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DatMuSSS project launch: AI to automate log quality assessment and sorting
A new research project is set to advance automated wood sorting. In DatMuSSS — Data-Driven Multimodal Sorting of Logs in Sawmills — the German research institute Fraunhofer IDMT, Technische Universität Ilmenau and the German companies Vision & Control, PREMETEC Automation and Sägewerk Schwarzmühle are investigating how artificial intelligence can reliably assess the quality of roundwood and assign logs to the appropriate sorting category.
The goal is to develop a cost-effective inspection system that can be retrofitted to existing equipment, enabling small and medium-sized sawmills in particular to automate their sorting processes economically.
When a shipment of logs arrives at a sawmill, the accurate assessment of each log determines its quality grade - and ultimately its intended use and selling price.
At many small and medium-sized sawmills, experienced specialists still assess log quality by visual inspection. Internal defects such as cavities or rot, however, often remain undetected. At the same time, skilled labor shortages and growing cost pressures are making reliable quality control increasingly difficult. The DatMuSSS research project is designed to address these challenges.
+++ Assessing a log reliably in just a few seconds +++
For the first time, acoustic, geometric and image data from logs will be analyzed together. Cameras capture the cut ends and outer surfaces of the logs, acoustic measurements provide additional information about their internal structure, and laser scanners record their dimensions and shape. An AI model uses this combination of data to learn how to assess wood quality automatically and provide the basis for automated sorting.
The partners aim to create a robust solution that performs reliably under real production conditions and can be integrated easily into day-to-day operations.
+++ Research and industry join forces for smarter wood sorting +++
DatMuSSS brings together German partners from applied research, academia, technology development and industry to create a practical solution for automated log sorting.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT coordinates the project and contributes its expertise in the AI-based analysis and evaluation of acoustic signals for industrial applications. Fraunhofer IDMT is developing methods that combine the measurement data and use it to assess wood quality automatically.
The Group for Quality Assurance and Industrial Image Processing at Technische Universität Ilmenau is developing optical techniques and AI methods to capture and evaluate visible wood characteristics.
Machine vision specialist Vision & Control GmbH contributes its extensive experience in industrial image processing and in selecting suitable camera systems for image acquisition.
PREMETEC Automation GmbH is developing an automated unit that induces controlled vibrations in the logs, enabling acoustic measurements. The company is also responsible for integrating the acoustic inspection unit into existing sawmill equipment and processes.
Sägewerk Schwarzmühle (sawmill), the project’s industry partner, provides the test environment as well as the acoustic and optical data required to develop and validate the inspection system. The company also contributes its expertise in roundwood assessment, helping the researchers correlate the automatically acquired data with actual wood quality grades.
“Having all project partners located close to one another is a major advantage. It enables us to test and refine the acoustic and optical sensors, AI models and automation solutions quickly under real conditions at the sawmill. We can also evaluate their integration into existing machinery and operating processes directly on site and determine at an early stage how the solution can be implemented reliably and cost-effectively in practice,” says Florian Klein, project manager at Fraunhofer IDMT.
+++ A cost-effective, retrofittable alternative to complex inspection systems +++
X-ray and computed tomography systems are currently used to assess roundwood. While these CT systems provide detailed insights into the internal structure of a log, they are expensive, require considerable space and can be difficult to integrate into existing operations. As a result, they are not economically viable for many sawmills.
DatMuSSS therefore takes a different approach. The partners are developing an inspection system that can be retrofitted to existing sawmill equipment, allowing companies to integrate the technology into their current processes without extensive modifications. No comparable combination of acoustic and visual sensor technology for automated log sorting is currently available on the market.
“Our main objective is to help small and medium-sized businesses assess wood quality faster, more objectively and more cost-effectively. AI-based automated wood assessment can provide an important foundation for this. We are already receiving inquiries from sawmills and wood-processing companies in other parts of Germany, demonstrating that demand for our approach extends well beyond the project region,” says Klein.
+++ Funding and project duration +++
The joint research project “DatMuSSS — Data-Driven Multimodal Sorting of Logs in Sawmills” is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) under the “WIR! — Change Through Innovation in the Region” program. It forms part of the Holz-21-regio alliance and is funded under grant number 03WIR3620A. The project runs from August 2026 through January 2028.
Florian Klein florian.klein@idmt.fraunhofer.de
https://www.idmt.fraunhofer.de/en/institute/projects-products/projects/datmusss-... - further information about the research project
At many sawmills, logs are still visually inspected and marked by hand. However, internal defects re ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT
Initial feasibility studies captured acoustic data from wood samples. DatMuSSS now aims to develop a ...
Copyright: Fraunhofer IDMT
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