Forest Operations – Ren R 335/723 2020 Course Outline
Instructor: Brad Pinno
Office hours: by appointment Phone: 780-492-1280
Email: [email protected]
Timetable and important dates:
Class meetings: Tuesdays at 2pm Classroom: Zoom via eClass
Final Exam date: no final exam scheduled Final term paper due: December 1
Calendar description: Harvesting and transportation methods and technologies as applied to wood-harvesting operations. This is a general course for students who desire a basic knowledge of current technologies used to conduct forest operations.
Textbook: There is no assigned textbook. Required readings will be assigned and made available through e-class.
Lecture Notes: Notes, presentations, reading materials, and website links will be posted on e- class.
Representative evaluative material: example assignments and exam questions will be posted on e-class.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain for the main ground-based forest harvesting systems used in Alberta:
Factors affecting their operations and productivity
Effect on the environment, including soil, water and plants
Links to goals of silvicultural systems
2. Demonstrate the basic principles of designing low standard roads
3. Explain how new technologies are being used in the planning and management of forest harvesting and transportation systems.
4. Articulate an advanced understand of a particular forest harvesting or transportation issues relevant to foresters and natural resource professionals
The purpose of this course is to provide you with an introduction to Forest Operations with a focus on ground based harvesting systems and low grade roads and the impacts these operations have on ecosystems. We will cover major terminology, concepts, and underlying processes that influence selection and use of effective silviculture treatments. We will focus on practices applicable to Alberta forest operations with examples from other areas.
At the end of this course, students will complete a term paper, infographic, and short presentation to the whole class on a Forest Operations topic of their choosing.
Course Format
Lectures will be provided asynchronously, i.e. pre-recorded and posted on eClass. I expect you to watch the lectures and complete any other requirements prior to the weekly class meeting.
The synchronous class meetings will be at 2pm on Tuesdays (regular class time) via Zoom (link on eClass). These sessions are mandatory and will form the basis of the participation portion of the final grade. These sessions will not be recorded and will be a discussion rather than lecture format.
Weekly assignments will be due at 2pm each Tuesday. There are tentatively 6 assignments planned for the course (this is subject to change). Each assignment will be weighted evenly. All assignments must be submitted through eClass.
Take-home quizzes will occur at the end of both of the Harvesting (October 6) and
Transportation (Nov 3) sections. No calculators or other electronic devices are permitted, nor are they required, when completing the quizzes.
The term paper will be due on Tuesday Dec 1. Students will also make a short presentation to the class along with providing feedback to other students. Presentations for Ren R 335can be live or recorded and can take a variety of formats. For Ren R 723 the presentations will be longer and more involved. Specific details and grading rubric will be provided during class.
Grading Ren R 335/723
Take home quiz 1 – 15%
Take home quiz 2 – 15%
Assignments: 30%
Term paper: 20%
Presentation and feedback: 10%
Class participation: 10%
Assignments are due on the indicated date at 2 pm and must be uploaded to eClass. 20% of assignment value will be deducted for each day assignments are late. Evaluation will be
completed and expressed as raw scores. Grades will be assigned at the end of the term using the
Four Point Grading System. Students’ grades on each component of the course will be weighted and then combined to calculate a final % grade. This % grade will be converted to a letter grade which reflects the student’s level of achievement with respect to the course learning outcomes and performance relative to other students in the class. An overall course mark of 50% or more guarantees at least a D while an overall course mark of 90% or more guarantees a grade of at least A. Students registered in Ren R 723 will write different exams than Ren R 335 and are also required to complete a more detailed term paper and class presentation.
Your term paper should contain at least 10 pages of text (12 pt font, double spaced, 2.5 cm margins on all sides) and should cite at least 15 references. The proposed title and topic is due by September 29, followed by a detailed outline by October 27 with final term papers due Tuesday, Dec 1 at 2:00 pm.
Academic Integrity
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta. ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
All students at the University of Alberta are subject to the Code of Student Behaviour, as outlined at: University Governance > Code of Student Behaviour. Please familiarize yourself with it and ensure that you do not participate in any inappropriate behavior as defined by the Code. Key components of the code include the following statements.
30.3.2(1) No Student shall submit the words, ideas, images or data of another person as the Student’s own in any academic writing, essay, thesis, project, assignment, presentation or poster in a course or program of study.
30.3.2(2)c. No Student shall represent another’s substantial editorial or compositional assistance on an assignment as the Student’s own work.”
Students should speak with the course instructor about any questions or concerns about the code.
Students should be particularly aware of the code as it pertains to internet and library research, use of previous class notes, reclamation plans of former students and interviews or discussions with others.
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise,
created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.
Professionalism and Online Rules of Engagement
Students are expected to attend and participate in class meetings, complete assigned readings, and treat instructors and others in the class with courtesy and respect. Cellphones and other electronic communication devices should be in silent mode during class. Proper online etiquette must be followed by everyone. Muting video and microphones is acceptable and sessions will not be recorded.
Copyright Information
All original course materials prepared by the instructor are considered to be the intellectual property of the instructor (unless otherwise noted), and are protected by law under Canada’s Copyright Act. “Course materials” include slides, presentations, handouts, lecture notes,
recorded lectures, and any other materials distributed or made available to students by the course instructor. Permission is given for individual students to use these materials for their own study purposes in this course. Students must not publish, post on a public Internet site, sell, rent, or otherwise distribute any course materials without the instructor’s express permission.
Tentative Schedule (subject to change):
September 1 Introduction
September 8 Felling and processing September 15 Skidding and loading September 22 Harvesting systems
September 29 Harvesting impacts on soil and water October 6 Harvest design and planning
October 13 Transportation and hauling
October 20 Road design, construction and deactivation October 27 Road impact on soil and water
November 3 Scaling and log yards November 10 Reading week
November 17 Graduate student presentations November 24 Undergrad student presentations #1 December 1 Undergrad student presentations #2
