earticle

영어

Although mechanical harvesting equipment used in forestry operations increases productivity, it also causes significant physical impacts on the soil. Among the most prominent of these effects are road deformations and wheel rut depths caused by tractors and similar vehicles. Such deformations can disrupt the physical structure of the soil, increase the risk of erosion, and damage forest ecosystems. In this study, wheel rut depths formed during ground-based skidding operations were comparatively analyzed using both manual measurement techniques and imagery obtained via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The fieldwork was conducted during forestry production activities in the Dağtekke Forest Management Chief. Manual measurements were performed using a ruler and lath along skidding trails, and the same areas were captured using UAVs and converted into digital surface models. The results obtained from both methods were compared using correlation analysis and paired sample t-tests. The findings revealed a high level of consistency between UAV-based and manual measurements, indicating that UAV technology offers a fast, contactless, and reliable alternative for monitoring. This study provides valuable insights into precision soil monitoring and assessing the environmental impacts of mechanical equipment in forestry operations.