Examining the Role of ATR-FT-IR Spectroscopy and Machine Learning in Wood Forensics, Part 1

Preserving the planet requires our natural environments to flourish. Because trees are plants, they contribute to lowering the global temperature by removing carbon dioxide from the air while releasing oxygen, a necessity for animals and humans to thrive. Our planet’s forests are also home to some of the most exotic, yet endangered, fauna that contribute in a meaningful way to the local ecosystems in which these forests are part.

Forests, however, are also full of some of the most valuable natural resources humans use regularly. As a result, forests help stimulate the economy, but often at the expense of the land. The timber and pulp and paper industries use lumber to create many different types of products and goods that humans consume. Therefore, the need for scientists to make sure entire forests aren’t wiped out has never been greater, and, thankfully, several scientific disciplines offer a counterbalance to some of these industries.

Misty landscape with fir forest in hipster vintage retro style | Image Credit: © Roxana - stock.adobe.com

One of these disciplines is forestry, a scientific discipline that studies trees and woodland areas to develop solutions aimed at preserving and protecting the natural environment. The main goal of foresters, in both the public and private sectors, is to maintain the forest supply in healthy condition to benefit both living organisms and the environment (1). Forestry is rooted in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, along with several applied sciences of ecology and management (2).

One offshoot of forestry is wood forensics, an area is even more scientific in its scope. Wood forensics uses wood identification technologies to figure out the origin and species of wood products (3). Wood forensics also helps scientists identify illegal logging (3). Because of the value wood forensics can offer to both forestry and forensic science applications, it has become an important tool in addressing global challenges related to illegal logging and the authenticity of wood products (4). By enabling the identification of wood species, determining their geographic origin, and detecting potential criminal activities, wood forensics supports law enforcement agencies and timber industries alike (4). As the demand for authentic and sustainably sourced wood products grows, so does the importance of precise and efficient forensic tools (4).

A recent study conducted at Panjab University (Chandigarh, India) by lead author Vishal Sharma and others investigated this issue. In their study, published in the Microchemical Journal (4), Sharma and the team explored the integration of advanced technologies, such as attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy and machine learning, to improve the identification processes in wood forensics (4). This research marks a significant advancement in the field, particularly in the context of combating illegal logging and ensuring responsible wood sourcing.

Sharma's study examines the challenges and limitations of traditional forensic methods. Then, after acknowledging the shortcomings of traditional methods, Sharma and the team proposes a novel approach that leverages ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy combined with machine learning to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of wood species identification (4). This approach is particularly relevant in the context of the Indian timber industry, where species such as Eucalyptus, Dalbergia, and Populus are commonly used in furniture manufacturing, and are often subject to illegal felling and trade (4).

In part two of this article series, a deep dive of Sharma’s study is explored, explaining how they used ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy to conduct detailed characterizations of wood samples.

References

(1) Lee, S. What Can You Do With a Forestry Degree? Steps.org. Available at: https://www.publicservicedegrees.org/what-can-you-do/forestry-degree/#:~:text=Forestry%20is%20the%20science%20and,for%20environmental%20and%20human%20concerns. (accessed 2024-08-29).

(2) University of Kentucky Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, What is Forestry? Uky.edu. Available at: https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/what-is-forestry (accessed 2024-08-29).

(3) Grant, J.; Chen, H. K. Using Wood Forensic Science to Deter Corruption and Illegality in the Timber Trade. World Wildlife Fund. Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/tnrc-topic-brief-using-wood-forensic-science-to-deter-corruption-and-illegality-in-the-timber-trade#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20promising,product%20(see%20Figure%202). (accessed 2024-09-02).

(4) Sharma, A.; Garg, S.; Sharma, V. ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Machine Learning for Sustainable Wood Sourcing and Species Identification: Applications to Wood Forensics. Microchem. J. 2024, 200, 110467. DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2024.110467