Teaching Responsibilities

• FOR 3714 Forest Harvesting
• FOR 3734 Timber Procurement
• FOR 4714 Harvesting Systems Evaluation
• FOR 5714G Advanced Harvesting Systems Evaluation

Research Interests and Recent Projects
My research program is primarily based in the following areas within Forest Operations and Business:

• Evaluating operations with regard to safety, productivity, planning, and logistics,
• Creating tools to improve the efficiency and profitability of forest operations,
• Analyzing forest business issues such as supply chain management and biomass utilization opportunities and challenges, and
• Evaluating the environmental impacts of forest operations activities.

Current research projects include:

• Modeling the effects of skid trail characteristics and closure techniques on potential soil erosion,
• Enhancing bioenergy product development in Virginia: Identifying potential biomass boiler locations, assessing available resources, and streamlining barriers for biomass utilization,
• Inclusive excellence in forestry graduate programs at Virginia Tech,
• Water quality and closure BMPs for forest stream crossings, and
• Productivity, costs, and environmental impacts of biomass harvesting in the coastal plain of North Carolina.

Refereed Journal Publications (18)

• Sawyers, B.C., M.C. Bolding, W.M. Aust, and W.A. Lakel III. (in press). Effectiveness and implementation costs of overland skid trail closure techniques in the Virginia piedmont. Accepted on 10/31/11 by Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
• Wade, C.R., M.C. Bolding, W.M. Aust, and W.A. Lakel III. (in press). Comparison of five erosion control techniques for bladed skid trails in Virginia. Accepted on 09/06/11 by Southern Journal of Applied Forestry.
• Barrett, S.M., M.C. Bolding, and J.F. Munsell. (in press). Evaluating continuing education needs and program effectiveness using a survey of Virginia’s SHARP Logger program participants. Accepted on 07/14/11 by Journal of Extension.
• McKee, S.E., L.A. Shenk, M.C. Bolding, and W.M. Aust. (in press). Stream crossing methods, costs, and closure best management practices for Virginia loggers. Accepted on 05/11/11 by Southern Journal of Applied Forestry.
• Conrad, J.L., W.S. Ford, M.C. Groover, M.C. Bolding, and W.M. Aust. (in press). Virginia Tech forest road and bladed skid trail cost estimation method. Accepted on 04/19/11 by Southern Journal of Applied Forestry.
• Munsell, J.F., S.M. Barrett, and M.C. Bolding. 2011. An exploratory study of biomass harvesting among logging firms in Virginia and North Carolina. Forest Science 57(5):427-434.
• Aust, W.M., M.B. Carroll, M.C. Bolding, and C.A. Dolloff. 2011. Operational forest stream crossings effects on water quality in the Virginia Piedmont. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 35(3):123-130.
• Worrell, W.C., M.C. Bolding, and W.M. Aust. 2011. Potential soil erosion following skyline yarding versus tracked skidding on bladed trails in the Appalachian region of Virginia. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 35(3):131-135.
• Conrad, J.L. and M.C. Bolding. 2011. Virginia’s woody biomass market: opportunities and implications. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 35(2):67-72.
• Conrad, J.L., M.C. Bolding, R.L. Smith, and W.M. Aust. 2011. Wood-energy market impact on competition, procurement practices, and profitability of landowners and forest products industry in the U.S. south. Biomass and Bioenergy 35(1):280-287.
• Lakel III, W.A., W.M. Aust, M.C. Bolding, C.A. Dolloff, P. Keyser, and R. Feldt. 2010. Sediment trapping by streamside management zones of various widths after forest harvest and site preparation. Forest Science 56(6):541-551.
• Conrad, J.L., M.C. Bolding, W.M. Aust, and R.L. Smith. 2010. Wood-to-energy expansion, forest ownership changes, and mill closure: Consequences for U.S. South’s wood supply chain. Forest Policy and Economics 12(6):399-406.
• Bolding, M.C., S.M. Barrett, J.F. Munsell, and M.C. Groover. 2010. Characteristics of Virginia’s logging businesses in a changing timber market. Forest Products Journal 60(1):86-93.
• Bolding, M.C., L.D. Kellogg, and C.T. Davis. 2009. Soil compaction and visual disturbance following an integrated mechanical forest fuel reduction operation in southwest Oregon. International Journal of Forest Engineering 20(2):47-56.
• Moldenhauer, M.C. and M.C. Bolding. 2009. Parcelization of South Carolina’s private forestland: Loggers’ reactions to a growing threat. Forest Products Journal 59(6):37-43.
• Bolding, M.C., L.D. Kellogg, and C.T. Davis. 2009. Productivity and costs of an integrated mechanical forest fuel reduction operation in southwest Oregon. Forest Products Journal 59(3):35-46.
• Bolding, M.C. and B.L. Lanford. 2005. Wildfire fuel harvesting and resultant biomass utilization using a cut-to-length / small chipper system. Forest Products Journal 55(12):181-189.
• Murphy, G.E., H.D. Marshall, and M.C. Bolding. 2004. Adaptive control of bucking on harvesters to meet order book constraints. Forest Products Journal 54(12):114-121.

Selected Presentations

• Bolding, M.C. and T.N. Dowling. 2011. An analysis of woods and mill turn times to improve trucking efficiency. Invited presentation at the Mill Operations Technical Advancement Group (MOTAG) Winter Meeting; Atlanta, GA. February 4, 2011.
• Bolding, M.C. 2010. Harvesting and forest management issues associated with biomass utilization. Invited presentation at the Virginia Logger’s Association Annual Meeting; Lexington, VA. August 28, 2010.
• Aust, W.M. and M.C. Bolding. 2010. Modeling erosion from skid trails and stream crossing approaches in the Allegheny Plateau. Invited presentation at the Appalachian Hardwood Forest Research Alliance Annual Meeting; Elkins, WV. June 17, 2010.
• Barrett, S.M. and M.C. Bolding. 2010. Harvesting in Virginia: current status and future opportunities. Invited presentation at the Virginia Forestry Association Annual Convention; Wintergreen, VA. April 16-18, 2010.
• Barrett, S.M., M.C. Bolding, and C. Becker. 2010. Biomass harvesting and Bioenergy in Virginia. Logger and forester pre-conference workshop. Virginia Forestry Association Annual Convention; Wintergreen, VA. April 16-18, 2010.

Completed Graduate Students (10)

• Groover, Miles C. December 2011. A comparison of chipper productivity, chip characteristics, and nutrient removals from two woody biomass harvesting treatments. MS Thesis, Virginia Tech.
• Chandler, Josh L. November 2011. Biomass harvesting effects on soil physical properties in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. MF Paper, Virginia Tech.
• Conrad, Joseph L. August 2011. Anticipated impact of a vibrant wood-to-energy market on the U.S. South’s wood supply chain. PhD Dissertation, Virginia Tech.
• Sawyers, B. Clay. May 2011. Effectiveness and implementation costs of overland skid trail closure techniques in the Virginia Piedmont. MF Paper, Virginia Tech. (Co-chair with Dr. Mike Aust) 
• Wade, Charlie R. December 2010. Evaluation of bladed skid trail erosion BMPs and determination of erosion model accuracy and applicability. MS Thesis, Virginia Tech. (Co-chair with Dr. Mike Aust)
• Ford, Will S. May 2010. A comprehensive literature review of the impacts of forest harvesting systems on Appalachian hardwood stands. MF Paper, Virginia Tech. (Co-chair with Dr. Mike Aust)
• Dowling, Tripp N. May 2010. An analysis of log truck turn times at harvest sites and mill facilities. MS Thesis, Virginia Tech.
• Conrad, Joseph L. May 2010. Virginia’s woody biomass market: opportunities and implications. MF Paper, Virginia Tech.
• Moldenhauer, Matthew C. February 2009. Parcelization of South Carolina’s private forestland: loggers’ reactions to a growing threat. MFR Paper, Clemson University.
• Lucas, Aaron C. January 2008. An assessment tool for examining impacts of recreational forest trail use on stream crossings. MFR Paper, Clemson University.

Current Graduate Students (4)

• Tal Roberts (MF): Logging injuries and workforce trends
• Laura Wear (MS): Stream crossing BMPs (Co-chair w/Dr. Mike Aust)
• Scott Barrett (PhD): Biomass harvesting (Co-chair w/Dr. Mike Aust)
• Brian Morris (PhD): Forest road and stream crossing BMPs

Professional Memberships

• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
• Council on Forest Engineering
• Forest Products Society
• Forest Resources Association
• National Scholars Honor Society
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• Sigma Xi Research Society
• Society of American Foresters
• Virginia Forestry Association
• Xi Sigma Pi Honor Society

Professional Activities and Honors

• Southern Journal of Applied Forestry Associate Editor for Harvesting, Engineering, and Utilization. July 2011 – Present.
• Forest Resources Association Appalachian Region 2010 Technical Writing Award 2nd Place. Technical Release 09-R-30, “Trucking Safety/Efficiency Manual as Continuing Ed Resource”. Authors: M.C. Bolding, T.N. Dowling, and S.M. Barrett.
• Forest Resources Association Appalachian Region 2010 Technical Writing Award 3rd Place. Technical Release 10-R-11, “Loggers’ Willingness to Adapt to Biomass Harvesting”. Authors: S.M. Barrett, M.C. Bolding, and J.F. Munsell.
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC. 2008 – Present.
• Adjunct Assistant Professor, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 2008 – Present.