Throughout history, the unique characteristics, versatility, sustainability, and abundance of wood has made it a natural material for use in home building, as structural members, furniture, tools, etc. To most effectively use wood to its optimal advantage in engineering applications, specific characteristics or physical properties must be considered. This course introduces the student to the specific characteristics and physical properties of commercially viable wood material available in the US and abroad. This course is based on the USDA. Forestry Service publication “Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods”. This course provides an overview and brief descriptions of many species of important wood. Current and, in many cases, historic uses of woods are cited to illustrate the utility of the wood. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end and is intended to provide 4 hours of professional development.

Learning Objectives

• Timber Resources and Uses
• Hardwoods and Softwoods
• Species Descriptions
• Imported Woods
• Scientific Names