Biomimetics
Biomimetics is the study of nature's designs, processes, and systems to inspire and inform human innovation. It involves mimicking biological strategies and structures to develop new technologies and solutions. In geography, biomimetics can be applied to sustainable design, urban planning, and environmental management, drawing on nature's efficiency and resilience to address human challenges.
7 Key excerpts on "Biomimetics"
eBook - ePubEngineering Design and Mathematical Modelling
Concepts and Applications
- Nnamdi Nwulu, Mammo Muchie, Nnamdi Nwulu, Mammo Muchie(Authors)
- 2020(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Of the listed approaches, biomimicry is a relatively new field which encourages the teaming up of biologists with designers and professionals from various fields (industrial design, medical science, material science, architecture, and interior design) to study and emulate strategies and materials in nature, and thereafter ensure the knowledge transfer to the built environment. As affirmed by Benyus (2011), the idea behind biomimicry is prompted by the fact that the natural world has managed to exist for over 3.8 billion years with biota as archetypes that create opportunities rather than waste, manufacture without going through the process of heating, beating, and treating; and solar-powered ecosystems. Also, their designs have been found to be sustainable, effective, and attractive. Rather than engaging in nature exploitation, biomimicry considers and focuses on identifying and integrating propositions that are primarily sustainable and responsive to the earth’s capacity (Goss 2009). Historical antecedent of biomimicry Practising and applying the knowledge of natural systems in human society is not eccentric. However, the term that describes it is relatively new. There is a growing inquisitiveness about the natural world around us due to the continuing quest for advancement and improvement in science and technology. Historically, early people relied solely on nature for existence and survival, coupled with records of native innovations as a result of human observation of nature and natural phenomenon. These include innovations in shelter architecture; medical sciences; weapons and defence (including alarm systems, drones, armour, and sensors); agriculture (animal husbandry and food production); and constituting processes of manufacturing (Murr 2015). Early scientists and innovators have gathered invaluable information about the function, efficiency and sustainable exploitation of resources by mere examination as well as a comprehensive consideration of nature...
eBook - ePubHeating with Wolves, Cooling with Cacti
Thermo-bio-architectural Framework (ThBA)
- Negin Imani, Brenda Vale(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
...She recommends focusing on the functional aspects of biomimicry rather than morphological imitations of biological samples. Technological innovations and sustainability criteria are also seen as interrelated aspects of biomimicry. Rao (2014) stated: “biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the sustainability of our innovations”. Biomimicry has been argued to serve two main purposes, these being the production of innovation and sustainability (Pedersen Zari 2012). Bar-Cohen (2005) stated that biological processes have also been acknowledged as being very much better than human innovations. Looking at the contexts and disciplines associated with these terms, it appears that bionics and Biomimetics deal more with the technological aspects of imitating nature while the term biomimicry is often used where the concept of sustainability is important. This, in fact, can be seen in the early writings about the possible contribution of biomimicry to building design, as explored in the next section. 3.1.2 Biomimicry in architecture Ever since the term biomimicry was first linked to architecture, it has been suggested it could be a design philosophy linked to industrial ecology, thus creating an interdisciplinary field having roots in the concept of ‘nature as a model’ (Isenmann 2002). As Allenby (1999) argued “Industrial ecology is the objective, multidisciplinary study of industrial and economic systems and their linkages with fundamental natural systems, the ‘science and engineering of sustainability’.” Even though biomimicry was initially understood as a design philosophy for promoting sustainability only a small number of researchers seem to have discussed its philosophical foundation (Bensaude-Vincent et al. 2002, Mathews 2011, Blok 2016, Blok and Gremmen 2016, Dicks 2016)...
eBook - ePub- Rob Fleming, Saglinda H Roberts(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...The Biomimicry Institute defines biomimicry as “An approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies” (Biomimicry Institute 2018). Put another way, it is a “Conscious emulation of life’s genius” (Biomimicry Institute 2018). The process intentionally seeks solutions through the analysis of biological systems, plants or animals for well-adapted sustainable solutions to complex human problems. The goal is always long-term sustainability. What biomimicry is not The design approaches listed below are all valid, useful, and important to long-term sustainability, but they have a different focus than biomimicry. Bio-morphic – having the form or aesthetics of biologic elements without consideration of process, function, or purpose. Example: Frank Lloyd Wright in Johnson + Johnson’s open office design that replicated a Savannah setting with the use of “tree”-shaped columns and lighting or many wallcovering and fabric designs have organic or biomorphic patterns. Bio-utilization – using biological elements in the manufacturing or as an element of a product. Example: Ecovative Design developed a compostable alternative to plastic foam by using agricultural waste like corn stalks or fungal mycelium from mushrooms. Why is biomimicry important Society is still influenced by the Industrial Revolution and the belief that the earth offers an endless supply of resources. By examining how natural organisms and systems address the same problems humans face, other ways to accomplish the same goals without mechanisms, harsh chemicals, or ecosystem damage can be developed. Biomimicry requires humility and openness, and it may take a little more time at the beginning of the process but has the power to inspire our thinking and technology to go beyond brute-force techniques for solving problems...
eBook - ePubSaving The Planet By Design
Reinventing Our World Through Ecomimesis
- Ken Yeang(Author)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...3 Reinventing the built environment by ‘ecomimicry’ THE BIOMIMICRY APPROACH IN THE REINVENTION OF THE HUMAN-MADE WORLD How can we further address Ecological Design in an ecocentric approach? It has just been argued that Ecological Design must centre on effective biointegration, as the fused converging of our human-made world, and in particular its built environment, with Nature. The central issue is, then, how this is carried out? Proposed here is a conceptual and practical step in achieving this (as introduced in Chapter 1) through the expansion of the technique and approach of biomimicry in an ecocentric approach to the mimicry of ‘ecosystems’, referred to here as ‘ ecomimesis ’. This is the other key principle in Ecological Design. A considerable body of research and endeavour has focused on biomimicry (earlier referred to as ‘bionics’, ‘biomechanics’ etc.), both within Nature and in relation to humanity’s emulation of Nature. To elaborate on the brief definition given in Chapter 1, biomimicry as applied to human design is a nature-centric approach for designing based on emulating some of the evolved complexities seen in nature that ‘solve’ particular problems in efficient ways. 1, 2 Fields of endeavour that are essentially extensions of biomimicry include bionics, biomechanics and bioengineering that involves the mimicry and imitating of biological systems. An example of this is the end window of the Crystal Palace in London, which was so large that engineers were struggling as to how to make it stable...
eBook - ePubLifestyle and Nature
Integrating Nature Technology to Sustainable Lifestyles
- Ryuzo Furukawa, Yuko Suto, Emile H. Ishida, Takeshi Yamauchi, Ryuzo Furukawa, Yuko Suto, Emile H. Ishida, Takeshi Yamauchi(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Jenny Stanford Publishing(Publisher)
...In other words, the aspect of “intellectual property” deriving from genetic resources with billions of years of history comes into focus in the context of Biomimetics. The surge of Biomimetics-related R&D can enhance the motivation to conserve biological diversity. The enhancement of the motivation is an urgent task in different regions of the world (Kohsaka 2010; Uchiyama et al. 2015). Simultaneously, the spread of technology that abstracted laws and principles by learning from nature can contribute to realizing spiritually affluent lifestyles under severe environmental constraints. This technology includes energy-saving technology or structure with less environmental impacts. In summary, technologies learning from nature are an integral part of a sustainable society in two folds: first, ideas or structures are found that are unique from the evolution and difficult for researchers to think of; second, the technology that learns from nature can potentially have environmental benefits with less impacts. 11.1.2 Current Status and Challenges for Biomimetic There are a number of technologies that became products in use, yet for the majority of the sector, technology remains at the R&D or the conceptual phase, and mainstreaming and implementation of Biomimetics remains a future challenge Kohsaka et al. (2017). It is necessary to identify what hinders the mainstreaming. In doing so, we need to consider not only technology but also its social implications and contexts of use. For this purpose, we focused on whether the number of published scientific articles have correlations with the patent applications in the same themes. We regarded the number of journal scientific articles as an indicator of “seeds” and examined whether they are linked with patent applications, which are a rough indicator of possible “needs” in society. In other words, such linkages are processes of (re-)bridging dialogue between scientists and engineers...
- Maibritt Pedersen Zari(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
...Technologies that increase energy efficiencies and can sequester or store carbon may form part of an important short- to medium-term approach, but should be seen as intermediate steps. As well as a reduced or potentially negative carbon footprint for the built environment, examples of existing biomimetic technologies reveal approaches that use current excess CO 2 as a resource for new materials. Biomimetic technologies that address direct climate change impacts and technologies or systems that prevent further GHG emissions have also been examined and could be implemented alongside wider systemic change in the built environment, including a consideration of people’s consumption behaviour and lifestyle expectations (Figure 3.3). Figure 3.3 Time line of approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the context of the built environment Source: Author’s work Conclusion The case studies examined in this chapter suggest that ecosystem-based biomimicry at the process and function levels may be the most effective kind of biomimicry to respond to climate change impacts, as well as being able to address biodiversity issues. This is also the least explored aspect of biomimicry in built form. Positive integration of built form with ecosystems, leading to a regenerative rather than damaging effect on them, may contribute to maintaining biodiversity and the ecosystem services that humans are dependent upon for survival, particularly as the climate continues to change. Such a concept goes beyond encouraging a basic understanding of ecological processes over time. Instead it is the thorough integration of ecological knowledge into architecture and urban design to alter how buildings fundamentally function in relation to ecosystems and to each other. Buildings and urban environments should be expected to become intelligent active contributors to ecosystems and social systems, rather than remaining unresponsive agents of ecosystem degeneration...
eBook - ePubThe Innovation Tools Handbook, Volume 3
Creative Tools, Methods, and Techniques that Every Innovator Must Know
- H. James Harrington, Frank Voehl, H. James Harrington, Frank Voehl(Authors)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Productivity Press(Publisher)
...3 Biomimicry (Also Known as Biomimetics, Biogenesis, Biognosis) Dana J. Landry CONTENTS Definition Users Often Used in the Following Phases of the Innovative Process Tool Activity by Phase How to Use the Tool Examples of the Tool Output Software Reference Suggested Additional Reading DEFINITION Biomimetic or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems (Wikipedia). It is the transfer of ideas from biology to technology, the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes. The process involves understanding a problem and observational capability together with the capacity to synthesize different observations into a vision for solving a problem. USERS This tool is most effectively used with small groups of individuals (three to eight people) who are working on complex problems (Benyus, 2009). OFTEN USED IN THE FOLLOWING PHASES OF THE INNOVATIVE PROCESS The following are the seven phases of the innovative cycle...
