You can get a smartphone app covering almost anything these days – travel guides, cookery and even your own personal workout diary.

Now the timber sector has caught on thanks to TRADA’s Wood Species Guide app for construction professionals.

TRADA launched the Wood Species Guide for iPhone and iPad users at last year’s Timber Expo in Coventry. Since then more than 6,000 downloads have been recorded and the app has been upgraded with design changes.

Currently, TRADA is working on a version for the Android operating system, which should boost download numbers further.

“We’ve had some good feedback from members and non-members,” said TRADA publishing manager Jacquie Shanahan.

“We know that we’ve had a lot of downloads in the US, Canada and Australia, as well as the UK, which was interesting for us. In the US there is a larger number of people with iPhones.

“We also noticed Christmas had a big impact, as there were a lot of devices sold and people started looking in the Apple app store.”

Instant information

Typically, people using it are architects, contractors and carpenters seeking instant timber information, with the majority opting for the free version which features information on 40 commonly-used wood species.

Based on TRADA’s online timber species database, the app enables users to search by availability, durability, use class, colour, density or movement characteristics. Details on appearance, workability and environmental credentials can also be accessed, influencing the specifier’s choice for construction or furniture design.

Ms Shanahan said architects often used iPhones because of their graphics quality and design, and because they often had an Apple computer.

Several people attending last year’s Timber Expo used their phones to scan the Quick Response Code on TRADA’s leaflet to discover information on TRADA, including the new app.

Large potential

The potential for app use is enormous at TRADA, considering the breadth and variety of technical information and guidance that it deals with.

“We’re looking to do a timber sizer app in the future,” Ms Shanahan added.

She said the app software development process was arduous in that the apps had to be developed separately for the two different main operating systems – Apple and Android.

TRADA is also looking at electronic books, such as for Kindle, as a possible method of information delivery, though the current technology does not cope well with displaying illustrations, tables and text.

“We are watching developments in that area quite closely,” said Ms Shanahan.