Wood Artificial Intelligence - Knot modelling by Computed Tomography (WAI-KnotCT)

Important results from the project

The development of a high-tech sawmill industry requires a deep understanding of the wood material and the machines used in industry, with the goal of advancing forestry with a focus on efficient use of our natural resource. The project’s aim has been to carry out large-scale data collections of Swedish and German forests, and to build models based on forest data, computed tomography (CT) of wood, and sawn timber. This is to link information from the forest to a finished sawn product.

Expected long term effects

This project has laid the foundation for great future potential. The earlier "stem bank" of pine and spruce at the Swedish division enabled many years of research and doctoral studies, and led to the industrial use of CT scanning of logs in sawmills. The goal now is to repeat this success with modern data collection. The database will certainly create new projects and drive the development of a modern, AI-driven sawmill industry, as well as contribute to more efficient use of forest resources.

Approach and implementation

The project’s high ambitions, which were not immediately beneficial to industry partners, were made possible by 100% funding from Vinnova. The project was therefore designed to build a foundation for future research and industrial development. This was only possible thanks to the international experts who participated in the project. An external company contributed voluntarily out of pure interest, as the project was ahead of schedule and could demonstrate its potential for future work.