Search Results (468)

The transition toward circular economy (CE) systems is essential for improving resource efficiency and sustainability performance in industrial production. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face structural barriers that limit the adoption of circular practices and business model innovation. This study examines the systemic drivers shaping circular transitions in timber-based SMEs within an industrial cluster in northern Mexico. The research integrates the Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification (MICMAC) structural analysis with the Circular Business Model Canvas (CBMC) to analyze influence–dependence relationships among key barriers and their implications for business model transformation. Empirical data were collected from 32 SMEs using structured surveys and expert consultation. The results suggest that financial constraints, technological limitations, and weak collaboration networks act as dominant systemic drivers. The CBMC assessment indicates an average implementation level of 45%, with high variability across firms (31–99%), reflecting fragmented and early-stage circular transition patterns. By linking structural diagnostics with business model components, the study identifies strategic leverage points and potential intervention pathways. The findings contribute to CE research by providing a systematic and replicable analytical framework, as well as insights for understanding circular bioeconomy transitions in SME-based industrial clusters. Full article

Quantifying moisture transport through building envelope materials is vital for durability, energy efficiency, and healthy indoor environments. Water vapour diffusion resistivity (µ-value) is a key parameter for hygrothermal modelling, moisture control, and mould risk assessment. Globally, data for solid wood species are scarce, and in Australia—despite the rising use of plantation-grown timber—critical hygrothermal properties remain undocumented. To close this gap, this study experimentally evaluated Eucalyptus nitens, a plantation-grown hardwood widely used in Australian construction. Solid-wood specimens prepared from industry-sourced boards were tested at 23 °C and 50% RH using both the wet-cup and dry-cup methods of the gravimetric technique. For wet-cup tests, µ-values ranged from 24 to 33; for dry-cup tests, µ-values ranged from 179 to 273, showing clear variability linked to differences in relative humidity. Experimental issues included surface cupping, sealing integrity, and extended equilibration time during dry-cup testing. These findings provide the first empirical µ-value dataset for E. nitens under moderate-humidity conditions, delivering essential input parameters for hygrothermal models and supporting moisture-safe, energy-efficient design strategies for the broader construction sector. Full article

Housing industrialization and modularization have gained traction as responses to two pressing challenges in the construction sector: the chronic shortage of affordable housing and the substantial environmental footprint of conventional building methods. Yet prevailing modular housing models in Europe remain constrained by dependence on global supply chains, production concentrated in large industrial operators, and insufficient adaptation to local material and territorial conditions. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of modular timber housing in Europe, examining technological typologies, market structures, and national regulatory frameworks. The methodology integrates a systematic literature and market review, a comparative country analysis, and an embedded case study. Findings indicate that the viability of modular timber housing depends not only on material performance but on its embeddedness in coherent industrial systems, business strategies, and regulatory contexts. Against this backdrop, the VICHO project is introduced as a case study exploring an open, proximity-based industrialization model that valorizes local poplar timber in southern Europe, in alignment with circular bioeconomy principles and the New European Bauhaus. Full article

The precise segmentation of small-sized defects on wood surfaces is critical for the quality grading of glued laminated timber (GLT). Existing semantic segmentation models face core bottlenecks in this context: high miss rates, blurred boundary localization, and excessive size measurement errors. To address these issues, this paper proposes an improved Defect-Mask2Former model that integrates an Attention-Guided Pyramid Enhancement (AGPE) module and a Defect Boundary Calibration and Correction (DBCC) module. Through synergistic optimization, the model achieved pixel-level precise segmentation. To support model training and validation, a custom image acquisition device was designed, and the PlankDefSeg dataset was constructed, comprising 3500 pixel-level annotated images covering five defect types across six industrial wood species. Experimental results demonstrate that on the PlankDefSeg dataset, Defect-Mask2Former achieved a mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 85.34% for small-sized defects, a 17.84% improvement over the baseline Mask2Former. The miss rate was reduced from 20.78% to 5.83%, and the size measurement error was only 2.86%, strictly meeting the ≤3% accuracy requirement of the GB/T26899-2022 standard. The model achieved an inference speed of 27.6 FPS, satisfying real-time detection needs. By integrating the model into the GLT grading workflow, a grading accuracy of 94.3% was achieved, and the processing time per timber was reduced from 30 s to 1.5 s, a 20-fold efficiency improvement. This study provides reliable technical support for intelligent GLT quality grading and offers a reference solution for other industrial surface defect segmentation tasks. Full article

Eucalyptus spp. are the most important timber and pulpwood species in southern China. This tree species is frequently and severely damaged by the leaf-eating pest Buzura suppressaria, which significantly impairs photosynthesis and hinders the healthy and sustainable development of the Eucalyptus industry. To investigate the defensive responses of Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis to pest (B. suppressaria)-feeding and leaf-clipping stress, this study measured the temporal changes in defense enzyme activities and defense compounds in Eucalyptus under conditions of pest-feeding and leaf-clipping stresses, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for resistance breeding in Eucalyptus. The results show that pest-feeding and leaf-clipping stress groups significantly affected the peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities in Eucalyptus leaves. Within a short period after stress (3 h), POD activity was significantly reached 444.83 U by leaf-clipping stress, whereas it was significantly inhibited (34.83 U) by pest-feeding stress. PPO activity was significantly enhanced to 95.25 U under pest-feeding stress within 3 h, while leaf clipping induced a lower level of PPO activity (58.75 U). PAL activity was significantly induced to 474.38 U by leaf-clipping stress at 3 h, whereas pest-feeding stress resulted in a moderate increase to 238.00 U. Both pest-feeding and leaf-clipping stresses had significant effects on the contents of defense compounds in Eucalyptus leaves. Within a short period (3 h), both leaf-clipping and pest-feeding stresses significantly induced the accumulation of salicylic acid (0.226 μg/g and 0.326 μg/g, respectively), jasmonic acid (0.239 μg/g and 0.278 μg/g, respectively), and tannin (0.581 μg/g and 0.657 μg/g, respectively). The POD activity and salicylic acid content were identified as the primary factors in Eucalyptus responses to pest-feeding and leaf-clipping stresses. In conclusion, biotic (pest-feeding) and abiotic (leaf-clipping) stresses can induce higher activities of related defense enzymes while also promoting the synthesis of greater quantities of defensive chemical compounds, thereby enhancing the resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses in Eucalyptus. This study provides important practical guidance for insect-resistant Eucalyptus breeding and implementing integrated pest management strategies. Full article

Despite the growing number of publications using the value network approach to analyze agro-industrial competitiveness, knowledge gaps persist in other food production sectors. The objective of this study is to analyze, through bibliometric techniques, the scientific articles that have studied the competitiveness of food products using the value network framework. The study will determine the spatial and temporal distribution of the identified food products and detect opportunities for generating new research. Articles from major publishing databases (Elsevier, Scopus, Frontiers, MDPI, and Springer) were considered. The keywords used were “red de valor” and “value network”, combined with “sustainable agricultural production” and “food security”. This information formed the basis of a spatial–temporal analysis and bibliometric indicators using descriptive statistics, as well as keyword and author networks generated with VOSviewer software. A total of 147 scientific articles were documented. The highest growth in publications occurred from 2017 to 2024 and was concentrated in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Studies in these regions analyzed basic food products such as maize, mango, rice, and coffee in Latin America; wine and bovine milk in Europe; and rice and sugar in Asia. Research in aquaculture, apiculture, and non-timber forest sectors was limited, positioning these areas as opportunities for generating new knowledge, particularly through the analysis of local resources to enhance their market positioning while incorporating sustainability aspects. Full article

Computed tomography (CT) enables non-destructive insight into internal log structure, yet fully automated interpretation of CT images remains limited by inconsistent annotations, boundary ambiguity, and insufficient spatial context in 2D slice-based analysis. These challenges restrict the industrial deployment of deep learning for wood quality assessment. This study applies artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning to the automated analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans of wood logs for detecting internal qualitative features and segmenting bark. Using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), trained models accurately distinguish healthy and damaged regions and segment bark, including discontinuous parts. We introduce a novel pseudo-spatial representation by merging consecutive slices into red–green–blue (RGB) format, which improves prediction accuracy and model robustness across logs. To enhance interpretability, Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) highlights regions contributing most to defect detection, particularly knots. Comprehensive evaluation using Sørensen–Dice similarity coefficients and confusion matrices confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach under industrial conditions. These findings demonstrate that AI-driven CT image analysis can address key limitations of current log-grading workflows and enable more reliable, objective, and scalable quality assessment for timber-dependent economies. Full article

We developed a human–robot collaborative manipulation system (co-manipulation system) in the form of a power assist robotic system (PARS) where a human and a robot collaborated to perform the co-manipulation of an object with power assistance. We conducted an experiment (the first experiment), where in each trial of the experiment, a human subject performed the co-manipulation of the object with the PARS, and an expert human–robot co-manipulation researcher observed the co-manipulation task. We collected the co-manipulation and observation data, analyzed the data, and conducted reviews of the related literature, and developed the HRC (human–robot collaboration) metrology, which consisted of necessary criteria, metrics and methods to assess human–robot collaborative manipulation tasks. The proposed HRC metrology consisted of both human–robot collaborative performance and human–robot interactions (HRI) related assessment criteria. Then, we developed another human–robot co-manipulation system using a robot manipulator. In this system, the human–robot co-manipulation task was performed in conjunction with a collaborative assembly task between the robot and human co-workers. In another experiment (the second experiment), we assessed the co-manipulation task for each robotic system separately based on the developed HRC metrology (set of assessment criteria, metrics and methods) to verify and validate the practicality, usability and effectiveness of the criteria, metrics and methods. The results showed that the HRC metrology was effective and practical in assessing the co-manipulation tasks. We then discussed the strengths and limitations of the assessment criteria, metrics and methods. The proposed HRC metrology can be used to assess human–robot collaborative performance and human–robot interactions in human–robot co-manipulation tasks with potential real-world applications in industrial manipulation and manufacturing, transport, logistics, civil construction, rescue and disaster management, timber processing, etc. Full article

Breaking through the constraints of traditional agricultural resources and expanding food supply channels have become essential for safeguarding food security. The non-timber forest-based economy (NTFE), which integrates multiple understory production activities including planting, breeding, and foraging, expands the variety of food sources and provides a new pathway for enhancing regional diversified food supply capacity (DFSC). Based on this perspective, this study constructs evaluation indicator systems for both DFSC and NTFE development. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method is employed to measure the levels of DFSC and NTFE development across 31 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2022. A two-way fixed effects model and a spatial Durbin model are applied to empirically investigate the mechanisms through which the NTFE enhances DFSC. The results show the following: (1) Between 2011 and 2022, both the DFSC and the level of NTFE development in China exhibited a sustained upward trend. Specifically, the level of NTFE development grew rapidly before 2019, with a slowdown in growth in the later years, while DFSC maintained a steady increase throughout the study period. (2) NTFE development significantly promotes DFSC. (3) The NTFE enhances DFSC by facilitating the upgrading of the forestry industrial structure and improving forestland productivity. (4) The NTFE generates positive spatial spillover effects on DFSC, and these spillover effects are stronger than direct local effects. Full article

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are critical actors in housing supply chains; however, they often struggle to adopt industrialized construction. High variability, limited infrastructure, and skill constraints can reduce repeatability and quality. This study shows that SMEs can start with targeted standardization of prefabricated wood panels. A panel library and coded kits support scalable production, repeatable quality, and a structured workflow for light timber framing. Evidence is provided by a Chilean industrial case study using a time-study campaign. The campaign quantified processing, setup, and internal movement times across a five-station manual layout. Results indicate that a standardized panel set for larger housing typologies stabilizes manual operations. Throughput improves only after key bottlenecks are addressed as staffing increases from 12 to 18 operators, enabling production above 200 homes per year. When two of eight activities are automated at Station 2 using CNC (fixing and cutting), annual capacity can approach 300 homes. Overall, the findings suggest a staged pathway for SMEs: standardize first, add selective automation once constraints are removed, and then integrate internal logistics to sustain the transition from craft-based to industrialized housing production. Full article

Ecuador is considered one of the South American countries with abundant bamboo resources due to its diversity and abundance. This species, considered a non-timber resource, contributes to multiple SDGs because of its environmental potential and provision of sustainable livelihoods. This study uses a life cycle assessment methodology to evaluate the social and ecological impacts of preserved bamboo in two key production regions in Ecuador. The findings show that bamboo conserved in various by-products and processing forms emits less than 0.5 kg of CO₂-Eq, with chemical inputs and transportation distances accounting for most of the environmental impacts. The assessment of the social implications of the actors in the bamboo chain is above average, translating into a “fair” evaluation, which tends to be more positive than negative. Thus, bamboo is seen as a source of livelihood for rural inhabitants, but it faces challenges such as poor agricultural incomes, informal employment, and limited access to basic services. Despite these obstacles, institutional support and the rise in the market for bamboo-based products provide opportunities to improve rural development, create green jobs, and strengthen climate resilience. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance the role of bamboo in rural development. Full article

Timber has gained popularity in the construction industry in recent years due to its low carbon footprint, favorable seismic performance, and esthetic appeal. However, due to the size limit and inevitable natural defects such as knots in the lumber, the axial capacity of timber columns might be insufficient. Therefore, wrapping the timber column with basalt fiber-reinforced polymers (BFRPs), which is an environmentally sustainable material, to improve the load-carrying capacity has been a promising technology. While existing research mostly focuses on defect-free specimens, this study investigates the effects of knots on the structural performance of timber columns wrapped by BFRP. Axial compressive tests were carried out on timber columns, i.e., Douglas fir (knot-free) and camphor pine (with knots), wrapped by BFRP. The results showed that the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and ductility can be significantly enhanced by the BFRP wrapping. The failure mode of the Douglas fir specimens transitioned from timber crushing failure to shear failure, while the camphor pine specimens failed around the knot area, and the failure mode changed from overall bending to BFRP rupture when the three layers of BFRP were employed. Furthermore, compared to knot-free columns, those specimens containing knots exhibited greater variability in load capacity and recorded a higher percentage increase in strength after reinforcement by BFRP. Based on the test results, three prediction models of the compressive strength of the BFRP-wrapped Douglas fir and camphor pine columns are presented. Full article

Cross-laminated bamboo (CLB) has gained increasing attention as an emerging structural material combining high mechanical performance with remarkable sustainability potential. This comprehensive review summarizes and critically discusses the main advances and trends in CLB research, drawing on experimental, analytical, and numerical approaches reported in the literature. The review highlights that the mechanical performance of CLB depends on panel architecture, bamboo product type, and adhesive systems. Reported experimental results indicate that CLB panels can achieve competitive or higher mechanical performance than selected cross-laminated timber (CLT) configurations made from specific wood species, particularly in bending, compression, tension, and rolling shear. At the same time, the literature reveals variability associated with manufacturing parameters, adhesive types, and lamella orientation, which affects the comparability of results and highlights current challenges for standardization. Structural applications investigated include floor and wall panels, beams, and rocking walls, especially for seismic-resilient building systems. Despite growing experimental evidence, most investigations remain limited to laboratory-scale elements, with modelling simplifications that constrain predictive accuracy. This review identifies the main challenges and research opportunities towards industrial scalability, standardized testing procedures, and design models adapted to the specific behavior of CLB, paving the way for its consolidation as a reliable and sustainable construction material. Full article

Specialized poplar plantations are relevant for wood-based panel production. In recent years, the Italian poplar sector has progressively moved towards more sustainable cultivation systems. Breeding programs developed new clones with fast growth and increased disease resistance. Agroforestry (AF) has emerged as a promising alternative to the conventional plantation (C), and its ecosystem services have been widely documented. This exploratory study compares the main physico-mechanical properties of solid wood from five new poplar clones cultivated in conventional and agroforestry plantation models. The peeling yields and the performances of plywood produced with their veneers are also investigated. Wood was obtained by harvesting seven-year-old trees in two experimental plantations located in the Veneto Region. All the clones were found to have a higher basic density than that of the ‘I-214’, the reference in the sector, and were suitable for veneers production. It was possible to obtain top-quality sheets from trees of both systems, with some differences between clones. However, the overall quality of the veneers depended on the type of clone and on the cultivation system, where conventional plantations provided better results. Higher mechanical performances were found in plywood produced from clones with higher density. The results provide knowledge to optimize agroforestry cultivation of poplar, also as a complementary source of timber supply for the concerned industrial sector. Full article

Maple syrup production has the potential to promote sustainable rural economic development in regions with suitable forest and climate conditions. Kentucky emerges as a promising candidate due to its extensive maple tree inventory and favorable seasonal patterns. However, the broader economy-wide implications of developing a maple syrup industry in the state remain underexplored. To fill this knowledge gap, this study employs a customized static single-region computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling approach for Kentucky under nine scenarios based on production capacities and potential levels. The results consistently show positive impacts on net household income, social welfare (measured by equivalent variation), government revenues, and state GDP across all scenarios. Medium production capacities generate the most balanced and efficient outcomes, while high-potential scenarios, especially under small and large scales produce the largest absolute gains. These results underscore the viability of maple syrup production as an economic development strategy and highlight the role of production scale in maximizing benefits. Furthermore, expanding maple syrup production can enhance rural livelihoods by diversifying forest-based income and promoting long-term stewardship. As a non-timber forest product, maple syrup tapping provides economic incentives to maintain healthy forests, strengthening rural sustainability and resilience. Our findings indicate that developing this industry beyond traditional regions can generate meaningful economic benefits while encouraging sustainable resource use when appropriately scaled and managed. Full article