Introduction for IJFE special issue “forest engineering innovations and advancements”

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation hosted the 41st Annual Council on Forest Engineering (COFE) Meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia at the Williamsburg Lodge in Colonial Williamsburg July 15–18, 2018. The meeting was co-chaired by Drs. Chad Bolding and Scott Barrett with the theme Revolutionary Traditions, Innovative Industries. Meeting attendance was approximately 70 from 7 countries (Brazil, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, and U.S.) and 21 U.S. states. The meeting began with a Sunday night icebreaker reception followed by Monday general sessions, a Tuesday field trip, and Wednesday concurrent technical sessions. General session topics included: 1) Innovations in Machine Design, Efficiency, and Safety, and 2) Global Forest Engineering Innovations. Invited industrial speakers included: Chris Harwood, John Deere; Mike Duncan, Caterpillar; and Steve Jones, Peterson Pacific. Invited global innovations speakers included: Dr. Kris Brown, New Zealand; Dr. Luc Lebel, Canada; Dr. Lars Eliasson, Sweden; Dr. Raffaele Spinelli, Italy; and Mr. Angelo Moura, Brazil. Sixteen students were also in attendance representing Laval University – Canada, Auburn University, Virginia Tech, University of Georgia, Northern Arizona University, University of Montana, West Virginia University, and the University of Stellenbosch – South Africa. Concurrent technical session topics included: The Role of Forest Operations, Supply Chain Efficiency, Operational Efficiency, Forest Roads and Site Impacts, The Logging Workforce, Biomass, Harvesting Productivity and Costs, and Trucking and Transportation.

Of the 53 presentations, 10 submitted papers were peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in this special issue entitled: “Forest Engineering Innovations and Advancements.” The papers span a wide array of topics and geographic locations. Four of the ten papers focus on minimizing the negative environmental impacts from forest operations. Two papers focus on forestry best management practices for water quality in relation to skid trails (Howell et al.) and streams crossings (Dangle et al.) in Virginia, another looked at the effectiveness of streamside management zones in Montana (Sugden et al.), while another investigated sediment production from forest roads in Ohio (Silliman and Toman). The papers by Conrad and Cole et al. explore accidents in timber transportation in Georgia and fatal crashes nationwide, respectively. Keefe et al. and Trzcianowska et al. evaluate technology advancements such as the use of smartphones in production studies and data envelopment analysis in wood yards. Finally, two harvesting studies looked at tracked processors and centralized logging depots in the US south (Daniel et al.) and the production and cost of harvesting biomass in the Rocky Mountains (Townsend et al.).

COFE is pleased to collaborate with the International Journal of Forest Engineering to publish this special issue. We are especially grateful to the authors who submitted their work for consideration and to the reviewers who committed their time and expertise to ensure quality work and adequate scientific rigor. We are also grateful to our editor, Dr. Charlie Blinn, for his leadership and organization throughout the process. We hope you find value in the work presented here and that you will consider submitting a manuscript to the IJFE as we collectively work to move our profession forward.

Special thanks are extended to our meeting sponsors: Enviva Biomass, Suzano Pulp and Paper, Huber Engineered Woods, Council on Forest Engineering, John Deere, Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, and IUFRO for their support of the meeting.