Managing existing forests can mitigate climate change

Planting new forests has received scientific and political attention as a measure to mitigate climate change. Large, new forests have been planted in places like China and Ethiopia and, over time, a billion hectares could become available globally for planting new forests. Sustainable management of forests, which are available to wood production, has received less attention despite these forests covering at least two billion hectares globally. Better management of existing forests would improve forest growth and help mitigate climate change by increasing the forest carbon (C) stock, by storing C in forest products, and by generating wood-based materials substituting fossil C based materials or other CO2-emission-intensive materials. Some published research assumes a trade-off between the timber harvested from existing forests and the stock of C in those forest ecosystems, asserting that both cannot increase simultaneously. We tested this assumption using the uniquely detailed forest inventory data available from Finland, Norway and Sweden, hereafter denoted northern Europe. We focused on the period 1960 - 2017, that saw little change in the total area covered by forests in northern Europe. At the start of the period, rotational forestry practices began to diffuse, eventually replacing selective felling management systems as the most common management practice. Looking at data over the period we find that despite significant increases in timber and pulp wood harvests, the growth of the forest C stock accelerated. Over the study period, the C stock of the forest ecosystems in northern Europe increased by nearly 70%, while annual timber harvests increased at the about 40% over the same period. This increase in the forest C stock was close to on par with the CO2-emissions from the region (other greenhouse gases not included). Our results suggest that the important effects of management on forest growth allows the forest C stock and timber harvests to increase simultaneously. The development in northern Europe raises the question of how better forest management can improve forest growth elsewhere around the globe while at the same time protecting biodiversity and preserving landscapes

Managing existing forests can mitigate climate change

Planting new forests has received scientific and political attention as a measure to mitigate climate change. Large, new forests have been planted in places like China and Ethiopia and, over time, a billion hectares could become available globally for planting new forests. Sustainable management of forests, which are available to wood production, has received less attention despite these forests covering at least two billion hectares globally. Better management of existing forests would improve forest growth and help mitigate climate change by increasing the forest carbon (C) stock, by storing C in forest products, and by generating wood-based materials substituting fossil C based materials or other CO2-emission-intensive materials. Some published research assumes a trade-off between the timber harvested from existing forests and the stock of C in those forest ecosystems, asserting that both cannot increase simultaneously. We tested this assumption using the uniquely detailed forest inventory data available from Finland, Norway and Sweden, hereafter denoted northern Europe. We focused on the period 1960 - 2017, that saw little change in the total area covered by forests in northern Europe. At the start of the period, rotational forestry practices began to diffuse, eventually replacing selective felling management systems as the most common management practice. Looking at data over the period we find that despite significant increases in timber and pulp wood harvests, the growth of the forest C stock accelerated. Over the study period, the C stock of the forest ecosystems in northern Europe increased by nearly 70%, while annual timber harvests increased at the about 40% over the same period. This increase in the forest C stock was close to on par with the CO2-emissions from the region (other greenhouse gases not included). Our results suggest that the important effects of management on forest growth allows the forest C stock and timber harvests to increase simultaneously. The development in northern Europe raises the question of how better forest management can improve forest growth elsewhere around the globe while at the same time protecting biodiversity and preserving landscapes.Peer reviewe

Operative tests of a new system for train traffic control

Tomorrow's train traffic systems requires new strategies and solutions for efficient train traffic control and utilization of track capacity, especially in traffic systems with a high degree of deregulated and mixed traffic. There are many different goals associated with the traffic control tasks and the work of the traffic controllers (dispatchers). Examples are safety, efficiency of the traffic with regard to timeliness and energy consumption, good service and information to passengers and customers etc. Today's traffic control systems and user interfaces do not efficiently support such goals. In earlier research we have analyzed important aspects of the traffic controller's tasks, strategies, decision making, use of information and support systems etc. Based on this research we, together with Banverket (Swedish Rail Administration), have designed prototype systems and interfaces that better can meet future goals and contribute to more optimal use of infrastructure capacity

A human-computer interaction approach to train traffic control

Train traffic in Sweden have increased over the last years and is today at an all time high. At the same time demands for improved punctuality and better predictability are increasing. If it would be possible to improve punctuality and thereby the possibility to use the infrastructural resources more optimally by providing improved systems for controlling train traffic, this could be a very cost efficient way to improve the train traffic. This thesis addresses research with a primary goal to investigate how, from a Human-Computer Interaction perspective, systems could be designed to better support the human's capacity and capabilities to control train traffic in an efficient way. Earlier research on humans in control of complex systems contributes to this work. One important part of the research is to gain knowledge on how train dispatchers perform their work today and which difficulties that exist. The research has a user centered approach. In close co-operation with train traffic professionals we try to discuss and develop solutions for improving the situation. Since the project started in 1996 proposals of new strategies for control and also solutions for how such a system can be designed have been developed and to some extent evaluated. The Swedish National Rail Administration (Banverket) is now planning to build an operative control system based on control strategies and ideas from this research project

A human-computer interaction approach to train traffic control

Train traffic in Sweden have increased over the last years and is today at an all time high. At the same time demands for improved punctuality and better predictability are increasing. If it would be possible to improve punctuality and thereby the possibility to use the infrastructural resources more optimally by providing improved systems for controlling train traffic, this could be a very cost efficient way to improve the train traffic. This thesis addresses research with a primary goal to investigate how, from a Human-Computer Interaction perspective, systems could be designed to better support the human's capacity and capabilities to control train traffic in an efficient way. Earlier research on humans in control of complex systems contributes to this work. One important part of the research is to gain knowledge on how train dispatchers perform their work today and which difficulties that exist. The research has a user centered approach. In close co-operation with train traffic professionals we try to discuss and develop solutions for improving the situation. Since the project started in 1996 proposals of new strategies for control and also solutions for how such a system can be designed have been developed and to some extent evaluated. The Swedish National Rail Administration (Banverket) is now planning to build an operative control system based on control strategies and ideas from this research project

Control Strategies for Managing Train Traffic, Difficulties Today and Solutions for the Future

In 1996, on initiative from the Swedish National Rail Administration, the department of Human-Computer Interaction at the institute for Information Technology, Uppsala University initiated a research project with the objective to identify the difficulties present in today's train traffic control today and to find solutions to those problems, if possible. This paper describes the strategy used to control train traffic in Sweden today. Problems and difficulties inherited from the use of the current control strategies and systems are presented. With the goal to solve these problems, and aid the human operator in their work, solutions for new principles for control and a new control strategy are proposed - control by re-planning. The proposed control strategy is designed to support the train dispatcher to work in a more preventive manner and thereby avoiding potential disturbances in traffic when possible. The focus of control tasks will be shifted from controlling infrastructure on a technical level to focus more on a higher level of controlling the traffic flow through re-planning tasks. The new control strategy in combination with a new approach to automation, higher availability of decision relevant information and new graphical user interfaces addresses many of the issues and problems found in the control environment today

Designing a Graphical User Interface for Train Traffic Control

In 1996, on initiative of the Swedish National Rail Administration, a research study was initiated by the department of Human Computer Interaction at Uppsala University with the aim to learn more about the problems and difficulties involved in train traffic control. As a result of this study, and the developing situation with higher speeds, more frequent traffic, and many competing train traffic operators, a research project was initiated. The purpose was to find new strategies and technical solutions for future train traffic control. Modern research on human-computer interaction in complex and dynamic systems provided a framework for how to design an interface meeting these demands. Important aspects concern e.g. workload, situation awareness and automated cognitive processes, limitations in human memory capacity, cognitive work environment problems, human error performance and dynamic decision processes. Throughout the research a user centered approach has been applied. The new proposed interface is designed to integrate all decision relevant information into one unified interface and to support a continuous awareness of the dynamic development of the traffic process. A prototype of new train traffic control interface has been implemented in close collaboration with active train dispatchers. Early and promising in-house tests have been made using the prototype described in this paper. More extensive case studies and experiments need to be conducted before a complete evaluation can be made

Operative tests of a new system for train traffic control

Tomorrow’s train traffic systems requires new strategies and solutions for efficient traintraffic control and utilization of track capacity, especially in traffic systems with a highdegree of deregulated and mixed traffic. There are many different goals associated withthe traffic control tasks and the work of the traffic controllers (dispatchers). Examples aresafety, efficiency of the traffic with regard to timeliness and energy consumption, goodservice and information to passengers and customers etc. Today’s traffic controlsystems and user interfaces do not efficiently support such goals. In earlier research wehave analyzed important aspects of the traffic controller’s tasks, strategies, decisionmaking, use of information and support systems etc. Based on this research we,together with Banverket (Swedish Rail Administration), have designed prototypesystems and interfaces that better can meet future goals and contribute to more optimaluse of infrastructure capacity. These prototype systems have now been developed into afully operational system which has been tested during 6 months, for control of train trafficin a section of the Swedish rail system. The evaluation shows that the system efficientlysupports control tasks and is well accepted by the involved traffic controllers

Operative tests of a new system for train traffic control

Tomorrow’s train traffic systems requires new strategies and solutions for efficient traintraffic control and utilization of track capacity, especially in traffic systems with a highdegree of deregulated and mixed traffic. There are many different goals associated withthe traffic control tasks and the work of the traffic controllers (dispatchers). Examples aresafety, efficiency of the traffic with regard to timeliness and energy consumption, goodservice and information to passengers and customers etc. Today’s traffic controlsystems and user interfaces do not efficiently support such goals. In earlier research wehave analyzed important aspects of the traffic controller’s tasks, strategies, decisionmaking, use of information and support systems etc. Based on this research we,together with Banverket (Swedish Rail Administration), have designed prototypesystems and interfaces that better can meet future goals and contribute to more optimaluse of infrastructure capacity. These prototype systems have now been developed into afully operational system which has been tested during 6 months, for control of train trafficin a section of the Swedish rail system. The evaluation shows that the system efficientlysupports control tasks and is well accepted by the involved traffic controllers