Computed Tomography as a Tool for Quantification and Classification of Roundwood—Case Study

Abstract

The first goal of this paper is to verify the accuracy of four calculation methods of log volume. The tool to achieve this goal is to compare the results of the calculation of the log volume with the real log volume obtained from the three-dimensional reconstruction obtained by computed tomography. The second goal of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of displaying the qualitative features of wood in three-dimensional models of selected pieces of logs of oak, beech, and spruce, which were obtained using computed tomography. It is possible to state that each of the tested calculation methods of wood log volume are applicable in practice. The tested methods achieve excellent accuracy in determining the volume of spruce logs with a small variance of values, and conversely, in the case of beech wood, the tested methods are the most inaccurate with the largest variance of values. When determining the volume of wood logs, we recommend using the calculation method STN 48 0009, because it achieves the best results. Qualitative analysis based on CT scans of internal features can be described as a completely new level of approach to the evaluation of log quality. The performed analysis showed great potential for automatic detection of internal qualitative features in the tested spruce log. In this wood, wood defects are distinguishable by computed tomography. In the case of deciduous oak and beech, the situation is more complicated. The internal structure of these trees overlaps the internal qualitative features of the wood. To accurately detect internal errors in these trees, it will be necessary to perform many comparative tests to achieve optimal results.