Node

Value-Chain Innovation

Node Leaders

Joe Gattas

Theme Leader - Innovative Solutions; Node Leader - Manufacturing Innovation & Value-Chain Innovation

The University of Queensland

Dan Luo

Node Leader - Value-Chain Innovation; Project Leader

The University of Queensland

Bill Leggate

QDAF Team Leader; Project Leader; Partner Investigator

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Opportunity

Realising value-chain change requires not just improved research analysis, but also a knowledge system that enables industry-led innovation over operational and investment timeframes. Bidirectional improvements are needed to stimulate push (capital investment) and pull (increased demand) drivers of change, recognising there are different priority barriers depending on the agent-pair (e.g. forester/fabricator/designer) and direction of information flow. This can build on insights into the prospects for increased client demand (Nodes – Performance of Building Components, Building Performance for Occupants and Design for Extended Building Life), manufacturing advances (Node – Manufacturing Innovation) and forestry resource expansion (Nodes – Towards a Low Carbon & Circular Economy and Socio-Economic Opportunity).

Approach

The analysis and knowledge generated will distinguish between information pipelines that drive capital investment (decision making by resource owners) and design choices (decision making by resource users). The scope of parametric inventory models will extend to a broader selection of novel EWPs relevant to mid-rise buildings, underpinning:

  1. develop resource evaluation methodologies to create viable markets and products for “low value” fibre, including quantifying transport and construction time-cost commercial value;
  2. additional resource types, regional circumstances, product and building typologies; and
  3. an information database and software tool for real-time visualisation of forest-to-building value

Outcomes

Demonstrated benefits on offer from different approaches to leverage large-scale growth of timber demand in mid-rise buildings, providing operators and investors with

  1. clear data on market potential, market volume and supply availability;
  2. tools to encourage ongoing value-chain optimisation over operational timeframes, for use of Australia’s entire available fibre resource; and
  3. the information needed to change corporate strategy in response to potential future changes in demand for (pull) or investment into (push) advanced timber Analysis will inform the design space for technical research into increased utilisation of low-value fibre (Node – Manufacturing Innovation), and assessments of national benefits through increased resource utilisation and sectoral stimulus (Nodes – Towards a Low Carbon & Circular Economy and Socio-Economic Opportunity).

People

Kim Baber

Project Leader; Chief Investigator

The University of Queensland

Rob McGavin

Project Leader; Partner Investigator

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Project/s

Adaptive building forms for inventory-constrained utilisation of low value fibre

Establishing viable product and market solutions for hardwood plantation thinnings and small logs

EWPs to maximise Australian wood fibre recovery and utilisation

An open-data framework for forest-to-building value chain mapping