Comparison of different stack measuring methods

In the last decades different methods have been developed for measuring piled wood, i.e. wood stacks. There are two main groups of measurements: the first one is manual methods and the second one is automatic measurements. Taking into consideration the amount and market value of stacked wood, the accuracy of applied measurement is of high importance, as the price is calculated according to the measured amount of wood. Manual measurements are mostly time consuming and dependent on individual performance. On the other hand, the automatic methods are fast and their accuracy has increased in the last years. They allow to obtain relevant results when calculating prices at different locations, independent of the measurement time. These methods range from simple manual measurements using a tape to photo-optical measurement systems. Also, other measurement methods (e. g. water immersion) are currently used in practice. The paper describes the individual manual and automatic measurement methods for industrial timber and their working principles. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages related with the requirements and accuracy of the individual procedures have been explained and their practical use discussed.