Academic Career

Research

His research focuses on relationships between silviculture, climate and timber. In particular, external crown and stem properties, internal wood properties and mechanical sawn timber properties are linked to each other in order to understand the influence of different stand densities, the impact of mixture or the effects of climate change on elementary wood properties. To pursue these goals, methods such as terrestrial laser scanning, computer tomography or X-ray are applied. The interdisciplinary research between forestry and wood science moves along the entire processing chain forest-saw-product. The wood quality is closely associated with the product “sawn timber” and the requirements for strength, stiffness and density for structural applications.

 

Projects

• Wachstum und Holzqualität der Douglasie (X36)
  https://www.waldwachstum.wzw.tum.de/forschung/abgeschlossene-projekte/wachstum-und-holzqualitaet-der-douglasie-x36/
• Einfluss der waldbaulichen Baumartenmischung auf die Schnittholzqualität der Rotbuche
  (Fagus sylvatica L.) und Optimierung einer maschinellen Rundholzsortierung
  https://www.waldwachstum.wzw.tum.de/en/research/projects/quabu/

• CARE4C – carbon smart forestry under climate change
  https://www.waldwachstum.wzw.tum.de/forschung/projekte/care4c/
  ONEforest – a multi-criteria decision support system for a common forest management to strengthen forest resilience, harmonise stakeholder interests and ensure sustainable wood flows
  https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101000406

Lectures

• Macroscopic wood identification
• Log grading

Publications

• Jacobs M, Rais A, Pretzsch H (2021) How drought stress becomes visible upon detecting tree shape using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). For Ecol Manage 489:118975. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.118975

• Pretzsch H, Rais A, Malherbe D, et al (2021) Structure, growth and growing space efficiency of Pinus radiata (D. Don) trees as affected by their social position. South For a J For Sci 1–12. doi: 10.2989/20702620.2021.1911590

• Rais A, Bacher M, Khaloian-Sarnaghi A, et al (2021a) Local 3D fibre orientation for tensile strength prediction of European beech timber. Constr Build Mater 279:122527. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.122527

• Rais A, Jacobs M, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2021b) Crown structure of European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ): a noncausal proxy for mechanical–physical wood properties. Can J For Res 51:834–841. doi: 10.1139/cjfr-2020-0382

• Rais A, Uhl E, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2021c) Short-term reaction of European beech stem taper due to weather extremes. For Ecol Manage 480:118653. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118653

• Rais A, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2020c) Impact of species mixture on the stiffness of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) sawn timber. For Ecol Manage 461:117935. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2020.117935

• Rais A, Pretzsch H, van de Kuilen J-WG (2020b) European beech log and lumber grading in wet and dry conditions using longitudinal vibration. Holzforschung. doi: 10.1515/hf-2019-0227

• Rais A, Poschenrieder W, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2020a) Impact of spacing and pruning on quantity, quality and economics of Douglas-fir sawn timber: scenario and sensitivity analysis. Eur J For Res. doi: 10.1007/s10342-020-01282-8

• Khaloian Sarnaghi A, Rais A, Kovryga A, et al (2020) Yield optimization and surface image-based strength prediction of beech. Eur J Wood Wood Prod 78:995–1006. doi: 10.1007/s00107-020-01571-4

• Jacobs M, Rais A, Pretzsch H (2020) Analysis of stand density effects on the stem form of Norway spruce trees and volume miscalculation by traditional form factor equations using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Can J For Res 50:. doi: 10.1139/cjfr-2019-0121

• Heym M, Bielak K, Wellhausen K, et al (2018) A new method to reconstruct recent tree and stand attributes of temporary research plots: new opportunity to analyse mixed forest stands. In: IntechOpen, Conifers, Chapter 2. pp 25–45

• Rais A, Ursella E, Vicario E, Giudiceandrea F (2017) The use of the first industrial X-ray CT scanner increases the lumber recovery value: case study on visually strength-graded Douglas-fir timber. Ann For Sci 74:1–9. doi: 10.1007/s13595-017-0630-5

• Rais A, Van de Kuilen J-WG (2017) Critical section effect during derivation of settings for grading machines based on dynamic modulus of elasticity. Wood Mater Sci Eng 12:189–196. doi: 10.1080/17480272.2015.1109546

• Pretzsch H, Rais A (2016) Wood quality in complex forests versus even-aged monocultures: review and perspectives. Wood Sci Technol 50:845–880. doi: 10.1007/s00226-016-0827-z

• Giudiceandrea F, Ursella E, Vicario E, Rais A (2016) Increasing the value of strength graded timber by industrial computer tomography. In: World Conference on Timber Engineering, Vienna, Austria

• Poschenrieder W, Rais A, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2016) Modelling sawn timber volume and strength development at the individual tree level – essential model features by the example of Douglas fir. Silva Fenn 50:1–25. doi: 10.14214/sf.1393

• Rais A (2015) Growth and wood quality of Douglas-fir. Doctoral thesis. TU München

• Rais A, Poschenrieder W, Pretzsch H, Van de Kuilen J-WGJ-WG (2014a) Influence of initial plant density on sawn timber properties for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Ann For Sci 71:617–626. doi: 10.1007/s13595-014-0362-8

• Rais A, Pretzsch H, Van de Kuilen J-WG (2014b) Roundwood pre-grading with longitudinal acoustic waves for production of structural boards. Eur J Wood Wood Prod 72:87–98. doi: 10.1007/s00107-013-0757-5

• Rais A, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H (2014c) Growth reaction patterns of tree height, diameter, and volume of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) under acute drought stress in Southern Germany. Eur J For Res 133:. doi: 10.1007/s10342-014-0821-7