Three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of timber billets from rotary peeling

•A novel method for three-dimensional reconstruction of timber billets in full colour is developed.•Mathematical techniques are used to construct a three-dimensional representation from high-resolution images.•The modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the billet is estimated based on data measured on veneer samples.•The model shows an R-squared value of approximately 0.63 when comparing the measured and calculated MOE.