Technical Note—Forest Outturn Optimization by Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition and Dynamic Programming Column Generation

In this paper, we show how Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition, with delayed column generation by means of dynamic programming, can be used to determine the optimal set of bucking policies for entire stands of trees. Determined in this way, the bucking policies are consistent with wood resource qualities and quantities and end use product requirements, and represent the activities of a linear programming model that covers supply and demand constraints. We determine optimal bucking policies using dynamic programming techniques.