Jan Wiedenbeck

Nondestructive evaluation of incipient decay in hardwood logs

Decay can cause significant damage to high-value hardwood timber. New nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies are urgently needed to effectively detect incipient decay in hardwood timber at the earliest possible stage. Currently, the primary means of inspecting timber relies on visual assessment criteria. When visual inspections are used exclusively, they provide no indication of the extent of internal deterioration that may exist in timber. In this study, time-of-flight, stress-wave tomography, and micro-drilling resistance methods were investigated for locating incipient decay in sugar maple logs. We found that the capability of the single-path time-of-flight method for decay detection is very limited, and the method can be used only to identify logs and trees with moderate and severe decay. Resistance-based detection of decay (including early stages) is effective if the resistance drilling device is oriented so that its path goes through the decay zone; however, orienting the drill through the decay is difficult to guarantee. A multi- sensor stress-wave device can overcome the path-dependent detection issue. Results from laboratory testing indicate that the eight-sensor two dimensional stress-wave device has good potential for assisting in the detection of incipient decay in roundwood, such as logs and standing timber. However, to more effectively locate early-stage decay within a hardwood timber, more sensors should be added to the measurement system to obtain a higher resolution two-dimensional tomography image of a cross section. Field studies on standing hardwood timber should further investigate the effectiveness of these NDE methods with improved systems and procedures. This research could benefit field foresters and managers in using NDE technologies to assess the health condition of hardwood timber in the forest and could potentially lead to significant economic savings.

Forest Products Industry in a Digital Age: A Look at E-Commerce and Social Media

Abstract The business of marketing, promotions in particular, has changed substantially during the past decade. Physical means of promotion (e.g., newspapers, magazines, radio, billboards) have see...

Forest Products Industry in a Digital Age: Factors Affecting Social Media Adoption

Abstract The use of social media as a marketing tool has increased significantly in recent years. However, limited information is available regarding social media use in the US forest products industry or social media adoption at the organizational level, especially within the business-to-business context. This study presents part two of a two-part series of articles that look at the forest products industry in the digital age. A mail survey was conducted in 2013 to examine factors affecting the use of social media in the US forest products industry. This article also looks at the perception of forest products companies regarding social media effectiveness and identifies challenges faced by the forest products companies regarding social media use. Results show that close to 58 percent of respondents currently use some form of social media. The most common social media tool implemented was Facebook. Respondents adoption of social media was influenced by company age, net sales revenue, product type, Web si...

Examination of roundwood utilization rates in West Virginia

ABSTRACT Forest harvesting is an integral part of the West Virginia forest economy. This component of the supply chain supports a diverse array of primary and secondary processors. A key metric use...

Digital Technology Use by Companies in the Furniture, Cabinet, Architectural Millwork, and Related Industries

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), in which computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining are integrated for the production of parts, became a viable option for t...

Users guide for WoodCite, a product cost quotation tool for wood component manufacturers [computer program]

WoodCite is a Microsoft� Access-based application that allows wood component manufacturers to develop product price quotations for their current and potential customers. The application was developed by the U.S. Forest Service and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in cooperation with the Wood Components Manufacturers Association.

West Virginia harvest and utilization study, 2008

Thirty active harvesting operations were part of a harvest and utilization study conducted in West Virginia in 2008. Data were collected on roundwood product and residue yields obtained from trees of different sizes, species, and qualities. This study was modeled after studies conducted on a regular and frequent basis by the Forest Inventory and Analysis unit in the Southern Research Station. Of the total volume harvested during this study, 88 percent was utilized and 12 percent was considered unutilized. Of the hardwood logging residue measured, 56 percent was from nongrowing-stock sections of the treesx97e.g., tops, limbs, and stumps. The other 44 percent was unutilized growing-stock sections including upper stems and saw log-sized material. When the harvest utilization factors estimated in this study are applied to Forest Inventory and Analysis estimates of total harvest volume for West Virginia in 2008, a statewide hardwood logging residue estimate of 35.5 million cubic feet is obtained.

Hardwood Supply Chain and the Role of Log Brokers in 2012

Abstract The recent economic crisis has greatly affected how companies conduct business. To be competitive, companies had to make changes to their product lines, distribution channels, marketing, a...