This concept will revolutionize

communications in the woods! 

 

By Eric L Kay, Forest Road Consultant

 

Article reprint  -  Business Logger Magazine   June, 2000

 

Another great tool has recently come on the market to help operators and supervisors achieve standardized results in road deactivation. It is not a new and expensive erosion protection product or a major technological advance for excavators, but a rather simple booklet called an “Infoflip”.   Within the covers of this marvel of miniaturization, are some of the best descriptions and examples of the science of deactivation.  Now we can have the basic as well as the latest practices and techniques at our fingertips in the bush, instead of in a manual in a bulky three ring binder that sits collecting dust on a shelf.  This concept will revolutionize communications in the woods!

 

Tom Molfenter of ToMo Consulting Services in Nanaimo has formed Infoflip Productions Ltd., the publisher of the now available “Forest Road Deactivation Practices” Infoflip.  Tom explains: “The recently patented Infoflip format is now being introduced to markets worldwide.  Although the concept is difficult to explain without holding an Infoflip in your hand, it is best described as a new type of brochure with vertically arranged pages. Information that relates to or expands on other parts of the Infoflip can be “linked” by color or number to any other pages or paragraph within the “flip”, a method very similar to the hyperlink concept that works so well on the internet.

 

What makes this format so effective is not only its ¼ inch by 4” by 8” slim size, which easily fits into a shirt pocket, glove compartment, or above the visor of the excavator or truck, and as a bonus to prescribers, supervisors and others who have to work in the rain, it is printed on waterproof paper, which, while making dirty fingerprints able to be wiped off, also makes it a durable and long-lasting work tool!

 

The wording of the text, descriptive pictures, and “hyper-links” make this pocket guide easy-to-use. Its non-threatening format makes it an excellent office and field communications tool for; Operators, Supervisors, Prescribers, Professionals, Regulators and All Persons involved with the processes of Deactivation.  The ease of use and the ability of having it right on hand, dramatically reduces the risk of misunderstandings between people, as they can use the Infoflip Deactivation pocket guide to effectively communicate.  If the ground conditions or situation requires a different approach than the examples shown, using the pictures and diagrams as an assist, the persons can jointly work out an alternate work plan.  The language and terminology is easy to understand, making this a great reference tool for anyone involved in the deactivation field.

 

The Deactivation Infoflip contains about 8000 words and uses a combination of pictures and graphics to illustrate points. This slim and concise pocket guide provides explanations for everything from cross-ditches to pullback, trench drains to erosion protection, stream diversions for culvert removal, blanket drains to ensure water management under pullback, design concept and construction guide for fords, a pre-­work checklist, voluntary work shutdown guidelines and much, much, more.  Detailed descriptions explain the sequence of steps recommended to operators to achieve identified objectives in a safe and efficient manner.

 

In the examples (given in shortened excerpts), notice that the underlined material is the “hyperlink” feature.  In the actual flip these are also colour coded, to help in quickly identifying where the “hyperlink” leads to.

 

For supervisors and operators there is the bonus of detailed work procedures.  For example: Number 22, Metal Culvert Removal – Suggested sequence of activities – 1) Know the water quality issues (24) before deactivation starts.  2) Divert water flows, if at all practical, to work in the dry. However in steep terrain, do not simply direct water down the ditch.  3) Install sediment control (6) downstream from the culvert. 4) Remove the road fill from the vicinity of the culvert until the two ends are visible.  5) Remove all surfacing from the top of the culvert.  (NOTE: the directions continue to number 10 and include diverting water flows and sediment control measures)

 

Sediment control is a strong topic throughout the booklet headed by the section on heading number 6 Sediment Control – Dealing with sediment is more difficult than preventing sediment transport and erosion.  The Sediment Triangle shows that removing water or reducing energy is more effective in sediment prevention that trying to remove sediment sources……………… 

 

Erosion Control, section #7 deals thoroughly with Erosion Protection Near Watercourses – Erosion protection at deactivated crossing sites must focus on protecting newly exposed mineral soil.  If there is a risk of erosion or down cutting of newly established stream bottom, place armour of rip rap in its base.  In your peak flow estimate (21), you should be………… 

 

 

Many practices are fully explained, such as Full Sidecast Pullback Practices in section #20.  Full sidecast pullback at times may require benching, or moving material along the road using multiple throws or endhaul.  Safety (4) must be an over-riding consideration under any circumstances.  Benching should only be done by experienced operators……………………

 

Safety is strongly represented within the Deactivation Infoflip, for example heading number 4, “Safety and Road Surface Considerations” – As deactivation activities are frequently carried out by people working alone in isolated areas, sound safety practices are extremely important.  A reliable physical or radio check-in procedure must be set up and followed at all times. Radio check-ins should……….. 

 

 

Much of the content was provided by Mike Leslie from Mike Leslie Consulting, and Mike Wise of GeoWise Engineering.  Further assistance was given by Warren Warttig from Interfor, Dave Polster from Polster Environmental Services, and Bob Willington from TimberWest.  Before going to press, Forestry Professionals and also machine operators edited the content.

 

Tom comments, “By using the patented Infoflip format any company can have any subject placed into an Infoflip. For example, in resource industries related topics, we have done two Infoflip's for a Forest Company, the latest one as ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ for one of their operations, with a third Infoflip being 75% complete”.  He adds, “We have also recently completed a safety Infoflip for an oil drilling company in Burma”, and “I am working on a series of Infoflip’s for the Forest Industry as a follow-up to the Deactivation Infoflip” and he expects the ‘Forest Road Drainage Installation Practices’ Infoflip to be available for distribution by August, with “Road Construction” hopefully ready by Christmas.

 

Tom and his staff at Flip Productions Ltd can be reached at 250 722-7282 or toll free, at 1 888-220-FLIP (3547). Email   tomo@island.net

They will provide you with information, prices, or quotes for custom Infoflip’s. The Forest Road Deactivation Infoflip sells for $ 14.95 plus GST per copy. 

 

The author, Eric L Kay, is a consultant specializing in Forest Roads.  He welcomes comments and can be reached at 250 337-5096 or by Email at erickay@kayassociates.com  or visit his website at   www.kayassociates.com

 

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Eric L Kay
Forest & Industrial Road Consultant
Kay & Associates
International Training Consultants

8712 Island Hwy, Black Creek, B.C., CANADA, V9J 1K5

Telephone: (1) (250) 337-5096 Fax: (1) (250) 337-5096