Research Support for Tree and Wood Properties

Adam’s primary experience is the preparation and testing of trees and wood samples to measure their mechanical properties. As part of this work Adam operates and maintains a mobile sawmill, wood working machinery, a suite of testing equipment, and a small kiln located at the Northern Research Station, as well as providing field support for tree sampling operations.

Alongside this work Adam collaborates on the development of techniques for tree and wood assessments. Recently this has included CT scanning logs of Sitka spruce to measure and model the shape of knots, and improving methods of assessing the radial variation of wood stiffness across tree-discs.

Field technician for Climate Change research

Adam is part of the team responsible for measurements of greenhouse gas exchange across mature and clear-felled Sitka spruce stands at Harwood forest. Adam’s primary role is the ongoing collection of data, maintenance and repairs of precision sensors and instruments, manual measurements of gas exchange and soil components, and the day-to-day operation of the site which is also studied by a number of collaborating institutes.