Department of Forest and Wood Science

Influence of drone altitude, image overlap, and optical sensor resolution on multi-view reconstruction of forest images

Seifert, Erich; Seifert, Stefan; Vogt, Holger; Drew, David; Van Aardt, Jan; Kunneke, Anton; Seifer, Thomas (MDPI, 2019)

Recent technical advances in drones make them increasingly relevant and important toolsfor forest measurements. However, information on how to optimally set flight parameters and choosesensor resolution is lagging behind ...

Impact of climate trends and drought events on the growth of oaks (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) within and beyond their natural range

Perkins, Diana; Uhl, Enno; Biber, Peter; Du Toit, Ben; Carraro, Vinicio; Rotzer, Thomas; Pretzsch, Hans (MDPI, 2018-02-28)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to predicted climate change, it is important to know to what extent trees and forests will be impacted by chronic and episodic drought stress. As oaks play an important role in European forestry, this ...

An investigation into shrinkage and collapse behaviour of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus grandis x urophylla wood

Gonya, Nkosinamandla Artwel Sizwe (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Only 1 % of land is used for forestry in South Africa and the country might experience a shortage of structural softwood sawn timber in the near future. Despite this, South Africa actually produces more ...

Modelling the effect of stand density management and environmental variables on Pinus patula wood properties

Erasmus, Justin (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Approximately one million hectares of Pinus patula has been planted worldwide, mainly in southern and eastern Africa and accounts for roughly half of the total softwood plantation area in South Africa. ...

Co-production of furfural and wood composite products from bio-based processing residues

Soludongwe, Siviwe Mlamli (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is an increased environmental concern to move from a petroleum-based economy to a more bio-based economy. Lignocellulosic materials have been shown to be a good source of building blocks for value-added ...

Genetic control of Fusarium circinatum tolerance in Pinus patula x P. tecunumanii hybrid families

Mphahlele, Lebogang Ivonne (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study concentrated on the genetic control of Fusarium circinatum in Pinus patula × P. tecunumannii high elevation (HE) and P. patula × P. tecunumannii low elevation (LE) hybrid families. A greenhouse ...

The feasibility of wood plastic composites as building material for RDP houses in South Africa

Dlamini, Tenele Unity (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African Government is faced with numerous environmental, economic and social challenges. Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are environmental threats, which change the ecosystems they invade. The ...

An ergonomic risks assessment for manual and motor-manual pruning

Sibiya, Zimbili Bonisiwe (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mechanisation and modernisation in pruning operations for South Africa's forestry industry have advanced to keep abreast with best practices internationally. Commercially planted pine species in South ...

Functional and phylogenetic diversity determine woody productivity in a temperate forest

Hao, MinHui; Zhang, Chunyu; Zhao, Xiuhai; Von Gadow, Klaus (Wiley Open Access, 2018)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity has become a central issue in ecology and conservation biology studies, particularly when these relationships are connected ...

A comparison of two methods of data collection for modelling productivity of harvesters : manual time study and follow-up study using on-board-computer stem records

Brewer, J.; Talbot, B.; Belbo, H.; Ackerman, P.; Ackerman, S. (Marin Dracea National Research-Development Institute in Forestry, 2018)

Abstract. Productivity of a mechanized P. patula cut-to-length harvesting operation was estimated and modelled using two methods of data collection: manual time study and follow-up study using StanForD stem files. The ...

Assessing biological dissimilarities between five forest communities

Hao, Minhui; Corral-Rivas, J. J.; Gonzalez-Elizondo, M. S.; Ganeshaiah, K. N.; Nava-Miranda, M. G.; Zhang, Chunyu; Zhao, Xiuhai; Von Gadow, Klaus (SpringerOpen (part of Springer Nature), 2019-06-06)

Background: Dissimilarity in community composition is one of the most fundamental and conspicuous features by which different forest ecosystems may be distinguished. Traditional estimates of community dissimilarity are ...

Phosphate-bonded composite products : the influence of filler materials, biomass type, and processing method on panel properties

Mngomezulu, Lehlohonolo Benjamin (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is renewed effort in the construction sector to reduce CO2 emissions through the use of alternative binding materials to conventional Portland cements. Among the alternatives are phosphate-based ...

The growth and knot property implications of a single stage thinning regime for Pinus patula saw log stands

Zhangazha, Francis Tinashe (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of the study was to analyse the growth and knot property implications of changing from the conventional two-stage thinning regime in Pinus patula saw log stands to a single stage mid-rotation ...

Managing lumber stiffness variation in a sawmill : a statistical quality control approach

Tshavhungwe, Vhuhwavho (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-01)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several studies over the past two decades in South Africa showed that graded structural lumber from certain young pine resources did not conform to the stiffness requirements of SANS 10163- 1(2003). The ...

Variation in root biomass for clonal eucalypts as a function of regime and site quality

Van Heerden, Benjamin (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African forestry industry may reduce imposed carbon taxation by accounting for the industry’s carbon sequestration. This study investigates the potential of Eucalyptus grandis x urophylla root ...

The longevity of decaying eucalyptus hybrid roots in sub-tropical plantation forests

Stephan, Johan Carl Jacobus (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-02)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global threat posed by extreme climate change has led to an increase in the amount of climate change related research. It is now more important than ever before to accurately quantify the carbon ...

An investigation into the environmental sustainability of buildings in South Africa with a focus on timber building systems

Crafford, Philippus Lodewicus (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Buildings are responsible for about 33% of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, high-energy consumption and other environmental resource uses. Numerous studies over the past 20 years showed that ...