selective cutting might hold the potential to limit carbon emissions from the soil after harvesting, compared to rotation forest management with clear-cutting, which is currently more common in boreal forests. The permanently remaining tree cover in uneven- aged forests protects the soil and the microclimate within the stand. It is still poorly understood how selective harvesting affects the carbon fluxes and pools of boreal forests. The aim of this research was to find patterns in the soil respiration and soil carbon content in uneven aged stands that are related to canopy gaps resulting from harvesting operations. I tried to assess the effects of the light, soil temperature and soil moisture conditions in canopy gaps on soil respiration, soil carbon content, microbial decomposition and microbial biomass carbon in order to draw conclusions how uneven aged forest management should be adjusted to avoid carbon losses from the soil. Soil respiration was measured during the summer 2018 on two uneven-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst) stands in Lapinjärvi, southern Finland. Measurements were taken with a mobile closed chamber at fixed measuring points under canopy and in canopy gaps. Soil moisture and soil temperature were measured alongside the respiration measurements. Soil cores were collected at each point to a depth of 30 cm in order to determine carbon and nitrogen stocks. The microbial biomass carbon was analysed at each point with the chloroform fumigation extraction method and the microbial decomposition was determined with the teabag method. The Global Light Index (GLI) and the canopy openness were derived from hemispherical pictures to assess the gap size. I found that the soil respiration in canopy gaps was in average 0.0243 mg CO2 s-1 m-2 higher then under canopy. Soil temperature and soil moisture however did not differ between the points in canopy gaps and under canopy and neither did microbial biomass carbon or the microbial decomposition. Microbial decomposition and microbial biomass C differed strongly between the two study plots and were not correlated with the soil respiration. C and N stocks were higher in canopy gaps than under canopy, but the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio was not affected by the canopy gaps. A statistical relationship between GLI or canopy openness could not be confirmed with neither soil respiration, nor soil carbon or microbial decomposition. The main driver affecting soil respiration and C and N stocks in mineral soil was soil temperature. We modelled soil respiration with the collected data. The best fitting model was selected by comparing the second order Akaike Information Criterions. It included soil temperature as fixed effect variable and the collars and time of measurement as random effect variables. The results confirm that gaps have an influence on soil respiration; however, the gap size seems to be less important. Soil respiration is influenced by a number of factors and complex interactions. The increased soil respiration in the gaps is probably caused by a higher autotrophic respiration by roots and mycorrhiza.

Nature is important to people. Urban green areas maintain a big role in provision of citizens’ recreation. Due to increasing urbanization, urban green areas are constantly diminishing. This has caused concern and distress among citizens. Various forest management measures can also cause many different reactions. Thus, nature – forests, meadows, grass fields – hold different meanings for every person. Purpose of this study was to examine how the forest management measures made in western half of Keskuspuisto (Central Park) has impacted on users’ opinions about the area. The study was conducted via web-based survey tool Maptionnaire as a half-structured web survey. 341 users took part in the survey. In total, users marked 512 favourite places, and 116 unpleasant places. Results were examined using cross tabulation, Kruskal-Wallis -test and chi-squared test with a 5 % risk. Mapped responses were examined in QGIS-software, with which the thematic maps of social values were created. Results were compared to a 2009 visitor survey. The first point of interest was how, where and how often survey respondents visited the park. In addition, users' favourite places and unpleasant places and the relating social values were examined, and whether the forest management measures have had an impact on the mapped responses. The results can be used in the forthcoming nature- and landscape management plan in the western half of Keskuspuisto. Based on the results, the western half of Keskuspuisto is very important for its users and its use is versatile. Usage of the area has increased in the last 10 years. A statistical link was not found between forest management measures and mapped responses or social values. Opinions about the forest management of the area varied greatly. It can be concluded that the forest management actions in western part of Keskuspuisto have been quite successful. Users were in general satisfied, but many voiced a concern regarding the future of the area. It is hoped that the area is kept out of future construction plans. Due to varying opinions and wishes, it is important to take the citizens' opinions into account in the city planning. The method of mapping social values and mapping favourite places and unpleasant places were useful ways to gain important information regarding the users and which areas are important to them.

The underlying bedrock is known to have effects on metal contents in soil and water, and thereby onto the major and trace nutrient balances in plants. Heavy metal contents in different rock types are highly variable and changes in the composition of the bedrock can happen over small distances. In Finland, the locally relatively abundant black shales in the eastern part of the country contain elevated amounts of several heavy metals, while the generally more common felsic rock types are in comparison depleted in them. The influence of elemental contents in bedrock on metal distribution in nature can be assessed through comparing metal amounts in various kinds of environmental samples, which at the same time enables identification of areas of potential environmental concern. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of bedrock on heavy metal contents in peat, ditch water, and needle samples between areas underlain by felsic or black shale bedrock in nine peatland catchments in Kainuu in eastern Finland. In addition to comparing differences in elemental contents, effort is put into evaluating strengths of correlations between metal concentrations and ash contents in peat samples and to assess which metals have a tendency of occurring together in peat. For ditch water samples, correlations will be evaluated between concentrations of metals and of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and of amounts of precipitation. In addition to influences of bedrock, other possible reasons behind differences in heavy metal amounts between areas will be looked at. Comparisons with data from other publications will in places also be made. The study is based on material collected by the Natural Resources Institute Finland in the years 2008–2015, which here includes 70 peat, 634 ditch water, and 80 needle samples. All samples were collected in nine separate forestry drained peatland catchments. Five of the catchments were located on areas underlain by felsic bedrock and four by black shales. The peat samples examined in this study range from the surface of the peat layers to 40 cm depth. The ditch water samples were collected from outlet ditches from all nine peatland catchments and needle samples were taken in eight catchments from either Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) or Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst). Half of the samples were of current year’s and half of previous year’s needles. Laboratory analyses of peat samples included measurements of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn concentrations by either ICP-MS or ICP-AES -methods and of ash contents through loss-on-ignition (LOI). Ditch water samples were analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations with the ICP-AES method, for DOC concentrations by TOC-V CPH/CPN analysis and for sulphate (SO4-S) by ion chromatography. Tree needles were measured for contents of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn with ICP-AES. Statistical differences in metal amounts in samples by bedrock were tested with the Mann–Whitney U test and correlations using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient or the Pearson correlation coefficient. Metal concentrations in peat samples were for some tests recalculated to take into account ash contents using a linear general model. Metal stocks in peat layers (mg/m2) were also calculated for the sampling sites. As the main results, the ash corrected metal concentrations in peat were statistically significantly higher in samples collected on black shale as opposed to felsic bedrock in terms of As, Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn, while metal stocks in peat were significantly different in terms of Ni. In ditch water, samples from black shale areas had significantly higher concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn, and in tree needle samples similar significances were observed for Ni. The only cases were samples from felsic areas had significantly higher concentrations than those form black shale areas were the ash corrected concentrations of U and Cu concentrations in needle samples. Regardless of the underlying bedrock, large variations in metal amounts in all sample types were observed between catchment areas. Correlations between metal concentrations and ash contents in peat were generally relatively strong. Correlations between metals in peat were variable, and often stronger in samples collected in felsic areas. In water samples, correlations between metal and DOC concentrations were variable both between metals and catchments. The correlations between precipitation and metal concentrations in ditch water were generally weak. Overall, the composition of the bedrock was noticed to have some effects on metal concentrations in all sample types. But it was evident by the results that there are also other factors controlling metal amounts between catchments.

The loss of forest biodiversity is a global issue. In Finland, there are many measures aiming at preserving the forest biodiversity, for example, protection of the forest habitats defined in the Forest Act and in the Nature Conservation Act; protection of threatened species; the nature management methods in commercially utilized forests and the forest certification. Information of forest resources is collected mainly by remote sensing methods, but also field inventories are carried out, especially when preservation of the areas of high biodiversity value needs to be verified and monitored. Metsäteho Oy has developed an automated method for delineating harvested stands based on harvester location data. The method can be a beneficial tool for providing up-to-date forest resource information. The objective of this study was to research, if harvester location data can be utilized in verifying preservation of areas of high biodiversity value, and in recognizing potential areas, and how that could be implemented in practice. The harvester data used in this study was collected from geographically diverse areas in Finland, and the data contains stem-wise coordinates of harvester while cutting the tree. The delineations of operated areas were generated from harvester location data using the automated method developed by Metsäteho Oy. After the stand delineation was generated, the automated method was utilized in recognizing non-harvested areas left inside and between the harvested stands. Both harvested stands and non-harvested areas were compared to open forest data (including the data of the protected habitats according to the Forest Act and METSO Programme; other protected areas; habitats of threatened species; the Topographic database) using spatial data analysis. The aim was to investigate, if the known areas of high biodiversity value were delimited outside of the harvested stands or if they were left non-harvested within the harvested stand area. In addition, the aim was to research why the automatically recognized non-harvested areas were left without harvesting, and if the non-harvested areas could be potential areas of high biodiversity value. After the spatial data analysis was completed, also field surveys were carried out. Based on the spatial data analysis and the field surveys, the known areas of high biodiversity value were mainly delimited out-side of the harvested stands. The cases in which they were left without harvesting within the harvested stands, were possible to recognize through spatial data analysis. According to the spatial data analysis, part of the automatically recognized non-harvested areas were potential areas of high biodiversity value. Recognized non-harvested areas can be utilized also in recognizing retention tree groups with certain limitations. According to the results, the recognition method for high biodiversity value areas, based on harvester location data, can be utilized when verifying preservation of the high biodiversity value areas, and also other areas that are recorded in spatial data. Based on the observations of this study, it is possible to develop an automated recognition method for high biodiversity value areas, when spatial analysis of datasets in vector format is automated. The positioning accuracy of harvester and the automated method for delineating harvested stands are still causing some challenges when interpreting the results. Also, timeliness and accuracy of the available data of high biodiversity value areas affect on the results of the automated method. To combine different data sources effectively, a data platform is needed in order to use the automated method fluently. The recognition method for high biodiversity value areas can be utilized, for example, when reporting the quality of harvesting work. In addition, the method can be utilized in targeting and minimizing the amount of field inventories when verifying new areas of high biodiversity value. The method enables collecting information and automated monitoring of how the nature management has been integrated into forest management operations in practice. That information contributes to the utilization of forests in economically and ecologically sustainable way.

Up-to-date forest inventory benefits the entire forest industry, all the way from forest owners to buyers of raw wood. The forest inventory gathered through remote sensing data and field sample plots by both National Forest Inventory (NFI) and Finnish Forest Centre supports large-scale strategic planning of forestry management and creates a foundation for forest planning as well as up-to-date forest inventory. Operative planning and up-to-date forest inventory also require information about recent cuttings. Finnish Forest Centre has deemed it necessary to develop tools to monitor the realized cuttings on an annual basis. The aim is that data from annual forest operations and cuttings could be transferred into updated forest inventory as soon as possible. The main focus of this thesis was on a method developed by Metsäteho Oy, whereby a stand delineation is automatically created for each forest stand based on harvester data (Melkas ym. 2020). Stand delineation carried out on the basis of stem-specific harvester location data would enable to constantly update the forest inventory in conjunction with logging operations. Stand delineation is an important information because stand area is routinely used as a coefficient in the estimation of stand-specific logging accumulation (Belbo & Talbot 2020). The harvester data was gathered between December 2017 and June 2018 and comprised approximately 3,000 harvested objects and 5,316,214 locations all over continental Finland. The stem-spesific location data recorded by harvester is used in automated stand delineation. Using triangulation, the location data of the stands was combined into a network, and a buffer zone was created for the resulting polygon to reduce the contribution of errors in GNSS navigation while also reflecting the reach of the harvester boom. The use of harvester location data also made it possible to automatically create a strip road network, which in turn allowed to calculate stand-specific strip road variables. Compared to aerial photography references, automated delineation yielded reliable stand delineations when carried out with three most common logging methods and when the stand area was at least .75 hectares. The automated stand was on average three per cent larger than the reference stand manually created from digital aerial photographs. Compared to reference stands, the relative areas of the automated stands were as follows: 1.044 for the first thinning; 1.020 for later thinnings; 1.034 for clear cutting; and 1.031 for all of these harvesting methods combined. There was little variation between the various harvesting methods, and the correlation between automated stand areas and references increased with the size of the stand. For stands with an area more than 1.5 hectares the relative difference in areas was, on average, only around one per cent. Another aim was the validation of automated strip road calculation. On the basis of harvester locations, a strip road network was created, where the to-and-fro movement of the harvester was ignored. Next, the automatically created strip road network was used to calculate the average spacings between strip roads (in metres) and strip road density (in metres/hectare). This was done comprehensively for each stand. In addition, the strip road variables were calculated by emulating sample plot measurements carried out by the Finnish Forest Centre in the evaluation of the quality of harvesting sites objects. Both results were realistic when compared to best practices in forest management. On average, the spacing between strip roads in thinning areas was 20.7 metres and 17.1 metres in clear cuttings. To sum up, there was a reliable correlation between automated stand delineation and reference stands both in terms of area and location; thus, it would be viable to integrate the automatically delineated stands as part of reliable and up-to-date forest inventory. The results of strip road calculation are applicable to validate the implementation of the recommendations set for strip road networks.

Puukaupassa eletään monen syyn seurauksena muutoksen aikaa. Entistä kehittyneempi kaukokartoituspohjainen metsä-varatieto, muuttuva metsänomistajarakenne sekä puun noussut kysyntä antavat mahdollisuuksia kehittää, mutta myös pakottavat muuttamaan puukaupan vakiintuneita menetelmiä. Runkohinnoittelun, eli puutavaralajien katkonnasta riippumaton puun hinnoittelutapa on kasvattanut nopeasti osuuttaan markkinoilla. Samanaikaisesti metsävaratiedon tarkkuus on lisääntynyt uuden laserkeilauskierroksen myötä, ja kilpailu uusiutuvasta puuraaka-aineesta kasvanut sekä energia- että teollisuuskäytössä maailmanlaajuisten megatrendien ja Venäjän aloittaman hyökkäyssodan aiheuttaminen maailmankaupan muutosten seurauksena. Metsäkeskus tuottaa avointa metsävaratietoa, joka on saatavissa metsätalouden operatiivisen suunnittelun tueksi erilai-siin metsäjärjestelmiin. Tieto on nopeaa ottaa käyttöön, objektiivista, ajantasaistettua sekä varttuneissa metsissä luotet-tavaa. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin tätä avointa tietoa kuvioina vuoden 2020 ajantasaistetussa muodossa. Referenssiaineiston muodostivat 114 korjuulohkoa, joiden harvennuspoistuman keskijäreys ja puutavaralajijakauma tiedettiin hakkuukoneen mittaustietojen perusteella. Lohkot olivat työn tilaajan, Skogsvårdsföreningen Österbotten rf:n puunkorjuuyhtiön hakkaamia. Tutkimuksessa etsittiin parhaat selittäjät ja luotiin mallit poistuman keskijäreyden ja tukkiprosentin ennustamiseksi metsänvaratiedosta harvennushakkuulla. Lisäksi selvitettiin yllä mainittujen tunnusten ennustettavuus eri järeyksillä. Ennusteiden tilastolliset tunnusluvut laskettiin ja mallien käytännön sovellettavuutta arvioitiin. Tulokseksi saatiin, että etenkin poistuman keskijäreys kyetään ennustamaan jopa suhteellisen vanhasta metsävaratiedosta sen verran tarkasti, että mallien käyttöä voisi kokeilla puunhankinnan operaatioissa. Ennalta tunnetun mukaisesti ennustaminen oli luotettavaa varttuneemmissa puustoissa. Keskijäreyden osalta paras selittäjä oli metsävaratiedon summapuuston keskiläpimitta, johon pohjautuva malli ennusti hakkuussa toteutuneen keskijäreyden alle 10 % suhteellisella ennustevirheellä. Tukkiprosenttia kyettiin ennustamaan vastaavalla tavalla, mutta aineiston vähäisen tukkikertymän vuoksi mallien ennusteet eivät olleet kovinkaan luotettavia. Molempien vastemuuttujien tapauksessa mallien selitysasteet jäivät noin 50 %:n tasolle. Tulokset olivat osittain kuvioittaisen maastoarvioinnin yleisinä pidettyjä virhemarginaaleja parempia, sekä toteuttajasta riippumattomia. Tulokset olivat siten kuitenkin rohkaisevia ja tukevat kaukokartoitetun metsävaratiedon entistä laajempaa soveltamista tulevaisuudessa.