Smart Forestry: Paving the Way from Forest Restoration to Mass Timber

Why smart forestry?

Many of Oregon’s forested areas are in urgent need of forest restoration to mitigate wildfire risks and climate change. Yet, forest restoration remains challenging due to labor shortages, inefficient processes, and the low value of wood to be removed.

New value-added mass timber wood products will ensure financial viability for forest restoration projects while creating high-paying jobs to strengthen Oregon’s forest sector and rural communities. New smart forestry technologies aim to facilitate efficient supply of raw materials for mass timber industries and transform traditional, labor-intensive forestry jobs into high-paying, technology-driven professions, providing a win-win outcome of both resilient forests and resilient communities.

Download the original project PDF

Seedlings being planted in Oregon forest

What is smart forestry?

Smart forestry uses technology and science-based solutions to source wood from forest restoration activities to supply mass timber and housing industries. Technological advancement of traditional forestry will also improve the safety and efficiency of forest restoration work, support workforce development, and revitalize forest-dependent rural communities.

Mass timber panels have yet to enter the market when competing against light-wood-frame construction due to the larger amount of wood fiber required in a  solid panel.Mass plywood panels offer a solution. Mass plywood panels (MPP) can be produced in 2” and 3” thicknesses and insulated panels can be manufactured and transported as “flat-packs” for rapid field assembly, creating thermally efficient envelopes with high seismic resistance. This project will provide built prototypes with verifiable costing models—a necessary “proof of concept” for potential builders and developers.

Project Plans

The project seeks to improve economic and technical feasibility of using low-value forest restoration materials. Creating economic opportunities in Oregon’s rural communities is feasible by applying innovative technological solutions.

Four technology solutions will be explored to overcome the ongoing forest restoration, wood supply and workforce challenges:

advanced forest inventory and wood  procurement mapping;

smart machine vision, real-time communication and exoskeleton technologies for safe and efficient forest operations and wood supply;

new mass timber design specifications and manufacturing technologies; and

digital pedagogy tools, contents and curriculums for workforce education and training.

2025 Project Update

Smart Forestry improves the financial viability of forest restoration through technology-driven efficiency gains and value-added mass timber production, leading to job creation and addressing labor shortages in Oregon’s rural communities.

Download the 2025 Project Update PDF

Progress to Date

Smart Forestry Technical Solutions

Since 2022, development has been ongoing in the following key technology areas:

AI-Driven Forest Inventory and Wood Procurement Mapping

Exoskeleton Feasibility for Forestry Operations

Real-time Wood Quality Assessment

Harvest Machine Operator Assist Computer Vision System

Mass Timber Design Specifications and Manufacturing Technologies Utilizing Low-Value Restoration Wood

Workforce Development and Training Programs