OPTIMIZATION OF FOREST ACCESSIBILITY USING MODERN TECHNOLOGIES

Traditional approaches to forest management planning in general, as well as to individual planning phases such as forest road planning, are gradually but steadily changing and giving way primarily to modern information technologies. These technologies are now increasingly present in the stages of data collection and processing, which is increasingly based on multi-criteria analysis. We are witnessing a real proliferation of various computer programs, applications, tools, and algorithms for conducting spatial and statistical analyses. At the same time, these methods and tools require a large amount of highly accurate data on forest conditions and growing stock, terrain, and the use of forest areas in general in order to achieve high-quality analytical results for forest road planning. Forest road planning aims to provide optimal access to forests and the entire forest area by minimizing transport costs, taking into account terrain conditions and meeting the needs and interests of all users of forest areas. Forest road planning involves optimizing forest accessibility and designing forest roads, which today cannot be conceived without the use of modern information technologies. The purpose of applying the achievements of modern civilization is to obtain high-quality results, humanize work, and facilitate decision-making in forestry operations regarding the spatial distribution of forest roads, all with the aim of achieving production objectives while simultaneously protecting forest ecosystems. This monograph is, first and foremost, a collection of scientific achievements in the fields of forest engineering, forest road planning, optimization of forest accessibility, and forest road design. Secondly, the research results indicate what should be undertaken in selected forest areas with regard to improving forest accessibility. Thirdly, the monograph serves as a practical guide to the use of Geographic Information Systems and the RoadEng road design software, as it clearly and precisely describes the application of all methods and tools used to obtain the required results. Finally, it advocates the mandatory preparation of forest road plans and, more generally, spatial plans for the use of forest areas as an integral part of forest management planning and related management-planning documentation.