Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Individual tree models, as opposed to stand models, have the potential to greatly improve sensitivity of forest growth models to changing conditions such as silvicultural amendments, irregular stand structures, etc. It was the purpose of this study to extend two sub-components of a European individual tree growth model to introduce individual tree growth modelling concepts in South Africa using Pinus elliottii as a study species. Two main objectives were established: Modelling the potential height of stands across different site qualities and modelling diameter increment using a potential modifier approach with a combination of competition indices that change in importance according to the edaphic conditions of the site. Potential height modelling used three steps in order to achieve this objective. The first was to compare site index models based on different model fitting techniques, namely nonlinear least squares, generalised nonlinear least squares and nonlinear mixed effects models. The nonlinear mixed effects model proved to be superior in terms of achieving the principles of regression assumptions and model fit for the data range observed. The second step was to fit potential height using nonlinear quantile regression on observed spacing trial height measurements. This proved to be a robust technique able to capture potentials according to the defined Chapman-Richards model structure. The final step was to use the predicted site index as a site classification variable in order to predict potential height. While some small deviation occurred, potential height seems to be well correlated to site index and validation on selected sites suggested that site index can be used to model potential height until a more sophisticated site classification model is used for future improvement of the model. Diameter increment modelling followed six major steps in order to apply the full parameterisation methodology of an age-independent diameter increment model dependent on tree diameter and competition. Diameter increment potentials were fit using site index as a predictor of the potential height curves. Multiple competition indices were tested on two sites to obtain a combination of two indices, which can capture overtopping and local crowding effects. Principle components analysis and variance inflation factors calculation were applied to test for collinearity between indices. Suitable combinations were tested resulting in a combination of the KKL and Local Basal Area competition indices. Changing importance of the two indices were observed on the two sites tested indicating a shift in the mode of competition according to a water gradient. These were combined in a deterministic potential modifier model, which mimicked competitive stages over age; however the validation showed a skewed distribution, which was not sensitive to stand density gradients. A stochastic model was constructed to model variance from observed residual plots using linear quantile regression to determine bounds for a truncated normal distribution which generates random deviates for a predicted increment. The stochastic element significantly improved the performance and sensitivity of the model, however the model was still not sensitive enough at very high and very low spacing densities. All in all two key models for an adaptation of an individual tree growth simulator to South African conditions were successfully demonstrated. The two main objectives were achieved; however some indicated improvements could be made, especially for the competition indices where the sensitivity of competition to changing resource limitation according to site and temporal scales needs to be further investigated. Furthermore, the full set of models for simulating individual tree growth still needs to be applied. Overall, as a methodological approach, the study outlined problems and future improvements, introduced new concepts and can serve as a guideline for future parameterisation of an individual tree growth model. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In vergelyking met vakgroeimodelle, het individuele-boomgroeimodelle die potensiaal om die sensitiwiteit van plantasiegroeimodelle vir veranderende omstandighede soos aanpassings in boskultuur, onreëlmatige vakstrukture, ensovoorts, drasties te verbeter. Die doel van hierdie studie was om twee subkomponente van ‘n Europese individuele-boomgroeimodel uit te brei om sodoende individuele-boomgroei modelleringskonsepte in Suid-Afrika bekend te stel. Pinus elliottii is gebruik as studiespesie. Twee hoofdoelstellings is bepaal. Eerstens, die modellering van hoogtegroei potensiaal van opstande oor verskeie vlakke van groeiplek kwaliteit. Tweedens, die modellering van deursnee-aanwas deur gebruik te maak van ‘n potensiaal matigingsbenadering “potential modifier approach“ met ‘n kombinasie van kompetisie-indekse waarvan die belangrikheid verander volgens die edafiese toestande van die groeiplek. Die hoogtepotensiaalmodellering bestaan uit drie stappe. Tydens die eerste stap word groeiplek bonniteitsmodelle vergelyk op grond van verskillende modelpassingstegnieke, naamlik nie-lineêre minimum kwadrate, algemene nie-lineêre minimum kwadrate en nie-lineêre gemengde effek modelle. Laasgenoemde het die beste gevaar in terme van die beginsels van regressiemodelle asook die mate waarin die model die waargeneemde data pas. Tweedens is hoogtegroei potensiaal gemodelleer deur nie-lineêre kwantielregressie op waargeneemde hoogtes van spasiëringseksperimente toe te pas. Die metode is robuust en in staat om potensiale volgens die gedefinieerde Chapman Richards modelstruktuur vas te vang. Laastens is die voorspelde bonniteits indeks as ‘n groeiplek klassifasie veranderlike gebruik om sodoende die hoogtegroei potensiaal te voorspel. Alhoewel klein afwykings voorgekom het, blyk hoogtegroei potensiaal goed gekorreleer te wees met bonniteits indeks. Uit validasie op geselekteerde groieplekke blyk dit dat bonniteits indeks gebruik kan word om hoogtegroei potensiaal te modelleer totdat ‘n meer gesofistikeerde groeiplek klassifikasiemodel beskikbaar is wat die model verder sal kan vebeter. Die volledige parametriseringsmetodiek van ‘n ouderdoms-onafhanklike deursnee-aanwas model wat afhanklik is van boomdeursnee en kompetisie bestaan uit ses hoof prosesse. Nie-lineêre kwantielregressie is gebruik om deursnee-aanwaspotensiale te pas vir verskeie groeiplekke. Dié is gekombineer met ‘n bonniteits indeks om ‘n nuwe model te vorm waarmee hoogtegroeipotensiaal kurwes voorpel kon word. Daar is met veelvuldige kompetisie-indekse op twee groeiplekke geëksperimenteer om ‘n kombinasie van slegs twee indekse te vind wat die effekte van oorskaduwing en plaaslike verdringing kan vasvang, te vind. Hoof komponent analise “Principle components analysis” en variansie inflasie faktore berekening “variance inflation factors calculation” is gebruik om vir kollineariteit tussen die indekse te toets. Gepaste indekskombinasies is getoets. ‘n Kombinasie van die KKL en plaaslike basale oppervlakte “Local Basal Area” kompetisie-indekse het die beste resultate gelewer. Die twee indekse is as volg geselekteer. Veranderings in die belangrikheid van elk van die indekse is waargeneem op die twee toetspersele. Dit dui op ‘n verskuiwing in die modus van kompetisie afhangend van ‘n watergradiënt. Die twee indekse is gekombineer in ‘n deterministiese potensiaal matigings model wat die kompeterende stadiums oor ouderdom naboots. Validasie het egter ‘n skewe verdeling wat nie sensitief vir opstandsdigtheidsgradiënte is nie, gewys. ‘n Stogastiese model is ontwikkel om variansie in die residuele grafieke te modelleer. Lineêre kwantielregressie is gebruik om grense vir ‘n afgestompte normaalverdeling wat ewekansige afwykings vir ‘n voorspelde aanwas te bepaal. Die stogastiese element het die prestasie van die deterministiese model merkbaar verbeter. Selfs met die stogastiese element, is die model egter steeds nie sensitief genoeg vir baie hoë en baie lae opstandsdigthede nie. Ter opsomming is twee modelle vir ‘n aanpassing van ‘n individuele-boomgroeisimuleerder vir Suid- Afrikaanse toestande suksesvol gedemonstreer. Die twee hoofdoelstellings is bereik. Daar is egter steeds ‘n paar aangeduide verbeterings wat aangebring kan word. Die sensitiwiteit van die kompetisie-indekse op hulpbronbeperkings wat verander op grond van die ruimtelike en temporale skale moet veral verder bestudeer word. Verder moet die volle stel modelle wat benodig word om individuele-boomgroei te modelleer nog toegepas word. As ‘n metodologiese benadering, het die studie probleme uitgewys en toekomstige verbeterings aangedui, nuwe konsepte bekendgestel en kan dus dien as ‘n riglyn vir toekomstige parametrisering van individuele-boomgroeimodelle.

Thesis (PhD (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study aims at examining technical and institutional capacity in local organisations to manage decentralised forest resources in Uganda. Specifically the study assessed the roles, responsibilities, powers and legal instruments, incentives, facilities and human and fiscal resources of local organisations to undertake decentralised forest governance. Semistructured and key informant interviews were conducted in local organisations and legal and policy documents reviewed to ascertain strategies for implementing decentralised forestry. An inventory of selected forests was conducted to assess effect of decentralisation policy on the condition of forests in Uganda. Chi-square tests were used to show the factors that motivate local organisations to participate in decentralised forest governance. Tree species diversity and richness, density, diameter at breast height and basal area and sings of human disturbance were used to compare the condition of forests under local government and those under private and central government ownership. Similarity between the forests was assessed using a Two Way INdicator SPecies Analysis, while the differences in the composition and structural characteristics of trees among forest ownership categories were compared by oneway analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the influence of household pressure, forest size, the distance of the forest from roads and forest administrative office, and the market demand of the forest produce on the capacity of forest agencies to regulate timber harvesting. The findings reveals that local organisations supported devolved forest management functions such as forest monitoring, tree planting, environmental education, networking, collaborative and integrated planning, resource mobilisation and formulation of byelaws. The role of forestry in the livelihoods of the people, the desire to control forest degradation and access to forest revenue, donor and central government fiscal support were the most important incentives in decentralised forest management. However, limited capacity in terms of qualified staff, funds, facilities and equipment and inadequate decision-making powers over fiscal resources from forestry, inequitable distribution of forest revenue and unclear forest and tree tenure hindered decentralised forest management. The diversity and richness indices, density, diameter at breast height and basal area of trees were significantly higher in central forest reserves, intermediate in private and lower in local forest reserves. The frequency of human disturbances was significantly higher in local forest reserves than in private and central forest reserves. The variation in composition and structure of the local forest reserves is partly attributed to human disturbances. The capacity of the forest agencies to regulate forest resources use in the Mpigi forests was significantly affected by the size of forest, and its location in relation to the well-maintained roads, forest administrative office and the number of households in close proximity and the market demand of the forest produce. Large forests in close proximity to densely populated areas and far a way from roads and the forest administrative office were more affected by timber harvesting. The results demonstrated that local governments are not yet efficient in monitoring and regulating forest use and maintaining the condition of forests in Uganda. Local organisations need to play an increased role in the implementation of the Forest Policy, the National Forestry and Tree Planting and the Local Government Acts for successful decentralisation of forest management and to recruit more technical staff, strengthen internal sources of revenue and develop integrated forestry work plans. There is also a need for the central government to integrate and co-ordinate local and central interests, and facilitate a working relationship with local governments, civil society and the private sector involved in forestry. Forest owners and managers in the Mpigi forests and Ugandaâ s tropical forests in general need to manage human impacts so as to balance utilisation and conservation forest resources. There is need for longterm studies to fully understand the real significance of ownership on the composition and structure of the Mpigi forests and forests in other districts of Uganda.

Thesis (PhD (For))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A primary reason for the existence of the forest industry is to provide a renewable and natural resource for much needed timber and fibre products. Substantial improvements in management practices are required to increase forest volume and pulp yields for increased demand. Eucalyptus grandis clonal trees of age 6.75 years, grown in a Nelder 1a spacing experiment, were sampled and analysed to describe the effect of planting density on i) growth and yield, ii) wood properties and iii) pulp and paper quality. The main objective was to populate a fibre productivity index (FPI) which would be suitable from technical and economical perspectives. A material study was conducted on the wood and in addition, two methods were developed to further describe the variability of the forest resource to i) separate growth rings by means of wood density peaks from gamma-ray densitometry and ii) calibrate near infrared (NIR) prediction models. The results indicated that planting density did not influence the variability of wood density but mechanisms affecting available soil water are important. NIR prediction models were developed to rapidly and reliably assess wood properties on a non-destructive basis. The validation models for wood density, total pulp yield, kappa number and insoluble lignin returned high predictive ability. When applied to predict chemical properties from an independent data set, the outcomes were accurate in comparison with measured data. Growth and yield functions were developed for tree survival, dominant height and basal area. They accurately predicted outcomes as demonstrated by the goodness of fit and their logical behaviour tested over the range of planting densities. When the most extreme stand density treatments, 6809 and 275 trees per hectare (TPH) were evaluated for wood and fibre properties, the larger trees grown at 275 TPH, produced wood of better quality for pulp processing; basic wood density at 0.520 g cm–3 (21 % higher), fibre cell wall thickness at 2.10 μm (18.6 % thicker) and fibre lumen diameter at 8.16 μm (9.9 % lower) than for 6809 TPH. Intra-specific tree variability of wood and product properties increased from diameter at breast height (DBH) to 35 % and then decreased to 65 % of tree height. The effect of planting density was carried throughout the product value chain up to the paper manufacturing phase. Paper with higher bulk mass and thickness and more porous sheets is most likely to be made from lower planting densities (801 and 275 TPH), and stronger, smoother and denser paper is most likely to be made with trees at high planting densities (6809 or 2336 TPH). From the growth and yield and materials investigation, technical indicators identified to populate a fibre productivity index were: i) mean annual increment (MAI) as a forestry growth indicator, ii) wood density, summarising the composition of wood and, iii) pulp yield, the indicator of the amount of fibre processed through a chemical cooking process. Delivered cost of timber to the mill, was identified as the most suitable economic indicator which included fixed costs elements, variable costs and aspects of mill efficiency. The product of the technical and economic indicators concluded in a profit/loss scenario of producing 1 ton of pulp was deemed the best index to describe the entire and integrated value chain. This index, termed the Fibre Productivity Index (FPI) at the Mill, denoted as FPMill, is an integrated index that is easy to interpret in the realms of a forestry - pulp manufacturing, and can be used for differential pricing of timber for wood quality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Primêre rede vir die bestaan van die bosbouindustrie is om ‘n hernubare, natuurlike hulpbron vir hout en vesel te voorsien. Aansienlike verbeterings in bestuurspraktyke is nodig om die houtvolume en pulpopbrengste vir die toename in aanvraag te verhoog. Eucalyptus grandis klonale bome met ‘n ouderdom van 6.75 jaar en wat in 'n Nelder 1a spasiëring eksperiment gegroei is, is versamel en ontleed om die effek van opstandsdigtheid te beskryf op a) groei en opbrengs, b) houteienskappe en c) pulp- en papiergehalte. Die hoofdoel was om 'n veselproduktiwiteitsindeks (FPI), wat geskik sou wees in terme van tegniese en ekonomiese perspektiewe, te ontwikkel. 'n Materiaalkundigestudie is op hout uitgevoer. Twee metodes is ontwikkel om die variasie in hout as natuurlike hulpbron te beskryf deur a) vroeëhout- en laathoutdigtheidspieke deur gammastraal-densitometrie van mekaar te skei en variasie in groeiringe te beskryf en b) daarstelling van naby-infrarooispektroskopiese (NIR) voorspellingsmodelle. Die resultate het aangedui dat aanplantingsdigtheid nie ‘n invloed het op die variasie van houtdigtheid nie, maar dat meganismes wat beskikbare grondwater bepaal, belangrik is. NIR-voorspellingsmodelle is ontwikkel om houteienskappe op 'n nie-destruktiewe manier betroubaar te kan evalueer. Die validasiemodelle vir houtdigtheid, pulpopbrengs, kappanommer en onoplosbare lignien, openbaar akkurate voorspellingsvermoë. Wanneer dit toegepas word om chemiese eienskappe van 'n onafhanklike datastel te voorspel, was die resultate akkuraat in vergelyking met gemete data. Groei- en opbrengsfunksies is ontwikkel vir mortaliteit, dominante boomhoogte en basale area. Akkurate voorspellingsuitkomste is verkry soos gedemonstreer deur die logiese gedrag wat getoets is vir alle plantdigthede. Toe die mees ekstreme opstansdigtheidbehandelings vir hul hout- en veseleienskappe geëvalueer is, was die hout van die groter bome, teen 275 stamme per hektaar (SPH), van beter gehalte. Dit was veral prominent vir houtdigtheid van 0.520 g cm-3 (21 % hoër), veselselwanddikte van 2.10 μm (18.6 % dikker) en vesellumendeursnit van 8.16 μm (9.9 % laer) as by die hoër (6809) SPH. Intra-spesifieke boomvariasie van hout- en produkeienskappe het toegeneem van deursnee op borshoogte (DBH) tot 35 % en dan weer afgeneem tot 65 % van die boomhoogte. Die effek van plantdigtheid is regdeur die produkwaardeketting tot by die papiervervaardigingstadium sigbaar. Papier met hoër basismassa en dikte, en meer poreuse papiervelle kan meer waarskynlik van laer aanplantdigtheid (801 en 275 TPH) bome gemaak kan word. Papier wat sterker, gladder en digter is, kan waarskynlik gemaak word van hout van bome teen hoë aanplantdigthede (6809 of 2336 SPH). Die veselproduktiwiteitindeks wat ontwikkel is uit die materiaalondersoek en tegniese aanwysers wat geïdentifiseer is sluit in i) gemiddelde jaarlikse aanwas, as 'n bosbou groei-indikator, ii) houtdigtheid, wat ‘n opsomming van die samestelling van hout is, en iii) pulpopbrengs; die aanduiding van die hoeveelheid vesel verwerk deur 'n chemiese verpulpingsproses. Gelewerde koste van hout by die pulpmeul is geïdentifiseer as die mees geskikte ekonomiese aanwyser wat vaste kosteelemente, veranderlike koste en aspekte van die meul se doeltreffendheid insluit. Die produk van die tegniese en ekonomiese aanwysers is saamgevat in 'n wins / verlies opsie vir die vervaardiging van 1 ton pulp, en is beskou as die mees geskikte indeks om die geïntegreerde waardeketting te beskryf. Dié indeks, die sogenaamde Vesel Produktiwiteitsindeks (VPI) by die Pulpmeul, aangedui as VPMeul, is 'n geïntegreerde indeks wat maklik is om te interpreteer in 'n bosbou - pulpvervaardigingsopset, en kan gebruik word in die differensiële prysbepaling van hout waarby die kwaliteit in ag geneem word.

Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mid rotation fertiliser application is generally practised in forestry to enhance nutrient availability in areas were soils are impoverished and do not provide sufficient nutrients for high productivity. Generally speaking there is great potential for mid rotation fertiliser in pine plantations, but stand and site characteristics such as water availability, soil depth, stand density and available nutrients need to be considered before fertiliser treatments are implemented. Foliar nutrient analyses were used to estimate nutrient availability. These levels were measured throughout the study and were used to implement specific fertiliser treatments that would boost nutrient availability. Treatments consisted of an unfertilised control, a single fertiliser application (1F) and two fertiliser applications over two consecutive years (2F). Leaf area index (LAI) and stem volume increment were measured in order to evaluate its influence on growth efficiency. LAI was estimated using the gap fraction method with the use of a ceptometer. Volume increment was calculated with diameter and height measurements. Basal area was calculated by means of diameter measurements. These growth responses were used to determine the effect of increased nutrient availability and although increases were found in LAI, volume increment, basal area increment and growth efficiency, none were significant. The lack of significance may be due to relatively large variations in other factors such as stand density and initial volume of the experimental plots. The 18 month monitoring period apparently did not allow complete reaction time to increased nutrient availability and limited our understanding of the responses somewhat. Despite this, the magnitude of some growth responses was large as nutrient ratios in the foliage increased to levels within the norms range. Increases in current annual volume increment (CAI) of 3.48 m3 ha-1 a-1 and 3.62 m3 ha-1 a-1 in 1F plots at Grabouw and La Motte plantations indicated that it may be economically feasible to fertilise at mid rotation age as the NPV and IRR increased over a projected 25 year rotation. The Grabouw site had the most significant response with regards to CAI in 2F treatment with a mean volume increment of 5.43 m3 ha-1 a-1. The mechanism of the response was examined further by taking water availability and soil characteristics into account. The seasonal climatic effect (length of the moisture growing season) had a significant influence on the response to fertilisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toediening van mid-rotasie bemesting word algemeen in bosbou toegepas om voedingstofbeskikbaarheid te verhoog in areas waar voedingstowwe onvoldoende is vir hoë produktiwiteit. Daar is oor die algemeen ruim potensiaal vir mid-rotasie bemesting in denne plantasies, maar eienskappe soos waterbeskikbaarheid, gronddiepte, opstanddigtheid en beskikbaarheid van voedingstowwe moet in ag geneem word voor optimum bemestingtoedienings bepaal kan word. Blaaranalise is gebruik om voedingstofbeskikbaarheid in plantasies te skat. Hierdie voedingstofvlakke is deurgans gemeet en is gebruik om spesifieke bemestingsbehandelings te implementeer wat voedingstofbeskikbaarheid kon opstoot. Behandelings het bestaan uit ‘n onbemeste kontrole, ‘n eenmalige kunsmistoediening (1F) en twee kunsmistoedienings in opeenvolgende jare (2F). Blaar oppervlak indeks en toename in stamvolume is gemeet om die invloed daarvan op die effektiwiteit van groei te bepaal. Blaaroppervlakindeks is bepaal deur middel van die gapingfraksie metode met behulp van ‘n stralingsmeter. Toename in volume is bereken met stamdeursnee en hoogte meetings. Basale oppervlakte is bereken deur middel van deursnee metings. Hierdie groeireaksies is gebruik om die effek van verbeterde voedingstofbeskikbaarheid te bepaal. Al die groeireaksies het toegeneem maar was nie statisties beduidend nie. Die gebrek aan beduidende toename kan toegeskryf word aan variasies in opstandsdigtheid en oorspronklike volume van die bome in die navorsingspersele. Die toetstydperk van 18 maande het moontlik nie genoeg tyd gegee vir die bome om op die toename in voedingstofbeskikbaarheid te reageer nie. ‘n Goeie groeirespons is wel waargeneem waar die voedingstofverhoudings in die naalde aanvaarbare norme bereik het. Die toename in volume aanwas van tussen 3.48m3 ha-1 a-1 en 3.62 m3 ha-1 a-1 in 1F persele by Grabouw en La Motte plantasies het aangedui dat dit ekonomies lewensvatbaar is om op mid-rotasie ouderdom bemesting toe te dien aangesien die netto teenswoordige waarde en die interne opbrengs koers toegeneem het op ‘n geprojekteerde 25 jaar rotasie. Die persele op Grabouw plantasie het die mees beduidende respons getoon met betrekking tot huidige jaarlikse aanwas (5.43 m3 ha-1 a-1 in die 2F perseel). Die meganisme van die respons is verder nagevors met inagneming van waterbeskikbaarheid en grondeienskappe. Die seisoenale klimaatseffek (lengte van die vog-groeiseisoen) het ‘n beduidende impak op die respons tot bemesting.

När företag har en snabb tillväxt genom konsolidering kan det ske att visa aspekter i organisationen blir eftersläpandes. I det här fallet upplever företaget en förlorad kontroll över sina transporter till följd av en allt mer komplex transportlogistik. Målet med den här undersökning var därför att kartlägga företagets transporter.För att effektivt transportera gods krävs det planering, det är viktigt att fordonens hela lastkapacitet utnyttjats, alltså fyllnadsgrad. Det är viktigt att planera efter kortaste sträckan, det är också viktigt att undvika onödig miljöpåverkan. Onödig miljöpåverkan kan ske genom ineffektiv planering som i sin tur resulterar i mindre nödvändiga godstransporter.Kartläggningen i denna undersökningen resulterade i en täckning av de interna transporterna samt transporter till de största avlägg på 85% av vad företaget uppskattar transporterats under ett 2018. Transporter för trärelaterade produkter 2016 uppgick till 4 miljoner tonkilometer, detta var cirka 9,8% av de totala transporterna med lastbil inom Sveriges gränser. En effektiv kedja av logistiska aktiviteter för trävaror garanterar en nedskärning av kostnaderna för transport. Eftersom hänsynen för miljöpåverkan också är stor i Sverige så är en effektiv logistik också nyckeln för att minska sina klimatavtryck.

For wood products such as flooring and worktop, only one surface is normally exposed in their use, and the mechanical properties like hardness and wearing resistance of that surface is then important. Since mechanical properties are strongly related to the density, surface densification, i.e. transverse compression of the wood cells beneath the surface of a piece of wood with the aim to increase the density of that region, may be a method for improving hardness and wearing resistance when low-density species are used for such products. The set-recovery, i.e. the moisture-induced swelling of the densified wood cells back to their original shape, is the main obstacle in the use of densified wood products. Although there are several methods reported in literature, such as post heat-treatment, that can almost eliminate the set-recovery, but such methods are either time consuming or difficult to implement into an industrial continuous process which may do densification competitive to techniques or materials that can achieve at least the same hardness.     In the present study, furfuryl alcohol was used as pre-treatment to fix the set-recovery of surface-densified Scots pine sapwood. The main effect and interactive influence of four process parameter (impregnation time, press temperature, press time and compression ratio) on set-recovery and Brinell hardness after two wet-dry cycles were studied by a two-level full factorial design of experiments. The characterizing variables of the density profile after the surface densification and set-recovery test were carried out as a supplementary tool to learn the mechanism of this two-step modification process. According to the result, the surface densified wood with furfuryl alcohol pre-treatment can retain their dimension and keep hardness at a very high level after two wet-dry cycles. The set-recovery and hardens after two wet-dry cycles were about 20 % and 30 N/mm2, respectively. The Pearson correlation analysis shows that the correlation coefficients between set-recovery with impregnation time, press temperature, press temperature, compression ratio were -0.35, -0.52, -0.37, and 0.16, respectively. That means that for the specimens with furfuryl alcohol pre-treatment, the higher press temperature can reduce the set-recovery significantly. The longer press time and impregnation time can also reduce the set-recovery in some extent, but the influence was  low. As expected, the hardness improvement was retained with low set-recovery. The lowest set-recovery value was 14% with the corresponding hardness of 41 N/mm2 was achieved by specimens processed with 120 minutes of impregnation, 10% compression ratio, 210℃ pressing temperature, and 15 minutes of pressing time. With 20 minutes of impregnation time, 10% compression ratio, 210℃ pressing temperature, and 5 minutes of pressing time, the sample still owns twofold hardness after the set-recovery test.

The products with the highest return and longest life cycle in the sawmill industry are boards and planks. Unfortunately, a large part of the log becomes bi-products during the cutting process. One way to reduce the amount of bi-products in a sawline is to saw with as thin kerfs as possible. That is the cut of the blade. It is made possible by using as thin tools as possible. A thinner tool means using a tool with a thinner construction, which can be more sensitive to forces and vibrations. Thus it is important to know the performance of a bandsaw blade and the wear during a working cycle. This is to optimise how often the blade needs changing, but also to ensure that a blade does not break during the cutting process. This project is about analysing the forces on a tool during a working cycle. Can the already installed measuring systems help predict when a bandsaw blade will lose performance ? Data was extracted from the variable frequency drive connected to the motor driving the bandsaw, when cutting spruce and pine. The experiment was designed to test high and low values for several sawing parameters e.g., tool speed, feed rate, gullet fill ratio and bite per tooth, using bandsaw blades used for eight hours and newly serviced blades. A partial least squares regression model was fitted to the data to explain force per tooth. The linear model shows a similar behaviour in comparison with laboratory experiments. Although the values indicate larger forces, which may be due to various energy losses in the process and the instruments. It is shown that it is possible to explain force per tooth, with a value of determination R2 = 0.84, using bite per tooth, feed rate and gullet fill ratio as explanatory variables. The result of the analysis points at the working cycle of 8 hours being to short to be a significant factor in explaining the forces on a blade. Hence further work would be to design an experiment with a longer working cycle, but also with more extreme values of the sawing parameters.

Cross-laminated boards is a technique of joining together lamellas of wood to create more dimensionally stable boards. Ballingslöv uses cross-laminated boards in their production and sometimes they observer cupping in the boards that may halt production. To find out why this might be occurring a study was performed where cross-laminated oakboards (Quercus Robur. L) were placed in three different climates for twelve days. During these twelve days cupping, weight, and thickness was measured every twenty-four hours. The results showed that the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding environment affected how much and how fast cupping and weight change occurred in the boards.  It was concluded that the study needs to be replicated on a larger scale to increase the certainty of the results.

Forestry is one of Sweden’s largest natural resources and a largeand important foundation for the country’s economic stability.There is a significant opportunity to evaluate material efficiencyand values in the supply chain of industrialised wood-basedproducts. This thesis comprises on handling a spill-product of amodern wood-based building material: cross-laminated timber(CLT). With the aim to increase value of this spill product throughpractical design iteration, material exploration and theoreticalanalysis. The material exploration leads to a collection of furnitureand interior products which are evaluated based on commercialinterest and production feasibility.

Denna studie undersökte kulörsättningens inverkan på temperaturen på tre olika djup inuti utomhuspaneler av gran. Tre provbitar preparerades, en målades svart, en målades vit och en lämnades omålad. Tre hål borrades i varje panel med olika djup. Temperatursensorer monterades inuti provbitarna och data samlades in under en period av 14 dagar. Resultaten pekar på att den svartmålade provbiten erhöll betydligt högre temperaturer oavsett djup jämfört med den vitmålade och den omålade provbiten. Variationer i hur lång tid det tog för de olika provbitarna att fördela temperaturen inom sig observerades mellan de olika provbitarna och djupen. Resultaten understryker vikten av kulörval och skyddsåtgärder vid träkonservering, eftersom kulören avsevärt påverkar träets temperatur. Att förstå hur temperaturen skiljer sig beroende på kulör kan hjälpa till att optimera hållbarheten och prestandan för utomhusträpaneler.