Abstract

Internal structure of wood permits to know different qualities of the raw material. This knowledge can yield utilities up to 10 times for turning one log into optimum wood. Differences of density in the structures that compound wood (heartwood, sapwood, knots) make possible that with a Computerized Tomography, these structures are clearly recognized and differenced. The collection of images from the CT must be treated to see the log as a volume and difference defects in it. Volume Rendering (VR) allows to generate a 3D image from 2D images. The objective of this article is introduce the progresses in the visualization of knots in logs of Pinus radiata D. Don grown in Chile. For this, 2D images acquired with a X-Ray tomograph are used. Here, it introduces methods and preliminary results to visualize with VR a commercial diameter log. The results show that it is possible simulate solid of the log and see how the knotty cylinder of the log behaves. © 2007 Universldad del Bío-Bío.