1. Finnish wood measurement
Nov 19, 2007
Finnish wood measurement
Matti Heikurainen
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Matti Heikurainen

2. Characteristic of Finnish Wood Measuring
Nov 19, 2007
Characteristic of Finnish Wood Measuring
In Finland, the timber volume is determined as real solid volume over bark compared to many other countries which use under bark volume.
The unit of measurement is cubic metre (m3) solid volume on (including) bark.
In Finland there are nearly private forest owners.  Relatively small size of timber storages; high number of sales
The wood measuring method can be chosen freely by the seller and buyer in the timber trade.  This is very flexible and feasible system
No systematic errors are accepted for any officially accepted method. The required accuracy is ±4% for each timber lot.
Today, our timber logistics flow is very rapid from forest to the mill.
Matti Heikurainen

3. The Official and Statutory Organization of Wood Measuring in Finland
Nov 19, 2007
The Official and Statutory Organization of Wood Measuring in Finland
Matti Heikurainen 3

4. Advisory Board of Wood Measuring
Nov 19, 2007
Advisory Board of Wood Measuring
The next different interest groups of timber scaling are represented in the board:
Finnish Forest Industries Federation
Central Union of Agricultural Producers Trade Association of Finnish and Forest Owners MTK
Forestry and Earth Moving Contractors
Finnish Lorry Entrepreneurs’ Federation
Finnish Rural Workers’ Union
Forestry Development Centre Tapio
Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla
Representatives from the ministry act as a chairman and layer in this board.
One official measure is as a board’s secretary.
One researcher from Metsäteho is as an stable expert.
Matti Heikurainen

5. Responsible for Measuring in Practise
Nov 19, 2007
Responsible for Measuring in Practise
The timber buyer or seller, chain-saw feller, logging machine entrepreneurs or transportations contractors or their operator can measure a timber lot.
The parties agree in advance who is responsible for the measuring.
Timber buyer and seller agree in the timber sales agreement; who is measurer and what methods will be used?
Generally in Finland, the measuring costs are paid by the timber buyer or employer.
Forest companies have organized their wood measuring at mills on two ways;
Units inside companies (MLO tehdasmittausyksikkö, SE Metsä, UPM Metsä) which are responsible for measuring and grading at mills.
Specialised timber measuring companies (Mittaportti Oy, Vaakamitta Oy)
In standing sales, the operator of a harvester has commonly responsibility for measuring.
Matti Heikurainen

6. Officially Accepted Wood Measuring Methods
Nov 19, 2007
Officially Accepted Wood Measuring Methods
Harvester measuring
Scaling of individual logs (traditional method!)
Measuring of piled or stacked wood (traditional method!)
Methods based on random sampling: weight sampling, bundle-number sampling and frame sampling
Timber quality scaling based on stratified random sampling
Laser scanning for timber trucks, so called MODUS system
Image scanning scaling –system, so called AVM (=Automated Volume Measurement) (2 versions)
Truck / Forwarder weight scales for scaling timber (2 versions)
General instructions:
The general directive of timber scaling at the mills
The control directive of scaling of logs using automatic measurement devices at the mills
Matti Heikurainen

7. The volume of wood measuring in Finland 2007 (source Metsäteho)
The proportions according to Metsätehos associates information (covering 85 % of total volumes) :
private forests, standing sale s 32,2 milj. m3
private forests, sales in delivery cutting 4,8 milj. m3
state forests and company-owned forests 11,3 milj. m3
Total ,3 milj. m3
Domestic market cuttings were 57,7 milj. m3, of which logs 28,0 milj. m3 and pulpwood 29,7 milj. m3. (source: Metla)
Matti Heikurainen

8. Methods in standing sales, private forests 2007 (32,2 milj
Methods in standing sales, private forests (32,2 milj. m3) (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen
Timo Melkas 8

9. Methods in scaling in delivery cutting - private forests 2007 (4,8milj
Methods in scaling in delivery cutting - private forests 2007 (4,8milj.m3) (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen
Timo Melkas 9

10. Scaling methods, private forests 2007 (standing and delivery sales,37,0 milj. m3) (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen
Timo Melkas 10

11. Proportions of different scaling methods - State forests and company-owned forests on extradition scaling (11,3 milj. m3) (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

12. Proportion of different scaling methods - total commercial roundwood fellings 2007 (48,3 milj. m3) (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

13. Scaling places - mills / road side 2007 (source Metsäteho)
At the mill-woodyards 21,5 % (10,4 milj. m3) of which logs 34,5 % and pulpwood 65,5 %.
At the road side 3,8 % (1,8 milj. m3 ) of which logs 33,0 % and pulpwood 67,0 %.
Matti Heikurainen 13

14. Proportion of different scaling methods - Private forests, standing sales 1993 – 2007 (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

15. Proportion of different scaling methods - Private forests, sales on delivery 1993 – 2007 (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

16. Proportions of wood measuring methods, 1993 – 2007 (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

17. Wood quantities and proportions of methods in 2007 (source Metsäteho)
Matti Heikurainen

18. RECENT INNOVATIONS 1 Scaling using the loader mounted weight scales
On a way to be an official scaling method:
Scaling using the loader mounted weight scales
The method fits well to harvesting-chain using terminals and harvesting-chain for small lots.
Matti Heikurainen

19. RECENT INNOVATIONS 2
Voluntary agreement on measuring energy-wood ( )
Agreed and defined methods cover all normally used measuring methods for energy-wood (but not split billets, which already had agreed methods)
All main energy-wood users attended
Possible to develop to official statutory level
Matti Heikurainen

20. RECENT INNOVATIONS 3 Reform of wood measurement legislation
Existing critique:
Act and decrees...bureaucratic procedures
in some cases may slow the implementation of new methods
has the government a role to play in ”functioning markets”
energy-wood is still outside
What next:
A background study will be conducted by METLA in 2009 (experiences by facts, lessons learned, what are the alternatives, what do the different stakeholders prefer... )
A broadly-based working group in 2010 ?
New legislation in 2012 ??
Matti Heikurainen