CLICK DESIGN (ForestValue)

The general objective of Click Design project if to develop a performance-based protocol to provide a software tool for service life performance of wood for architects and planners.

The consortium is composed of 25 partners including research organizations, industries and administrations. The coordinator is Building Research Establishment (BRE, UK). The other scientific partners are University of Gottingen, Department of Wood Biology and Wood Products (Germany), Lund University (Sweden), InnoRenew CoE (Slovenia), French Institute of Technology for Forest-based and Furniture Sectors (FCBA, France), Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO, Norway), Insect Biology Research Institute (IRBI), University of Tours (France). In addition to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, the Finnish partners are Liikennevirasto, Stora Enso and Puutuoteteollisuus.

The scientific and technical objectives of the project are: 1) to understand the link between the properties of wood material, the environmental exposure and the wood performance; 2) to collect European models and performances databases including decay and integrity, aesthetics and insect/termite performance; 3) to validate a set of models using real-case studies from across Europe; 4) to inspire new wood-based design solutions; 5) to deliver a software tool into pilot usage following the open source standard for BIM readiness. To reach these objectives, the project is composed of eight WPs (see the attached research plan). VTT will lead WP4 (Impact of decay on integrity) and will participate in the other WPs, especially in WP6 (Validation of models and development of a specification tool). The main results expected from VTT are an input database for hygro-thermo-mechanical performance of wood components and LCA tools for timber bridges to be embedded in the Click Design software tool.

The project will bring benefits in the wood construction sector at the European level as well as the national level within the Finnish Wood Building Action Plan. The project will inspire a new generation of designers by promoting digitalization. The Click Design software will stimulate transition of the forest-based industries to performance-based specification and therefore facilitate new business opportunities. This will increase market confidence with users for selecting wood as a reliable product and enhance an optimized performance of timber in the built environment.

Project duration: 1.3.2019-28.2.2022