19 Unlocking value from crown timber through smarter design and harvesting technologies

European forests generate large volumes of low-quality wood—including small-diameter logs, thinnings, irregular stems, and crown wood—that is often wasted or used for low-value biomass. The WoodStock report reviews zero-waste building concepts demonstrating how structures designed around natural shapes can integrate crown timber into durable construction. It highlights the use of LiDAR, computer vision, GIS, and AI for mapping crown volumes, detecting defects, and classifying species, while identifying a critical gap in machinery for efficient pruning and crown wood harvesting. The report calls for new mechanised tools and design innovations to unlock commercial value and strengthen local value chains.