/ Spatially explicit models that combine remote sensing with geographic information systems (GIS) offer great promise to land managers because they consider the arrangement of landscape elements in time and space. Their visual and geographic nature facilitate the comparison of alternative landscape designs. Among various activities associated with forest management, none cause greater concern t...

An integrated solution is presented for the execution of building structures using timber-concrete composite (TCC) sections that make efficient use mechanical properties both materials. The system integrates flooring and shaped prefabricated beams composed a lower flange glued laminated timber (GLT) to one or more plywood veneer lumber (LVL) ribs linked an upper concrete slab poured in situ. pa...

The mass timber industry offers a compelling pathway for low-carbon structural systems in buildings, replacing carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel with sustainably forested wood. However, conventional connections construction are largely made of metallic materials, such as screws, nails, plates. In contrast, joinery, or geometrically interlocking all-timber connections, is global...

Current research at the laboratory for timber construction IBOIS at EPFL focuses on shell structures. Two main families are investigated: shells made of linear elements, as timber rib shells, and shells made of surface elements, typically folded plate structures. With regard to timber rib shells, bent linear timber elements are used to create the shape of a shell. With folded plate structures, ...

Russian forest resources are important for global carbon cycling. In contrast to traditional analyses that focus on the harvest and direct use of Russian timber resources (a.k.a. production-based accounting), this study investigates how the consumption of nations drives Russian timber harvest (a.k.a. consumption-based accounting or the Russian timber footprint). China is the biggest direct impo...

The aim of this study was to show the possibility of the classification of structural timber (European spruce) into strength class C35 according to EN 338 by using combined visual and machine strength grading techniques. Three different visual machine strength grading combinations are devised for allocating sawn timber into strength class C35. They are composed on the one hand of the visual gra...

Broader adoption of timber construction is a strategy for reducing negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions created by the industry. This paper proposes novel solid building envelope that uses computational design and digital fabrication to improve buildings’ energy performance. Timber beams are sawn with deep slits thermal insulation milled various joints airtight, structural connections. To mi...

Folded-plate structures provide an efficient design using thin laminated veneer lumber panels. Inspired by Japanese furniture joinery, the multiple tab-and-slot joint was developed for the multi-assembly of timber panels with non-parallel edges without adhesive or metal joints. Because the global analysis of our origami structures reveals that the rotational stiffness at ridges affects the glob...

This paper presents a short-term analysis of recent timber trends in China, focusing on timber markets and trade, and on forest-related policies. Firstly, trends in China’s timber supply and demand are described highlighting the sharp increase in log imports, especially from Russia. Secondly, the key policy trends that have a#ected China’s domestic timber market, including trade policy, forest ...