Method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of a log to identify inner zones that are free of bluestain

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a log () to identify inner zones of sapwood () of the log () that have not been attacked by fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. The method comprises a first step of carrying out a tomographic scan of the log () to be inspected using X-ray beams that pass through the log () and a second step of obtaining a three-dimensional representation of the log () that is representative of the local moisture content of the log, the local moisture content being correlated with attenuation of the X-ray beams through the log. The method comprises the step of processing the three-dimensional representation of the log () to identify inner regions () of the log (), in which the local moisture content is greater than or equal to a moisture threshold value for a spatial extent greater than an extent threshold. The moisture threshold value corresponds, for trees of the same species as the log (), to a sapwood () with local moisture content such that it excludes the growth of fungi that cause bluestain in the wood. Each inner region () identified in this way is classed as a sapwood () zone free of bluestain. This invention also relates to a procedure for obtaining one or more wooden products from a log (), as well as an apparatus for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a log ().