Shaun Mochan, MSc, MICFor, MIWSc, MAPM

Research Scientist, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

Shaun joined Forest Research in 1997, where he has specialised in Timber Quality. He studied Forest Management at Inverness School of Forestry in 1989, and completed a Masters degree in Forest Science from Edinburgh University in 2002.

Current role

Research Scientist, Centre for Forest Resources and Management

Current programmes

• Timber Utilisation for the Industry
  The main aim is to assist with industry in proactive research related to timber problems to aid in better management regimes and problem solving for the silviculture and processing industries.
• Woodwisdom EU contract
  The project aims to develop a standardized methodology at the European level to define, measure and value the efficiency and profitability of key wood supply chains - from standing trees to end consumer products. The methodology developed will be customized to fit the individual forestry supply chains of the partner countries' business environments and tested in assorted key supply chains. Methods to optimize these wood allocation problems will also be developed and tested.. See woodwisdom.net.
• Timber Development programme - Forestry Commission Scotland
  Linking knowledge about the influence of silviculture and breeding on timber properties to current management practice is a key technology transfer requirement. The accumulating research knowledge needs to be integrated into forest management practice in a manner that is both practical and fits with current and future management objectives.
• Acoustic development programme
  Developing process based models to detect the variation in standing and log properties of wood. The work is being done in conjunction with industry members to aid the processing industry with the development of practical data management tools.
• Commercial industry research
  Dealing with reactive research to aid the forest industry with commercial problems which may relate to species, wood performance, stand quality and anatomical variations

Affiliations and achievements

• Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (MICFor)
• Member of the Institute of Wood Science (MIWSc)
• Member of Association of Project Managers (MAPM)
• Accredited Visual Strength timber Grader - TRADA
• Glasgow University – Environmental Chemistry Department
• Centre for Timber Engineering, Napier University, Edinburgh
• STFI – Packforst, Stockholm Sweden
• James Jones and Sons Ltd

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Main recent publications

Mochan, Mochan, S., Lee, S. and Gardiner, B. (2008). Benefits of improved Sitka spruce: volume and quality of timber ^(PDF-534K). Forestry Commission Research Note 3. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Mochan, S., Connolly, T., Gardiner, B. and Leslie, D. (2007). Predicting the Quality of Sitka Spruce Sawn Timber from Standing Tree and Log Measurements. Proceedings All Division 5 Conference, Taipei, Taiwan. Pg 65.

McLean, P., Mochan, S. and Moore, J. (2007). Investigating the effect of tree breeding on the timber properties of Sitka spruce. Proceedings All Division 5 Conference, Taipei, Taiwan. Pg 263.

Mochan, S., Moore, J. and Leslie, D. (2007). What’s all the noise about? Forestry and British Timber October 2007 pp 22-24.

Lyon, A., Moore, J., Mochan, S. and Gardiner, B. (2007). The Use of Acoustic NDT Tools for Predicting Wood Properties of Sitka Spruce.

Mochan, S, and Connolly, T. (2006).The Effect of Windblow on Timber Quality in Sitka Spruce, Scottish Forestry, Vol. 60. No. 3. pp 15-20.

Nicoll, B.C., Achim, A., Mochan, S. and Gardiner, B.A. (2005). Does steep terrain influence tree stability? A field investigation Can. J. For. Res. 35(10): 2360-2367 (2005).

Mochan, S. and Hubert, J. (2004). Utilisation of Lodgepole pine. Research Information Note (FCIN70), July 2005.

Gardiner, B., Macdonald, E., Mochan, S., Hapca, A. and Leban, J-M. (2004). Measuring conifer stem form as an assessment of timber quality. IUFRO Conference on “The Forestry Woodchain – Quantifying and Forecasting Quality from Forest to End-Product”. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh September 2004.

Stokes, A., Salin, F., Kokutse, A.D., Berthier, S., Jeannin, H., Mochan, S., Dorren, L., Kokutse, N., Ghani, M.A., Fourcaud, T.  (2004). Mechanical resistance of different tree species to rockfall in the French Alps I: quantifying the mode of failure through tree mapping and winching experiments. Plant and Soil, 278, 103-117.

Nicoll, B., Achim, A., Mochan, S., Gardiner, B., (2005). Does slope terrain influence tree stability? A field investigation. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35, 2360-2367.

Mochan, S., Hubert, J., (2004). Processing Potential of Lodgepole pine. Internal report ‘Commercial in confidence’ – to be published at a later date?

Achim, A., Nicoll, B., Mochan, S., Gardiner, B., (2003). Wind stability of trees on slopes. International Conference ‘Wind Effects on Trees’. September 16-18, 2003, University of Karlsruhe, Germany.

Mochan, S. (2003). Windblow and Timber Quality Part II. Forestry and British Timber 32(4),  April 2003, 16, 18-19.

Mochan, S. (2003). Windblow and Timber Quality Part I. Forestry and British Timber 32(2), February 2003, 21-22.

Hislop, M., Gardiner, B.A. and Mochan, S. (1998). The shelterbelts of Lothian: The work of Maurice Caborn 40 years on. Scottish Forestry, 51, 198-205.

Pending

Macdonald, E., Mochan, S. and Connolly, T. (2007). Development of a stem straightness scoring system for Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.).

Mochan, S., Macdonald, E., Achim, A. and Connolly, T. (2007). Timber Quality in relation to Stem Straightness of Sitka spruce within the UK (4th draft).

 

Internal publications

MochanMochan, S. (2007). Predicting the Quality of Sitka Spruce Sawn Timber from Standing Tree and Log Measurements using Acoustic tools for James Jones and Sons Ltd. Internal report for James Jones and Sons Ltd. September 2007.

Mochan, S. and Gardiner, B. (2006). Impact of the Sitka spruce breeding and selection programme on the quality of construction grade timber.

Mochan, S. and Macdonald, E. (2006). Balcas – Lodgepole pine moisture content project. Internal report.

Mochan, S. and Gardiner, B. (2004). The influence of wind exposure on wood quality on Sitka Spruce. Internal report.

Mochan, S. and Hubert, J.(2004). Processing Potential of Lodgepole pine. Internal report

Mochan, S., Hubert, J. and Connolly, T. (2002). Stem straightness survey in Sitka spruce: Wales.
Unpublished Report, Forestry Commission Research Agency.

Mochan, S., Hubert, J., and Connolly, T. (2001). Stem straightness survey in Sitka spruce: The Rest of Scotland. Internal report for PPD.

Stirling, G., Gardiner, B., Connolly, T., Mochan, S. and Macdonald, E. (2000). A survey of Sitka spruce stem straightness in South Scotland. Internal report for PPD.

Mochan, S. (2002). The effect of Windblow on Timber Quality in Sitka spruce. Masters dissertation. Edinburgh University.