macroHOLZdata

Innovative medium for information in wood identification.

The knowledge about recognition and utilization of the most important internationally traded timbers is of prime importance to forestry and wood industry as well as timber trade and even control authorities. As an important tool for this purpose, the database macroHOLZdata developed at the Thünen Institute for Wood Research has been programmed as an app for smartphones and tablets.

The macroHOLZdata app offers: • interactive identification of common trade timbers (hardwoods and softwoods) based on macroscopic features to be observed with the unaided eye or with a hand lens, • high quality colour illustrations of wood characters and timbers featuring transverse (10x) and longitudinal surfaces (natural size), • database offering pertinent information on wood properties, processing, and utilization, • innovative tool for teaching at vocational schools and higher educational facilities with a wood technology and forestry related curriculum (also suitable for Do-It-Yourself education), • a textbook with definitions, explanations, procedures, etc. for most features used in the description of the timbers in terms of wood structure, properties, and utilization; specific information retrieval, • complete timber descriptions accompanied by high quality color illustrations depicting characteristic wood features.

The app is also ideal suited for further education and training in forestry and timber industry as well as self-study for all those interested in wood.