Cruising software

[Cntrybo2]

I am a forester for an environmental consulting firm that is getting into the timber world. They currently purchased a programs called Timber Tools that I looked at and found it to be useless..at least for my area. I did some looking around and found Cruisecalc that seems to be better but I still have some issues with its math. My question is, do any of you use these programs for working up your cruises and if so, have you worked with cruisecalc or any other programs and which one would you recommend? Price is certainly a factor here and any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks yall I  look forward to your responses.

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum Cntrybo2

What were the math issues you had with Cruisecalc?  And what parts were better than Timber Tools?

Where in the World are you in to environmental consulting?  Like to hear more about that.   

Forester from? ?

[SwampDonkey]

Cntrybo2

I use my own. It's very hard to write a cruise program or database to suit all of us. Some regions are set up differently because there is site, species and markets to consider by region. And somebody else tweaks their cruising a little differently then the next guy. Here in NB we use Standardized volume tables that follow height curves for 4 different site types, plus a 5th volume table for average site for softwood and for hardwood, so ten volume tables. Some areas may consider just saw log volumes and the topwood is firewood or chips or worm food. In my area we take tops to 4" and sometimes mills take down to 2.5". We usually dot tally our cruising here, other areas ask for details of each individual tree, like selling livestock. I would learn to setup a database program and write my own. About the only way your going to get satisfaction is if your state mandates that everyone uses "XXXX Program" to cruise their state or federal forest lands. In the province of BC I know that the province has printed cruise cards and approved computer programs to give them the information they are interested in. They also have a certifying body for timber cruisers and timber evaluators, another area of discussion I suppose.

So with those programs you tried, is it the volume equations (tables) that don't fit or they don't allow for some other parameters used in your volume determination? I have never used those programs myself. But, as I said I designed and wrote my own and have had very good results for what I want to know. I load my photos and cruise grid on my GPS, which also carries my cruise database that is synchronized with the main database on my office computer. No paper until I get to the office and hit the cruise report buttons on my office computer.

[Cntrybo2]

The biggest issue I had with Timber Tools, is that the parameters cannot be changed and the they do not allow for the tally of certain size wood that we here in virginia find very common (short pulpwood). Some guys dont tally this but as far as i am concerned, I will tally any logs that will bring profit, if you dont do this, you are just giving money to the buyer and robbing your seller! bear in mind, i am not in the procurment side of the business but rather in the consulting side so my interest is with the landowner. I played around with Cruisecalc today and found that it does work nicely. This program is very user friendly and able to be customized regionally. I spoke with the programer (Paul Tarver) and he is areally good guy that is very willing to help out with custom tables and little to no charge.

[SwampDonkey]

I talked to a forest technician in charge of cruising on provincial crown land for DNR. I asked why they never incorporate wood larger than 46 cm in their volume tables. I said your wildlife guys sure would appreciate that cruise information when considering habitat for certain forest species. He said since most the trees average smaller than that it wasn't significant. I said sure it is, and how many m3 per ha does a 60 cm hard maple represent or a 90 cm pine if you encounter one every other cruise plot in a large tract of virgin old growth? He said it was insignificant and went on to say he was too busy to discuss it further he had new recruits to begin training. So, basically I had to use the existing volume tables and calculate volumes for trees larger than 46 cm (by finding the best fit through regression) because when asked for the equations he said he would get back to me and I never heard tell of him again. I can understand he was probably busy and my request was no priority by any means, but if I was chief forester from JDI, I would be first in line even if I were the 50'th caller. :D My mere mentioning the inadequacy of his volume tables didn't sit well I suspect. Thus, I have my own cruise program. Sometimes you get the feeling from talking with these guys that they are geniuses because they work for DNR. :D

[Tillaway]

This one works well.
http://www.atterbury.com/store/software.html

I will handle most every common log rule.  The reports it creates will cover most needs however there is very limited ability to customize reports.  They will work with you to customize the program however you need.

The data collection is a bit clunky compared to others I have used if you use a hand held device to collect cruise data.  You can enter data by hand off cruise cards but I highly recommend using a hand held.  It also has some issues with certain versions of the windows operating system.  Typically it works on the older systems.  We use it on XP but it may not be Vista compatible.  It has a few issues with XP that can be baffling. It does not work on a net work well.  It functions better stand alone where the data and program reside on the same drive.  The programs resides on your computers C: drive.  If you store your data on network then sometimes the baffling issue rears its head accessing the network drive.  This is probably the most common cruise program in the NW.

For the a better total customized solution that might fit your needs contact this company.

http://www.masonbruce.com/index.htm

Their programs are easier to use and can be completely customized.  Their inventory program is used by several large land owners in the NW.  A cut down version as a cruise program was available but may be a bit pricey.  Documentation (user manuals) was poor however I am sure that has changed since I last used it.

[Wudman]

I am a forester for an environmental consulting firm that is getting into the timber world. They currently purchased a programs called Timber Tools that I looked at and found it to be useless..at least for my area. I did some looking around and found Cruisecalc that seems to be better but I still have some issues with its math. My question is, do any of you use these programs for working up your cruises and if so, have you worked with cruisecalc or any other programs and which one would you recommend? Price is certainly a factor here and any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks yall I  look forward to your responses.

Take a look at Two Dog marketed by Forester's Incorporated out of Blacksburg.  I know quite a few folks that use it and like it.  We use T-Cruise, but I can't say that I am totally sold on it.

Wudman