Modeling Work Plan Logistics for Biomass Recovery Operations Using Spatial Analysis

Book excerpt: Through the use of spatial and network analysis, this study demonstrates how operational managers can develop a comprehensive work plan that provides a framework for centralized woody biomass harvesting operations. This was achieved by identifying the locations of landings, the amount and distribution of available biomass, modeling the forest freight supply chain, and the estimating the cost of transportation. The resulting models identified the location and amount of available biomass within 94 harvest units, 95 possible centralized landing locations, 15 trailer landing locations, and transportation routes and cost from the stump to the energy plant.