Fustek, sensor technology to detect poplar wood quality
The Fustek project
The company Fustek, specialized in poplar wood products, aims to integrate state-of-the-art technologies, such as advanced sensors and digital twins, to detect the existence and depth of knots in standing trees, which lower the value of its wood and affect its industrial potential and the price paid for it.
To achieve this goal, the company asked for help and, within the framework of the technological transformation of the forestry sector and the European DIGIS3 project, the University of León, through the DRACONES research group -with the collaboration of the Forestry and Wood Technology Center (CETEMAS) and the company Proceq Screening Eagle- are developing the Proof of Concept (PoC) “Mapping and detection of quality wood in poplar groves”.
This collaboration is part of the European Digital Europe Program and, in particular, it is a collaboration between DIGIS3, the European digital innovation hub of Castilla y León, of which the University of León is a partner, and AsDIH, of which CETEMAS is a partner.
Inter-institutional collaboration reinforces digitisation in the sector, promoting the use of non-destructive tools that generate accurate data, essential for more efficient and sustainable forest management.
What problems does it seek to solve or improve?
Poplar is a species that has a high value, in fact, its cubic meter is highly valued, but its quality can be affected by the presence of knots and other internal irregularities.
Until now, evaluating its quality before felling was a challenge and required a great deal of technical knowledge that can now be avoided.
What digital technology is helping to address the issue?
The PoC “Mapping and detection of quality wood in poplar groves” is designed to validate the use of non-destructive methods and state-of-the-art digital tools in wood analysis. Through the use of advanced sensors and three-dimensional measurement systems, the project aims not only to characterise the quality of knots in standing trees and felled logs. It also aims to create digital representations (digital twins) that accurately capture the structural characteristics of the analysed trees. These data provide a solid basis for decision-making processes in forest management and industrial processing.
The DRACONES research group, from the Ponferrada Campus of the University of León, acts as coordinator of the development of this PoC, leading the planning, execution and analysis tasks. Its main technical contribution is the creation of digital models of the trees using portable laser scanners. This technology allows the generation of highly detailed and accurate three-dimensional representations, known as digital twins, which reflect the external structure of the standing trees. These models are essential to complement the internal analyses carried out using the advanced methods provided by CETEMAS and Screening Eagle Spain. In addition, DRACONES is responsible for supervising the integration of the different technologies used in the project, as well as analysing and validating the results obtained.
CETEMAS plays a crucial role by implementing two resistographs in the analysis of the trees. This technology consists of devices that lightly pierce the wood while recording the resistance of the material to the advance of a fine needle. By measuring this resistance, internal discontinuities such as knots, cavities or decayed areas can be precisely identified without significantly damaging the tree structure. Thanks to their accuracy and non-invasive nature, resistographs are an essential tool for assessing the structural quality of wood in situ.
Screening Eagle Spain provides GPR (Ground Penetration Radar) technology, which uses electromagnetic waves to penetrate the wood and detect variations in its density or internal structure. GPR is particularly effective in identifying non-visible discontinuities, such as hidden knots, internal cracks or structural degradation. Its ability to provide detailed and non-destructive analysis contributes significantly to the objectives of this PoC, offering an innovative technological perspective applied to the forestry sector.
The collaboration between DRACONES, Fustek, CETEMAS and Screening Eagle Spain ensures a high-level multidisciplinary approach, combining scientific expertise, advanced technologies and sector needs. This project contributes to transfer knowledge and innovative tools to key actors in the forestry sector, thus promoting a more efficient and sustainable management based on highly accurate data.
What are the results, and what is the impact?
These laser scanners, radar sensors and resistographs provide insight into the internal and external structure of trees without damaging them, so that companies can make better decisions when purchasing and harvesting timber. This benefits both producers and processors of this resource, while promoting more efficient and sustainable management.
With this project, the aim is to bring cutting-edge technologies to the forestry sector, in order to encourage companies like Fustek to advance in innovation.
The work plan includes stages covering design, calibration, analysis of results and final presentation to the company. This structured approach ensures rigorous technical validation and effective transfer of the knowledge generated.
Right now, the development of this PoC is being carried out in the poplar groves of Villamor de Órbigo (León) and field work has already been carried out, a milestone in the progress of the project, which will culminate in May.
About the company
Fustek is a company dedicated to poplar wood. Since 1991, they have been in charge of its integral management, from the planting, management and development of poplar to the commercialisation of plywood and the products derived from its production.
Thanks to the unrolling of the trunk, they obtain wood veneers destined for the manufacture of plywood boards, which will be used in the manufacture of furniture or packaging and containers.
