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30 TECHNOLOGY SEP/OCT 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

RECENT ADVANCES IN WOOD SURFACE

DEFECT INSPECTION USING DEEP

LEARNING

Surface inspection plays a critical role in the wood industry, as it helps companies to enhance product
quality, improves the utilisation of wood resources, and increases the value of final products. In
recent years, deep learning has emerged as a promising technique in this domain, offering significant
advantages over traditional methods by enabling high-precision, real-time inspection. By Fang Yiming,
Ma Yan, Gao Shuang and Chen Junlei, Shaoxing University

ood remains an essential natural resource in For instance, knots induce localised stress concentrations that
human civilisation and continues to be widely undermine structural integrity. Such defects are also susceptible
Wused despite technological advances and the to splitting during processing, resulting in undesirable irregular
emergence of alternative materials. However, it is prone to fractures and surface imperfections in the final product.

various defects, including knots, cracks, warping, twisting, Against this backdrop, accurate detection of wood surface
decay, and insect damage. defects along with precise evaluation of their type, severity,
These imperfections not only compromise the aesthetic quality and distribution can enable scientific wood grading, which
of wood but also adversely affect its mechanical properties, in turn can greatly enhance wood utilisation efficiency and
thereby reducing its practical utility and economic value. economic benefits.

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