Modified oxygen consumption calorimetry was used to track the seasonal flammability of black spruce and tamarack. Age class related samples were collected for both species from May to September at research site in central Alberta. These samples were assessed for their differential heat release using test equipment at the Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility (PCERF) at the University of Alberta.
The test method was able to successfully quantify the differences in seasonal flammability between black spruce and tamarack. Data showed the age-related flammability differences were less pronounced, with the exception of new growth samples early in the season.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s (AAF) Wildfire Management Branch recently contracted two Sikorsky S-61N heavy helicopters. Both helicopters are equipped with an external tank (max. volume 1000 U.S. gallons) and have on-board injection systems that are capable of mixing class A foams and water-enhancers.
Currently, there is limited data on comparative drop footprints of foam and water-enhancers (suppressants) for these heavy helicopters. To fill this knowledge gap, AAF has asked FPInnovations to conduct drop tests in different wildland fuel environments. This study focuses on mapping the drop footprints of water, foam, and water-enhancers in black spruce stands at specific flight parameters.
Reduced surface evaporation rates are marketed as a competitive advantage by water-enhancer manufacturers. In this report, a new test method is developed and applied to quantify the evaporation rates of various commercially available water-enhancer products in a controlled environment. These quantified evaporation rates were then compared to the evaporation rate of water which served as the benchmark.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s (AAF) Wildfire Management Branch has recently contracted two Sikorsky S-61N heavy helicopters. Both helicopters are equipped with an external tank (max. volume 1000 U.S. gallons) and have on-board injection systems that are capable of mixing class A foams and water-enhancers.
Currently, there is limited data on comparative drop footprints of foam and water-enhancers (suppressants) for these heavy helicopters. To fill this knowledge gap, AAF has asked FPInnovations to conduct drop tests in different wildland fuel environments. This study focuses on mapping the drop footprints of water, foam, and water-enhancers in an open field at specific flight parameters.
In 2020, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s (AAF) Wildfire Management Branch contracted two externally tanked heavy helicopters with on-board injection and mixing systems. The two heavy helicopters are Sikorsky S-61N helicopters with modified Isolair tanks, capable of dropping water, foam, and water-enhancers. Drop tests were conducted using these helicopters to understand the relative footprints of different suppressants.
This study focuses on using drop footprint data to estimate recovery rates of water, foam, and water-enhancers in two scenarios – an open field and a forested stand. These estimates may provide a primarily understanding of how best different suppressants can be used for different applications.
Les forêts aff ectées par des épidémies d’insectes, en l’occurrence par la TBE, présentent une structure de peuplement hétérogène. Cela s’explique, entre autres, par le niveau de défoliation qui n’est pas nécessairement le même d’un arbre à l’autre. La récolte de ces peuplements engendre des coûts supplémentaires. Ceux-ci sont occasionnés par une perte de productivité des machines associée au temps supplémentaire requis pour produire un panier de produits répondant aux spécifi cations des usines. Par ailleurs, les récents développements en télédétection ont montré un grand potentiel pour réaliser des cartes précises et détaillées pouvant améliorer le processus de planifi cation et le déploiement d’opérations forestières. C’est dans ce contexte que des études ont été menées depuis 2014 sur la Côte-Nord. Elles ont permis de mesurer les pertes de productivité des machines et de développer une cartographie plus fi ne permettant de guider les opérateurs vers les endroits où la valeur des tiges assure la viabilité des opérations.
A biomass heat map is a tool to help visualize the cost of biomass that is residual from harvest operations. The heat map is important because it can inform decision-making and economic feasibility studies. Its visual impact can trigger new thoughts and innovations in the human mind that a table of numbers can not... like: Where might we build a new plant? Should we compete at an existing delivery point, or not?
The services offered related to forest operations are outlined in this general brochure. Information on workshops, professional services, virtual library, online tools and opportunities for assessment and support are detailed.
Les services offerts liés aux opérations forestières sont décrit dans cette brochure. Les informations sur les ateliers, les services professionnels, la bibliothèque virtuelle, les outils en ligne et les possibilitées d'interventions sont détaillées.
n collaboration avec l’Université de Victoria, on a mis au point un mur de cisaillement à haute capacité comportant deux rangées de clous au périmètre du revêtement. On a mené un programme d’essais pour évaluer la performance du mur de cisaillement proposé, ce qui comprend la résistance aux charges latérales et aux déplacements, le comportement hystérétique, la rigidité et la ductilité.
This InfoNote briefly introduces the promising MT SFRSs, and the corresponding analytical and finite element models to support their adoptions in structural design offices.
La présente InfoNote décrit brièvement les systèmes de résistance aux forces sismiques (SRFS) en bois massif qui seront inclus dans l’édition 2020 du Code national du bâtiment (CNB) du Canada, leurs limites de hauteur et les principales exigences de conception selon la norme Règles de calcul des charpentes en bois de l’Association canadienne de normalisation CSA O86-19. Elle explique aussi les différences de limite de hauteur entre les différents systèmes de résistance aux charges de gravité et aux charges latérales.
La présente InfoNote décrit brièvement les SRFS en bois massif prometteurs, de même que les modèles analytiques et par éléments finis correspondants dans le but d’encourager leur adoption par les entreprises de conception structurale.
The widespread availability of genomics data and molecular tools for pathogen detection and identification provides scientists and regulators a powerful toolbox for pathogen monitoring. However, this raises questions and concerns regarding the use of these tools in import and export of forest commodities. Discussions around implementation and standardization have highlighted knowledge gaps around their efficacy and suitability in wood and their applicability to forest commodities. This study compared detection efficacy of various emerging tools on artificially infected forest and wood commodities, focusing on Phytophthora pathogens, an important group of invasive and sometimes difficult to detect species. In situ detection was more sensitive than traditional isolation, and for some methods, 100% of infected samples were positive. Detection efficacy varied by tissue type and detection method. The data generated from this study is important in addressing knowledge gaps around pathogen detection in wood.
Nail-laminated timber (NLT) is a large built-up member often used as interior structural members for floors, roofs, walls, and elevator/stair shafts. Because prolonged wetting of wood may cause staining, mould, excessive dimensional change
(sometimes enough to fail fasteners), and even result in decay and loss of strength, construction moisture is an important consideration when building with NLT. This document aims to provide technical information to help architects, engineers, and builders assess the potential for wetting of NLT during building construction and identify appropriate actions to mitigate the risks.
Le bois lamellé-cloué (NLT – Nail-laminated Timber) est un élément massif composé de bois de sciage souvent utilisé comme élément de structure intérieur pour les planchers, les toits, les murs et les cages d'ascenseur/escalier. Étant donné que l’humidification prolongée du bois peut provoquer des taches, de la moisissure, des variations dimensionnelles excessives (parfois suffisantes pour provoquer la défaillance des attaches), et même la pourriture et la perte de résistance, l'humidité est un facteur important à prendre en compte lors de travaux de construction avec du bois lamellé-cloué. Le présent document vise à fournir de l’information technique pouvant aider les architectes, les ingénieurs et les constructeurs à évaluer les risques d’humidification du bois lamellé-cloué pendant la construction de bâtiments et à prendre les mesures appropriées pour atténuer ces risques.
Forest operations across Canada are encountering increasingly difficult road conditions and more frequent access interruptions related to wet and weak road sections. Resource roads are considered a liability by many forest companies and their business model has been to create the lowest cost, lowest standard, resource road network possible that also will provide tolerable levels of access (i.e., some but not too many failures and hauling disruptions). Increasingly difficult operating conditions and frequent access interruptions, however, drive up costs and threaten the economic sustainability of forest operations.
Starting in 2017, FPInnovations has launched a project to provide its members with techniques and strategies that will offer more reliable and strong road sections and reduce overall road costs. A state-of-practice survey of FPInnovations members provided researchers with a comprehensive understanding of conventional means of responding to wet, weak road conditions in Canada. The report summarizes the responses to wet, weak resource road sections that were identified in the state-of-practice survey and provides an overview of the chief causes and related site indicators for wet, weak road conditions.
Recommended best practices are provided for a variety of conventional industry responses to wet, weak road sections. These address common misconceptions and knowledge gaps that reduce the effectiveness and increase the overall cost associated with the industry responses. These best practice recommendations were based upon findings from a literature review, product manufacturer information, and from researcher expertise.
The report also considers improvements to conventional practices, and advanced solutions that are potentially more effective and economic than the state-of-practice but are not widely exploited by industry. Eleven potential solutions from these two categories were compared and ranked in order of potential. The practice improvements selected for further study were soil compaction, and corduroy and access mats. The advanced solutions selected for further study were geosynthetics that offer both soil reinforcement and enhanced drainage, geocells, and TPCS, a technology to improve truck road-friendliness. Starting in 2021, FPInnovations will initiate field trials and life cycle cost analyses of these technologies.
Bioenergie La Tuque (BELT) has targeted the production of renewable liquid hydrocarbon fuels (mostly diesel and aviation fuel) from forestry residues. The production of this type of biofuel is an important and necessary factor enabling Canada to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Its importance rests on the potential inherent in the utilization of abundant and sustainable lignocellulosic feedstock, which does not compete with food as well as its complete compatibility with existing transportation fuel markets. BELT’s technology assessment team employed a systematic approach to identify mature technologies with the potential to meet the needs of BELT’s proposed biorefinery. A stepwise approach was used to sift through a wide range of biomass conversion technologies. The first fourteen (14) technologies were selected from a list of over 600 technologies by eliminating those that were not appropriate for the required conversion, lacked the necessary technological maturity, or were defunct.
A test program was conducted to generate hygrothermal performance data for light-wood-frame exterior walls meeting the R22 effective (RSI 3.85) requirement for buildings up to six storeys in the City of Vancouver. Six types of exterior wall assemblies, with 12 wall panels in total, were tested using a test hut located in the rear yard of FPInnovations’ Vancouver aboratory. This document provides a brief summary of the test and performance of these walls based on the data collected over the 19 months’ period from October 2018 to May 2020
Un programme d’essais a été réalisé en vue de générer des données sur le rendement hygrothermique des murs à ossature légère de bois qui répondent à l’exigence R22 (RSI 3,85) pour les bâtiments d'au plus six étages à Vancouver. Six types d’assemblage de mur extérieur, avec un total de 12 murs extérieurs, ont été mis à l’essai à l’aide d’une hutte d’essai située dans la cour arrière du laboratoire de FPInnovations à Vancouver. Le présent document présente un court résumé de l’essai et du rendement de ces murs en se basant sur les données recueillies sur une période de 19 mois, soit d’octobre 2018 à mai 2020 (Wang 2021).
