Wood is a natural material with large differences in properties within and between tree species, forest stands and trees. It is possible, but not always exonomically feasible, to find wood matching property specifications for a broad spectrum of products and processes. But the large variability is aslo a weakness of wood. Unwanted and unknown variations lead to reduced yield, increased costs and problems with product quality in the industry.
The properties are influenced by growth conditions (location, site factors, management, climate). Age is also and important factor. Knowledge on properties of wood and fibres and their variations in trees and parts of trees is needed for many purposes. It is a basis for the development and application of
optimal utilisation of existing forest resources, improvement and plantation of
suitable plant materials, good forestry practices, new products and processes, etc. It is also a necessary basis for research.
Depending on application or reseach task, knowledge is needed for different properties and scales: fibres, growth rings and parts thereof, logs and other product-related parts of trees, forest resources, raw material flows, processed materials.
- Sampling, measurements and evaluation
Typically small to large size projects on a large variety of research issues and applications. Often cooperation with other research groups, doing part of the work.
- Modelling, simulation and application
Typically medium to large scale projects, based on data from sampling and measurement projects.