Eric Beaulieu



Masters student
Modeling Jack Pine Branch Characteristics to Predict the Effects of Common Silvicultural Treatments on Lumber Downgrade by Knots
Université du Québec à Montréal

Director: Frank Berninger
Codirector: Tony Zhang




Phone : (514) 987-3000 extension 1908

EDUCATION

  • M.Sc. biology, 2006-2009 (Université du Québec à Montréal)
  • B.Sc. (Hons) Environmental geography, 2003-2006 (Université de Montréal)
    Physic Environment Orientation - Honors degree
  • Computer Science Technology, 1998-2002 (Collège Bois-de-Boulogne)
    Software development Orientation
RESEARCH PROJECT

Short supply of sawlogs in Eastern Canada is in part due to decreasing availability of species traditionally used for that purpose. Among species left, jack pine (Pinus Banksiana Lamb.) is the second fastest-growing conifer during the first 20 years in its native range and represents more than 20% of softwood volume in Canada. In return, spacing in softwood plantation in the last decade has been decreased without considering the impacts on wood quality. For jack pine, the most important feature of wood quality is knot size, which is correlated to lumber strength and stiffness. Indeed, knots have been reported as the main lumber downgrading defect, being inversely proportional to stand density. Recently, functional-structural models have been used in conjunction with a wood quality module to assess the effects of management choices on the growth of Scots pine. One of these models, PipeQual, has been calibrated for jack pine, and preliminary validation has shown very little bias for height and diameter growth. The ultimate step is to predict the size of individual branches through empirical models. To calibrate these models, height, diameter, insertion angle, and state of every branch were measured on nearly a hundred sampled trees distributed in Eastern Canada. Simulated trees will be virtually sawn by Optitek© using common sawmill settings and sawing patterns. Coordinates of each piece coming out will be coupled with the branch models to define knots found on each face. Lumber will then be visually graded where size, position and quality of the knots are considered. Silvicultural scenario simulations will be carried out to find the optimal silvicultural treatments that yield the highest volume production with the best lumber quality.

PUBLICATIONS

Articles

  • Beaulieu, E., Schneider, R., Berninger, F. and Swift, E. 2010. Modeling jack pine branch characteristics. Forest Ecology and Management.
  • MacVicar, B.J., Beaulieu, E., Champagne, V. and Roy, A.G. 2007. Measuring water velocity in highly turbulent flows: field tests of an electromagnetic current meter (ECM) and an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV). Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 32(9): 1412-1432. PDF 
Memoirs

  • Beaulieu, E. 2010. Modèles des caractéristiques des branches du pin gris. Mémoire de M.Sc.
  • Beaulieu, E. 2006. L’évolution récente du delta de la rivière St-François. Mémoire de B.Sc. PDF 
Oral Presentations

  • Beaulieu, E., Schneider, R., Berninger, F., Zhang, S.Y. and Swift, E. June 2008. Branch Models to Predict the Effect of Common Silvicultural Treatments on Pinus banksiana Visual Lumber Downgrade by Knots. IUFRO Working Party 5.01.04 - Wood Quality Modelling, Sixth workshop on "Connection between Forest Resources and Wood Quality: Modelling Approaches and Simulation Software". Koli, Finland. PDF 
  • Beaulieu, E. April 2008. Branch Modeling Guidelines. ForValueNet Workshop. Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec. PDF 
  • Beaulieu, E. December 2007. Les scénarios sylvicoles des pinèdes grises sous la loupe. 9e colloque de la Chaire AFD. Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. PDF 
  • Beaulieu, E. February 2008. Branch Models to Predict the Effect of Common Silvicultural Treatments on Pinus Banksiana Visual Lumber Downgrade by Knots. CONFOR 2008. Parc National du Mont-Orford, Quebec. PDF 
Posters

  • Beaulieu, E., Schneider, R., Berninger, F., Zhang, S.Y., Ung, C.-H. and Swift, E. March 2008. Branch Models to Predict the Effect of Common Silvicultural Treatments on Pinus Banksiana Visual Lumber Downgrade by Knots. Colloque du CEF 2008. Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec. PDF 
  • Schneider, R., Beaulieu, E. and Berninger, F. March 2007. Outils pour l’aménagement des plantations de pin gris. Colloque du CEF 2007. Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec. PDF 
  • Berninger, F., Beaulieu, E., Lapointe-Garant, M.-P., Guèvremont, V., Hartmann, H., Huang, J., Humbert, L., Lemieux, J., Malo, C., Marchand, M., Savva, J., Schneider, R. and Zhai, L. March 2007. Recherche à la chaire en productivité forestière. Colloque du CEF 2007. Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec. PDF 
  • Beaulieu, E., Bégin, J., Bernier, P., Berninger, F., Power, H., Prégent, G., Schneider, R., Swift, E., Ung, H. and Zhang, T. Septembre 2007. Outils de simulation pour les pinèdes grises. Carrefour de la recherche forestière. Centre des congrès de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec.
  • Berninger, F., Beaulieu, E., Lapointe-Garant, M.-P., Guèvremont, V., Hartmann, H., Huang, J., Humbert, L., Lemieux, J., Malo, C., Marchand, M., Savva, J., Schneider, R. and Zhai, L. Septembre 2007. La Chaire en productivité forestière. Carrefour de la recherche forestière. Centre des congrès de Québec, Quebec City, Quebec.

Team Laser Scanner
Pinus banksiana

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