Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

Discussion in 'Designing, building, making and powering your life' started by Ice Czar, Feb 11, 2009.

  1. Ice Czar

    Ice Czar Junior Member

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    I wanted to introduce some resources to a profound concept with far reaching implications



    Constructal Theory: Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    "Breaking the traditional boundaries between biology, physics, geology, and social sciences it describes how flow systems change through time. Biological organisms are flow systems. River basins are flow systems. Trees are a flow system. New York City is a flow system. Constructal theory says that for any of these flow systems to persist, to sustain, or survive, they must be structured (architecturally designed) in such a way that the things within that system increasingly get to where they need to go."

    Constructal Theory: Sustainability
    Constructal Theory: The Science
    Constructal Theory: The Applications
    Biomimicry.org
    Biomimicry: Nature's Alternative to Genetically Engineered Foods
    Constructal theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Constructal Theory Web Portal


    Related concept
    Hunting The Hidden Dimension PBS NOVA One Hour Program on the work of Benoit Mandelbrot, Fractals and their relationship to nature, which ties in very well with Constructal theory at certain points.
    Watching this may provide a better context to then review Constructal theory
     
  2. raincrow

    raincrow Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    Hi Ice Czar,

    OK, wind blows-fire burns-water flows and dirt is dirt. I saw all that in "The Fifth Element". Why does this need to be explained beyond evolution and the fact that anything flowing, which is everything I guess, takes the easiest path it can find? I know I do.
     
  3. Ice Czar

    Ice Czar Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    because most mechanical engineers don't think like mother nature? :p

    the folks up at the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute employ Subterranean Heating and Cooling Systems in their High Altitude Greenhouses, highly function design, but possibly also a tradeoff of materials and labor available to optimal heat transfer and air flow. Point is being aware of constructural theory especially as an environmental engineer is very helpful.

    SHCS Solar Heated Greenhouse
    https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 8E98ABA0FD

    The optimal solution is a natural system that alters itself, when attempting to mimic optimal solutions with static man made ones, a more in depth appreciation is helpful. ;)
     
  4. janahn

    janahn Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    amazing....however it is worth saying....what you are refering to has been previously described in "Permaculture, a Designers Manual" by Bill Mollison.
    Also "A Pattern Understanding" by various Authors. Both books are over 25 years old.

    What is even better is the actual construction today, tomorrow of such clever devices/entities and their undoubted potential which to date has been barely realised. So if this is all new to you good. I hope you enjoy the future.

    every single event may be bought back to an atomic process/reaction.
     
  5. Ice Czar

    Ice Czar Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    once you wade into the flurry of the links in the first post
    what becomes apparent is that "constructural theory" while an age old observational premise
    has crossed the threshold into science as a quantifiable mathematical theorem.

    Adrian Bejan MIT Video Lecture
    Frontiers of the Second Law (of Thermodynamics)

    https://www.constructal.org/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructal_theory
    Adrian Bejan

    observational note
    there seems to be a thread of reasoning in here that goes something like this:

    on the one hand its the doing, the actual process and feedback of a sustainable system that must be done in order to understand it intuitively. Down this track is the "if it works, it works" reasoning, leading to strange things like Biodynamics 501

    on the other track and one I personally think more "general practitioners" need to pay attention to is the profound influence the visionary scientists have had on permaculture, specifically Howard Odum, but in more detail the explicit study and development of quantifiable symbiotic relationships within biogeochemistry, hydrogeology, bacterial and mycorrhizal studies. Nutrient flows, thermodynamics, exergy, general systems theory, extreme feedback events, ect ect ect

    The hard qualifiable and quantifiable sciences are an integral part to explaining the observed phenomena of sustainable practices. More importantly it is the hard ammunition needed to stop fossil fuel driven agriculture. Being conversant in it beyond the feel good holistic crowd is rather important in the next stage of permaculture's growth.

    Examples of sustainable practices are laudable, however the ability to specifically account for variables within systems is a prerequisite of worldwide adoption. The science is getting done, IMO as the cheerleaders we have to have at least a passing familiarity with the playbook.

    Its not necessary to know that tannins play an integral role the nitrogen released in pine litter
    but a more than passing familiarity with the nitrogen cycle would be good.

    Constructural Theory falls into the second class, one may not need to "employ" it, but its good to know where it is and what its called ;)


    .
     
  6. janahn

    janahn Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    whilst your reference to inverse biomimickry appears to be described by yourself as a theory, in this forum most people are concerned about science, that is the knowledge of all things constant. If construction theory is science or theory, considering that it is really old news, until someone makes it economically viable, it is irrelevant to humanity. and that i can assure you is no theory, but science.

    leo m
     
  7. Ice Czar

    Ice Czar Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    first if your "concerned" with science you should at least be conversant with the terminology
    especially the difference between theory in its scientific context (theory of gravity)
    and its colloquial context (theory as a hunch)

    secondly science has had far too many paradigm shifts to be considered
    "the knowledge of all things constant"


    third your postulate "considering that it is really old news"
    is misleading and demonstratively false. While the patterns of nature have been observed and deduced by mankind for far more than 25 years, the strict quantifiability of design on flows and that an underlying mathematical relationship exists from the macro to the micro, across geology, biology, social behavior and beyond is a profound insight.

    that a new perspective of the fundamental laws that govern energy in all its forms has been proposed is stunning

    fourth "until someone makes it economically viable"
    it is being applied today from deducing the optimal solution of heat exchangers to the optimal pedestrian traffic flow in airports
    it has the potential to influence society and engineering as profoundly as Bernoulli's principle
    (a fitting analogy, I wonder if folks said it was "old news" when he pointed out that flows speed up when constricted? :p )

    in a nutshell the difference between a casual observation and a "working" law of physics

    considering that a parallel definition of permaculture could be
    "to recreate the optimal environments supporting mankind
    that nature occasionally creates by chance"
    any insight into optimal flows of energy, water, air, nutrients and logistics is rather pertinent.

    ;)
     
  8. janahn

    janahn Junior Member

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    Re: Constructal Theory Introduction to the Inverse of Biomimicry

    good to see a nice meaty debate ice csar.

    the logic of nature may be reduced to a series of atomic/molecular infuences and reactions. the logic of nature covers the universe we think.
    the logic of nature is constant. science is the knowledge of all things constant. one constant aspect of being human is our inability to foresee the consequences of our actions. Nothing is random or by chance. we only describe things this way because we cannot measure them.

    the use of natural forces and biomimickry by mankind has been around for many thousands of years. even since life evolved, by all lifeforms if you consider it fully.

    infinite examples are observable if one takes the time to observe.

    perhaps the most notable and influencial one is electricity.

    flow speeds up when constricted. of course, that is how some people used water to erode hillsides to create terraces.

    water reeds are being used to purify water.

    i have developed a natural water harvesting system on 100 acres that mimicks the flow of water from the mountains to the delta. this is the foundation for a food fuel and fibre system that will capture 5 times the protein compared to its former land use of mono grazing.

    the list is endless. humans have the capacity to observe and create. computers are not very good at such things.

    we know know why vines twist anticlock wise over 90% in both hemisperes. good to know, perhaps somebody will make use of such knowledge.
    only if it is commercially viable.

    what seperates Permaculture apart from the other sciences is that is based on "total system design" that mimics natural ecosystems. more profound to me that the twist of a vine.

    Leo
     

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