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Understanding the Use of Timber in Semi-Arid Regions: Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a Case Study

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  • Mohanad Yaseen Abdulwahid

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Koya University, Koya KOY45, Kurdistan Region–F.R., Iraq)

  • Isaac Galobardes

    (School of Architecture, Planning & Design, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

  • Hassan Radoine

    (School of Architecture, Planning & Design, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco)

Abstract

The use of timber in the building industry has expanded in many countries over the last 20 years due mainly to its light weight, low adverse impact to the environment, and fair mechanical properties. Despite the development of the construction industry in the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (KRI) in recent years, timber product utilization is still very limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of further utilizing timber-based products in the building industry in semi-arid regions using the KRI as a case study. A review of timber product utilization in the region was conducted first and the general properties of timber products were followed. Based on this, a survey focusing on the current situation and suitability of localized grown timber products was carried out to study the feasibility. This article concludes that the use of timber-based products in the KRI presents different barriers, with the availability in the market and technicality of construction with the material being the strongest ones. The article recommends that it is imperative to further research how to promote timber’s utilization in the KRI to be in line with sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohanad Yaseen Abdulwahid & Isaac Galobardes & Hassan Radoine, 2021. "Understanding the Use of Timber in Semi-Arid Regions: Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11845-:d:665501
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jianwei Song & Chaoji Chen & Shuze Zhu & Mingwei Zhu & Jiaqi Dai & Upamanyu Ray & Yiju Li & Yudi Kuang & Yongfeng Li & Nelson Quispe & Yonggang Yao & Amy Gong & Ulrich H. Leiste & Hugh A. Bruck & J. Y, 2018. "Processing bulk natural wood into a high-performance structural material," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7691), pages 224-228, February.
    2. Ramage, Michael H. & Burridge, Henry & Busse-Wicher, Marta & Fereday, George & Reynolds, Thomas & Shah, Darshil U. & Wu, Guanglu & Yu, Li & Fleming, Patrick & Densley-Tingley, Danielle & Allwood, Juli, 2017. "The wood from the trees: The use of timber in construction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 333-359.
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