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1.
Overview of global long-distance road Transportation of industrial roundwood
Kärhä Kalle, Milla Seuri, Patricio Miguel Mac Donagh, Mauricio Acuna, Christian Kanzian, Vladimir Petković, Robert Renato Cesar Gonçalves, Costa Luis Henrique Suppi, da Cruz Rodrigo Coelho, Tihomir Krumov, Matevž Triplat, 2024, review article

Abstract: The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive overview of global long-distance road transportation of industrial roundwood. The study focused on the maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits allowed with different timber truck configurations, typical payloads in timber trucking, the road transportation share of the total industrial roundwood longdistance transportation volume, and the average long-distance transportation distances and costs of industrial roundwood. The study was carried out as a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was sent to timber transportation logistics experts and research scientists in the 30 countries with the largest industrial roundwood removals in Europe, as well as selected major forestry countries in the world (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Türkiye, the United States of America and Uruguay) in February 2022, and closed in May 2022. A total of 31 countries took part in the survey. The survey illustrated that timber trucking was the main long-distance transportation method of industrial roundwood in almost every country surveyed. Road transportation averaged 89% of the total industrial roundwood long-distance transportation volume. Timber truck configurations of 4 to 9 axles with GVW limits of around 30 tonnes to over 70 tonnes were most commonly used. The results indicated that higher GVW limits allowed significantly higher payloads in timber trucking, with the lowest payloads at less than 25 tonnes, and the highest payloads more than 45 tonnes. The average road transportation distance with industrial roundwood was 128 km, and the average long-distance transportation cost in timber trucking was €11.1 per tonne of timber transported. In the entire survey material, there was a direct relationship between transportation distance and transportation costs and an inverse relationship between maximum GVW limits and transportation costs. Consequently, in order to reduce transportation costs, it is essential to maximise payloads (within legal limits) and minimise haul distances. Several measures to increase cost- and energy-efficiency, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in road transportation logistics, are discussed in the paper. On the basis of the survey, it is recommended that upto-date statistical data and novel research studies on the long-distance transportation of industrial roundwood be conducted in some countries in the future.
Keywords: timber logistics, timber hauling, timber trucking, gross vehicle weight, payload, transportation distance, transportation cost, cost efficiency, limit payload
Published in DiRROS: 28.02.2024; Views: 96; Downloads: 47
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2.
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure assessment among active daily commuters to induce behaviour change to reduce air pollution
Anja Ilenič, Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Nina Zupančič, Radmila Milačič, Janez Ščančar, 2023, original scientific article

Abstract: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a detrimental urban air pollutant primarily emitted by traffic and biomass burning, poses disproportionately significant health risks at relatively limited exposure during commuting. Previous studies have mainly focused on fixed locations when assessing PM2.5 exposure, while neglecting pedestrians and cyclists, who often experience higher pollution levels. In response, this research aimed to independently validate the effectiveness of bicycle-mounted low-cost sensors (LCS) adopted by citizens, evaluate temporal and spatial PM2.5 exposure, and assess associated health risks in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The LCS quality assurance results, verified by co-location field tests by air quality monitoring stations (AQMS), showed comparable outcomes with an average percentage difference of 21.29 %, attributed to humidity-induced nucleation effects. The colder months exhibited the highest air pollution levels (μ = 32.31 μg/m3) due to frequent thermal inversions and weak wind circulation, hindering vertical air mixing and the adequate dispersion of pollutants. Additionally, PM2.5 levels in all sampling periods were lowest in the afternoon (μ = 12.09 μg/m3) and highest during the night (μ = 61.00 μg/m3) when the planetary boundary layer thins, leading to the trapping of pollutants near the surface, thus significantly affecting diurnal and seasonal patterns. Analysis of exposure factors revealed that cyclists were approximately three times more exposed than pedestrians. However, the toxicological risk assessment indicated a minimal potential risk of PM2.5 exposure. The collaborative integration of data from official AQMS and LCS can enhance evidence-based policy-making processes and facilitates the realignment of effective regulatory frameworks to reduce urban air pollution.
Keywords: air pollution monitoring, PM2.5 exposure, citizen science, bicycle-mounted low-cost sensors
Published in DiRROS: 30.01.2024; Views: 139; Downloads: 52
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3.
Fire safety assessment of sprinkler systems for car parks using the J-value methodology
Malika Alimzhanova, Michael Spearpoint, Grunde Jomaas, 2022, original scientific article

Abstract: A J-value assessment was carried out to quantify the costs and benefits of sprinkler system installation in car parks, both with respect to life safety and property protection. Nine scenarios were established based on collected input data. All car park types were considered for the USA, England, Scotland, Wales and the UK nations collectively, while separate considerations were made for multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) in the UK and for MSCPs, underground and other parking types in England. Even when assuming 100% sprinkler effectiveness, the J-values for the nine scenarios were all larger than unity (ranging from 5 to 555), thus indicating that the installation of sprinklers is not a cost-effective investment for car parks from a societal point of view. The analysis showed that different car park types must be treated separately, due to specifics of structure and fire statistics. The lowest J-values were obtained for MSCPs and underground car parks. Sprinkler installation mainly provides property protection benefits, because of property loss savings substantially outweigh those associated with life safety. Even though sprinklers were not cost-effective for car parks in the current analysis, the scarcity of data and new emerging technologies suggests that further investigation is needed.
Keywords: cost-benefit analysis, J-value, life quality index, Car parks, Sprinkler systems
Published in DiRROS: 09.01.2024; Views: 143; Downloads: 40
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4.
Cost-benefit analysis of fire protection in buildings : application of a present net value approach
Thomas Gernay, Shuna Ni, David Unobe, Andrea Lucherini, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Ruben Van Coile, 2023, original scientific article

Abstract: In fire safety engineering, cost–benefit analysis provides a systematic method to assess whether the projected benefits from a fire safety measure outweigh its costs. However, there remains a wide discrepancy between methods used in the field for cost–benefit analysis, as well as a lack of quantitative data on the costs and economic impact of fire protection in buildings. In a recent research project, a reference methodology was proposed based on Present Net Value evaluation and on a combination of specialized construction database, fire statistics, and numerical modeling for estimation of the cost components. This paper presents the application of the methodology to four case studies. The case studies allow describing the methodology, the collection of data, fire statistics, and loss estimation, as well as illustrating how the methodology can support decision-making when multiple alternatives are compared. Under the assumptions adopted for the single-family house and the residential timber building case studies, it is found that for every 1\$, invested in sprinklers, \$1.06 is saved. This benefit–cost ratio increases with increasing valuation of indirect losses and statistical value of life. Sensitivity analyses are provided to explore the robustness of the investment recommendations. The results of evaluations, adapted from the presented case studies with project-specific inputs, can support decision making for policy makers, insurance companies, and individual building owners.
Keywords: fire safety, cost-benefit analysis, fire protection, fire statistics, sprinklers, compartmentation
Published in DiRROS: 29.11.2023; Views: 224; Downloads: 30
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5.
Cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering : state-of-the-art and reference methodology
Ruben Van Coile, Andrea Lucherini, Ranjit Kumar Chaudhary, Shuna Ni, David Unobe, Thomas Gernay, 2023, original scientific article

Abstract: Cost-effectiveness is a key consideration within fire safety engineering. Currently, different approaches are being applied in literature. These approaches differ in how cost-effectiveness is evaluated, which costs are considered, and how the preferred design solution is defined. Recognizing this issue, the Fire Protection Research Foundation enrolled an international team of researchers, supported by a broad stakeholder panel, to develop a reference methodology. In this paper, this reference methodology for cost-benefit analysis in fire safety engineering is presented following an extensive literature review. The methodology clarifies the minimum requirements for assessing cost-effectiveness, and highlights that only a present net value evaluation can be used to compare design alternatives. Commonly used cost-benefit ratios should only be used when deciding on the effectiveness of a single package of fire safety measures. An illustrative case study demonstrates the application of the meth- odology and shows how designs based on cost-benefit ratios can be sub-optimal when evaluating multiple possible fire safety measures.
Keywords: cost-benefit analysis, fire safety, investment, maintenance, loss, statistics, reliability
Published in DiRROS: 23.10.2023; Views: 277; Downloads: 62
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6.
Estimating the most effective and economical pheromone for monitoring the European spruce bark beetle
Nina Šramel, Andreja Kavčič, Marija Kolšek, Maarten De Groot, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: In recent decades, there have been an increasing number of outbreaks of Ips typographus in Europe. A large amount of sanitary felling has taken place, with significant economic and ecological consequences. In order to anticipate such large%scale outbreaks, an effective monitoring system should be set up. One important aspect of monitoring is deciding which pheromone to use. Therefore, we decided to test five different commercially available pheromone lures under different disturbance conditions: Pheroprax%, IT Ecolure Extra%, Ipstyp%, Ipsowit% and Typosan%. We investigated the ability of the pheromones to distinguish between disturbed and undisturbed locations, their cost%efficiency ratio, and side effects such as bycatch abundance and composition. We set 50 traps in two areas with sites that were disturbed and undisturbed by windstorms. We collected the catch from traps every 1%2 weeks from the end of March until the end of September in 2019. We found that IT Ecolure Extra%, Ipsowit% and % Pheroprax% caught the most I. typographus and best showed changes in the trap catch of I. typographus throughout the whole season. There was a low amount of bycatch (<6% of the total catch) and a low number of predators (a few specimens), but some groups seem to prefer certain pheromones. The cost of the pheromones increased with their effectiveness. However, pheromone costs are low relative to the personnel costs involved in setting traps and collecting the catch. Based on all of the gathered data, we created an index which helps to assess the cost%efficiency of the five chosen commercially available pheromones. We also present guidelines on how to make such an index to assist other researchers in choosing the right pheromone for monitoring populations of I. typographus or other bark beetle species.
Keywords: bark beetles, cost-efficiency, Ips typographus, monitoring pheromones, Picea abies
Published in DiRROS: 21.01.2021; Views: 1380; Downloads: 746
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7.
Windstorm restoration efficiency using the Kidričevo windstorm (29 June, 2006) as a case study
Goran Paulinič, Janez Krč, 2008, original scientific article

Abstract: Economic efficiency is one of the many essential demands regarding the technical management of windstorms. The main goal of this paper is to analyze a hypothetical scenario in which a forest owner works independently on windstorm restoration, using his own equipment and work power. Managing windstorm damage is a difficult and dangerous task, although a potentially lucrative endeavour as our investigation shows. A windstorm represents an opportunity for instant profit for forest owners who are independent of regular forest income. Economic damage is greater and longer lasting for owners with large forest properties and for farm households, which depend on regular forest income. We compared two potential scenarios in a wind-damaged area within the 2000-2010 forestry management period. First, we include a hypothetical scenario in which the windstorm did not occur. An inventory of regular thinning as well as simulation of future events based on past dynamics was done. We also performed a second scenario in which we assumed that private owners carry out windstorm restoration alone, although in reality felling has been carried out with short-wood technology (mechanized cutting). The results section presents the possibilities to attain reasonably high yield by dealing with the consequences of a minor windstorm.
Keywords: cost analysis, production effects, scenarios, windstorm, storm damage, forest
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2017; Views: 3816; Downloads: 1807
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