When the storm Hans swept through Västerbotten in early August, it felled between 500,000 and 1 million cubic meters of forest, leading to an emergency situation that required an effective effort to save the forest’s valuable resources.
Now the major clean-up work will be supported by modern technology, such as satellite images and drones.
In the fight against the clock and the coming snow cover, Sveaskog, Sweden’s largest forest company, has used satellite and drone images to increase efficiency and reduce risks for the brave people working to clean up after the devastation.
Handling storm-felled timber in such a huge amount is a significant challenge, both in terms of safety and technical difficulty. The trees are scattered around noise, and they are also found in areas with standing forest. Efficiently collecting and transporting this wood is a priority, especially given the snow depth expected to increase during the winter.
Hard to see under the snow
– The limit for a functioning work is approximately 50 centimeters of snow. When the felled trees disappear under the snow, they are difficult to see and if they freeze to the ground, it will be difficult to get rid of, above all, the large trunks, says Tord Karlsson, production manager at Sveaskog.
Sveaskog has adopted modern technology to handle this urgent situation. Satellite images with significantly higher sharpness than before have been supplemented with drone images, which makes it possible to quickly and efficiently plan the effort and direct resources where they are most needed. This technology enables a smooth transition from planning to when the forest machines are in place and ready to work.
– There has been a bit of debate about how we should use this type of technology in forestry, and now we got a golden opportunity to try this out. We now see that we can both streamline the handling of the wood and also increase safety, says Tommy Karlsson, planning manager at Sveaskog.
High speed and endurance
In order to have time to save as much of the forest as possible, they drive with full force. Sveaskog alone has mobilized no less than 70 forest machines that are at work. In addition, there are 30 timber trucks that run in shuttle traffic around the clock to the sawmills in the area.
Despite the impressive efforts underway, there is a long way to go before the forest in Västerbotten is restored. But thanks to satellite imagery, drone technology and an exceptional effort, there is hope that the forest will recover and continue to be a valuable resource for the region.
– The reforestation will take place in the future, so really we have only scratched the surface with the planning so far, says Tommy Karlsson, planning manager at Sveaskog.