Automated production time analysis using FPDat II onboard computers: A validation study based on whole-tree ground-based harvesting operations

The digital transformation of the forest sector has been supported by the development of data loggers and onboard computers, which enable remote monitoring of forest operations, including ground-based whole-tree harvesting systems. Among the available options, FPDat II and its preceding versions represent a common brand-agnostic solution, particularly in Canada. Despite their widespread use, there remains a gap in the literature and industry knowledge regarding their efficacy and accuracy of production monitoring. To partially address this gap, this study developed an innovative protocol to estimate direct work time and productive time, utilizing FPDat II ignition and motion data, and validated its performance. The accuracy of these estimates was assessed by comparing over 400 h of direct timing through field observations with remotely collected ignition and motion data of 11 different machines. The study further identified data processing strategies to minimize errors in these estimates. Although the results showed poor performance in the estimation of direct work time, the inclusion of time thresholds in the analysis of ignition and motion data enabled a reduction of the overall productive time error to less than 1%. This result was achieved by classifying ignition-off events shorter than one hour and working events shorter than one minute as delays. The ability to successfully track productive time of ground-based harvesting equipment, including equipment used for whole-tree applications, opens up further opportunities in the development of fully automated productivity analysis solutions.