ENGINEERING
TECHNICAL
FIELD NOTES
TECHNICAL
REPORTS
MANAGEMENT
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DATA RETRIEVAL
INFORMATION
SYSTEM
VOLUME
ield
NUMBER
5
N--otes
Career Counseling Aids for Engineering Personnel
A
Mathematical Programming Approach for the
Analysis
/
Transport/Logging
1
Timber Sale
Washington Office News
FOREST SERVICE
051
MAY
1977
5.Yý
U4S
U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
7
S
ENGINEERING FIELD NOTES
Volume
Information
contained
9
Number
has
5
been developed
of employees
respon-sibility
of the
cooperating
in
this
publication
by other than
of this information
names
use of trade firm or corporation
in
this
publication
Such use does not constitute an
of the reader.
convenience
guidance
States
for the interpretation or use
The
for
its
and
Department of Agriculture-Forest
Service
contractors
The Department of Agriculture assumes no
Federal and State agencies.
United
official
is
for
its
text in the
publication
must not
be construed
or policy
except
engineers
and engineering
not
intended
by
as
FSM
exclusively
the
represents
recommended
personal
Because
references.
technicians
opinions
or approved
should
of the
the information
type
read each
author and
of material in the publication
issue
FOREST SERVICE
D.C.
to the exclusion
of the respective
however
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Washington
and
procedures mandatory instructions
for engineers.
U.S.
employees.
endorsement or approval
of any product
or service by the United States Department of Agriculture
of others that may be suitable.
The
own
its
20013
this
publication
all
is
CAREER
COUNSELING
FOR
PERSONNEL
ENGINEERING
E.
Duane Davey
Supervisory Civil Engineer
Kootenai National Forest Region
1
development and implementation of the Certification Program have
.provide some useful tools to assist engineering supervisors in career
is the Engineering Technical Skills Inventory
One of these
counseling.
Form 7100-19 used in conjunction with the Training and Development
The
Chart
described
in
FSH 7109.17.
evolves
into a more complex
engineering in the Forest Service
the need for logical career development becomes increasingly
organization
important.
Being promoted before adequate developmental experiences are
attained has caused forced specialization which has made it very difficult
for individuals to move into other kinds
of work assignments at higher
Few
have
a
realistic
idea of the time required to
levels.
employees
grade
attain essential experience and the skills needed to pursue various career
As
options.
inventory fig.1 provides a concise summary of
Using this summary--plus
experience and training needs.
other aids such as the Training and Development Chart--a supervisor is in
career
a much better position to counsel the employee on training needs
direction and options and a realistic time frame required to progress to
The
an
the
printout of
individuals
next
the
skills
step.
printout of the skills inventory is also useful in the Forest
Engineers review of the Promotion Roster Information PRI Form 6100-10.
The
assignment portion of the summary provides an indication for proper
The
qualifications
ratings.
supervisors
counseling of employees on career opportunities is
of
the
overall engineering effort the Engineering
important part
Skills Inventory will assist him in completing the Career Development Plan
Form 6100-2 and providing the employee with an understanding of career
Since
the
an
options.
1
ENGINEERING
SKILLS INVENTORY
FOR REGION
1
JULY
DATE 20JUL
SKILLS INVENTORY
NAME
SOCIAL SECURITY
LOCATION
NUMBER
PRESENT
REG
534308140
FOREST
KOOTEN
01
SKILL
AREA
A
I
YYMMDD
GS-0809
10
76/01/12
CERTIFICATION
SPECIALITY
MONTHS
REG
BEG YR
ENG. CERTIFICATION
10
CONSTRUCTION
COR STRUCTURES
18
1
74
ROADS
2
09
12
1
74
ADMIN-TIMBER
09
CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
COR ROADS
3
06
1
73
ADM-PUBLIC
4
09
CONSTRUCTION
COR
09
1
73
AGGREGATE BASE
5
09
CONSTRUCTION
COR ROADS
18
1
72
CONCRETE
6
09
CONSTRUCTION
30
1
70
TRAILS
TRAILS
COR BUILDINGS
MAINT.
09
CONSTRUCTION
8
09
9
07
CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
10
05
DESIGN-PRECONSTRUCTION
MAINT.
UPDATE
GRADE
1
7
271
SERIES
ASSIGNMENTS
GRADE
PAGE
76
16 1976
WATER SANITATION
TRAILS
ENGNRNG REP TMBR SALE
COR WATER
SANITATION
COR BUILDINGS
CONST. INSPEC. BUILDINGS
PARTY CHIEF
SURVEY
12
06
18
63
REGISTRATION
1
1
1
1
CAT.
PURCHASER
N/A
WORKS
67
ASPHALT
67
65
BRIDGES
SAMPLING
60
BASE
SURF
75
75
PAVE
SURFACE
1
SANITATION
BUILDINGS
SALES
ENG-COR
75
N/A
READING/STUD
N/A
READING/STUD
N/A
READING/STUD
N/A
READING/STUD
75
71
ROAD DESIGN-BASIC
ROAD DESIGN-RDS
ROAD DESIGN-ADVANCED
N/A
ROUTE
N/A
skills inventory.
READING/STUD
75
75
TESTING
SG STABILIZATION
WATER
READING/STUD
75
SURVEYING
Engineering
NEEDS
N/A
RESIDENT
1.
TRAINING
75
ENG REP-TIMBER
Figure
YEAR
CERT.
LOCATION
72
LECTURE/DEMO
75
LECTURE/DEMO
A
MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMMING APPROACH FOR THE ANALYSIS
TRANSPORT LOGGING SYSTEMS FOR TIMBER SALE
Wallace
Cox
Planner
Transportation
Shasta-Trinity N.F.
Peter
R.
OF
Wong
Transportation Systems Analyst
Transportation Analysis Group
Region
5
INTRODUCTION
An engineer is often requested to perform studies to determine the best
This can present a
transport and logging systems for a timber sale.
formidable task for the analyst if there are many possible systems and
if there
is a problem in the scheduling of construction and timber harvest.
We will present a method whereby a few desirable alternatives can be
readily extracted from the set of all possibilities. The user will define
For example we
the desirable alternatives and their quantitative
limits.
may define a desirable alternative to be one which maximizes present worth
but does not exceed a specified upper limit on sediment yield.
The
complete mathematical formulation of this model can be found in a recent
We will summarize the result
paper by Dr. Malcom Kirby and Peter Wong.
of an actual case
study2
using a simplified version of the model in this
article since our emphasis is on the proposed methodology rather than
the detail of the case
study.
Kirby
Peter Economic Analysis of Transport Investment
Strategies for Timber Harvest - One-Link Model rough draft U.S.
Forest Service Management Sciences Staff
Transportation Analysis
Group Berkeley CA Dec. 1976.
Malcom
Wong
2Cox Wallace R.
Wong Peter Engineering Analysis - Deer Creek Timber
Sale McCloud Ranger District U.S. Forest Service Shasta-Trinity
National Forest Redding
Transportation Analysis Group BerkeZy CA
Jan.
1977.
3
INPUT
TO THE MODEL
proposed model was applied to the Deer Creek Timber Sale on the McCloud
This sale covered an
Ranger District of Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
area of approximately 1650 acres
668 ha with an estimated timber volume
The analyses
of 10 MMBF in the first entry and 5 MMBF in the second
entry.
included the costs of road construction and maintenance
log hauling
The
result-ing
transport/log-ging
logging
and slash disposal.
Sediment
landing construction
yield
from each activity was estimated by a hydrologist.
Eight
alternatives were analyzed which involved several distinct road
In addition
networks three logging systems and eight paths for hauling.
two slash disposal methods broadcast burning and piling and burning were
considered.
A schematic of the road network is shown in fig.1 and the 12 construction
A construction or reconstruction cost
projects are summarized in table 1.
A reconstruction cost to get the road
is incurred during the first entry.
or landing back into operational condition is expended in the second
entry.
It is
table 1 project 12 represents the helicopter landing area.
assumed that the long span system requires a road with a 16-foot 4.88
wide traveled way while short span and helicopter system roads require a
14-foot
wide traveled way.
The eight paths
4.27
covering all reasonable
of
the
shown
in
table
2.
routes out
area are
In
m
m
and hauling costs were computed by the method of Cox4 and
Ewing3.
Logging costs of $40 $60 and $90 per MBF were used for short
A timber value of
span long span and helicopter logging respectively.
used
in
the
The
time
horizon
of
20 years was
$150/MBF was
analyses.
1
ended
5
and
divided into two periods
at year
period
period 2 ended at
that
timber
volume
be
harvested
was
It was assumed
to
independent
year 20.
We
have
that
the
of the transport/logging
system adopted.
required
the
used
for
both
An
interest
same.
transport/logging
system
periods are
Maintenance
construc-tion
all cost and values to the present.
percent was used to discount
the proximity of this timber sale in a portion of the Pacific
Crest Trail impact on visual resource
due to road and landing
An index representing the number of
was an important consideration.
times each transport/logging
system could be seen from critical observation.
points along the PCT was obtained by a landscape architect through the use
rate
of
10
Because
of
David L. Economics of Off-Highway Hauling U.S.
3Ewing
Shasta-Trinity National Forest April 1975.
4Cox WaZZace
and Operating
R.
Forest Service
Fort CoZZins Computer Program for Calculating Speeds
Costs for Logging Trucks USFS Shasta-Trinity NF July 1976.
4
O
Project
1
Project
2
O4
i
O
Proleý3
rte-
12
\
I
ýý
Proj 12
Y
r
Helicopter
landing
I
Proj
10
Timber landing
7
7O
Node
number
6
Road
link
-----
ýý
O
-
Pro1
4
9ý
Qtýy
Proj
Proj
Proj 11
8
Proj 10
O_-4
Proj
Short span
Long span
Figure
1.
Schematic
network.
6
fi\\ýý
Construction/
Logging
node
Links or
Project
system
First
cost
Second
entry
2-3-4-6-74-5
L
79100
2-3-4-6-7
S
67230
9600
3
9-10-11-12-13
S
92530
10800
4
1-9
L
1500
1500
5
1-2
L
26700
2600
4-5
9600
6
8-9_
L
1000
1000
7
2-8
L
14000
5000
8
SH
1-9
10
8-9
11
2-8
SH
SH
SH
12
2
H
9
L
1-2
S
Long Span
Table
Short
Span
H
1500
2600
1000
1000
14000
5000
20000
10000
Project definitions
1.
Path
1500
22700
Helicopter
Logging
Alternative
description
system
7--6-4--3--2-8
5
2
entry
2
1
1
reconstruction
Haul
cost
$/MBF
and costs.
Maintenance
$/MBF
Haul
maint.
$/MBF
L
1.85
1.14
2.99
L
1.82
1.02
2.84
S
1.57
0.89
2.56
S
1.57
0.94
2.51
S
1.56
0.90
2.46
S
2.35
1.40
3.75
1
7-6-o4--3-2-1-9-8
5
3
7-6-4-3-2-11-9-8
5
4
13-12-11-10
7-6-4---3-2-8
5
1
1
13-1211-10-9
5
7--6-4-3--2-8
1ý
5
13---12-11-10--9
6
7-6-4--3-2-8
5
13-12-11-10-9-1
7
2--8
H
0.72
0.55
1.27
8
2-1--9-8
H
0.77
0.47
1.24
Table
2.
Description of paths.
6
these
visual impact
indexes
computer program VIEWIT5.
Unfortunately
did not arrive in time to be included in the mathematical program analyses.
However they were used outside of the mathematical model during comparison
of alternatives.
of
The two types of slash disposal methods considered were broadcast burning
It was assumed that yarding of unmerchantable
and piling and burning.
material could be employed in either case.
The
disposal costs used are
presented in table 3.
Broadcast
Piling
Short span
Long span
Helicopter
$/MBF
$/MBF
$/MBF
8
burning
14
burning
Table
9
10
15
20
Slash reduction costs.
3.
MATHEMATICAL
FORMULATION
Equations and definitions of symbols are given at the end of this article.
to find an optimal solution under given constraints specified
the
The
user is called a mixed linear integer programming model.
by
describe
the
total
sediment
for
each
of the
equations
controls
i.e
yield
must
be
less
than
or
the
limit
of
the
sediment
equal to
yield
periods
upper
permitted. There are 18 controls which are evaluated against three
.Th process
objective functions
of
To
maximize present worth
To
minimize sediment yield
To
minimize Visual Resource impact.
5Travis
Eisner Iverson
Service PSW
RES
1975.
or
Johnson
VIEWIT USER
GUIDE
U.S.
Forest
ANALYSES OF ALTERNATIVES
the analysis phase can begin.
are assembled
The first step
criteria for sorting out desirable alternatives.
For the Deer
Creek Sale the important criteria were cost sediment
and
visual
yield
resource impact.
it
is
almost
choose
a
Unfortunately
impossible to
alternative for considering all criteria.
we
must
In practice
one
criterion
at
a
while
lower
limits
on
optimize
time
setting upper or
A total of 11 optimization runs were performed for the
the other criteria.
Deer Creek Sale the computer cost for each run was about $2.50.
Once
the
data
satis-factory
is to
select
analysis results indicated that short span Alternatives 3 or 5 would be
selected if economics alone were considered.
However it was estimated by
a hydrologist that
the maximum desirable and maximum allowable.sediment
The
sedi-men
func-tion
Sensi-tivity
feet
were 15000 cubic
424.8 m3 and 24000 cubic
the
during
design life respectively with an upper bound
feet
m3
on sediment
While
424.8
yield for all periods.
yield for this
area
feet679.7 m3
15000
the
cubic
cost
was
yield.
for
long
span
of
higher
of
piling and burning produced a smaller amount
of applying piling and burning both
alternatives
logging met the maximum desirable sediment
yield limit.
2
became
the
choice
in
Alternative
terms of net present
best
As
a
result
Consequently
worth when piling and burning and maximum desirable sediment
yield were
specified.
Helicopter Alternative 7 was selected when the objective
was to minimize sediment yield for both types of slash reduction
methods when upper limits were not specified for sediment
yield.
It was
tests
were performed on several of the input parameters.
found
that interest rates and timber values
would not alter the selection
of alternatives
in logging costs change
the
nor would uniform change
choice
of
alternatives.
mentioned earlier visual resource impact was not used directly
Its effect
must be considered by the decision-maker
computer runs.
during the selection of the overall best alternative for this timber sale.
As
we
in
the
have
8
CONCLUSION
We
have
demonstrated the use
of mathematical programming
of
technique for the
the
may leave
analysis
transport/logging
systems.
study
impression that too powerful a technique is used for a simple problem.
This may be correct.
For this problem it might be easier to compute
the
If
alternatives.
worth
and
sediment
for
of
the
yield
each
eight
present
the number of alternatives are 20 or 30 then
is
needed.
a computer
This
case
auto-matically
technique can be quickly realized when the number of
constraints on the solution is large.
For each
set of
the computer will
user-specified objective function and constraints
The
compare all possibilities and print out the best solution.
risk of overlooking a good alternative
which can easily happen when using
hand calculations
can be minimized.
The proposed technique lends itself
Once
very well to sensitivity analysis of uncertainty in the parameters.
the basic data are set up it takes
only a few minutes to revise the
numbers and obtain a new solution.
With hand calculations
it may take
just as long to obtain the new solution as the original solution.
The
advantage of
alternatives and
A number
this
changed.
Examples
volume may depend on the transport/
from one
logging system adopted the transport/logging system may change
time period to the next or we may let the schedules of construction and
timber harvest be part of the solution rather than input information.
of
this
requirements used
could be
the amount
of
SPECIFIED
in
the
of
timber
case
study
can
be
FORMULATION OF CONSTRAINTS
A mixed linear integer programming model was developed to find the optimal
solutions under various user-specified conditions.
The nomenclature used
is as
follows.
9
NOTATIONS
the
N
number
of
projects
12
number
of
routes
each
P
Nr
set
paths traversing
P.
number
T
of
of
VtVtVt
periods
span
short
and
J
T
period
2
helicopter
present worth
cost
factor period
cu.ft.
Vt
J
visual impact
number of sightings
period t.
project
TtTtTt
due
to
constructing project
j
sediment
total
cost
t
t
sediment yield
period t
TtTtTt
span
$/MMBF
Sit
sit
using long
project period
j-th
1000
a
t
period
respectively.
large constant
cx
8
road maintenance cost
including
slash
reduction
cost in $/MMBF
logging cost
i-th path
t
period
timber value
dt
j
hauling cost
project construction
CPt
time
total timber volume for time
CitCitCit
C
time
for
project
yield
cu.ft./MMBF
hauling cost
respectively
path
due
i
logging cost
period t
to
total project cost timber value and
value minus all costs respectively
sediment yield and
period t.
constructing
period
and
j
t
slash
net
reduction
value
period
timber
t.
TtTt
total
visual impact
respectively
TATA
total sediment yield and visual impact
all periods
respectively
UtUt
upper limit on
period t
sediment
yield and visual impact
10
respectively
UAUA
I.
if
1
0-1
project j is implemented
integer variables
MMBF
timber volume
Xit
yield and visual impact
sediment
upper limit or
all periods
otherwise
0
these
allocated on i-th path
respectively
are
period
defined
t.
FORMULATION
-
isPjtXit
I112112
12
-
EXit
- VSI2
VLI1
JCL X.
i it it
-
Tt
Tt
TT
-
iCTxit
t
-
Tt
-
Tt
ýS.
I.iCitXit
ETt
-
Tt
T
S
0
for
all
t
for
all
t
for
all
t
5
6
7
8
9
for all t
0
for all t
0
for
all
t
for
all
t
10
for
all
t
11
Tt
Tt
Tt
TS
0
0
12
US
for
t
all
t
13
14
US
A
-
4
0
0
TA
EVjtI
Tt
VtI12
0
t
-
ýCýtlj
-
0
Tt
- TL
iCitXit
-
1
2
3
j
0
iCitXit
Tt
all
1
13
-
for
cIj0
Tt
0
UV
t
11
for
all
t
15
for
all
t
16
as
TV
A-
ZTt
17
UV
A
TA
18
0
OBJECTIVE
Maximize
Present Worth
FUNCTIONS
19
Max EdtTt
Minimize Sediment Yield
Min T
Minimize Visual Resource
Min
T
20
S
A
V
21
A
1
A brief explanation of the formulation is in order.
Constraint
forces
project j to be constructed if a non-zero traffic is assigned to
a path
and
limit us to
requiring its construction.
Equations
The amount of
either short span long span or helicopter logging system.
timber that can be harvested by each logging system and time period are
2
specified
hauling
in
equation
4.
Equations
logging slash reduction
5
to
9
project cost
3
summing up total
timber value
value less all costs
are
for
and
for period t.
The net value
timber
respectively
for time period t is computed
Total
sediment yield
by equation 10.
for each time period and all time periods combined are given in equations
and
We assume sediment yield can arise from
respectively.
two activities
road and helicopter
landing construction and logging by
all systems.
Upper bounds on sediment yield for each time period and all
time periods are specified in equations
and
respectively.
Similar equations for visual resource impace
as for sediment yield are
12
11
13
given
in
equations
15
to
14
18.
19
Three
to
objective functions can be used as shown in equations
maximize present worth minimize sediment yield or minimize
visual resource impact.
We
can
12
21.
WASHINGTON
OFFICE
NEWS
OPERATIONS
Harold L. Strickland
Assistant Director
ENERGY
CONSERVATION
In 1975 the President asked the Federal Energy Administration and the
General Services Administration to-develop and submit recommendations to
the Chairman of the Energy Resources Council for a multiyear program to
increase energy efficiency in all Federal facilities and operations.
The
Federal
goal was to substantially reduce beyond present achievements
energy requirements over
the
next
10 years.
to participate on the working
Department of Agriculture was asked
committee groups.
Ollie Broadway represented the Department of Motor
Vehicle Management.
The
As
the
above working group the following proposal was made to
Administration
through the Energy Conservation Steering
Energy
the Interagency Working Committee.
a result of
the
Federal
Group by
I.
Description
of
Subject
significantly reduce energy consumption by the
and to avoid curtailment of ongoing programs the
following actions should be adopted by this Committee.
In
order
Federal
II.
to
fleet
Summary of Options
A.
Replace
to
a
portion of the Government light
10000 GVW with vehicles
of
smaller
truck
size
and
fleet
up
lower
G.V.W.R.
Option
1
Replace with very
by
Toyota Luv
small
Datsun
pickups as manufactured
Mazda
Courier
etc.
will require a revision in the General
Services
Administration procurement policy and
legislative action pertaining to the Buy American
This
Act.
13
2
Option
Replace with American-made compact
sedans.
Legislative action will be necessary to allow
larger numbers of passenger-carrying-vehicle
authorizations per agency.
Develop specifications and standards for procurement of
more economical vehicles for replacement of remaining
These
standards should not allow the
light truck fleet.
B.
auto-matic
purchase of luxury items such as air conditioning
oversized mirrors AM radios power
transmission
steering
power brakes etc.
Agencies requiring vehicles
exceeding these standards must submit a sound justification.
III.
Results
Expected
According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Fleet Report for the
fiscal year ending June 1974 there are 163181 light trucks
4 x
under 10000 G.V.W.R in the Federal domestic fleet.
If
the above options are put into use the energy savings
shown
in the following table can be realized
2
Option
MPG average
for vehicles
now in service
Average
mileage
per year
MPG average
predicted for
optional vehicles
Annual gallon
savings
per
vehicle replaced
Al
8.9
MPG
6383
mi.
25 MPG
462
gal.
A2
8.9
MPG
6383
mi.
20
MPG
398
gal.
B
8.9
MPG
6383
mi.
16
MPG
319
gal.
above
three
In
each
that
can
and
of
the
10 percent of the
least
replaced by optionA1
30 percent by option B.
at
be
Based on
the
fuel
be
can
Option
above
analysis
saved
Al
10%
x 163
x 462
A2
10 percent
181
veh.
gal/yr.
10% x
163181
gal/yr./veh.
6494564
14
option
following number
x
398
by
the
gal/yr./veh.
7538916
Option
conservative estimates are
light truck fleet of 163181
options
veh.
gal/yr.
of
A2
gallons of
Option B
30%
x
x 319
163181
veh.
gal/yr./veh.
15616326
gal/yr.
Total savings per year
29649806
crude
oil.
barrels
of
to 329400
gal/yr.
equivalent
energy savings there will be a significant reduction
in capital expenditures while maintaining the present level of vehicles
in the fleet traveling the same number of miles and accomplishing
The capital savings will be in the reduced price
required program goals.
In
addition
of
smaller replacement vehicles.
to
the
An additional 10 percent reduction in maintenance costs
on the smaller vehicles due to less optional equipment.
will be realized
continuing efforts to conserve energy we
Interim Federal Standard No. 00307c
can now procure compact trucks.
GSA-FSS dated January 12 1976 will be revised to show the specification
data for ordering this item.
Currently these specification data are
In the meantime the compact
reserved on page 9 of the Interim Standard.
and we
pickup can be purchased through General Services Administration
Work
with
Standard
change.
have sent each Region a copy of the proposed
data.
the Regional Equipment Engineer to obtain specification
As
a result
of
this
effort and
15
TECHNOLOGICAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Heyward T. Taylor
Assistant Director
TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE
1976
SURVEY
Missoula Equipment Development Center conducted a survey
traffic surveillance activities within the National Forest
Two questionnaires were distributed
System.
a one-page survey
to
Forest
District Rangers and Forest Engineers and a more
Supervisors
detailed six-page questionnaire to the person in each Forest responsible
In
FY
to
learn
for
the
about
traffic
surveillance.
The
response
questionnaires..
rate
was over
90
percent for-both
and the Center
is now contacting
Survey results have been compiled
key
personnel to insure that appropriate conclusions and recommendations are
A Project Record documenting findings
developed.
is planned by the end
of FY 1977.
A brief overview of survey results is presented
here-Sixty-seven
percent of the National Forests had a traffic
surveillance program and 81 percent of their effort was
devoted to gathering data to determine traffic volume.
road maintenance
and cost sharing
influence on developing a Forests
traffic
surveillance program while road design land-use
and program planning and budgeting
planning
recreation
also had some effect..
Over two-thirds of the Forests had
costs-share road maintenance agreements.
Transportation planning
activities had the most
Sixty-six Forests reportedtheir expenditures for traffic
surveillance during FY 1975.
Expenditures ranged from $0
to $29934
the median being $2550..
Based on median responses
of their total FRT budget
1975
about
0.2 percent
Forests spent
on traffic surveillance in FY
expect to spend about 0.6 percent in FY 1978.
counters accounted for approximately one-third of
costs and equipment procurement
repair installation
servicing amounted to another 45 percent.
and
Reading
the
and
About
40 percent of the personnel involved in traffic
surveillance had special training most coming from Regional
Office training sessions and self-study efforts.
16
About two-thirds of the Forests used traffic data collected
Also 58
by other organizations--mainly State and county.
or
shared
data
with
States counties
percent of the Forests
and
received
annual
traffic
summaries
adjoining Forests
prepared by their States.
Nearly all 84 percent Forests
knew how to obtain detailed traffic information from their
highway departments.
State
Based on this survey there are
recording devices in the Forest
at
least
366
hourly traffic
Service.
in traffic
surveillance
Considering only those Forests active
63 percent felt the performance
of their hourly recorders was
20 percent had no opinion and 2 percent
good to excellent
said performance was poor.
least
1408 pheumatic tube detectors are in the Forest
Service equipment inventory.
Twenty-two percent felt their
accuracy was good 55 percent said it was fair and 23 percent
said
it was poor.
Plans are to procure 70 more tube detectors
At
over
The
in
the
next
3
years.
Forest Service has
equipment
at
least
794
inductive
loop
detectors
Seventy-two
of loops was good
percent of the users
24 percent felt the
reported the accuracy
Forests
accuracy was fair and 3 percent said-it was poor.
plan to procure 427 additional inductive loop detectors over
the
its
next
3
inventory.
years.
Eighty-one percent felt that poor equipment performance was
The
indicated
jeopardizing their existing program.
survey
that the lack of an active monitoring program to verify
account for this inadequate
counter-accuracy could
performance.
sur-veillance
Sixty-five percent of-the Forests that had a traffic
program did some type of traffic classification.
Thirty-two percent of the Forests used manual observation
8 percent used photographic classification
while nearly
50 percent employed a combination of methods.
Forests were asked whether they had ever used statistical
methods such as confidence limits correlation
sampling
Of
schemes etc. in their traffic surveillance programs.
those
Forests with a traffic surveillance program 73 percent
said they did not use statistical methods.
Of those
that have
used the methods 32 percent indicated they felt the methods
were useful 16 percent felt they were not and 11 percent said
they were not sure if statistical methods were useful.
17
Thirty-two
Nineteen
Forests have used the computer programs developed by
Transportation Analysis Group
TAG at Berkeley.
percent used the general traffic surveillance programs
designed for summarizing data 21 percent used the timber
transport model and 11 percent used the summary program.
Thirty-nine percent of those Forests using the computer
experienced no problems and found them easy to use.
Eleven percent indicated that the programs are difficult to
use from a remote computer terminal and another 11
percent
found
the programs usable but had frustrating experiences
with them.
the
pro-grams
per-cent
Eighty-six Forests indicated they make traffic predictions.
Fifteen percent based these predictions on graphical methods
another 15 percent on comparing to similar situations 12
on
growth rates.
Few Forests used
regression analysis or
modeling techniques.
Sixty-four percent of the Forests were
dissatisfied with their prediction methods.
About 60 percent
of the Forests estimated traffic for an
area based on detailed
information from another study area.
Most of them used a
variety of techniques including subjective methods land use
and mathematical correlation.
planning activities
the Forests with a traffic surveillance
Service-wide standards are needed in such
areas
as counting
estimation and prediction report format
application of statistics data processing
classification
and equipment use and selection.
Seventy
program
percent
said
of
that
Fifty-seven percent of the Forests engaged in traffic
surveillance indicated they believed better techniques were
needed for vehicle classification because they felt visual
classification was too costly.
When
asked
like
to
what particular traffic surveillance equipment the Forest would
have improved
personnel on one Forest indicated they would like
to have a cheaper hourly recorder
two Forests indicated they would like
to have those
recorders record only daily count three Forests indicated
and detectors improved
they would like to see pneumatic tubes
another
three
Forests indicated they would like to see cassette data recorder
three
development accelerated
Forests indicated they would like to have
trail traffic counter accuracy
and another three
improved
Forests
indicated they would like to have dates
on their photographic film
classification equipment.
Four Forests
were concerned with the battery life
of detector/counter
combinations.
Interpreting survey results is critical when determining the value of
information gained.
The final report
will include conclusions and
recommendations developed by personnel directly associated with traffic
18
Equip-ment
surveillance.
Meanwhile this overview
with others
and may serve
Service-wide
If you would like to emphasize the need
may help you compare your program
as a guide in your future planning.
for improving a particular type of
Board or the Missoula
your Regional Equipment
contact
equipment
Development Center.
19.
CONSULTATION
S
STANDARDS
C.R. WeZZer
Assistant Director
For
the
progress
has made significant
past 5-1/2 years Consultation and Standards
in the resolution of many problems of the Forest
Service.
1971
work items to accomplish was developed from all
we have been able to complete and maintain 95
This work involved
the Forest Service General Provisions
percent of them.
Standard Specifications for Construction of Roads
Bridges the Road
Management System Water and Sanitation Handbooks
National Trail
ski lift publications
Bridge Inspection Program Highway Safety
Standards coordination of sign manufacturing with Federal Prison
dam safety and other major items.
In
a list
of
110
Stand-ards
Indus-tries
sources.
Continuing
then
Since
programs
that
need
attention and
support
transportation planning
cadastral surveys
dam safety
water supply monitoring
sanitation system operations and monitoring
tramway safety
road
and
trail
construction
road
and
trail
preconstruction
and
maintenance
buildings
signs
and
posters
highway
structures
highway
safety.
and
20
include
con-tinue
During this period there have been many events that require an immediate
change of direction to accommodate the mandate or meet the requirements of
a new or changed law or regulation.
Many of these are unresolved or
today some examples are
Sec.
404
of
Environmental Protection
the
Forest Management
Act
Act
Young Adult Conservation Corps
Dam
Safety
Act
Occupational
Highway
Safety and Health
Act
Safety
Act
and
Buildings Program.
Three
functions have
Trail
Management
Federal Power
been
to
reassigned in the Washington
Office
Recreation
Commission coordination
to
Lands
Powerline Permits to Lands.
This
involved
some
people.
the
change
of
personnel ceilings
and
the
reassignment of
meet formally about once each year--and informally as needed--to
discuss work progress
new and old projects coordination
cooperation
These meetings promote a desirable interrelationship
and difficulties.
that is normally and erroneously assumed to happen automatically.
For
it
is
that
we
have
close
coordination
example
imperative
extremely
between all facets
of the transportation assignment
if we are to have
and
workable
effective
efficient
coordinated
policies guidance and
instructions.
resulting
We
Assuring appropriate engineering attention to the.cause or crisis of the
moment requires a judicious establishment of priorities and selection of
It requires broad experience in Forest Service programs
personnel.
and areas as well as knowledge of personnel
activities
organization
other agencies
operations. and the judicial process.
con-tinue.
The
Consultation
activity of the Washington Office must
adequately staffed with intelligent productive
and profess ial and support
broad-based
experienced
It must
analytical
Standards
be
21
clerical
efficient
drafting etc.
and
personnel to assure proper output
effective guidance of the Forest Service.
MORE ABOUT
THE
for
PRESS-LAM BRIDGE
Press-Lam bridge has been installed.
See the June 1976 Field Notes
for a brief discussion of the Press-Lam
and the
concept
proposed bridge project.
The
Vol.8 No.6
existing structure was a one-lane
single-span bridge with concrete
steel
and a timber deck.
abutments
stringers
The old superstructure was
removed and the new bridge was erected on April 18 and 19 1977.
A
construction crew from the local district office of the State
Department had previously widened the concrete abutments for the
new double-lane bridge.
The
installation by the same crew was
smoothly with only a few minor difficulties.
Road
closure was
limited to approximately 7 hours on the 19th.
On hand to observe were
The
Transpor-tation
accom-plished
representatives of the State
newspaper and TV station and
Federal Highway
the
Forest
Administration
local
Service.
Trans-portation
testing program to be conducted by the Virginia Highway and
Research Council will cover the performance of the bridge for a
The scope of the study will
5-year period.
The
1.
Evaluate
the behavior of the bridge subjected
loading similar to HS 20.
2.
Monitor
to
a
dimensional changes and relative movements of
Attention will be
stringers and deck panels.
focused on glue lines butt joints and relative deck
and stringer displacements.
the
3.
Monitor
4.
Estimate the type and number of vehicles
structure over a 5-year period.
moisture content of the stringers and deck
Attention
will be focused on the condition of
panels.
the wearing surface drainage
and superstructure areas
considered to be highly suspect.
the
using
the
Data on all four items were collected on May 4 1977 and will be checked
again 1 year and 5 years later.
Data on items 2 3 and 4 will also be
collected 3
and 24 months after installation.
6
22
Information on the
1.
The
on
3.
as
follows
Forest Products Laboratory will prepare a report
design laboratory testing fabrication and
the
pressure
2.
bridge is to be provided
treatment.
Virginia Highway and Transportation Research
Council will report on the field tests.
The
The Federal Highway Administration will prepare a
16mm movie film covering both the laboratory work
and
the
installation.
23
TO READERS OF
FIELD NOTES
INVITATION
Every reader
is
author
potential
a
would
of an article for Field Notes.
If
you have
news
a
item or
accu-rate
short
you
article
publication
Material
in
Field
submitted
to share with
like
we
Service engineers
to send
you
invite
it
for
Notes.
to
Washington
the
Office
for
should
publication
be reviewed
by the
Washing-ton
respective
Office
Regional
and of
informative
may
material
submitted
however
short articles
Office
Field
is
the
list
ask
number
Washington
Each
to
7113.
several
material
All
be
The
length
of
pages
typewritten
submitted
should
illustrations
all
FSM
sentences
items are preferred.
timely technically
current
to the
original
drawings
or
photos.
Forests
and Forest
your Office Manager
of copies
Office directly
Service retirees.
or the
sent to your office.
Regional
to
are
Information
Copies of back issues
Regional
all
you
If
are
not
Station
currently
Coordinator
also
and
on the
to increase
available
from the
Office.
Region
questions
short
double-spaced
is
Service-wide
engineers
several
distributed from the Washington
Area Headquarters
mailing
the information
to
from
or news
and white
Notes
interest
vary
be typed
should
black
glossy
to see that
has
an
Information
and material
for
Coordinator
to
whom
The Coordinators
publication.
R-1
Bill
McCabe
R-4
Ted
R-2
Royal M. Ryser
R-5
Jim McCoy
R-3
Bill
R-6
Kjell
R-8
Bob Bowers
Coordinators
Strohschein
should
direct
questions
field
Wood
Bakke
concerning
personnel
USDA
Forest
Attn Gordon
P.O. Box 2417
Washington
Telephone
L.
Frank Muchmore
WO
format editing
D.C.
or Rita E. Wright
20013
Area Code 703-235-8198
25
Al Colley
publishing dates and other
Rm. 1108 RP-E
Rome
Smith
Norbert
R-10
Service
Staff
submit both
R-9
problems to
Engineering
should
are