Advances in Cable Yarding: a Review of Recent Developments in Carriers for Mobile Skyline Cable Yarding

Gernot Erber; Rien Visser; Stefan Leitner; Hunter Harrill; Raffaele Spinelli; Rodolfo Picchio; Thomas Varch; Karl Stampfer

doi:10.1007/s40725-025-00246-8

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Advances in Cable Yarding: a Review of Recent Developments in Carriers for Mobile Skyline Cable Yarding

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Advances in Cable Yarding: a Review of Recent Developments in Carriers for Mobile Skyline Cable Yarding

Gernot Erber, Rien Visser, Stefan Leitner, Hunter Harrill, Raffaele Spinelli, Rodolfo Picchio, Thomas Varch and Karl Stampfer

Current Forestry Reports, Vol.11, pp.1-13

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-025-00246-8

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Abstract

steep terrain harvesting

cable logging

hybridization

electrification

unguyed yarder

machine sensor data

Purpose of Review The introduction of cable yarding systems has transformed timber harvesting operations on steep slopes. Subsequent adaptations and modernizations of rigging configurations, carriages, and work practices have led to substantial improvements in safety, productivity, and environmental performance. This review focuses on the base, or carrier, of the cable yarder and identifies recent improvements, thereby offering insight into emerging opportunities for future developments. Recent Findings Hybridization and electrification of carrier drivetrains, leveraging cable yarding's distinctive suitability for energy recuperation, has been introduced as a measure to enhance fuel economy and reduce CO₂ and noise emissions, thereby improving economic and environmental performance as well as occupational safety. The creation of a more attractive and safer working environment has been achieved through the increased use of excavators as carrier platforms for unguyed yarders, which have been instrumental in extending fully mechanized harvesting to steep slopes. In addition, this type of machine allows economic viability to be maintained in the smaller operations that are expected to be the norm in the future through lower machine costs and faster relocation. New information and communication technologies have made carriers a key source of machine sensor data for production control, monitoring and coordination, predictive maintenance and overall system optimization. Summary The yarder carrier, though often overlooked, is at the core of the evolution of cable yarding operations. The implementation of Forestry 4.0 technology is underway, and recent developments align with Forestry 5.0 principles to advance sustainable, safe, and economically viable harvesting in challenging terrain.

Details

Title: Advances in Cable Yarding: a Review of Recent Developments in Carriers for Mobile Skyline Cable Yarding
Authors: Gernot Erber
Rien Visser - University of Canterbury
Stefan Leitner - Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Hunter Harrill - California State Polytechnic University
Raffaele Spinelli - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Rodolfo Picchio - University of Tuscia
Thomas Varch
Karl Stampfer (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Publication details: Current Forestry Reports, Vol.11, pp.1-13
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s40725-025-00246-8
ISSN: 2198-6436
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Data Availability: No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.
Organisation Unit: Forest Industries Research Centre
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991127099602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
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