Skogforsk explains the importance of StanForD for logging machine development.
StanForD is a standard for communication between computers in forest machines. Skogforsk is responsible for the development and maintenance of the standard. StanForD is an abbreviation for Standard for Forest machine Data and Communication. StanForD is used in many countries even though it does not have any official status. The application of the standard extends to all types of data communications with forest machines. The original StanForD consisted of a data standard and a file-structure standard, but a Kermit-based communications protocol or standard for connecting a PC or data recorder to the machine computer on the harvester is also included. The usefulness of this part of the standard is expected to diminish with the growth in wireless data communications.
StanForD2010 was a project to develop a new standard version based on xml. Skogforsk is responsible for the development and maintenance of the standard and receives financial support for this work from the manufacturers and Swedish forest enterprises. Representatives of the manufacturers and forest enterprises are welcome to attend the StanForD meetings, which are held twice a year in Sweden. New variables or elements in the standard are considered at the meetings.
The objectives of the new standard were to achieve structures that supports data management requirements of today in a simpler way, have better structural descriptions, stricter priorities and implementation rules, a system for management of standard versions, reduction of old variables and structures, and common & general format with an open interface (xml), making it easier to implement the standard in new wood supply applications (e.g. in new markets). The focus of the new standard is on forest machines (harvesters, forwarders etc) and the control, reporting and monitoring of logging production. The companies that support the StanForD standard financially are Dasa, LogMax, Parker Hannifin Corp., Komatsu Forest AB, Ponsse Oy, Rottne AB, John Deere Forestry, SDC and CGI. Source: http://www.skogforsk.se/english/projects/stanford/