Current Research

Biomass harvesting, collection and storage is one of the primary focus areas of Dr. Mitchell's current research. In a large project involving many research partners, she investigated the use of young pine plantations for biomass. This project included a wide variety of topics including equipment design and selection, harvesting production studies, chip van design and testing, log truck design and testing, and transpirational drying. In other projects, she investigated the use of various ways to bundle and bale low-value forest residues. By densifying forest residues into a form that is compact and easy to handle, costs to transport the woody biomass material to an end-user facility can be reduced.

Short rotation woody crops are another source for woody biomass. These purpose-grown trees are managed in a variety of ways with a range of planting densities (trees per acre, single or dual row) and management types (single stem or coppice). These different management decisions impact how and when the biomass can be harvested. Dr. Mitchell continues to investigate research topics surrounding equipment selection and the impact of type of cutting mechanism (shear or saw) on coppice response.

Another current area of research is in harvesting and utilizaton of downed timber.  Hurricane and other wind events can damage trees in a number of ways including breakage, fiber pulls, ring shake, splits, and root pulls.  Dr. Mitchell, along with other reseach scientists and collaborators, is investigating the impacts that salvage harvesting has on the production rates and costs of traditional logging operations.  They are exploring equipment modifications that may improve the efficiencies of harvesting downed timber.  Another aspect of this study is to test the use of acoustic technology to aid in determining wood quality in damaged stems.  HIstorically, visual damage has been used to make product separations during harvesting.  Acoustic technology may offer new opportunities for sorting forest products or aid determining the soundness of wood over time, perhaps even lengthening the time window for harvesting marketable products.  

Other areas of research include the use of extended working hours in logging operations to evaluate production rates and impacts on forest workers; small scale forestry options for small tracts; and pinyon-juniper harvesting options to improve/restore rangeland vegetation.

Education

• Auburn University, Ph.D. Forestry
• Oregon State University, M.F. Forest Engineering
• Washington State University, B.S. Forest Management

Professional Organizations

• Council of Forest Engineering, Member (1994 - Current)
  Attend meetings, moderate sessions, and present current research findings. Assisted in compiling the proceedings papers from the 2010 Annual Meeting.
• American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Various Positions (2005 - 2010)
  T-12 (Forest Engineering) Committee member, Past Secretary, Past Chairperson.

Publications

• Smidt, Mathew F.; Mitchell, Dana ; Logan, Kristi K. 2021. The potential for effective training of logging truck drivers.
• Parajuli, Manisha ; Hiesl, Patrick ; Smidt, Mathew ; Mitchell, Dana . 2020. Factors influencing productivity and cost in the whole-tree harvesting system.
• Sitanggang, Marisa ; Gallagher, Thomas ; McDonald, Timothy ; Mitchell, Dana . 2019. Analysis of processing head measurements in merchandizing southern yellow pine.
• Mitchell Dana, ; Smidt Mathew., . 2019. Costs of mechanical fuel reduction treatments.
• da Rocha, K.D. ; Gallagher, Tom ; McDonald, Tim ; Mitchell, Dana . 2019. Development of a small-scale harvester for biomass operations.
• Smidt, Mathew F.; Mitchell, Dana ; Baker, Hunter . 2019. Large site prep tractors for fire line establishment in southern pine stands in Alabama.
• Daniel, Marissa “Jo”; Gallagher, Tom ; Mitchell, Dana ; McDonald, Timothy ; Via, Brian . 2019. Productivity and cost estimates for incorporating tracked processors into conventional loblolly pine harvesting regimes in the Southeastern United States.
• Daniel, Marissa Jo; Gallagher, Tom ; Mitchell, Dana ; McDonald, Timothy ; Via, Brian . 2018. Changing times: Altering establishment spacing, harvesting frequency, and harvesting machines to promote increased sawtimber volumes.
• Daniel, Marissa “Jo”; Gallagher, Tom ; McDonald, Timothy ; Via, Brian ; Mitchell, Dana . 2018. Changing times: How technique and technology advancements could promote woody biomass harvesting in the United States.
• Santiago, Rafael A.; Gallagher, Tom ; Smidt, Mathew ; Mitchell, Dana . 2018. Coppicing evaluation in the southern USA to determine harvesting methods for bioenergy production.
• Daniel, Marissa Jo; Gallagher, Tom ; Mitchell, Dana ; McDonald, Timothy ; Via, Brian . 2018. Differences in total stem value when merchandizing with a tracked processor versus a knuckle-boom loader in Pinus taeda.
• Thompson, Jason D.; Mitchell, Dana ; Klepac, John . 2018. Evaluating in-woods truck scales.
• Klepac, John ; Mitchell, Dana . 2018. Evaluation of a conventional harvesting system for a hardwood restoration project on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
• Smidt, Mathew ; Logan, Kristi; Mitchell, Dana. 2018. Using safety alerts as hazard surveillance for mechanized logging systems.
• Thompson, Jason D.; Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2017. Alternative trailer configurations for maximizing payloads.
• Baker, David; Smidt, Mathew; Mitchell, Dana. 2017. Biomass chipping for eastern redcedar.
• Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2017. Biomass removal study on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
• Klepac, John; Mitchell, Dana. 2017. Evaluation of a tracked feller-buncher harvesting plantation loblolly pine.
• Daniel, Marissa Jo; Gallagher, Tom; McDonald, Tim; Mitchell, Dana. 2017. Utilization of phone application technology to record log truck movements in the southeastern U.S.
• Lancaster, John; Gallagher, Tom; McDonald, Tim; Mitchell, Dana. 2017. Whole tree transportation system for timber processing depots.
• Yu, Aihua; Gallagher, Tom; Mitchell, Dana; O'Neal, Brandon. 2016. Application of a small-scale equipment system for biomass harvesting.
• Klepac, J.; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Comparison of four harvesting systems in a loblolly pine plantation.
• Santiago, Rafael; Gallagher, Tom; Smidt, Matthew; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Coppicing evaluation of short rotation coppice in the southeast of the U.S. to determine appropriate harvesting methods..
• Dodson, Elizabeth; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Cost, production and effectiveness of masticated fireline..
• de Souza, Daniel P.L.; Gallagher, Tom; Mitchell, Dana; McDonald, Tim; Smidt, Mathew. 2016. Determining the effects of felling method and season of year on the regeneration of short rotation coppice.
• Anderson, Nathaniel; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Forest operations and woody biomass logistics to improve efficiency, value, and sustainability.
• Jernigan, Patrick; Gallagher, Tom; Mitchell, Dana; Smidt, Mathew; Teeter, Larry. 2016. High tonnage harvesting and skidding for loblolly pine energy plantations.
• Grace III, Johnny; Klepac, John; Taylor, S.; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Residue distribution and biomass recovery following biomass harvest of plantation pine.
• Lancaster, John; Gallagher, Tom;  McDonald, Tim; Mitchell, Dana. 2016. Whole tree transportation system for timber processing depots.
• Souter, Ray A.; Gardiner, Emile S; Leininger, Theodor D.; Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Robert B. 2015. Eastern cottonwood and black willow biomass crop production in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley under four planting densities.
• Thompson, Jason; Klepac, John; Mitchell, Dana. 2015. Loading productivity of untrimmed and trimmed pulpwood.
• Klepac, John; Mitchell, Dana; Thompson, Jason. 2015. Monitoring moisture content, temperature, and humidity in whole-tree pine chip piles.
• Thompson, Jason; Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2014. Advantages and disadvantages of untrimmed wood in the supply chain.
• Smidt, Mathew; Mitchell, Dana. 2014. Chipping and grinding production rate calculator.
• de Souza, Daniel; Gallagher, Tom; Mitchell, Dana; Smidt, Matthew; McDonald, Tim; Wright, Jeff. 2014. Determining the impact of felling method and season of year on coppice regeneration.
• Kenney, Jonathan; Gallagher, Thomas; Smidt, Matthew; Mitchell, Dana; and McDonald, Timothy. 2014. Factors that affect fuel consumption in logging systems.
• Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2014. Harvesting considerations for ecosystem restoration projects.
• Cardoso, Wellington; Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom; and de Souza, Daniel. 2014. Harvesting short rotation woody crops with a shear.
• Klepac, John; Mitchell, Dana; and Thompson, Jason. 2014. The effect of pile size on moisture content of loblolly pine while field drying.
• Sprinkle, Jacob; Mitchell, Dana. 2013. Characteristics of Comminuted Forest Biomass.
• Rummer, B.; Mitchell, D. 2013. Harvesting systems and costs for short rotation poplar.
• Mitchell, D.; Huffaker, E. 2013. The State of the Logging Workforce in the Southern United States.
• Mitchell, D. 2012. Ups and Downs Associated with Implementing Shift Schedules on a Southern Harvesting Operation.
• Meadows, Steven; Gallagher, Tom; Mitchell, Dana. 2011. A new slash bundling concept for use in a Southern U.S.
• Mitchell, Dana. 2011. Air quality on biomass harvesting operations.
• Mitchell, Dana. 2011. Bundling Logging Residues with a Modified John Deere B-380 Slash Bundler.
• Jernigan, P.; Gallagher, T.; Mitchell, Dana; Teeter, L. 2011. High tonnage forest biomass production systems from southern pine energy plantations.
• Cutshall, J.; Greene, D.; Baker, S.; Mitchell, Dana. 2011. Transpirational drying effects on energy and ash content from whole-tree chipping operations in a southern pine plantation.
• Mitchell, D.; Gallagher, T. 2010. Extended working hours: Impacts on workers.
• Meadows, S.; Gallagher, T.; Mitchell, D. 2010. Project summary: Application of a trailer-mounted slash bundler for southern logging.
• Mitchell, D.; Elder, T. 2010. Torrefaction What s that.
• Mitchell, Dana. 2008. Felling small trees with a drive-to-tree feller-buncher.
• Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. 2008. Impacts of extended working hours in logging.
• Mitchell, Dana; Seixas, Fernando; Klepac, John. 2008. Modified precision-husky progrind H-3045 for chipping biomass.
• Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2008. Processing woody biomass with a modified horizontal grinder.
• Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. 2007. Chipping whole trees for fuel chips: a production study.
• Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. 2007. Physiological and psychological impacts of extended work hours in logging operations.
• Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Bob. 2007. Processing woody debris biomass for co-milling with pulverized coal.
• Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. 2006. Extended working shifts: are they applicable to the Southeastern United States.
• Mitchell, Dana. 2006. Perspectives on woody biomass fuel value and specifications in Alabama.
• Mitchell, Dana L. 2005. Assessment of current technologies for communition of forest residues.
• Mitchell, Dana; Ayala, Renee; [Compilers], . 2005. Biomass publications of the forest operations research unit: A synthesis.
• Mitchell, Dana. 2005. Fuel-reduction treatments with a gyrotrac GT-25.
• Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Bob. 2001. Midstory reduction treatments with a Woodgator T-5.
• Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Bob. 1999. Midstory reduction treatments with a Shinn SC-1.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
SRS-2014-153	A Simple Technique to Improve Woody Biomass Quality The commercial markets for biofuels and bio-based products will require cost-competitive raw materials to compete with rival energy sources. The ...	2014