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

Mohanad Yaseen Abdulwahid, Isaac Galobardes and Hassan Radoine
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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

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-14

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.

Keywords: timber; sustainability; AEC industry; Kurdistan Region of Iraq; semi-arid region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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