Resource-saving method for calculating road surfaces of logging roads

The article presents a method for calculating logging road surfaces that allows taking into account the features of their construction and operation in compliance with environmental legislation and resources saving. Currently, logging companies face significant difficulties in creating road infrastructure. For example, climate change has a negative impact on the ability to operate winter roads. Therefore, the construction of timber-hauling roads is becoming more and more important, allowing for the removal of timber almost all year round and complying with the requirements of forest certification. One of the design solutions to meet the requirements is the use of geosynthetic materials. The study provides calculations of reinforced road surface and analyzes the need for road construction materials. The resulting economic effect from the use of road surfaces designs on the basis of the proposed calculation method reaches 46 % by volume of road construction granular materials and 15 % by the cost of road surface. The proposed method is based on the research conducted by the Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) together with the Natural Resources Institute, Finland (LUKE).