Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Analysis of wood defects in Pinus sylvestris L. using digital scanning

Vasyl Khryk, Oleksandr Sytnyk*, Ivan Kimeichuk, Svitlana Levandovska

SytnykO@proton.me

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Abstract

Given the growing demand for wood and the need for its rational use, determining the quality of raw materials becomes particularly relevant, for which digital scanning of wood is promising, which allows automated identification and assessment of its shortcomings, but visual assessment method is mainly used in Ukraine. The main goal of the current study was to empirically assess wood defects in Pinus sylvestris L. on a sample of lumber by digital scanning and comparing the data with the results obtained by conventional visual diagnostics. Statistical analysis included comparing the results between methods, assessing the degree of their compliance, and analysing the nature of discrepancies using a paired t-test for dependent samples, an intra-class correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. The use of the digital method showed higher values for all assessed wood defect parameters, including the number and diameter of knots, the number of resin pockets, grain slope, pith eccentricity, compression, curvature, convergence, and both the length and relative size of cracks. Statistical analysis confirmed the presence of statistically significant differences between the two methods in all the parameters under study (p < 0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficient showed a moderate, high or very high level of consistency (in the range of 0.72-0.91). The Bland-Altman analysis revealed a systematic bias between digital and visual methods, but the absence of a pronounced proportional bias and a stable distribution of differences in indicators indicated an acceptable level of consistency between approaches within the parameters under study. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of using the digital scanning method as an additional tool to traditional visual analysis to improve the accuracy, objectivity and reproducibility of wood quality assessment. The results can be used in production activities, and in the creation and implementation of automated quality control systems for lumber

Keywords

lumber quality; digital image processing; consistency of methods; intra-class correlation; forestry of Ukraine

Suggested citation
Khryk, V., Sytnyk, O., Kimeichuk, I., & Levandovska, S. (2026). Analysis of wood defects in Pinus sylvestris L. using digital scanning . Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 22(4),65-80. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/4.2026.65
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