A method for tracking and measuring volume, shape and surfaces of objects,
such as logs, simultaneously. In series of load and unload operations
along a procurement line, series of images are captured by e.g., CCD
stereo cameras with sufficient spatial resolution capabilities.
Simultaneously, the location of objects (logs) are registered by a GPS
system aiding the tracking of the objects. The load and unload operations
are typically performed by machineries such as harvesters, forwarders or
trucks all equipped with a crane. On such machines digital cameras are
mounted on jib arms and a computer system is attached. A GPS system is
mounted on the machines too and the computer system is attached here as
well. Thus the real time processing of stereo images can be accomplished
and the volume, shape and surface of the 3D objects are computed
simultaneously with their location in space. The resulting data are sent
to a central database that keeps track of objects and their locations.
These data are then again available for the following step in the
procurement line as "a priory" information, facilitating the computation
of the size, shape, surface and location of logs (objects) at the current
load/unload operation. A chain of information provided by this invention
will profoundly increase efficiency of any production chain subjectable
to the presented method.