EARTH Project

Main objectives of E.A.R.T.H. Project are:

1. Quantify the available resource and quality (from 1st and 2nd thinnings from Alder, Ash, Birch and Sycamore).
2. Determine physical and structural properties of the material, through experimental testing (NDT and mechanical tests).
3. Study issues related to drying and durability.
4. Identify potential end-uses of the material (round timber and wood products, in addition to wood energy products).

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• Prof. Annette M. Harte, Project Coordinator and Principal Investigator, NUIG
  Email: annette.harte@nuigalway.ie
• Dr. Ian Short, Forestry Researcher, Teagasc
  Email: ian.short@teagasc.ie
• Dr. Daniel F. Llana, Post-doctoral Researcher, NUIG
  Email: daniel.llana@nuigalway.ie

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The project partners, NUI Galway and Teagasc bring expertise in characterisation of wood products and broadleaf silviculture, respectively, to the project.

Commercial partners:

ECC Teoranta, Cornamona, Co. Galway (It is one of the leading sawmills in Ireland and the UK processing over 350,000 m³ per annum)

Lonza, Spiddal, Co. Galway (It is a leading name in industrial pretreatment and surface protection of wood)

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24-27/09/19

Dr. Daniel F. Llana from the Timber Engineering Research Group-NUIG presented EARTH project results at the 21st International Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation of Wood Symposium in Freiburg im Breisgau, BW, Germany. This is a significant conference in the world on timber construction. The event was attended by 140 participants from 31 countries.

Pictured: Dr. Daniel F. Llana presentation

Pictured: Dr. Daniel F. Llana presentation

25-26/10/18

The EARTH project results were presented in the 8^th Hardwood Conference in Sopron, Hungary. The event was attended by 106 participants from 50 institutions and 25 countries.

Pictured: Dr. Daniel F. Llana presentation

Pictured: Dr. Ian Short presentation by skype

Pictured: 8^th Hardwood Conference attendees

29/08/18

The EARTH Project was presented to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) members (Brian Clifford, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Niamh Hennessy, Fergus Moore, Tony Quinn and Vincent Upton) when visiting the Timber Engineering Research Group (TERG) in NUI Galway.

 
Pictured: Dr. Daniel F. Llana demonstrating moisture meter used at NUI Galway laboratory

  
Pictured: Members of DAFM and TERG in NUI Galway Engineering Building

13/02/18

Dr. Ian Short and Dr. Daniel F. Llana presented EARTH project in a lecture at the Masters of Architecture in the module Irish Timber & Sustainability coordinated by Dr. Elizabeth Shotton at University College Dublin.

 24/10/17

Talking Hardwoods - Hardwood Marketing Event in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. Dr. Ian Short from Teagasc presented about hardwood management and EARTH project.

Pictured: Dr. Ian Short hardwoods presentation

31/08/17

Talking Timber – Timber Marketing Event in Ballyhaise College, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan.
Three researchers from Timber Engineering Research Group, NUI Galway attended this meeting organised by Teagasc with forest owners, timber buyers, harvesting contractors and foresters, focused on thinnings.

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31/05/17

Researchers from the Timber Engineering Research Group at the National University of Ireland, Galway attended the National Forestry Conference on the 31st of May 2017 in Enfield, Co. Meath.

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• Llana, D.F., Short, I., Harte, A.M. (2020) Use of non-destructive test methods on Irish hardwood standing trees and small-diameter round timber for prediction of mechanical properties. Annals of Forest Science 2020;77. Download
• Llana, D.F., Short, I., Harte, A.M. (2019) Acoustic measurement differences on trees and logs from hardwoods in wet and dry condition. Proceedings of the 21^st International Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation of Wood Symposium. September 24-27. Freiburg im Breisgau, BW, Germany. Pp. 561-568. Download
• Llana D. F., Short I, O’Ceallaigh C, Harte A.M. (2018) Mechanical Properties Estimation by Non-destructive testing of Irish Hardwood Round Timber from Thinnings for Construction Purposes. In: Proceedings of the 8th Hardwood Conference, Sopron, Hungary, October 25-26 2018. Oral Presentation Download

• Llana, D.F.; Short, I.; Harte, A.M. (2018). Project overview for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine visit to NUIG. 28^th August 2018, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland. Oral Presentation

• Llana, D.F.; Short, I.; Harte, A.M. (2018). Project overview for the Ryan Institute Research Day. 23^rd February 2018, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland. Poster Presentation
• Llana, D.F.; Short, I.; Harte, A.M. (2018). Project overview for the Master of Architecture class in University College Dublin. 13^th February 2018, Dublin, Ireland. Oral Presentation
• Harte, A.M.; Short, I.; Llana, D.F. (2017). Project overview for the National Forestry Conference. 31^st May 2017, Enfield, Co. Meath, Ireland. Poster Presentation
• Short, I. (2017). Project overview for Teagasc Researcher’s Conference. 17^th May 2017, Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin, Ireland. ‌‌Poster Presentation
• Harte, A.M.; Short, I.; Llana, D.F. (2017). Project overview for Ministerial Announcement: Funding for Wood Properties for Ireland. Poster. 16^th May 2017, NUI Galway, Ireland.
• Harte, A.M.; Short, I. (2017). Project overview for Forestry Show 2017. 5^th and 6^th May 2017, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Ireland. ‌Poster Presentation

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• Teagasc Forestry 
• ECC Teoranta 
• Lonza 
• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 

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