Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Forest and Wood Products

Purpose of Review

Forest and wood products are often characterized by a uniformity of quality attributes, which necessitates the development of rapid and non-destructive quality evaluation methods to ensure their optimal quality. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) represents a highly suitable approach for the characterization of organic compounds, and is generally combined with sophisticated multivariate analysis methods. This review article presents a range of scientific and technical reports showcasing the successful use of NIRS for evaluating forest and wood products, mainly published within the past 5 years.

Recent Findings

Continuous advancements in spectral imaging techniques and the integration of big-data analytics have greatly enhanced the capabilities of NIR instrumentation, enabling its widespread application across diverse fields. Although NIR spectral imaging methods do have some limitations when it comes to online grading, they can still be used to test small quantities of samples at a batch level. Moreover, the ever-increasing use of handheld devices has made NIRS easily accessible.

Summary

We aim to provide a summary of new research in basic spectroscopic research, integrating the improvements of spectral imaging methods and big-data analytics. Furthermore, low-cost and portable devices have been produced, enabling remote analysis and further expanding the scope of NIRS applications. Looking forward, we anticipate that continued advancements in this field will enable even wider applications of NIRS for online or at-line quality monitoring in diverse fields.