This document summarizes a task to evaluate near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for determining log and biomass quality in mountain forests. Several organizations will work together on the task, led by CNR. CNR will coordinate, evaluate NIR spectroscopy along the harvesting chain, and develop a "NIR quality index." Boku will support CNR with lab measurements and calibration transfer. Other partners will help collect NIR spectra in the field. The objectives are to evaluate NIR spectroscopy for characterizing resources along the harvesting chain and provide guidelines for collection and analysis of NIR spectra. Activities will include feasibility studies, developing chemometric models to predict quality indicators from spectra, and transferring calibrations between lab and portable instruments. Del

1. Task 4.2
Evaluation of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy
as a tool for determination of log/biomass
quality index in mountain forests

2. Task 4.2: Partners involvement
Task Leader: CNR
Task Partecipants: KESLA, BOKU, FLY, GRE
CNR: Project leader,
•will coordinate all the partecipants of this task
•will evaluate the usability of NIR spectroscopy for characterization of bioresources along the harvesting chain
•will provide guidelines for proper collection and analysis of NIR spectra
•will develop the “NIR quality index”; to be involved in the overall log and
biomass quality grading
Boku: will support CNR with laboratory measurement and calibration transfer
Kesla, Greifenberg and Flyby: will support CNR in order to collect NIR spectra at
various stages of the harvesting chain

3. 4.2 Objectives
 evaluating the usability of NIR spectroscopy for
characterization of bio-resources along the
harvesting chain
 providing guidelines for proper collection and
analysis of NIR spectra
 The raw information provided here are near infrared
spectra, to be later used for the determination of
several properties (quality indicators) of the sample

4. Electromagnetic spectrum
1μm
10μm
mid
infrared
MIR
near
infrared
NIR
100μm
far
infrared
FIR
frequency, ν (Hz)
10
24
10
22
10
20
10
γ
rays
10-16
10-14
18
10
x
rays
10-12
10-10
16
10
14
10
12
IR
UV
10
10
10
8
10
10-6
10-4
10-2
10
radio
waves
mikrowave
FM
10-8
6
100
4
102
100
long radio waves
AM
102
104
106
108
wavelength, λ (m)
visible light
400nm
500nm
600nm
700nm
The study of the interactions between electromagnetic radiation (energy, light) and matter
Kick-off Meeting
8-9/jan/2014

5. Source of spectra
simmetric
stretching
Rocking
asimmetric
stretching
Wagging
Scissoring
Twisting
Spectra represents molecular vibrations of chemical molecules
exposed to infrared light.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_spectroscopy

6. NIR technique


No need special sample preparation
Non-destructive testing
Relatively fast measurement
No residues/solvents to waste
Possibility for determination of many components
simultaneously
High degree of precision and accuracy
Direct measurement with very low cost




Overlapping of spectral peaks
Needs sophisticated statistics methods for data analysis
Moisture sensitive
Calibration transfer from lab equipment into field equipment






7. Spectrofotometers

8. How it works?
+
spectra
reference data
calibration (PLS)
cellulose
celuloza estymacja (%)
predicted stress (MPa)
40
30
20
r = 98,67
RMSECV = 0,102
RPD = 8,86
45,5
29
3
50
density
0,7
2
r2 = 84,98
RMSECV = 0,0638
RPD = 2,58
2
R = 0.984
lignin
30
gęstość estymacja (g/cm )
46
lignina estymacja (%)
Tensile strength
60
28
27
r2 = 64,94
RMSECV = 0,039
RPD = 1,69
0,6
0,5
0,4
10
26
45
0
0
10
20
30
40
reference stress (MPa)
50
60
45
45,5
celuloza referencja (%)
46
0,3
26
27
28
29
lignina referencja (%)
30
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
3
gęstość referencja (g/cm )
0,7

9. Identity test
Model sample1
Model sample2
???
sample
Model sample3
Model samplen
HQ1
HQ2
HQ3
HQn
> treshold1
< treshold2
> treshold3
> tresholdn
Compare the unknown spectrum with all reference spectra, the result of comparison between
two spectra is the spectral distance called hit quality. The better spectra match the
smaller is spectral distance; HQ for identical spectra is 0

10. 4.2 Activities: Feasibility study and specification of the
measurement protocols for proper NIR data acquisition

NIR spectra will be collected at various stages of the harvesting chain

measurement procedures will be provided for each field test

In-field tests will be compared to laboratory results

11. 4.2 Activities: Development and validation of
chemometric models.
•
spectra pre-processing, wavelength selection, classification,
calibration, validation, external validation (sampling –
prediction – verification)
•
prediction of the log/biomass intrinsic “quality indicators”
(such as moisture content, density, chemical composition,
calorific value) (CNR).
•
classification models based on the quality indicators will be
developed and compared to the classification based on the
expert’s knowledge.
•
calibrations transfer between laboratory instruments
(already available) and portable ones used in the field
measurements in order to enrich the reliability of the
prediction (BOKU).

12. 4.2 Deliverables
Deliverable D.4.03 Establishing NIR measurement protocol
evaluating the usability of NIR spectroscopy for characterization of bio-resources
along the harvesting chain, providing guidelines for proper collection and analysis
of NIR spectra.
Delivery Date M16 April 2015
Deliverable D.4.08 Estimation of log/biomass quality by NIR
Set of chemometric models for characterization of different “quality indicators” by
means of NIR and definition of “NIR quality index”
Delivery Date M20 August 2015
Estimated person Month= 3.45
Kick-off Meeting
8-9/jan/2014

13. 4.2 Additional deliverable
 Development of “provenance models”. The set of
spectra collected from selected samples (of known
provenance and silvicultural characteristics) along the
supply chain will be also processed in order to verify
applicability of NIR spectroscopy to traceability of
wood (CNR).

14. Wood provenance & NIRS
2163 trees of Norway spruce
from 75 location
in 14 European countries
2163 samples measured
x 5 spectra/sample
= 10815
spectra

15. Wood provenance & NIRS

16. NIR workshop