WO2018202241A1 - Device for the measurement-based acquisition of forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the measurement-based acquisition of forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees using a base body comprising a drive connected to drive means for moving the base body, which is designed to surround the tree in question, upward and downward on the tree trunk. According to the invention, the base body comprises a sensor unit connected to a memory for saving the sensor unit-acquired data of the tree in question together with geographical location data, and additionally to a computing unit for the signal processing of the sensor data and for the control of data acquisition in accordance with a retrievable data-acquisition and measurement-program sequence, wherein it is possible via an interface to access online or offline the data acquired and stored in the field.

Description

 Device for metrological recording of forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees

The invention relates to a device for metrological recording of forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees with a base body which has a drive which is connected to drive means to the base body, which is embracing the respective tree, on the tree trunk up and down to move according to claim 1.

From EP 1 853 107 B1, a wood harvesting and examination apparatus by means of voltage and sound waves is previously known, wherein a drive is shown, which can move the device along a trunk. Furthermore, a reference determination and length determination system is provided in order to be able to determine the cover and the position for cutting off a part of the wood or the trunk. Furthermore, the prior art teaches a sound generator, which introduces a sound or pressure wave in the trunk, an electronic processor with the sensor detects the pressure waves and, for example, determines the speed of the spread of this and it is concluded on the properties of the wood.

WO 2015/177079 A1 relates to a device for the automated detection of trees, comprising a mobile platform, a camera unit for determining two spatially overlapping images, a position sensor for determining six degrees of freedom of the camera unit and at least one evaluation device.

The evaluation device is designed such that, in addition to the position, at least one further parameter is recorded and stored for the sequenced trees, the at least further parameter being the diameter and / or the crown projection and / or the shaft length and / or the tree curvature and / or the tree genus and / or vitality features or volume data or a Verastung the tree is.

The trunk diameter or the circumference of the trunk represent the tree-specific measures for the age of a tree and the wood mass contained in it

The forest gauges are turned off as the most important size of individual trees on the diameter. To describe the tree dimension, the diameter is given in a defined height, for example breast height and a trunk piece as a center or plait diameter. The stem shape of a tree can be described with a variety of diameter measurements that occur over the entire trunk.

At the lower reachable area of a trunk, the diameter determination is usually made with a clip. Such a clip consists of a bar with scale and two parallel legs, one of the legs is movable and the other is firmly connected to the clip. Since the trunk cross-section is usually not a circle, a single measurement of a trunk with a clip does not reflect the average tree diameter. In this regard, in practice, a clipping is often carried out crosswise and used as the average value. In other cases, the trunk circumference is determined with a tape measure. In this regard, the forest farmer knows special gauges whose scale takes into account the circular shape and indicates diameter values.

If it is necessary or desirable to determine the stem diameter of standing trees at higher altitudes, dendrometers or photographic techniques are used. Another important measure is the tree height. For trees larger than 6 meters, it is no longer possible to determine the height using a telescopic staff. In this case, a tree height measurement is usually carried out according to the trigonometric principle.

All manual diameter and / or height determinations have a high metrological effort in common, with irregularities in the diameter or inclinations of the trees lead to additional problems. Since optical control of the condition of a tree trunk at higher altitudes is not possible without auxiliary means, the amount which can actually be used for wood industry can only be determined with difficulty.

The analysis of the condition of forest damage and the indirect determination of forestry data on the basis of photogrammetric measurements in connection with aerial photographs or satellite-based data, which have image receivers that are sensitive in different spectral ranges, have also become known. Using image processing techniques, a digital cartographic results presentation can be made to identify existing forest damage. A strike-related, on the tree trunk specified value acquisition is not possible, however, since aerial photographs or satellite-based analyzes are aimed essentially at the treetops, but not at the respective tree trunk.

From the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide an advanced device for metrological recording of economic data and vitality parameters on living trees, which allows at least partially automated use and thus resolved to the respective trunk data acquisition, so that in a highly reliable manner, economic data can be determined and an income forecast can be made. The object of the invention is achieved with a device according to the feature combination according to claim 1 and with a system according to claim 12, wherein the dependent claims comprise at least expedient refinements and developments.

It is therefore assumed that a device for metrological recording forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees.

This device has a base body. This basic body can be executed frame-like and realized hinged to the base body to be examined tree trunk, this embracing, create.

The main body also has suitable drive means which cooperate with a drive. This may be a hydraulic drive but also an electromotive or the like drive.

The drive means can be designed in a preferred manner as drive chains in the sense of caterpillars, but also as drive wheels, the principle is that due to the measurement on living tree damage to the bark or the surface of the trunk is excluded.

Suitable devices with corresponding drive means are disclosed, for example, in WO 2015/101374 A2 or WO 2016/045666 A1. The content of these disclosures is hereby declared the subject of the present application and, to that extent, applies to the person skilled in the art as known and familiar.

The main body with drive and drive means is thus able to move up and down automatically on the log. According to the invention, the base body has a sensor unit. In a preferred embodiment, this sensor unit comprises at least one or more individual sensors which are designed for the parameters to be detected. The sensor unit is either powered by the power supply for the respective drive or self-sufficient.

The sensor unit is connected to a data memory in order to store the data of the respective tree recorded by the sensor unit together with geographical location data.

Thus, the sensor unit thus also includes the possibility of location determination, for example by using data of known satellite navigation systems and / or data based on radio cells of known telecommunication networks.

The data memory can be spatially connected to the sensor unit and thus structurally and insofar also be releasably secured to the base body.

The solution according to the invention comprises a computing unit for signal processing of the sensor data and for controlling data acquisition in accordance with a retrievable data acquisition and measurement program sequence, wherein the data recorded and stored in the field can be accessed via an interface online or offline.

As already mentioned, the sensor unit has a GPS, GLONASS and / or Galileo receiver module for geographical location determination.

During the upward and / or downward movement is under use

the sensor unit has a trunk diameter detection, whereby Softness determined by a circular shape by means of the sensor unit and taken into account in the determination of the wood mass.

The sensor unit may be an ultrasonic or laser measuring device

for determining the distance of the body above the ground and thus to

Include trunk height determination.

In one development of the invention, the sensor unit is provided with an optoelectronic camera which, during the upward and / or downward movement, takes pictures of the condition and the condition of the tree surface, in particular the bark of the tree.

At the latest in the area of the reversal point up-down additional recordings of the treetop underside are created in order to determine the overall condition of the respective tree, in particular the vitality.

On the crown body, a sampling unit can be further attached, which removes program-controlled bark and / or trunk pieces and makes available for later analysis.

The opto-electronic camera should not only help determine abnormalities of the trunk surface during the up and / or down movement, but also be able to detect a pest infestation.

The opto-electronic camera is designed so that both images in the visible spectral range and images in the infrared region of the spectrum are possible.

The sampling unit may have a microdrill, formed as a hollow drill, which penetrates into the tree bark or the trunk, takes a sample and subsequently closes the microbore in a suitable manner in order to avoid damage to the trunk due to infection or subsequent environmental influences.

The device according to the invention is particularly preferably equipped with means for advertising, wherein the data acquisition preferably during the

Valuation carried out on a living tree.

A decoying of living trees, also referred to as esthetics, in particular the decortication of coniferous trees is of great importance for the forestry industry as well as for the wood and furniture industry, since it is desirable to have a very fine tree trunks for the woodworking industry. By the valence of a significant value gain is achieved because the production of knotless lumber is possible. When pruning pines or spruces, it can be seen that they continue to grow undisturbed and broaden their diameter after being pruned for many years, but without the previously removed branches. The decestation of a tree must be carried out only once, at a time of delimbing, in which the average diameter of the trees in the range of about 30 cm, while the diameter of the respective trunk when cutting down the tree can be over 1 meter , With regard to the preferred technical means for valuing, reference is made to the already mentioned publications WO 2015/101374 A2 and WO 2016/045666 A1.

The cutting tools for Wertastung, that is, for removing the branches are preferably formed as circularly extending blades or circular movable around the tree circular saw blades.

The drive means of the device for valence can be realized as chains or wheels, wherein the trunk height can be determined on the basis of the rotational speed of the drive means in conjunction with a time measurement. The trunk or tree height can also be determined indirectly on the basis of determined positive and negative acceleration values in the value branching.

In a preferred embodiment, the mentioned Wertästung is made in the upward movement of the body or the device and the metrological detection in the downward movement.

The system according to the invention for stock determination and determination of wood mass is based on the above-mentioned and explained apparatus. The system also uses the field measurement data for the respective relevant forestry impact and allows mapping, whereby location parameters, relief properties and / or topographic conditions are taken into account for the purpose of yield forecasting and for determining the value of the wood mass to be expected.

Site parameters are understood to be the average age of the trees and their structure. Height, inclination and / or exposure are relief properties. Settlements, waters, roads and the like define the topographic conditions.

The invention will be explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment is known devices for dethroning living trees, for example, according to WO 2015/101374 A2 or the

Recourse to WO 2016/045666 A1. Such a device for dethroning living trees can be supplemented with the sensor system according to the invention in order to acquire field measurement data, so that ultimately there is data available for the respective forestry impact which permit yield projection and value determination. In order to determine the location of the tree to be measured, the sensor unit has a GPS receiver module which is capable of detecting data from satellite-protected navigation systems and determining the position therefrom.

The delimbing length and tree height determination can be determined, for example, from the number of revolutions of one of the rollers of the drive belt or from the wheel revolutions of the known value pruning devices. In this regard, the use of encoders or incremental encoder is conceivable.

The decisive factor is that the sensors used are adapted to the relatively harsh conditions in forestry. The determination

The movement speed of the device for later distance determination can also be carried out by means of intercorrelation of optical sensor signals and in this case resort to detection of the tree bark.

Likewise, the use of acceleration sensors is possible, wherein from the acceleration values in the sense of a positive acceleration at the beginning of movement and a negative acceleration up to the stop of movement at the reversal point, a speed and finally a route determination can take place.

It is also possible to determine the changing distance over the ground, that is to say from the ground, by means of a laser or ultrasonic distance measurement and from this a height determination or the delimbing length can be made. The corresponding sensor is also able to trigger the program flow for the movement of the device for Wertästung to optimize the Entastungslänge for each tree. The determination of the trunk diameter refers back to the dimensions of the body in the state in which the tree is enclosed and thus reaches a defined position.

The preferably opposing drive means are pressed with the greatest possible force to the trunk surface to allow a corresponding power transmission for the purpose of upward and downward movement. The drive means themselves are adjustable and movable in the direction of the center of the stem and the center of the stem in order to achieve the desired pressure force at different stem diameters. A distance measurement drive means to fixed point on the body can be determined at concentricity assumption of the diameter. If a rotational movement or partial rotation of the main body takes place around the stem, deviations from the circular cross-section can be determined and taken into account in determining the diameter or area of the cross-section of the stem.

It is also possible to use momentary distance sensors, which are modified so that they meet the harsh conditions in forestry work.

Since in one embodiment of the device it is possible to move the drive chains or drive belts via a parallelogram to the center of the stem and away from it, a method for indirect diameter determination is to make an angle measurement of the parallelogram, respectively the respective angular position, wherein angle sensors are used ,

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Device for the metrological recording of forestry data and vitality parameters on living trees, having a base body which has a drive which is connected to drive means for moving the base body, which embraces the respective tree, upwards and downwards on the tree trunk in that the base body has a sensor unit which is connected to a data memory in order to store the data of the respective tree detected by the sensor unit together with geographical location data, furthermore with a computer unit for signal processing of the sensor data and for controlling the data acquisition according to a retrievable data acquisition - and measurement program sequence, which can be accessed via an interface online or offline to the collected and stored in the field data. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit comprises a GPS, GLONASS and / or Galileo receiver module for geographical location determination or is in communication with such a receiver module. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the upward and / or downward movement a Stammdurchmesser- or trunk circumference detection takes place, with deviations from a circular shape determined by means of the sensor unit and taken into account in a determination of the wood mass. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit an ultrasonic or laser sensor for Determination of the distance of the base body above the ground and to the trunk height determination. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit comprises an opto-electronic camera, which during the upward and / or downward movement takes pictures of the condition and condition of the bark and / or at the latest in the area of the reversal point up-down recordings created the treetop base. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body, a sampling unit can be fastened, which removes program-controlled bark and / or trunk pieces. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is therefore equipped for valence, wherein the data acquisition takes place during the carried out on the living tree Äästung or subsequent to such a valence. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said cutting tools for removing the branches, formed as a circular knife or circular movable around the tree circular saw blades having. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the Drive means chains or wheels, wherein the trunk height is determined on the basis of the rotational speed of the drive means in conjunction with a time measurement. 10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the trunk height is determined indirectly on the basis of determined positive and negative acceleration values when moving up and down. 1 1. Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the load in the upward movement and the metrological detection takes place during the downward movement, wherein the quality of the Äästung monitored and recorded by the optoelectronic camera in the downward movement. 12. System for determining stock determination and for determining wood mass with a device according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that from the field measurement data for the respective forestry relevant impact mapping takes place, wherein for the purpose of a yield projection and value determination of the expected wood mass location parameters, Relief properties and / or topographic conditions are taken into account in addition.