[0001] The invention relates to timber transportation and especially to the optimization of timber transport planning and implementation.

[0002] In what is known as cut-to-length logging, the timber logged from a forest is cut to timber pieces of desired length typically with a harvester already at the logging area. Depending on the size and structure of the logging area, there may be one or usually several different timber grades. Timber is cut by length into piles ;On the ground in such a manner that timber of. different length can efficiently be collected for transport to a storage area to be stored in different piles according to their grade. This type of timber transport that takes place within and/or in the vicinity of the logging area can be called local transport.

[0003] Machines logging and cutting timber typically form predesigned and marked driving routes, so-called logging roads, in the terrain. Naturally, logged timber is preferably piled on both sides of the logging road to be transported on as easily as possible with a transport machine. The so- called logging road network formed by the logging roads can be simple or very complex. Typically a logging road network comprises at least a main logging road surrounding the logging area and crosswise logging roads starting from the main road and located in such a manner that the timber units to be collected can be collected from them. Even though the logging road network is generally designed to be as simple as possible, the logging plan, standing timber and other vegetation as well as the terrain, for example, affect the optimal positioning of the logging roads.

[0004] Timber collection and transport from a given area, such as a stand marked for cutting, a thinning or reproduction cutting area, can typically be done in many ways. For instance, timber can be selected for collection from a certain part of the logging road as a mixed load, or it is possible to collect only one timber grade at a time. The driver of a forest work unit, in this connection typically a forwarder, makes this selection, and customary modes of operation are seldom called into question.

Brief description

[0005] It is an object of the invention to develop a new method, arrangement, computer program product, and user interface for planning and implementing timber transport. The object is achieved by a method and system that are characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. The preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0006] The solution is based on offering the user the option of comparing the effect of different collection route and parameter alternatives on the efficiency and advantageousness of the transport.

[0007] An advantage of the presented solutions is that the user can optimize his or her work by fast and efficient planning. In addition, with the presented solutions, it is possible to provide a novel training method especially for planning local transportations and for understanding the cause and effect relations affecting the efficiency of the transportations, and this knowledge can be seamlessly transferred to practical planning in actual production situations.

Brief description of the figures

[0008] The invention will now be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic graphical presentation of a defined area;

Figure 2 is a schematic graphical presentation of a defined area;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a method for displaying the planning and/or implementation of timber transportation and for assisting in the planning;

Figure 4 is a schematic graphical presentation of a defined area;

Figures 5a and 5b are schematic representations of a collection route in a defined area;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an arrangement for optimizing timber transport planning and/or implementation;

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a user interface 63 for optimizing timber transport planning and/or implementation; and

Figure 8 is a schematic graphical presentation of yet another defined area.

Detailed description

[0009] Figure 1 shows a defined area 2, from which timber is to be collected, and timber collectable from said defined area, more specifically, timber units 1a, 1 b, shown as a schematic graphical presentation. A timber unit 1a, 1 b may be a timber batch defined in a data model, which may comprise a single tree, for instance, or several different pieces that may have been arranged in one and the same pile or in different places, wherein the timber unit represents all these pieces. Preferably, a timber unit 1 a, 1 b may be timber batches arranged close to each other, especially preferably ones that are collectable within the reach area of a forest work unit without moving the forest work unit. A timber unit 1 a, 1 b preferably comprises only one timber grade. In an embodiment, a timber unit may comprise a grapple pile, that is, a timber batch that the grapple of a transport machine can lift into a cargo space at a time.

[0010] In an embodiment, a summed parameter of one timber unit is predefined in such a manner that it restricts the size of a single timber unit. The size of the timber unit may then be defined as a number of pieces, volume, such as cubic metres, or as a ratio to the size of the cargo space, for instance. If close to one location, for example collectable with the transport machine at a time without moving the machine, there is more of the same timber grade than one such predefined timber unit contains, a required number of timber units can be defined close to the location, until all pieces along the logging route have been sorted into a timber unit. In an embodiment, the predefined size of a timber unit is 1 m ³ . In another embodiment, the predefined size of a timber unit is 1/16 of the capacity of the transport machine cargo space.

[0011] Position data may be defined for the timber unit 1a, 1 b. The position data of the timber unit can be defined for instance in relation to the logging road, i.e. driving route, as a distance to the end point of the driving route or to the closest intersection of driving routes on the driving route, for example.

[0012] In this specification, timber transport, in this case local transport, in particular, is considered to comprise a process, in which timber is collected from a defined area, such as logging area, and delivered to storage areas for collection. In other words, the transport is considered to comprise at least a transit run, loading of timber units, loading run, run under load and unloading.

[0013] An information system may define an appropriate presentation for the timber unit on the basis of information describing the timber unit and, in some embodiments, even on the basis of a data model. This type of presentation may be a line that is substantially transverse to the driving route, a line extending across the driving route, or some other appropriate symbol, for example. The defined area may be a logging area, such as a stand marked for cutting, a thinning or regeneration cut area. The timber units 1 a, 1 b in the defined area 2 may all comprise the same timber grade or two or more timber grades. In an embodiment of the invention, different timber grades and/or timber units of different sizes can be presented in a graphical presentation by various descriptors/symbols, such as lines differing in colour, line type and/or line width, or as dashed lines as in Figure 1 , by descriptors of different colours or shapes or by a combination of these, or by using some other suitable representation that facilitates the distinguishing of different timber grades. Figure 1 further shows a forest truck road 3.

[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second graphical presentation that defines not only the timber units 1a, 1 b available for collection in a defined area 2, but also driving routes 4a, 4b, or logging roads, available in the defined area 2, and storage areas 5. Some of the driving routes 4a may form a main logging road and the other driving routes 4b may form together with the main logging road 4a a logging road network. In the graphical presentation of Figure 2, all timber units 1a, 1 b are shown using similar descriptors. Depending on the embodiment, all timber units 1a, 1 b may then comprise the same timber grade, or different timber grades may be described by similar descriptors, and the different timber grades can, if necessary, be indicated to the user in some other manner.

[0015] When collecting timber from a certain area and when transporting it, it is typically possible to make many selections. Timber can be collected from a sector of a defined area 2 at a time, or from a logging road section of the logging road network formed by the driving routes 4a, 4b at a time, it is possible to collect one or several timber grades at a time and/or to select storage areas and/or one or more timber grades to be unloaded in each storage area. Experienced drivers are often used to use certain principles in collecting and transportation, and typically do not call them into question. Often ah experienced driver may for instance collect a first load and at the same time check the situation, environment and timber to be collected, and plan the implementation of the work. For an inexperienced driver and for trainee drivers, for instance, the planning of collection and transportation may be challenging, and the effect of the made choices on the fluency of the work may be difficult to perceive. However, the choices may be of great significance not only to the fluency of the work, but also to the required working time, the total driving dis- tance required by the collection, fuel consumption, and other factors affecting the efficiency and advantageousness of the collection and transportation. In addition, by minimizing driving under load in the logging area, it is often possible to reduce stress directed to the terrain and logging road network, and thus _; avoid damage to the terrain.

[0016] Circumstances in local transportation differ essentially from those of long-distance transportation of timber by typically using trucks or trains, for instance. In long-distance transportation, timber units are significantly larger timber batches, which have already during the local transportation been sorted by timber grades in storage areas formed along a forest truck road, for instance, and timber is transported using public and maintained roads, the exact location and condition of which are always available. Therefore, there are considerably fewer variable terrain and circumstance factors and related limitations in long-distance transportation.

[0017] A method according to Figure 3 has now been developed for illustrating the planning and/or implementation of timber transportation and for assisting in the planning. These solutions can also be utilized in optimizing transportations. This type of method and the arrangement, user interface and computer program product described later on can preferably be utilized in a forest work unit, forest work simulator, or general-purpose computer, for instance, for optimizing the actual production operation, for comparing different alternatives and their efficiency and advantageousness, for training and/or for planning the operation.

[0018] Timber transport may comprise at least collecting timber units and transporting them to a storage area with a transport machine suitable for transporting timber units, such as a collecting vehicle or forest work unit. In the method, it is possible to retrieve 301 , 302, preferably with processing means, from an information system memory, position data, quality data and/or quantity data on timber units in a defined area as well as information on available driving routes in the defined area. It is also possible to select 303 preferably by using the user interface at least one collection route following the available driving routes by identifying and/or indicating at least the start and end points of the collection route. Different alternative or combinable solutions for selecting the collection route are described in connection with the description of the user interface, such as the specification related to Figure 7. The selection can be made with the processing means, for instance. Further, it is possi- ble to define 304, with the processing means, for instance, the quantity and/or quality of the timber in a collection area defined by a collection route between the start and end points, and to communicate 305 to a user, such as the driver of a forest work unit or user of a forest work simulator, feedback formed by a predefined data model and comprising feedback information on the timber in the collection area defined by the collection route and/or the efficiency of the collection. In other words, the feedback describes the effect of the selected collection route and possible collection parameters on the efficiency of the collection/loading and/or collected/loaded timber. The feedback can be formed by the processing means, for instance, and communicated to the user through the user interface.

[0019] The timber in the collection area defined by the collection route, thus, refers to timber that has been collected or can be collected by going through the selected collection route and possibly also complying with selected collection parameters. In production use, the collection route can be gone through by physically collecting the timber along the collection route and according to possible collection parameter selections and/or by simulating the collection of the timber along the collection route and according to possible collection parameter selections to assess the collection plan and/or to compare collection plan alternatives. In virtual use, as in simulator and training use, the collection route is typically gone through by simulation only.

[0020] In an embodiment, it is possible to select a collection parameter combination that comprises the collection route and other collection parameters comprising at least one of the following: at least one timber grade to be collected, the location of at least one storage area and at least one timber grade to be stored in at least one storage area.

[0021] In an embodiment, the available driving routes 4a, 4b can comprise an existing positional logging road network. Logging road network data can be formed for instance by transferring information on the logging roads made by a forest machine, such as harvester, that handled the timber and the related position data to the collecting forest work unit, such as forwarder. The position data may comprise satellite positioning system coordinates that have been identified when driving along or making driving routes during felling and cutting timber, for instance. In different embodiments, the positioning may also be implemented by some other method known per se. It is naturally also possible to use an artificial logging road network defined for training purposes in connection with a forest work simulator. In addition to the logging road network, a harvester can collect position and property data, such as the timber grade and/or volume, on timber units or individual pieces, for instance. The logging road network and timber data can be transferred and stored in to the memory of an information system wirelessly or by means of a portable storage medium, for instance.

[0022] In an embodiment, the available driving routes may comprise route points 6 as shown in the schematic graphical representation of Figure 4. Preferably, it is then possible to select at least one route point between the start point and end point of the collection route to select the collection route. The route points 6 can typically represent the end point of a logging road 4a, 4b, a point along the logging road 4a, 4b, or an intersection of two logging roads 4a, 4b, for instance. In an embodiment, in addition to the route points like end point and intersection point, it is also possible to arrange route points between them at regular, predefined intervals and/or in proportion to the timber quantities, or in some other appropriate manner. In another embodiment, the user can define route points 6 along the logging road 4a, 4b by using the user interface described elsewhere in this specification by assigning the points in a way shown herein or in a generally known way, for example. In yet another embodiment, the user may define route points 6 along the logging road 4a, 4b by means of the user interface described elsewhere in this specification by defining the logging road to be divided by the route points into logging road sections of a certain length or into a certain number of logging road sections having substantially the same length, for example. Further, in an embodiment, the information system may be adapted to present a collection route proposal based on an optimization algorithm to the user to aid in decision-making. The user can then select the collection route proposal or make changes to it, as necessary. This route proposal can be displayed in a user interface element, such as a later described second user interface element, that may also be used in selecting the collection route. Further, in an embodiment, the information system and/or user interface may guide the user during the collection and transportation on the basis of the collection route and collection parameters selected by the user and/or the collection route and parameter proposal accepted by the user.

[0023] In an embodiment, the feedback can be given in a form that permits the evaluation or comparison of the efficiency or advantageousness of the selected one or more collection routes or collection parameter combinations in a situation according to a data model to enable the user to improve operational efficiency.

[0024] In an embodiment, the feedback may comprise at least one of the following pieces of feedback information, total amount of collected timber, amount of collected timber by timber grades, length of the collection route, driving time of the collection route, length of a collection route section driven on an empty load, length of a collection route section driven loaded, driving time of a collection route section driven on an empty load, driving time of a collection route section driven loaded, average degree of filling of the cargo space, degree of filling of the storage areas, loading and unloading times at the storage areas. The feedback may also comprise indirect feedback information defining the efficiency and advantageousness of timber transportation, such as collected timber volume per driven distance, such as kilometres or metres, or per used time unit, such as hour, estimated fuel consumption per timber volume and/or other appropriate indicators. Naturally, the amount of timber can also be described using some other unit than timber volume in the above- mentioned feedback information. By means of the feedback, it is possible to transfer not only information on the size of the loaded/collected timber quantity and the length of the collection route, but also other necessary and useful information to the next collection step and/or to the move from planning to production, for example, and to store and/or forward time usage forecasts and/or fuel consumption estimates. Because the feedback may be based on the both the simulation of the planned collection route and of the effect of possible collection parameters and the final result of the actually run collection route, the feedback can be used not only to display it to the user and to utilize the advantages achieved thereby, but also to further develop the information stored in the memory of the information system and/or the used data model.

[0025] In an embodiment, the feedback is displayed concerning at least one of the following levels: work phase, entire defined area or a part thereof, individual driving run from a start point or storage area to the next storage area, and a defined logging road section between two route points. Further, in an embodiment, the user may select the information contained in the feedback.

[0026] In an embodiment, it is possible to accept at least one collection route and to update the data model to correspond to the altered situation by removing the collected timber units from the data model on the basis of the selected collection route and/or collection parameter combination in response to the acceptance of the collection route and selected collection parameter combination. Figure 5a shows with a dashed line a selected collection route 7 »<connected by four route points 6. Figure 5b shows with a schematic graphical descriptor the timber unit data in the data model, when all timber units along the collection route 7 have been selected for collection and the collection route and collection parameter combination have been accepted. In another embodiment, a collection route and timber units collected from it in a production environment can be identified by the movements of the collecting forest work unit, such as a forwarder, by utilizing satellite positioning. This automatic data collection may then replace said acceptance of the collection route, and the data model can be updated to correspond to the altered situation in response to this automatic identification of the collection route and collected timber units.

[0027] In an embodiment, the defined area may be a selected stand marked for cutting.

[0028] Figure 6 shows an arrangement for optimizing timber transport planning and/or implementation. The shown arrangement comprises processing means 61 for determining the quantity and/or quality of timber in a collection area defined by a collection route between start and end points and for generating a feedback comprising information on the timber and/or collection parameters on the basis of the data model. The processing means 61 may comprise a programmable logic and/or programmable microprocessor, for instance. In an embodiment, the processing means 61 may comprise an embedded information system which is known as such in advanced mobile work machines and between whose different parts information is transferred via a data transmission bus known as such, for instance a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus.

[0029] The arrangement shown in Figure 6 further comprises a memory 62 for storing position data, quality data and/or quantity data on timber units in the defined area as well as information describing the available driving routes in the defined area. In addition, the arrangement comprises a user interface 63 for selecting at least one collection route following the available driving routes by selecting at least the start and end points of the collection route and for transmitting feedback comprising information on the timber and/or collection parameters to the user. The user interface 63 may comprise a display and/or different selection means, such as buttons, a mouse, joy stick and/or touch screen, with which the user may enter input to the information system. In different embodiments, the arrangement may comprise a forest work unit, forest work simulator, or general-purpose computer.

[0030] In an embodiment, a computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable media and executable by a processor, and the computer program product may comprise computer-readable program code. This type of computer program product may be arranged to execute at least some of the steps in the method described above, when the program code is run in a processor.

[0031] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a user interface 63 that may be used in the optimization of timber transport planning and/or implementation. The user interface 63 can be divided into one or several user interface elements 71 to 75 with each user interface element comprising different data presented to the user. Preferably, at least a second user interface element 72 and/or fourth user interface element 74 may comprise a graphical user interface element, in which the data is shown in a graphical format. This improves the illustrative nature of the user interface and makes it easier to use. In different embodiments, other user interface elements may also be graphical user interface elements or comprise at least some parts shown in a graphical format.

[0032] The user interface can preferably be displayed on screen, in which case the user interface elements can be shown on one, two or several separated screens. When using two or more separate screens, one or more user interface elements can be shown on several screens, or each user interface element can be shown on just one screen in such a manner that one or more user interface elements are shown on each screen. Selections, point- outs and other tasks done using the user interface can be performed with selection means, such as a touch screen, and/or separate selection means arranged to a screen or separate from it.

[0033] For instance, the first user interface element 71 can comprise selection data for the purpose of illustrating collection parameters and collection parameter selections. The second user interface element 72 can then comprise information depicting a data model, such as a schematic graphical descriptor on a defined area 2, timber units 1 a, 1b available for collection in it, available driving routes 4a, 4b and/or route points 6. The second user in- terface element 72 can then also be used in selecting the collection route by entering at least the start and end points of the collection route. The user can do this for instance by indicating a sub-area in a defined area in the graphic descriptor, from which timber units are collected at each time, or by directly se- v ~ . . lecting a route by pointing at route points 6, for example, or by selecting in some other manner. Other selection manners may comprise automatic or user- activated identification of the location of a forest work unit or transport machine / collection vehicle in the defined area, in which case the user can accept said location as the start point and/or end point of the collection route. The user may select collection parameters and define a collection route directly on a touch screen adapted to the user interface or by using separate selection means, for instance. In an embodiment, the user may define the collection route one section at a time. In yet another embodiment, the user may define . collection parameters for each section of the collection route separately. In an embodiment, the user may define what timber grades are unloaded into each storage area 5. Further, in an embodiment, the storage areas 5 are not defined in advance, but the user may define the location of the storage areas 5 and the timber grades to be unloaded into them.

[0034] A third user interface element 73 may comprise more specific information provided to the user on the selected collection route, timber unit 1a, 1 b or some other corresponding object, for instance. A fourth user interface element 74 may comprise information on the filling factor or filling manner of the cargo space, for example, in response to the collection routes or sections thereof and/or collection parameters provided by the user. This can be shown for instance as a schematic graphic descriptor that indicates the filling factor of the cargo space and preferably the positioning of different timber grades in the cargo space. In an embodiment, when selecting the collection route and parameters, the user may indicate a position for each timber unit or group thereof in the cargo space. It is then also easier to plan the collection route and parameters and, depending on the embodiment, even the storage areas and the timber grades to be unloaded into them to be as functional as possible not only in terms of collection and transport, but also in terms of the loading fluency and filling factor of the cargo space, unloading fluency of the timber, and quantity and/or location of the storage areas.

[0035] A fifth user interface element 75 may comprise for example feedback for the user concerning one or more collection route and parameter combinations made by the user. The feedback is preferably displayed to the user in response to at least one collection route and parameter combination selection made by the user. If the user has selected several alternative collection route and parameter combinations, the feedback may comprise compari- ^• _j son data of different alternatives in addition to or instead of the above- mentioned information.

[0036] Naturally, the user interface 63 may comprise fewer or more user interface elements than shown in Figure 7. The user interface elements and the information contained in them may also be distributed in a different way depending on the application. In an embodiment, feedback is produced for the user as a separate report in response to an input from the user requesting the report either instead of the feedback displayed in the selection space shown in the user interface of Figure 7 or in addition to it. This type of report may naturally comprise more feedback information and more versatile feedback information than is possible to display in the user interface element of the selection space. The feedback may also comprise diverse analysis data and/or a comparison between selected alternative collection routes and parameters. The use of a separate, more detailed report may be especially useful in connection with forest work simulators and/or training sessions. In an embodiment, the feedback may comprise a comparison and/or evaluation of one or more collection and transport solutions defined for the performance of one predefined transport task for example by grading the performances as entities and/or as components of efficiency and feasibility and/or as different components of the transport task, such as collection areas or loading, transport and unloading, for instance. This type of evaluation or grading can be used to monitor the development of skills, to test learning and/or as a basis for competitions, for example.

[0037] Figure 8 shows a defined area 2, timber units 1a, 1 b and logging road network 4a, 4b. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the defined area 2, logging road network 4a, 4b and timber units 1a, 1 b available for collection in them, forest truck roads 3, storage areas 5 and/or other environment and conditions are shown schematically in the above figures and the related description for the purpose of illustrating the present solution. Therefore, in actual conditions and embodiments, they may vary considerably from what is described above. This is also illustrated in Figure 8, in which the defined area 2, for instance, comprises two spaced apart sub-areas, there are more storage areas 5 and they are located along two different forest truck roads 3. The advantages of the present solution are especially well revealed in complex and multiform logging areas, which contain a great deal of environmental and circumstantial factors to be considered as well as other factors affecting the efficiency and advantageousness of collection and transport.

[0038] In an embodiment, by utilizing the same data model and information system, it is possible to add to the solution another solution for the operator of a felling and cutting forest work unit, such as harvester, which aims at total optimization of the operation. In such a solution, the operator may plan the logging roads in the best possible way for the collection and transportation of the timber by using stand characteristics, laser scanning data, soil maps and/or water system maps and/or other corresponding information on the logging and collecting environment. In an embodiment, a guiding system utilizing the above data model and information system can define for the operator of a felling and cutting forest work unit an automatically optimized best logging road network proposal for a defined area. Further, this defined logging road network can be displayed to the operator of the felling and cutting forest work unit in such a manner that the defined logging road network is available for use in logging road planning, thus enabling the optimization of the efficiency of the entity formed by logging, collection and transport taking into consideration the possibilities and conditions at each time. The operator can utilise such a logging road network proposal according to the possibilities and conditions provided by the logging and collection environment. This permits the optimization of the timber collection and transportation and, on the other hand, also that of the total process of timber felling and cutting by utilizing both automatic planning and the experience of the operator/user.

[0039] In an embodiment, the data model may comprise information on restrictions on the use of the logging roads. This information may comprise information on driving route sections that may only be used in a limited manner, such as information on a section that can only be used twice due to frost damage. Correspondingly, the restriction may be that a fully loaded transport machine / forest work unit cannot use the logging road at all or that the road can only be used by a partially loaded machine or not at all. The restriction on use may also relate to permanent terrain conditions, such as differences in altitude that may affect the available driving directions in available driving routes. These can be displayed to the user in the user interface by arrows, for exam- pie, or the selection of a driving route section in a prohibited direction can be prevented. Further, the restrictions-on-use information may comprise information on a permanent or temporary object in the defined area, such as an obstacle, key biotopes and/or valuable natural sites that require certain action -.or a certain mode of operation that differs from the ordinary.

[0040] For the sake of clarity, the figures only provide some of the similar or similarly described objects, such as timber units 1a, 1 b, driving routes 4a, 4b and route points 6, with numbers.

[0041] The solutions presented above significantly facilitate the comparison between the efficiency and advantageousness of different collection, transportation and storage alternatives and their optimization in both production and training situations. This permits an all new way of teaching how to plan short distance transportation and observe problems related to it and helps to understand relationships between cause and effect which affect the components of the efficiency of short distance transportation, for instance. This way, it is possible to learn to optimize the positioning of storage areas, the load types run at each time (a one-grade load or mixed load, the mixed load comprising two or more different timber grades). The solutions also help to better understand and evaluate the time it takes to drive through a collection area of certain size and type, which further helps in the planning and scheduling of work, for instance. This is especially useful in connection with large and complex collection areas. Further, the solutions are very useful in the optimization of the utilization of the cargo space in driving mixed loads, in particular. In addition, the solutions significantly facilitate shift changes, for example, because the user starting a new shift has, thanks to the system, up-to-date information on the situation and readiness of the work site, such as on the collected and not collected timber, and already selected storage areas, as well as other useful information on the collection area formed and/or processed and stored during the previous shift or earlier.

[0042] The loading and unloading of timber also significantly affect wbrk efficiency. By selecting the collection route, collection parameters, storage areas and the timber grades to be unloaded there at each time, it is possible to significantly affect the efficiency of the collection and transportation of timber. The effect of these parameters on the advantageousness of the collection and transportation of timber in a defined area is difficult to estimate, especially without long work experience. Optimization and comparison of alterna- tives in accordance with the present solutions makes it possible to compare different alternatives and their advantageousness quickly, efficiently and in advance. In connection with forest work simulators, this also efficiently guides the students and trainees to observe the effect of the loading, unloading and stor- age area selection on the (total) efficiency of the work.

[0043] The present solutions also permit a new way of training the planning of short distance transportation in the sense that the planning of short distance transportation can be turned into a game, and the training can be transferred gradually from the game-like training environment first to a planning environment resembling a production environment but implemented in a forest work simulator, and then the learned planning skills can be transferred seamlessly to the production environment. It will be obvious to a person skilled- in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be imple- u mented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.