Enhancing Canada's forest fibre

Mackenzie, Julia A.; Bruemmer, George

doi:10.5558/tfc85353-3

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Slow growth rates of boreal tree species provide a competitive advantage in global forest products markets based on the preferred wood quality characteristics [6]. The species composition and growing conditions typical of the Canadian boreal forests provide a key and unique benefit (mainly related to fibre morphology and strength) in quality over volumetric production of the fibre resources globally.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictive Modeling of Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) Wood Density Using Stand Structure Variables Derived from Airborne LiDAR Data in Boreal Forests of Ontario

Pokharel

Groot

Pitt

et al. 2016

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Our objective was to model the average wood density in black spruce trees in representative stands across a boreal forest landscape based on relationships with predictor variables extracted from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point cloud data. Increment core samples were collected from dominant or co-dominant black spruce trees in a network of 400 m 2 plots distributed among forest stands representing the full range of species composition and stand development across a 1,231,707 ha forest management unit in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Wood quality data were generated from optical microscopy, image analysis, X-ray densitometry and diffractometry as employed in SilviScan™. Each increment core was associated with a set of field measurements at the plot level as well as a suite of LiDAR-derived variables calculated on a 20 × 20 m raster from a wall-to-wall coverage at a resolution of~1 point m −2 . We used a multiple linear regression approach to identify important predictor variables and describe relationships between stand structure and wood density for average black spruce trees in the stands we observed. A hierarchical classification model was then fitted using random forests to make spatial predictions of mean wood density for average trees in black spruce stands. The model explained 39 percent of the variance in the response variable, with an estimated root mean square error of 38.8 (kg·m −3 ). Among the predictor variables, P20 (second decile LiDAR height in m) and quadratic mean diameter were most important. Other predictors describing canopy depth and cover were of secondary importance and differed according to the modeling approach. LiDAR-derived variables appear to capture differences in stand structure that reflect different constraints on growth rates, determining the proportion of thin-walled earlywood cells in black spruce stems, and ultimately influencing the pattern of variation in important wood quality attributes such as wood density. A spatial characterization of variation in a desirable wood quality attribute, such as density, enhances the possibility for value chain optimization, which could allow the forest industry to be more competitive through efficient planning for black spruce management by including an indication of suitability for specific products as a modeled variable derived from standard inventory data.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictive Modeling of Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) Wood Density Using Stand Structure Variables Derived from Airborne LiDAR Data in Boreal Forests of Ontario

Pokharel

Groot

Pitt

et al. 2016

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Trees and wood can be characterized in many ways including: appearance attributes, permeability, moisture content, energy content, wood density, cell dimensions, microfibril angle, chemical composition, decay resistance, knot size and distribution, wood grain geometry, wood strength properties (e.g., modulus of elasticity), tree taper and tree diameter (Panshin andde Zeuw 1970, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre 2010). Better information about selected fibre attributes can support improved decisions about timber management planning and operations and can help to diversify and add value to products manufactured by the Canadian forest sector (MacKenzie and Bruemmer 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crown-fibre attribute relationships for enhanced forest inventory: Progress and prospects

Groot¹,

Cortini

Wulder

2015

The Forestry Chronicle

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A five-year project, Crown-Fibre Attribute Relationships (CFAR), was completed by the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (Natural Resources Canada) to explore the relationships between tree crown characteristics and wood fibre attributes. The CFAR project used a number of data sets distributed across Canada (e.g., silvicultural experiments), providing a range of crown conditions following spacing and thinning treatments. The approaches developed under the CFAR project, along with other relevant research, indicate that is possible to enhance current forest inventories by providing estimates of fibre attributes from crown characteristics of individual trees that can, or are poised to be, captured using remotely sensed data. Predictability was related to the dimensionality of the fibre attributes with models for zero-dimensionality fibre attributes (e.g., DBH) showing RMSE of 10% to 15% of mean values. Also, one-dimensional (e.g., sapwood area) and two-dimensional (i.e., ring area) models quantified longitudinal patterns with low bias. Current values of wood density were not related to crown characteristics; instead, recent research suggests that wood density is regulated by hydraulic and biomechanical constraints. Further evolution of remote sensing technology and related research will help to address the temporal problem posed by two-and three-dimensional fibre attributes.Key words: Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, crown-fibre attribute relationships, DBH, maximum branch diameter, sapwood area, ring area, wood density, tree crown, LiDAR RÉSUMÉUn projet d'une durée de cinq ans portant sur les relations entre la cime des arbres et les qualités de la fibre a été complété par le Centre canadien sur la fibre de bois (Ressources naturelles Canada) et avait pour objectif d' étudier les relations entre les caractéristiques de la cime des arbres et les qualités de la fibre du bois. Le projet a utilisé plusieurs ensembles de données provenant d'un peu partout au Canada (par ex., des expériences sylvicoles) et représentant plusieurs conditions de cime à la suite de traitements de dégagement et d' éclaircie. Les approches élaborées dans le cas de ce projet, ainsi qu'au cours de travaux de recherche connexes, indiquent qu'il est possible d'améliorer les inventaires forestiers actuels en ajoutant un estimé des qualités de la fibre à partir des caractéristiques de la cime de chaque arbre qui peut être, ou qui serait sur le point d' être saisies par télédétection. La prévisibilité a été liée à la dimensionnalité des qualités de la fibre ayant des modèles sans dimensionnalité (par ex., dhp) et affiche une erreur quadratique moyenne (RMSE) de 10% à 15%. De plus, des modèles unidimensionnels (par ex., la surface de l'aubier) et des modèles à deux dimensions (par ex., la surface des anneaux de croissance) ont permis de quantifier les profils longitudinaux avec un faible biais. Les valeurs actuelles de la densité du bois n' ont pas été reliées aux caractéristiques des cimes, mais cependant, une recherche récente laisse entendre que la den...

show abstract

“…Given these limitations on growth, the Canadian forest industry is moving its focus towards a value-based market rather than a volume-based market, to better compete with fast-growing, low-quality forests of southern regions [9]. For example, Brazilian Eucalyptus plantations can typically attain an annual production of approximately 35-45 m 3 · ha −1 [10], while black spruce stands of the Ontario boreal forest produce approximately 2 m 3 · ha −1 annually [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Brazilian Eucalyptus plantations can typically attain an annual production of approximately 35-45 m 3 · ha −1 [10], while black spruce stands of the Ontario boreal forest produce approximately 2 m 3 · ha −1 annually [11]. With the move towards a value-based market, it has become increasingly important to understand how key attributes, such as fibre length, vary across the landscape and how these specific wood characteristics may be marketed [9]. Value chain optimization is a wood fibre usage strategy emerging from the value-based market approach which strives to match suitable fibres with appropriate products at fair prices [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Wood Fibre Length in Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) Based on Ecological Land Classification

Townshend

Pokharel

Groot

et al. 2015

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effective planning to optimize the forest value chain requires accurate and detailed information about the resource; however, estimates of the distribution of fibre properties on the landscape are largely unavailable prior to harvest. Our objective was to fit a model of the tree-level average fibre length related to ecosite classification and other forest inventory variables depicted at the landscape scale. A series of black spruce increment cores were collected at breast height from trees in nine different ecosite groups within the boreal forest of northeastern Ontario, and processed using standard techniques for maceration and fibre length measurement. Regression tree analysis and random forests were used to fit hierarchical classification models and find the most important predictor variables for the response variable area-weighted mean stem-level fibre length. Ecosite group was the best predictor in the regression tree. Longer mean fibre-length was associated with more productive ecosites that supported faster growth. The explanatory power of the model of fitted data was good; however, random forests simulations indicated poor generalizability. These results suggest the potential to develop localized models linking wood fibre length in black spruce to landscape-level attributes, and improve the sustainability of forest management by identifying ideal locations to harvest wood that has desirable fibre characteristics.

show abstract

Enhancing Canada's forest fibre

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

Predictive Modeling of Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) Wood Density Using Stand Structure Variables Derived from Airborne LiDAR Data in Boreal Forests of Ontario

Predictive Modeling of Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) Wood Density Using Stand Structure Variables Derived from Airborne LiDAR Data in Boreal Forests of Ontario

Crown-fibre attribute relationships for enhanced forest inventory: Progress and prospects

Modeling Wood Fibre Length in Black Spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) Based on Ecological Land Classification

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About