Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
After establishing the first Forest Products Laboratory in the University of Puerto Rico, we have identified specific educational and instructional needs to improve the laboratory's capacity to support the emerging forest products sector in Puerto Rico. First, our available laboratory space detrimentally limits our capacity for research and education, and the lack of key equipment hinders our productivity and capacity to develop engineered wood products for research and demonstrative purposes. These challenges that reduce operational efficiency and limit the potential for educational material development and interdisciplinary research opportunities. To address this, the objective of this proposal is (1) the remodeling and expansion of the laboratory's housing facility and (2) the purchase of a telehandler for the transport of tree trunks. Addressing these issues will significantly increase the laboratory's capacity to reach and broaden target audiences, and support interdisciplinary research in wood and forest products sciences.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The target objectives for this project will be to (1) expand the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) space in the experimental farm Finca Alzamora, which is located on campus grounds of University of Puerto Rico's College of Agricultural Sciences, and (2) acquire equipment that will allow for conducting laboratory operations for the development of engineered wood products for research, education, extension and outreach purposes. Meeting these project objectives will improve the quality of agricultural science educational while also expanding the target audience and the institutional capacity for research, educational, extension and outreach in forestry. The forestry sector saw a general decline in activities ranging from forest management for timber production, local sawmill capacity, wood sourcing from local forests and use of non-wood forest products during the late 20th century. However, the aftermath of hurricane María revived the interest in developing uses for locally-sourced wood, especially those of superabundant species that were downed and became readily available in forests and urban areas. Meeting the objectives of this project will help place UPR in an improved position to support the needs of the growing forestry sector in Puerto Rico. These objectives will improve the educational and outreach capacity of the FPL by providing a better, more efficient space for research and education, along with the required equipment to successfully carry out day to day operations and embark on interdisciplinary research projects that would otherwise be unattainable because of the lack of critical equipment and space for operations.
Project Methods
The personnel supporting the development of this project includes the PI (Abelleira) and Research Assistant Anthony Pérez, which are the co-authors of this proposal. For the first objective of this project, which aims to expand the FPL's space, the Research Assistant will provide support in coordinating with UPR's Buildings and Grounds Department to review the proposed additions to the existing structure (Figure 2), make any adjustments necessary to the design, and assist with the purchase of construction materials. Once the renovation construction is commenced, the Research Assistant will supervise the construction progress and assist with decision making for any issues or concerns that might come up during the construction. The renovations to the existing laboratory facility include the addition of an attached room, approximately 20'x15' and 300 square feet, with a wall height of nine feet, a galvalume roof system, and an access connecting the room with the existing structure. This addition will employ reinforced concrete and cinder block construction methods and will also include a bay door with access to the exterior which will facilitate the export of any wood product material that might be fabricated in this additional new room. This space will also count with the proper and necessary electrical infrastructure to service equipment that will be purchased with funds from this project. The other addition proposed in this project for the renovations to the lab facilities is an adjacent open-air covered space, also 20'x15' and 300 square feet, built with simple wooden post and beam construction with a galvalume roof. Since this adjacent additional room will solely be utilized for storing sawn lumber stacks for air drying, it will not be necessary to outfit this structure with electrical connections.For the second objective of this project, which seeks to purchase equipment to further furnish the FPL, the Research Assistant will support and carry out, along with the Agricultural Experimental Station's personnel, the selection and purchase of the proposed equipment. The first equipment that will be purchased is a 5,000-pound capacity Telehandler, JLG model G5-18A, which will aid laboratory operations by moving and handling heavy items such as logs, stacks of sawn lumber, and any other developed wood product that might be too heavy to manipulate manually. This Telehandler would be the first equipment purchased since it would also be able to assist in the construction of the renovations to the laboratory facilities. After the acquisition of the Telehandler, and after the renovations to the laboratory infrastructure are finalized, the Research Assistant will conduct the selection and purchase process of other key equipment requested in this proposal which includes a Laboratory Hydraulic Press, and a Vacuum Press Table system. This equipment will be purchased and installed by the Research Assistant once the facility renovations have culminated and the proposed attached space is ready to house the equipment. The PI will supervise and oversee the tasks of the Research Assistant, approve purchase orders for materials and equipment, provide assessment and direction toward construction materials and equipment selection, manage the project's budget and prepare progress and completion reports for the three-years duration of the project.