| Company | Tigercat |
| Country | United States |
| Website | https://www.tigercat.com/feature/virtual-operator-training/ |
| Category | Harvesting & Extraction › Remote sensing & mapping |
Virtual cab
Automated log measurement systems are technology platforms that use sensors, imaging, and computing to determine the dimensions, volume, and quality attributes of individual logs without the need for manual measurement by human scalers. Accurate log measurement is commercially critical in timber supply chains because it forms the basis for payment between harvesting contractors and forest owners, and between log sellers and mill buyers — making any systematic bias or imprecision a direct financial liability. Traditional manual measurement using calipers, tapes, and section sampling is labour-intensive, inconsistent between operators, and creates bottlenecks at log landings and mill intake points. Automated systems address these limitations by deploying technologies such as 3D laser scanning, structured light imaging, X-ray computed tomography, and photogrammetric camera arrays to capture the full geometry of individual logs or entire truck loads in a matter of seconds. From this three-dimensional data, software calculates log length, small-end and large-end diameter, taper, curvature, and volume using standardised formulae (such as Smalian's, Huber's, or JAS scaling methods), and can also detect surface defects, sweep, and ovality that affect grade and value. In Australia, automated log measurement is increasingly deployed at plantation log landings and sawmill intake facilities to replace or supplement manual scaling, with systems from suppliers including FARO, Rinntech, and local technology integrators providing truck-mounted scanning, roadside scanning gantries, and in-mill conveyor measurement solutions. The data generated by these systems also feeds into digital chain-of-custody tracking, harvest reconciliation, and inventory management platforms, creating an end-to-end digital record of wood flow from stump to mill gate.
Improves measurement accuracy and reduces on-site incidents through safe, controlled training environments.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Tigercat |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Company |
| FWPA RD&E | 8.5 |