ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE — UAISBA456. © UNIT 3 - Bio-Mimicry - Notes PES Introduction to Biomimetics WHAT IS BIOMIMETICS? = Biomimetics is the term used to describe the substances, equipment, mechat systems by which humans imitate natural systems and designs. HOW DID IT BEGIN? * American biophysicist and polymath. = Coined the term jiomimeties in 1950°s. * Developed Schmitt trigger by studying the nerves in squid. = Attempted to engineer a device that replicated the system of nerve propagation. ‘What is sustainable development? + "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Why sustainable development? Human exploitation * “Directly or indirectly, the human species already captures nearly 40% of the total biological productivity on land and 70% of the productivity of the marine environment ‘The rate of increase in human use is about 2% per year.” http://www. theglobaleducationproject orglhuman-conditions php * “Oceans Fish Could ippear by 2050” May 17,2010, by AFP: hitp://news.discovery:com/earth/oveans/oceans-fish-fishing-industry-htm The bioticPlanet Earth has begun the 6® great biological extinction period in its 4.5 billion year history. Previous extinction events reduced biodiversity by up to 70-90%. After past events, recovery took roughly § million years. However, the current depletion of tropical forests, wetlands, estuaries and coral reefs (engines of biodiversity”), may have profound effects on the evolutionary processes that have previously fostered te-diversification. Even our largest protected areas will be far 100 small for the further speciation of large vertebrates, On the time scale of the human species, this environmental disruption (or at least aspects of it) is permanent. http://www. theglobaleducationproject orglhuman-conditions. php Our Extinction? Itis estimated that only 0.1% of all species that ever existed are still alive today. 99.9% are extinet, Only the most adapted ones survive. ! Due to human impact, eurrent extinction rates are about 1000 times higher than in previous millennia. Are we well adapted or mal-adapted to Earth’s circumstances? Climate change is now widely viewed as the main challenge facing humankind for this century. We believe that Biomimicry has a huge potential 1o tackle some of major issues raised by this global change. (Biomimicry Europa 2006).Eaharyotes Home sapiens, Humans represent only 0.004% "Nature seems the only true sustainable example. Single-Celled OrganismsTruly sustainable building/artifact Weaver bird nest * Earthquake proof + Water/Wind/Sun proof + Predator proof * Optimal size + Minimal materials (1x) + Soft/comfortable/cool + Easily accessible + Self-timed, automatic, benign disassembly + No-Tech + Zero external energy - Zero toxins Introduction to Bio — Mimicry HISTORY. Evidence of biomimicry can be proven to have been in practice through Leonardo da Vinci, and may have been the inspiration for the first domes, whieh may have been designed based on eggs. Leonardo da Vinei used nature and biology t during his time. many of his designs and concepts The term biomimicry was not referenced in scientific literature until in 1962. The practice, of using biomimicry for inspiration, first began to become popular in 1980 among material scientists who were seeking to redevelop materials based on mimicking ature to improve upon them and find new innovative approaches. HOW DID IT BEGIN? American writer and scientific ebserver from Montana. Wrote the book “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature” in 1997 The books gives an insight on how significant biomimicry is in shaping the future. In 1998 she co-founded the Biomimiery Guild which helps inform , inspire and empower the bridging of'nature’s wisdom with human knowledge Biomimicry originates from two Greek wordsBios = Life Mimesis— imitate = Biomimicry operates on the principle that in its 3.8 billion year history, nature has already found solutions to many problems we are trying t0 solve. * Biomimicry is an alternate solution in search of sustainable building design and technology. "There are three forms of Biomimicry: Biomorphie, Bio-utilization and Biophilic. * Biomimicry is an innovation method that seeks suitable solutions by emulating nature's time-tested pattems and strategies in order to solve human problems. Eg: A solar cell is inspired by a leaf, * Bio mimicry design is not only adapting the design from the nature but also considering how to use nature's effective functions such as heating and cooling system, protecting natural light and ventilation. Three levels of Bio — Mimicry = Bio mimicry can work on three levels: the organism, its behaviors, and the ecosystem, * Buildings on the organism level mimic 2 specific organism. Working on this level without mimicking how the organism participates in a larger context may not be sufficient to produce a building that integrates well with its environment. = Ona behavior level, buildings mimic how an organism behaves or relates to is larger context * On the level of the ecosystem, a building mimics the natural process and eyele of the greater environment, (ORSAAISA LEE + Namsban Beetle and We lectionHydrological Center for the University of Namibia, Matthew Parkes The building is a sequence of pods that are placed behind a tall, slightly- curved nylon net screen which Is used to collect water. The nylon net wall Is leaning towards the ocean so that it can sufficiently capture as much moisture as possible from the fogs that come easing In off the ocean front. The water collects on the mesh screen and because of its shape and vertical orientation, the water naturally runs down the mesh into gutter system located at the bottom of the screens. The water is then transported through the gutters into large cisterns that keep the water at an appropriate cooler temperature so that the water does not evaporate. ORGANISM LEVEL + Termite Mound and Temperature Regulation Passive Cooling of a TERMITE MOUNDEastgate Center, Zimbabwe, Mick Pearce The Eastgate Center Is mostly made of concrete which Is an excellent material to use as an Insulator as well as absorbing heat from the sun, The outside alr that Is brought Into the bullding Is elther warmed or ‘cooled depending on the temperature of the buildings mass. If the buildings mass Is cooler, than the air that enters the structure would also be cooled. The air is then directed upwards towards the chimney but on Its way up to the top It passes Into the bullding’s floors and offices, The building is actually made up of three parts; two exterior structures and a glass center that connects them together. The glass space in the center alsa participates in natural convection and is usually open to the local breezes. Kingfisher beak shape inspired shinkansen train tip. Emulation Level 1: Form Form can be seen with your eye, something you can measure (kingfish beak shape for a train tip)Emulation Level 2: Process ‘netoaeran producing a ton of concrete, vs. emitting ‘one ton of CO,. ‘The train tip material may still be toxic. Abalone shell + About 200% How to create the + made out of chalk ‘stronger than our (calcium toughest high-tech conditions, no-tech, carbonate) and ceramics with the resources: protein that immediately ‘surround you? Emulation Level 3: (Eco-)Systems wo%e en Kalundborg industrial How is the beak in wo symbiosis, Denmark —_ relationship to the Py oF & Upcycle Waste'as _bird, to the tree, to Wey Ve w nutrients the forest, to the ~~ biosphere, to the planet?ECOSYSTEM LEVEL Coral Reef Project Haiti Qver the past few years, Haiti has been victims to devastating earthquakes, ranging from 7.0 and up on the Richter scale, which had a substantial Impact on the country as a whole, Everyone was forced to watch as their homes and community were destroyed by these tremendous natural disasters. Vincent Callebaut, who is the founder of Vincent Callebaut Architecte, looked to nature as the basis for his design propesal. Callebaut explored the principals behind coral reefs. Coral is basically underwater structural formations that consist of calcium carbonate. a This unit is made up of two passive houses, having metallic structure and tropical wood facades, which interlacks in duplex round the horizontal circulation which Joins every single unit. When these houses, or modules, are accumulated together, they form the organic shape of the two waves of “corals”. Because they were designed In this way, the madules have the ability to cantilever out over one another which gives the opportunity for an organic garden to be present on every module, using the roof of the unit below as the garden. The roof gardens then serve as a way for each family ta cultivate and grow their own food, making them self-sufficient. ‘What makes this design se unique is that It is actually constructed from only using one standardized and prefabricated module. it Is the placement and orientation of each module that give the overall scheme a non-uniform design aesthetic The project also features hydro-turbines which are located underneath the pier. The hydro-turbines use the kinetic energy from the sea and convert it into electrical energy. To capture solar energy, arrays of photovoltaic panels are also placed on the top of the roofs. In the center af the two coral waves, there is spiraling wind turbines which generate power from the tropical wind that passes through the valley. With all of these systems working as one, the design becomes a self-sufficient, carbon neutral village for the people of Haiti.Concepts of Bio Mimicry PES UNIVERSITYDesign inspired by nature — NOT blind imitation but inspiration for transforming the principles of nature into successful design Cie The Calla Lily AWater Mixer FROM NATURE What do kidneys, mangrove roots and the hydrological cycle have in common? Filtration.LIFESAVER Making sterile water PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONSDaimler-Benz Bionic car — Material optimization Maximize strength while minimizing material WRIA Trees only add material where strength is needed. Bones remove material where it's not used, optimizing structure for dynamic workloads. Boxfish form for aerodynamics (no drag & turbulences). SKO soft-kill option & CAO computer-aided optimizing. Increased stability & safety. Reduced material & weight by 40-60%. DAIMLER SKO, KarlsruheBird Island Homes YTL Land's Bird Island Green Homes Competition ANast To Live In, Grant Associates (UK) Rafflasia by Zoka Zola (Chicago) FUGHT OF BIRD LEONARDO DA — NAACHINE eae) — | AEROPLANE TODAY WRIGHT BROTHER'S FIRST PROTOTYPE‘SAWDUST/WOOD SHAVINGS ‘Sawdustwood shavings from Mixed in synthetic resin and Used for furniture making, cuiting planks gathered and ——_—aided into: shoals, form into donsed now ‘The sheets are thon eold woaden planks forfurniture. pressed together ang (Or simply use itfor horse bedding ‘Or as fertitser in garden. ‘COCONUT SHELLS: Large demand for performance fabries that consists polyester or nylon( synthetic) ‘Activatad carbon from recycled coconut shells used to make socks, garments etc Absorbs sweat and odors. Reduce the amount of cotton or synthetic materials while the coconut shells can taken fram food processing factories, a rae #2 €&TRASH = CASH? PLASTIC Polymer Energy uses a process called catalytic pyrolysis to efficiently convert plastics to crude ol 1000kg of typical plastic waste MMI 775 litres of crude oil “Disposable shopping bags. containers for cleaners, cosmetics and cleaning products, plastic containers. “HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PP and some PET 8 & TRASH = CASH? Trash at landfills contributes to harmful ‘agg gas. Landfill gas Waste from: Water treatment plants, tree branches, leaves, bio- waste. Top of ianafil waste is covered with sail to prevent methane from escaping into ‘A system of pipes and blowers 25m) belaw ground collects gas and delivers it ta.a central locationResidual heat from cooking = Wasted energy? Normal cooking convention Residual heat Cooking Pot 2X amount af heat ta cock a pat of porridge. Half of X amount af neat to cook a pot of - von ‘The tharmos insulates and he 3 an energy saya oat, ‘The Japanese Was the first to invent the mermal cooker: bbecawsa it uses trapped haat to cook food ts outer shail mado up o: ‘oninner pot, usualy made of stainless stee! “an outer container with neuation, and dip ‘anairtight cover CISTA RAINWATER DOWNPIPE Modern rainwater harvesting made beautiful, inspired from water-retaining plants 7 The Moringa-Qvaifatia “Stores 100 gallons of rainwater ‘Space saving Increases green spaceDYESOL — Man-made photosynthesis Get energy without fossil fuel FAT AR AAER + Uses only solar energy + Uses photosynthesis (not creating electricity, splits water!) Creates chemical energy, not physical + Dyesol: sandwiched glass. with dye between, acts like photosynthesis to create small current, in any location, position and lighting levels DYES #L lel acer Ope Star NTR Lotusan | Mincor - repel water and dirt Self-clean without chemicals FRAPS BA Many large-winged insects and plant surfaces remain dirt-free without chemical detergents or expending energy, simply by how their complex surface topography affects physics of water molecules. + Water rolls over bumps: + Carries away impuritios + Lotus effect sto mm NSMirasol | Qualcomm — Structural colors hi Yi Pon TY es Color without pigment FRRBLE Morpho butterflies display a life-long, vibrant blue, without paint or color. Their wing scales contain many protein layers that refract light in selected ways. Color we see is due to the play of light and structure instead of pigments.” Wavelengths of unwanted colors cancel each other out (light interference). eggpriagin Morghcte D/C mirasol hijpuhvwewasknature.org/M XYLEM STRUCTURE - Raise water without pump xe 7] Synthetic Tree, by Cornell & Kate McCulloh, Univ. of Utah High-rise water pumping needs lots of energy Redwoods are 100m tall Every leaf has stomata (pores) Evaporation of water creates low pressure (vacuum) n is to create ‘wallpaper’ for bringing water up buildings.Namibian Desert Beetle — Liquefy humidity Fog-basking beetle inspired evaporators and condensers: + Exoskeleton contains hydrophilic bumps and hydrophobic valleys + Morning fog from Ocean + Stand vertical into the wind on top of hills + Water drop forms until gravity brings it to its mouth Self-heal, self-maintenance * Rhino horn + Non-living tissue + Protein-release which fills the crack + Microscopic resin capsules in concrete Carolyn Dry, Natural Process Design Inc. (Univ. of Indiana)Popularly known as the Lotus Temple and located in New Delhi, India, the temple is a place of worship for followers of the Baha’t faith, Expressionism and Symbolism in Biomimicr LOTUS TEMPLE, New Delhi ‘The Lotus Temple situated in New Delhi, India, popularly known as the Latus Temple due tots flawerlke shape, is a Bahai Community House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi, The building was completed in 1986 and now serves as the Mather Temple of the indian subcontinent. The worship house was designed by iranian architect Fariborz Sahba, Light in interiors + The whole superstructure s planned so as to function as a skylight; + The internal dame Is spherical and decorated after the lamost portien of the lotus fiower. Light enters the hall in the same way ast passes though the Inner folds of the lotus petals. + The central part of the temple i held by nine open petals where each of which is utilised asa skylight. + The interior dame, therefore, is sort ofa bud consisting of twenty seven petals, and light-weight fiers through these inner folds and is subtle throughout the ballCooling method adopted: + Bullding.as.a.chimney ‘+ ‘The dominant hall of the temple is planned to function asa chimney, with openings at top and bottom (stack affect) This ‘ensures a continuous drought ef cool air to pass over the pools basement and hall * Cool air {heavy) is drawn from the bottom openings and hot air (light) isemitted out from the top. This process is reversed in hurnid days + The natural gradient of land is used in construction of certain large ‘basement at the level of pools. The floor of auditorium is lawered by five steps so'that they act as louvers for cool air entrance + Two-sets of exhaust fans complement this whole system. + The first of dome cools the concrete shell and therefore prevents transference of heat. The second set chimneys alr from the auditorium to the cold basement for cooling and recycles it back. Evolver is a sculpture erected to view the panorama surrounding Zermatt, Switzertand.tt is inspired by a sea- shell.Formerly known as Tatpe! World Financtal Center, the Talpet 101 {in Tatpet, Tatwan ts the second tallest skyscraper in the werid2. Drawing inspiration from the bamboo tree Beijing National Stadium tn Beijing,China ts inspired bya Bird's nest.The Palm Jumeirah islands are artificial fslands built on the coast of Dubat.Inspired by palm trees, the {slands are in the shape of a palm tree. The Quadracci 7 Pavition, designed by is inspired by a bird's wings, and contains a movable sun-breaker In the shape of wings that open up during the day and fold over the arched structure at night.This ts the Nautilis kindergarten in Germany. The structure, Inspired by the nautilus, is made from untreated wood with an infil of clay, old bricks, naturat stones, sand and lime Inspired by water bubbles, the Beijing National Aquatics Centre in Beijing, China, also known as Water Cube was built for the 2008 Summer Olympics‘As testimony to the ‘lexibitity and strength ‘of bamboo, these sea ‘urchin shaped pods are ‘the library and reception at » John Hardy's hotel resort in Bali Indonesia This is the chrysalis of the Monarch butterfly know as the wanderer in New Zealand there this treehouse was inspired by its chrysalts.THE BULLET TRAIN ve inspiration Precedence Product GECKO TAPE Inspiration Precedence Product SHARKLET TECHNOLOGIES Inspiration Precedence Textiles SurfacesBASF | Sharklet — prevent bacteria & parasites Self-clean without chemicals BAREIS B RTE + Galapagos shark + Algae and bacteria deposits + Skin structure does not allow to get a grip + Useful for hospitals, labs, doorknobs, handrails: He Techie ine COUNCIL HOUSE 2 EXAMPLE- Architecture (CH2), Mick Pearce with Designinc., 2005 Maximum Six Green Star rating“DIVERSIFY AND COOPERATE TO FULLY USE THE HABITAT” “ Same amount of foliage on the busicing as onginal state of site Use of natural convection, thermat mass, ventitation stacks and water _ for cooling “USE WASTE AS RESOURCES” —. Sustainable timber selection Recycled structural concrete ee PVC minimisation Recycled structural stee!“USE WASTE AS RESOURCES” Use waste as amenities Recycled Untreated from old housing frames micro-turbine (co-generation) lifts generate power in breaking made solar hot water produced by 48 square metres of solar hot water panels on root, supplemented by gas boiler solar power (PV cells): 3.5kW ‘energy > used to power Westem timber shutters ————) Used in A/C plant Heating hot water; cooling via absorption chiller“OPTIMIZE RATHER THEN MAXIMIZE” | ete stepincement peera = geet a> balthy ait “OPTIMIZE RATHER THEN MAXIMIZE”“OPTIMIZE RATHER THEN MAXIMIZE” pueengas Bare co“DON'T DRAW DOWN RESOURCES" Water © 72% reduction in mains water consumption ‘compared to the existing Council House of similar * Multi-Water Reuse (MWR) sewer mining plant * Sprinkler water reclaim and Waste ater collection * building waste during construction was recycled 48756) + recycling carried through within building after ‘operations > waste separation “The building looks like a termite. “The building is made trom the same material asa termite; a material Wat mimics termite exoskeleton / skin for example. Organism level (Mimicry of a specitic ‘The building-is made fn the same way’ aso trite; goes through various growth cycles for example organism) “Ths Building works i the sameway asa ndietdua trite prOaCET lnydragen efficiently through metagenome for example "The building functions like @ termite cna larger content it reeyeles cellos ‘waste and exeates soil for example. “Te building Tooks Tike twas made by aterm fplien oF are anound for le. “The building is made from the same materials that a termite builds with; ‘using digested fine soil as the primary mareral for ex ‘The building is made in the sme seater ee TE orth in certain places nt certainties for example "The building works inthe same way as.a termite mound would: By eareal ‘orientation, seape, materials selection and matural vemilation for exami, rit imies haw tennites work together ‘The building functions inthe aime way that it would if mace By vermis, inneraal ecaditions are regulated to be optizsal ad shexrnally stable for ‘example (Fig 6) I may also Banstion in the sae wy that tera mound does in aMASDAR.- city as an eco-system ‘Communities (MASDAR), Foster + Partners, 2007-2023 Carbon neutral, Zero waste community“USE WASTE AS RESOURCES” Closing the loop Human / Food waste “OPTIMIZE RATHER THEN MAXIMIZE” Doing more with lass Building Material Manufacturer / (fencing) \ / (concrete) Manufacturer After life of Road (recyclable plastics) Masdar ——*_ Construction“DON'T FOUL THEIR NESTS” Electricty source from Green Technology | Banning of earban maln culprk (Vehicle) No Vehicle No power plant = Carbon Neutral“DON'T DRAW DOWN RESOURCES” 80% water recyclediteuse as many possible | Locally grown crops Grey water & Solid waste \ggy/ 122 Gansen_, rum “SHOP LOCALLY” Within 200m reach to essential facility; including locally grown products‘OUR MODUS OPERANDI How will we conduct business? Extraction to Production to © Consumption to —_Disposal Uses in building industry with concepts of Bio— Mimicry “Building inspired by plants /flower Self-sustainable + Energy efficient Recycling + Aesthetically appealing + Low maintenance ‘SELF-SUSTAINING uliding Inspired by organisms: “Resistant to imposed forces + Structural stability “Aestnetis 24 Riles eee te Seeee Eoaty snidiney “Conclusion Nature is always forced to adapt to new things much like humans are. For example, the climate that is always changing and now with global warming it is even more apparent that nature must find its own ways to adapt, Insects, mammals, reptiles, plants, trees, and other types of vegetation have evolved over centuries in order to survive in such a dynamic environment; and those that have nat and were unable to-adapt die off but still contribute to the equal balance of life. ‘Those types of adaptations and evolving principals in nature should be studied and implemented into the built environment. Creating a sustainable built environment is not done by integrating just solar panels on every building Humans need to be more intune with nature and look at nature for inspiration. Designs that mimic nature's Beauty and elegance should not just be en a material or form basis; it should be from a thorough understanding of the philosophy and principals that ‘make those solutions from nature work successfully. Now looking back at the question, can we take the philosophy behind natures living organisms and use them to aid in the development of mankind? We definitely can and should to find a new way to survive that not only benefits humans, but the natural eayironment as well. Biomimicry can be used as an integrative architectural design component in order to achieve this, and create complete unity between the building, the users, and the environment Textbook/ References: “Housing Climate Comfort”, Martin Evans, Architectural Press, 1980, “Climate Responsive Architecture”, Arvind Kishan, Baker and Szokolay, McGraw Hill Edu, 2017. “Green Architecture- Design for a Sustainable Future”, Brende and Robert vale, Thames & Hudson Lid, 1991 “Green Architecture-A guide for Sustainable Design”, Michael J Crosbie, Aia Pr, 1995, “Zero Carbon Homes”, Jo Williams, 2012.