About

Biography

Professor Mauricio Acuna is the Industry Chair of Systems-based Thinking and AI Integration for Increased Timber Production at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). Prior to joining UniSC, he was Professor of AI and Automation in Forest Operations at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). With more than 30 years of experience in the forest industry, he is internationally recognised as a leader in forest technology, precision forestry, and wood supply chain optimisation, combining advanced mathematical modelling and computing with a strong record in research, teaching, and industry engagement. He holds a PhD in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University (USA), an MSc in Operations Research and Management from the University of Chile, and a Bachelor's degree in Forest Engineering from the University Austral of Chile.

Professor Acuna's research spans precision forestry, wood supply chain optimisation, sensing technology, computer vision and LiDAR, autonomous vehicles and robotics, and AI-driven forest operations, areas collectively shaping what is increasingly referred to as Forestry 5.0. His career spans academic and industry partnerships across four continents, and has included leadership of major international initiatives, most notably as Main Coordinator of the EU Horizon project OptiForValue (2024–2028), a €5 million programme involving 17 European organisations. He has authored or co-authored 121 scientific publications and developed a range of decision-support tools adopted by the forest industry worldwide. 

Professional memberships

  • Institute of Foresters of Australia
  • Australian Academy of Science
  • International Union of Forest Research Organisations IUFRO
  • EU Biomass Coast Action
  • Forest Products Society, USA
  • Council on Forest Engineering, USA
  • Society of Operations Research (INFORMS), USA
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, USA

Awards

  • Certificate of Academic Excellence - Alfred Molke Scholarship (Oregon State University, 2016)
  • Best paper in Natural Resources (INFORMS, USA, 2013)
  • Travel grant to Europe (Australian Academy of Science, 2012)
  • Travel grant to Germany (DAAD, 2011)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society for Outstanding students (Oregon State University, 2005)
  • Graduate Research Fellowship (USDA Wood Utilization Research, USA, 2003) 
  • Research Award (University of Toronto, 2002)
  • Best Undergraduate Thesis (Chilean Forest Industry, 1998)

Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students

  • Real-time AI-based log-truck dispatching and transport optimisation
  • LiDAR and sensing technology on harvesting equipment for automated tree and log measurement
  • AI and computer vision for detecting tree quality features during harvesting
  • Tree-level thinning optimisation: tree selection and machine path routing for harvesters and forwarders
  • Stochastic optimisation for fire and forest management under uncertainty
  • Hybrid machine learning–optimisation frameworks for forest logistics and operations
  • Wood and biomass supply chain optimisation
  • Managing moisture content to optimise supply chains
  • Volumetric measurements of logs and biomass with photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction software
  • System dynamics modelling of forest-to-value chains: feedback mechanisms, bottlenecks, and leverage points in harvesting and transport operations

Research areas

  • Operations research and optimisation techniques in forest management and operations
  • Artificial intelligence and automation in forest operations
  • Systems dynamics and systems-based thinking for forest value chains
  • Stochastic optimisation for fire and forest management
  • Wood and biomass supply chain management
  • Forest logistics and value recovery
  • Sustainable forest operations
  • Sensor, LiDAR, and computer vision technologies
  • Forest operations analysis and decision-support systems
  • Harvesting machine evaluation
  • Forest spatial and 3D modelling

Teaching areas

  • Optimisation and decision-making in forest operations
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning for forest operations
  • Wood and biomass supply chain optimisation
  • Forest transport and logistics optimisation
  • LiDAR and point cloud data processing
  • Forest operations analysis and decision-support systems
  • Harvesting machine evaluation

Expert media commentary

Professor Mauricio Acuña is a world-leading expert in AI and automation in forest operations, wood and biomass supply chain optimisation, forest logistics, operations research and optimisation, sensor and LiDAR technologies, and harvesting machine evaluation.

Links

Organisational Affiliations

Industry Chair of System-Based Thinking and AI Integration for Increased Timber Production, Forest Industries Research Centre

Past Affiliations

Senior Research Fellow, Forest Industries Research Centre

Adjunct, Forest Research Institute

Education

PhD in Forest Engineering
Jun-2003–15-Mar-2006, Doctor of Philosophy, Oregon State University (United States, Corvallis) - OSU

Dissertation — Internal wood properties and use of sensor technology improve optimal bucking and value recovery in Douglas-fir. Supervisor: Prof. Glen Murphy.

MSc in Operations Management
Mar-2000–Mar-2002, Master of Science (MSc, MSc, MSci, MSi, ScM, MS, MSHS, MS, Mag, Mg, Mgr, SM, or SM), University of Chile (Chile, Santiago)

Thesis on a forest harvesting optimisation model accounting for fire protection, in collaboration with the University of Toronto. Supervisor: Prof. Andrés Weintraub.

BSc in Forest Engineering
Mar-1989–31-Dec-1993, Austral University of Chile (Chile, Valdivia) - UACh

Thesis — Design and application of a methodology to assess the environmental impacts of forest roads on water and soil. Supervisor: Prof. Jorge Gayoso.