Restoration of cultural heritage sites and historic buildings often requires specialized timber with unique qualities. The most in-demand timber is used for bottom logs in construction, cladding, and roofing. The specific requirements relate to tree species, growth ring width, density, stem shape, knot properties, heartwood proportion, and dimensions.

Over the past 70–80 years, forest management practices focused on volume production, which has contributed to a decrease in the availability of trees with these special qualities. As a result, it can be challenging to identify where such trees can be found, given these specific criteria.

In addition to site-specific factors such as site quality, stand history, and density, crown shape can serve as a good indicator of internal qualities. In this project, we will utilize airborne laser data to describe crown characteristics, which will serve as input for models to map the presence of desirable qualities sought by cultural heritage authorities.

Inspection of sawmill site to assess the quality of materials cut from dense spruce in Valdres. People in the photo: Jens Martin Holme (Innlandet Higher Vocational College), Tore Rødbergshagen (Innlandet County Council), Knut Lundem Hougsrud and Marit Hougsrud (Nordre Hougsrud farm, Grån AS), Ole Martin Bollandsås (NMBU), Mikael Andersson (County Governor for Innlandet). Photo: Oda Amundsplass/Avisa Valdres

The main objectives of the project include:

1. Mapping forest resources and assessing timber quality, with a focus on preserving materials suitable for historic buildings.
2. Studying stand characteristics and value creation related to forest management and economics.
3. Developing AI-based models to identify cultural heritage sites within the forest using remote sensing data.
4. Investigating the requirements and criteria for climate tolerance in Norway spruce, to enable the use of timber that can withstand climate changes for exterior cladding.

The project aims to improve forest management, cultural heritage preservation, and climate-friendly material use through advanced research, fieldwork, and technology.

Data for the project will come from Romedal and Stange communal forests, as well as Nordre Hougsrud in Valdres.

The activities are financed by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren) and Innlandet County Municipality. Other partners involved include the County Governor of Innlandet (Statsforvalteren i Innlandet) and Grån AS.

Fieldwork at Romedal and Stange Allmenninger. From left: Arne Elias Østerås (Romedal and Stange Allmenninger), Jon Bojer Godal (expert in traditional crafts and wood properties), Trym Slettaløkken Engen (student at NMBU, field worker in the project), Dagfinn Claudius (Innlandet County Council). Photo: Ole Martin Bollandsås