News

Walailak University (WU) has been collaborating with the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, to develop mixed species cross-laminated timber from rubber wood, coconut wood, and oil palm wood - key economic crops in Thailand.

The project aims to use these materials as alternatives for building construction due to their positive environmental impact and high structural performance.

Even though constructing high timber buildings in Thailand might seem challenging at the moment, an 18-story timber building has been successfully built and used as a student residence at UBC.

One of the reasons for the rising trend of constructing buildings from wood worldwide is the growing awareness of global warming and efforts to mitigate greenhouse gases.

Timber buildings are capable of storing carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas contributing to heat trapping in the earth’s atmosphere, which is currently 1.5 times higher than its amount in the 1970s according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Additionally, the wood used in building construction is mostly sourced locally, benefiting farmers through added value and helping boost the country's economy.

Associate Professor Dr. Suthon Srivaro, a researcher at the WU Center of Excellence in Wood and Biomaterials and a lecturer at the School of Engineering, is working with Professor Dr. Frank Lam and Associate Professor Dr. Minghao Li from UBC, and also his team, to develop mixed species cross-laminated timber from rubber wood, coconut wood, and oil palm wood.

He revealed that instead of selling the tree trunks or letting the trees decompose naturally after they reach the end of their lifespan, high-value-added mass timber products can be created from these woods, offering an eco-friendly alternative to concrete and metal.

“Recently, we have successfully improved the properties of oil palm wood through thermal compression. We found that the resulting wood had comparable properties to structural timber, which could be further used for mass timber products,” said Dr. Suthon.

Furthermore, cross-laminated timber is also known for its advantages such as design flexibility, lightweight properties, good insulation, and facilitating rapid construction.

At the WU Center for International Affairs (CIA) meeting room today, Associate Professor Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President, had the opportunity to welcome the two professors from UBC for a university visit and a special seminar on “Engineered Wood Products and Their Applications.” This seminar, held in meeting room 1, Academic Building 5, focused on the application of wood products in building structures, the fire resistance of wooden structures, and the impact on environment.

On this occasion, the team at WUCIA also discussed collaboration opportunities with the two professors regarding research, teaching, and student and staff mobility.