Advanced information technology makes it possible to track timber history from the forest all the way to the final wood product. In addition, productivity can be radically increased. Timber that is not suitable for sawn wood must not end up in a sawmill. The quality and characteristics of timber to be sawn can be exploited for minimizing wastage. Richard Uusijärvi in the forest industry research institute SP Trätek that co-ordinates the project says that at present as much as 20 % of timber will end up as unnecessary wastage. On European level that means lost value of many billion euro.
Increased productivity at lower environmental costs
The purpose of the project is to develop systems and to demonstrate the opportunities of both maximum exploitation of raw timber at lower environmental costs and of improving wood product quality. The solution is IAD - Individual Associated Data. When a tree is felled and cut up into logs each log is given a unique code, for example a data chip, which is connected to a database where information is stored about the log's diameter at breast height, its type, felling place and time of felling. In the following stages of processing this information is used for the purpose of achieving the best possible exploitation of the timber. Already at the felling stage in the forest information is available about timber quality and characteristics and about the best way of exploiting it.
The three year project indisputable key has a budget of more than 12 million euro. There are 28 participants from five EU member states, producers and users of this technology as well as research institutes