Dr. Oliver Thees

Function

Visiting scientist

Forest Resources and Management

Sustainable Forestry

Contact

oliver.thees(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 24 57+41 44 739 24 57

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi GL A 05

Degrees

1987	State board examination in forestry, Administration of State Forest Rhineland-Palatinate
1985	Diploma in Economics; Faculty of Economics, Freiburg University, Germany.
1984	PhD in Forestry (Dr. rer.pol.); Faculty of Forestry, Freiburg University, Germany.
1979	Diploma in Forestry; Faculty of Forestry, Freiburg University, Germany.

Positions

2015 - 2019	Work package leader, SCCER Biosweet.
2011 - 2019	Research group leader ‘Forest Production Systems’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
2009 - 2011	Research unit leader ‘Forest Production Systems’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
2003 - 2007	Department head ‘Management of Forest Use’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
2000 - 2009	Research program leader ‘Management of Forest Use’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
1989 - 1999	Research group leader ‘Forest Technology’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
1988	Research associate of the research group ‘Forest Management’, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland.
1987	Consultant, Rigesa, Cellulose, Papel e Embalagens LTDA, Brasil.
1985 - 1986	Trainee Forester, Administration of State Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
1980 - 1984	Scientific assistant, Faculty of Forestry, Freiburg University, Germany.

Awards

2018	KWF-Medaille, German Board of Trustees for Forestry Work and Technology (KWF).
2009	Karl-Abetz-Award, University of Freiburg, Germany.
1980	Pfeil-Bursary

Main Research Fields

Organisation, planning and steering of timber production, models and tools for decision making
Wood supply chain management, conceptual design for IT-based wood selling platforms
Bioenergy potentials and availability of wood and other biomass resources
Modelling of wood markets, agent-based modelling
Timber Harvesting, productivity models, soil protection.

Main Extension Activities

Invention and foundation of the website waldwissen.net
Courses and publications on environmental sound timber harvesting
Lecturing timber harvesting, Faculty of Forestry, Freiburg University, Germany.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Biomass transport for energy in Switzerland

The aim of this project is to explore the transport chains of biomass for energy in Switzerland and assess their economic and ecological impacts. Costs, energy inputs, and CO2 balances are calculated for the major paths travelled by forest wood and manure.

JuWaPfl - IT-basierte Modelle für Produktivität und Kosten von Bestandesbegründung und Jungwaldpflege

Modelle zur Schätzung von Leistung und Kosten für Arbeiten der Bestandesbegründung und der Jungwaldpflege

Power Density Switzerland

"Power Density" describes the relationship between energy carrier, area and time. Renewable energies and particularly biomass require much larger area to produce energy compared to fossil fuels. This study helps identify where and to what extent which type of bioenergy could be used.

Multi-Criteria Decision Support System

Multifunctional forest management today presents a major challenge for forest enterprises. The diverse demanded goods and services of the forest lead to a complicated forest planning and decision making. Appropriate concepts and tools are required to support this.

Biomass potentials Switzerland

SCCER-BIOSWEET aims to increase the energetic use of biomass in Switzerland. WSL determines resource potentials, examines availabilities and future developments of different biomass categories.

Fahrversuch in Rückegassen mit halber Ladung

In einem Befahrungsexperiment mit einem Forwarder im Forstbetrieb Wagenrain in Bremgarten AG wurde untersucht, wie sich das Befahren bestehender Rückegassen mit voller und mit halber Zuladung auf die Tiefenwirkung der Verdichtung und auf die Spurbildung auswirken.

Agent-based Modelling

Agent-based modelling enables to model all actors on the wood market individually. Simulating the model then provides insights into the market processes. With the simulation of various scenarios, the effects of structural and institutional changes on the wood market should be explored. The project is part of the WSL-project “An economic analysis of Swiss wood markets”, which is connected to the NRP 66 program “resource wood”.

An Economic Analysis of Swiss Wood Markets

In this project, researchers analyse the workings of the Swiss wood markets on the basis of case studies and explain them with the help of economic theories. The results will be used to develop an agent-based model. This should make it possible to develop scenarios for future wood availability and present options for influencing it through economic instruments.

Sortimentsimulator SorSim

SorSim ist ein Computer-basiertes Modell, um einzelne Bäume oder ganze Bestände in Sortimente einzuteilen. Die Schaftformen werden modelliert, Rinde und Zumasse werden abgezogen und aufgrund von Sortimentsvorgaben in die entsprechenden Klassen eingeteilt.

Update HeProMo

The productivity models "HeProMo", realized in 2003, are partially going to be outdated and several models for new modern harvesting processes are missing yet. The aims of the project are to renew some of the existing models based on new data sets and to create new models for current harvesting processes, such as logging and chipping of energy wood, transport of chips and logging of full trees by cable-crane.

Physical soil protection

Soils fulfill various functions. As a consequence of land cultivation and of the emission of harmful substances from various sources, the soil functions are endangered. In the research topic “soil protection” the main threats and their effects on the soil functions and hence on soil fertility are investigated.

Show all

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Glatthorn, J.; Schweier, J.; Streit, K.; Thees, O.; Hobi, M., 2023: Adaptiver Waldbau - mit Wissen, Vorsicht und Mut. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 174, 2: 64-69. doi: 10.3188/szf.2023.0064

Erni, M.; Thees, O.; Lemm, R.; Stadelmann, G.; Schweier, J.; Zenner, E.K., 2022: Zukünftige Potenziale der nachhaltigen Waldenergieholzversorgung in der Schweiz. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 173, 1: 24-35. doi: 10.3188/szf.2022.0024

Bowman, G.; Burg, V.; Erni, M.; Lemm, R.; Thees, O.; Björnsen Gurung, A., 2021: How much land does bioenergy require? An assessment for land‐scarce Switzerland. GCB Bioenergy, 13, 9: 1466-1480. doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12869

Brethauer, S.; Riediker, M.; Thees, O.; Studer, M.H., 2021: Die Rolle von Biomasse im zukünftigen schweizerischen Energie- und Rohstoffsystem. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 172, 1: 7-15.

Burg, V.; Troitzsch, K.G.; Akyol, D.; Baier, U.; Hellweg, S.; Thees, O., 2021: Farmer's willingness to adopt private and collective biogas facilities: an agent-based modeling approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167: 105400 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105400

Show all

Further scientific publications

Wood fuel in Switzerland: energy potential, technology development, resource mobilization, and its role in the energy transition. White paper

To enable the energy transition in Switzerland, SCCER BIOSWEET assessed the current and future potentials of primary energy from the different woody biomass types in Switzerland; developed and implemented innovative technologies for biomass utilization in the fields of heat, electricity and fuels; and investigated the future role of woody biomass in the energy system.

Download

Le bois-énergie en Suisse: potentiel énergétique, développement technologique, mobilisation des ressources et rôle dans la transition énergétique. Livre blanc

Pour permettre la transition énergétique en Suisse, SCCER BIOSWEET a évalué les potentiels actuels et futurs de l’énergie primaire provenant des différents types de biomasse ligneuse en Suisse ; a développé et mis en oeuvre des technologies innovantes pour l’utilisation de la biomasse dans les domaines de la chaleur, de l’électricité et des carburants ; et a étudié le rôle futur de la biomasse ligneuse dans le système énergétique.

Download

Energieholz in der Schweiz: Potenziale, Technologieentwicklung, Ressourcenmobilisierung und seine Rolle bei der Energiewende. White paper

Um die Energiewende in der Schweiz zu ermöglichen, hat SCCER BIOSWEET die aktuellen und zukünftigen Potenziale an Primärenergie aus den verschiedenen verholzten Biomassearten in der Schweiz ermittelt; innovative Technologien für deren Nutzung in den Bereichen Wärme, Strom und Treibstoffe entwickelt und umgesetzt; sowie die zukünftige Rolle der verholzten Biomasse im Energiesystem untersucht.

Download

Production de biogaz à partir d’engrais de ferme en Suisse. Potentiel énergétique, développement technologique et mobilisation des ressources. Livre blanc

L’objectif de ce livre blanc est de fournir aux décideurs, aux administrations et aux parties prenantes les résultats de recherche les plus récents afin de promouvoir l’utilisation optimale de la bioénergie issue des engrais de ferme dans la transition énergétique suisse. À cette fin, les résultats du centre de compétence suisse pour la recherche en bioénergie – SCCER BIOSWEET – sont résumés et présentés dans un contexte plus large. Si rien d’autre n’est mentionné, les résultats se réfèrent à la Suisse et, dans le cas de la matière première, aux potentiels nationaux de biomasse.

Download

Biogas from animal manure in Switzerland. Energy potential, technology development and resource mobilization. White paper

Aim of this white paper is to provide decision-makers, administrations and stakeholders with the most current research findings in order to promote the optimal use of bioenergy from manure in the Swiss energy transition. For this purpose, the results of the Swiss competence center for bioenergy research – SCCER BIOSWEET – are summarized and presented in a broader context. If nothing else is mentioned, the results refer to Switzerland and in case of the feedstock to the domestic biomass potentials.

Download

Show all