Investigation into the implementation of a multimodal 3D measurement system for a forestry harvesting process

In the context of digitalization, monitoring and traceability are also becoming increasingly important in the forestry sector. An essential component of the most efficient value creation is the recording of relevant characteristics right from the start. The optical and tactile recording of characteristics, such as diameter and volume, have been solved to a large extent in the harvesting of heavy timber, but differs significantly from that of small timber. This paper is about an investigation on the implementation of a multimodal 3D sensor system, which is used for the stable detection of biomass directly in the harvesting process of weak wood. System technical possibilities are shown how biomass can be determined directly during the harvesting process by means of multimodal 3D measurement technology. Considerations regarding possible measurement principles and methods result in two methods, which are discussed within this thesis regarding their advantages and disadvantages. The development stages are presented in detail up to the practical tests, which also includes the acquisition of empirical a priori information. Finally, data are determined by means of test scenarios, which prove the principle functionality and make the methods evaluable.