The journals »Mehanizacija šumarstva« (MŠ) and »Nova mehanizacija šumarstva« (NMŠ) were analyzed for the period from 1994 to 2010 with the aim to show the connection between these two journals and their characteristics (Tables 1, 2 and 4) through editorial and publishing features (Table 3, Fig. 1) and analysis of articles, authors, and references. The pairs and groups of authors were identified for each journal individually and in total (Fig. 5 and 6).
The tendency of an increasing number of authors (Table 5), pages, references (Tables 6, 8, 9 and 10), and author and journal self-citations (Table 7, Fig. 2, 3 and 4) per article in all types of scientific papers was observed in the articles published by »Nova mehanizacija šumarstva« and compared to those published by »Mehanizacija šumarstva«.
Analyzing the title words, it was found with great certainty that most titles briefly and concisely describe the content of the articles and that more than one third of all title words may be considered as keywords (Tables 11, 12 and 13, Fig. 7).

Keywords: scientific communication, bibliometrics, forest sciences, citation analysis, word analysis, association analysis, Nova mehanizacija šumarstva, Mehanizacija šumarstva

This paper shows the measurement of maximum pulling forces and pulling forces while the vehicle moves backwards for forest machines equipped with forest winches and anchor plates. The measurements were conducted on the following skidders:

• Timberjack 240C with single-drum winch, without anchor plate, with fixed horizontal rollers,
• LKT 81T with double-drum winch, with anchor plate, with movable horizontal rollers,
• Ecotrac 120V with double-drum winch, with anchor plate, with movable horizontal rollers,
• Ecotrac MS 33V with double-drum winch, with anchor plate, with fixed horizontal rollers.

Besides the above skidders, an adopted farming tractor was also investigated:

• Belarus 1021 with double-drum winch mounted on rear power lift, together with anchor plate and horizontal rollers.

Based on pulling forces measured while the machines move backwards and the known cable angle, horizontal and vertical components of the pulling force and adhesion factor were calculated. The highest adhesion factor is achieved by skidders with anchor plate Ecotrac 120V, LKT 81T and Ecotrac MS 33V (around 1), while the lowest adhesion factor is achieved by Timberjack 240C (0.56).

The analysis of the impact of horizontal roller height of forest vehicles shows that the higher the roller height, the lower is the winching efficiency, so from that point of view, forest vehicles that anchor should have a horizontal roller mounted on the anchor plate. Forest vehicles without an anchor plate have a low adhesion factor, and high position of horizontal rollers decreases the winching efficiency, but increases the adhesion weight of vehicles, ensuring somewhat larger pulling forces.

Keywords: forest harvesting, skidder, winch, pulling force, horizontal rollers, adhesion factor

Axle load distribution has a great influence on skidder mobility during timber extraction on sloped terrain. Axle load distribution is affected by: 1) dimension parameters (skidder weight, center of gravity position and placement of horizontal rollers), 2) orientation and slope of terrain, 3) load characteristics and 4) factors of load distribution and skidding.

This paper investigates the impact of terrain slope and orientation (direction of transport) as well as load characteristics (described through: mass, weight, volume, area of lateral cut, length, number of loaded pieces) on factors of load distribution and skidding of skidder Ecotrac 120V.

Statistically significant correlation coefficients have shown as follows: 1) load distribution factor is inversely proportional to mass, weight and volume of transported timber (r = -0.51), 2) skidding factor is negatively correlated only with terrain orientation (transport direction) and slope (r = -0.71). From this regression analysis, a clear dependence was observed of load distribution factor on load mass, as well as of skidding factor on terrain slope and orientation.

Knowing the dimensions of the skidder Ecotrac 120V, the paths was open to modeling the mobility of the investigated skidder with the aim of defining its safe, efficient and environmentally sound working range considering terrain slope and orientation, soil strength and varying load.

Uz poznavanje dimenzijskih značajki skidera Ecotrac 120V otvoren je put modeliranju kretnosti istraživanoga skidera radi određivanja njegova sigurnoga, učinkovitoga i okolišno prihvatljivoga područja rada s obzirom na smjer i nagib terena, nosivost podloge te veličinu vučenoga tereta.

Keywords: load distribution factor, timber extraction factor, skidder’s mobility

This paper explores a new measuring system for measuring axle load of forest trucks and other vehicles – portable measuring platform. The development of this system was induced by the increasing demand for wood biomass for energy, and by the need to find the most precise and simple method for the assessment of produced quantities of fresh unchipped energy wood, dried out unchipped wood and finally chipped energy wood. Furthermore, this system is highly necessary for calculating productivity norms for primary wood transport and for creating productivity plans. The measuring platform consists of four loading cells, placed in the corners of the platform. Each loading cell can measure up to 30 tons. The portable measuring platform is calibrated with the use of 500 kg certified weights. During calibration, errors were observed ranging from –2 kg to 20 kg. All observed errors are within acceptable limits for practical use of the measuring platform. Due to its robust construction, the measuring platform is suitable for field measurement of axle loads in forestry operations.

Keywords: portable measuring platform, forwarder, axle load

In Croatia the development of machinery and technology of wood production is particularly affected by specific features and characteristics of forest management. An exceptionally important feature of our forests is a high proportion of natural forests in the total forest area, which implies a more demanding forest management and more complex processes of forest regeneration and tending.
Felling and wood processing are not fully mechanized and motor-manual methods are usually applied (chainsaws). The main obstacles for further development of the felling and wood processing mechanization are present due to large size and weight of the wood, specific features of wood species and type of wood processing according to quality classes (cut to quality).
Wood extraction is mostly mechanized and the selection of machinery and technology largely depends on the felling method and terrain slope as well as on terrain obstacles. In regeneration fellings in lowland forests and flat terrains, wood is usually extracted by wheel equipped vehicles (forwarders). In thinnings of lowland forests, wheel equipped vehicles and tractors with trailers are also used, as well as adapted farm tractors with winches and small thinning skidders. The short wood method is applied. On sloped terrain in regeneration and selective fellings, where long wood method is mostly applied, wood is extracted by heavy and middle sized skidders.
In thinnings on sloped terrains, small sized skidders are used for wood extraction, as well as adapted farm tractors with winches and adapted cable-supported transport systems.
In case of eligible conditions, some machines are used in activities outside their scope, thus considerably increasing the overall utilization.
Further transport is almost entirely carried out by truck units, and here the main constraints are the laws and regulations on permitted road loads. Therefore, a lot of effort is put into trying to increase the payload by using lighter materials for load-bearing parts of trucks and trailers. The possibility is also considered of loading and transporting wood assortments using truck units without cranes.
The organization and implementation of wood transport have been developed and improved and the overall production costs have been reduced due to the use of modern communication systems (e.g. FMS).
The most important features of the development of wood harvesting machinery and technology in the Croatian forestry can be characterized by two main trends (targets):
Develop our own machinery and equipment as a component of a specifically designed original technology suitable for forest management practices and working conditions in the Republic of Croatia.
Research and develop the existing technology, machinery and equipment aimed at improving environmental eligibility, efficiency, ergonomics, working tools safety and energy efficiency, as well as at improving and adapting to management and work conditions.

Keywords: forest management characteristics, specific natural condition, machinery, technology, felling and wood processing, extraction, wood transport

The efficiency of long distance truck transport of wood depends on various factors, some of which are under the influence of foresters (technical performance of truck units, organization of landing site), while legal regulations of wood transport on public roads are beyond the influence of foresters. This paper deals with technical solutions in long distance wood transport, whose application increases the utilization of truck units and decreases their negative influence on the environment. The results of the Swedish project »One Stack More« show new technical and technological solutions in the design of truck units, which are reflected in the increase of the carrying capacity of truck units due to a higher number of axles, additional semitrailer, use of lighter material for trailers and semitrailers, and no hydraulic crane.

Keywords: truck units, ETT, long distance wood transport, environmental viability

The paper presents the basic procedures and elements of measurement and analysis of innovation activities, as described in Oslo manual for data collection and interpretation of innovation. It deals with the main types of innovation, innovation activities, innovation measurement framework, qualitative and quantitative data, survey procedures, questionnaires, frequency of data collection, etc. Additionally, the paper presents a few examples of the innovation analysis in foreign forestry, examples of local innovation and the main results of previous innovation research in Croatian forestry. The aim was to encourage further innovative activities in forestry and to provide guidance and bases for a correct interpretation of innovation and objective monitoring and measurement of innovation activities in the forestry company.

Keywords: innovation, measuring innovation activities, Oslo Manual, forestry

Urban forests are valuable natural resources that provide many benefits (ecological, economic and social) to urban population. More than half of the world’s population resides in urban areas and hence the quality of life should be one of the issues to be dealt with by urban society. Therefore, the modern concept of urban forestry places a special emphasis on social benefits of urban forests, such as recreation and health aspects, and well as on education and raising awareness of urban forests among urban population. Still, in Croatia social aspects of urban forestry have not been adequately researched. In contemporary society, technology plays a great role, and cellular phones, smartphones and car navigation are part of everyday life. All these devices use Global Positioning System (GPS) for georeferencing of objects. The goal of this paper is to give an overview of the use of GPS in studying the social aspects of urban forestry, such as recreation, health benefits, urban forest education, as well as proving timely information on urban forests to citizens. For this purpose SCOPUS, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases were used. Literature review shows great potential of using GPS, especially in combination with Global Information System (GIS), in studying the social aspects of urban forestry.

Keywords: urban forestry, GPS, social aspects, inventory, recreation, health, education

Još od 1966. godine, kada je u Zvolenu (tadašnja Čehoslovačka) održano prvo znanstveno savjetovanje pod imenom Foresty Mechanization, pa sve do danas održala se tradicija šumarske znanosti i struke izmjenjivanja ideja, poticanja suradnje te rješavanja gorućih problema i primjene šumarske mehanizacije. U počecima se broj sudionika savjetovanja kretao od 20 do 40, a posljednjih je godina porastao na 100 do 120, dok je ova godina bila rekordna s 243 sudionika na savjetovanju u Cavtatu. Također treba spomenuti kako su u početku savjetovanja FORMEC­a bila usmjerena ka zemljama srednje i istočne Europe (dovoljno je spomenuti neke od osnivača kao što su Bojanin, Hafner, Kaldy, Krivec, Pankotai, Pestal, Platze i drugi), što se s godinama promijenilo, pa tako danas sudionici dolaze ne samo iz cijele Europe već i čitavoga svijeta. U Hrvatskoj je savjetovanje FORMEC­a prvi put bilo održano u Zalesini 1983. godine…