using wood platforms to keep your pipes higher..... I'm just going to take that idea

Yes, there are 'wood veins' you can use the ore scanner to find them. Basically they are huge roots sticking here and there in/out of the ground, they contain 50.000 wood and can be harvested with a drill.

Is there a way to automate the wood gathering?

Alchemy is another one of your talents it appears! I imagine you get a little grin the moment a creation starts working. That's what happens to me in creative games and I don't even have your level of engineering mind!