Innovation in Forestry Research
We, at SSMART Forestry, take great pride in our innovative approach to forest operations research. Our team of experts is dedicated to exploring novel ways to enhance forestry safety, management and sustainability. We believe that through research and development, we can shape a brighter future for our forests and the communities that depend on them.
Our research projects encompass a wide spectrum, including innovative forestry technology development for forest operations, environmental impacts, worker's health and safety, and forest education and workforce training. We work closely with local communities and industry partners to ensure that our research remains practical, impactful, and relevant. We are committed to sharing our findings through publications and conferences, and enthusiastically welcome collaboration with organizations that share our vision.
Task 1:
Forest Inventory and Wood Procurement Mapping Solutions
Data-driven decision making is key to providing efficient and effective wildfire mitigation and forest restoration. Task 1 builds on our ongoing development of new analytical mapping frameworks for forest managers and practitioners. Machine-learning procedures will be integrated into the existing mapping architecture of Raster-Tools for high quality mapping products. The mapping tools and libraries will be available to the public for spatial quantification of forest fuel conditions and inventory, characterization of desired future forest conditions, and real-time mapping of potential restoration project locations. Map products include a wood supply and a cost/revenue surface across large areas. Training materials and workshops will be developed for technology transfer and widespread application of the improved mapping tools.
Task 2:
Smart Forestry Solutions
Cable-assist steep-slope timber harvest technology improves worker safety. We will field test applications of this technology and evaluate cost efficiencies. We will customize our machine vision technology (patent pending by OSU and USDA Forest Service) to detect tree species and knots, and incorporate available acoustic sensors to measure wood stiffness during tree harvest. This real-time information on wood properties will facilitate segregation of eligible trees for mass timber and structural-use panels, optimizing wood handling and transport logistics. Exoskeletons, proven to enhance a worker’s physical strength, increase productivity, and reduce risk of injury in various industries will be tested for targeted forestry tasks (e.g., tree felling, tree planting). We will identify the most effective devices and publish guides and training documents for safe exoskeleton use in forestry. Impacts of the new technology infusion into existing forest practices and rural communities will be assessed at local and regional scales. Quantitative spatial equilibrium modeling approaches will be applied to evaluate effective adoption of the new technology, new job creation, job transformation, worker retention, and attraction of new skilled workers. Participatory social science approaches will be used to determine distribution of long-term impacts on population and economic vitality in forest dependent rural areas.
Task 3:
Mass Timber Manufacturing and Design Specifications
Standard design characteristics compatible with National Design Specification (NDS) will be determined for lumber processed from small diameter logs in restoration tree species groups (e.g., pines, fir, hemlock, spruce). At least 2,000 lumber piece samples will be collected per species group for testing, including 240 pieces per each of four nominal cross-section dimensions produced from small logs (e.g., 1x4, 1x6, 2x4 and 2x6) per visual grade (e.g., No. 2 and No. 3). The current Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) standard (PRG320 2019) limits the widths of lumber allowed in CLT laminations. A new edge-bonding technology will be investigated at OSU’s Emmerson Lab to produce CLT laminations from narrow size lumber (e.g., 1x2, 1x3, 2x3). Determination of design characteristics of CLT panels with and without edge-bonded laminations will allow defining a custom PRG320 CLT grade for a class of standardized modular housing systems.
Task 4:
Forest Education and Workforce Training
We will expand and enhance workforce training curriculums using new pedagogies that integrate augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technology (XR) with cognitively adaptive training systems. The systems will be deployed at a broader scale through our education, training, outreach, industry partners: Associated Oregon Loggers (AOL), Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE), Career and Technology Education (CTE) Programs. We will leverage OSU’s Mechanized Harvesting Simulation Laboratory to develop new experiential learning programs and XR digital contents. We will produce professional development workshops for instructors in SMILE and Natural Resource Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs. High school students will be offered in-class curricula using OSU harvesting simulators to promote forest education. Oregon’s Career Development Activities (CDA) will have new Smart Forestry activity units for improving logging skills and professional leadership.
