Determining the effect of working dffficultffis on the productton and the study on these factors relating the logging operations on the working conditions i̇n the East Karadeni̇z forest region

SUMMARY Many variables and uncontrollable fectors affect wood production system. These factors incîude climatic and terrain condftions, topographic features, forest and stand conditions, properties of wood cut and the status of workers and work-machines. Ali of these factors constitute a system of a very complex nature. This is feft more pressingly when the interactions among these fectors are to be anatyzed and modeled in especialiy mountainous areas. in this study, the time required for felling and skidding operations where detennined and fectors affecting togging were observed and recorded. The data obtained were later anatyzed. Relationships between variables and the effects of these variables on work stages were detennined. Then, regression and Artificial Neural Networks models were generated for each work stage. Results indicated that ANN models better predicted operation time and per unit time than did regression models. Based on the ANN models, a simulation model (AKSIM) was developed to predkt every stage of a logging operation. The model was written in Siman IV simulation language that uses Fortran subroutines. The potential use of the resuhs is that logging operations may be planned, production planning process on site may be easily controOed, and the wages of the forest workers may be better detennined. Key words: felling operations, skidding operations, effective fectors, work stage, unit time, regression, Artificial Neural Networks, Simulation, Siman IV. VIII