Patent ID: 6593572
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A process for predicting mechanical properties of decayed wood exposed to wood decay microorganisms without monitoring the decay and without taking a core sample and culturing it for wood decay organisms, comprising:2) illuminating a surface of decayed wood exposed to wood decay microorganisms with wavelengths from visible and near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectra within the selected spectral range of about 400 to about 1,150 nm; 2) analyzing the surface of said decayed wood using a spectrometric method, the method generating a first spectral data of wavelengths in VIS-NIR spectra region in said selected spectral range; and 3) using a multivariate analysis to predict mechanical properties of decayed wood by comparing said first spectral data with a calibration model, said calibration model comprising a second spectrometric method of spectral data of wavelengths in VIS-NIR spectra said selected spectral range obtained from a reference decayed wood, the second spectral data being correlated with a known mechanical property analytical result obtained from said reference decayed wood.