Heuristic approach for Design Design by Nature “Bio-mimicry” Heuristic approach for Design Prof. Karmjitsinh Bihola Assistant Professor - GTU Centre for Industrial Design (OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL)

BioMimicry A new era is beginning – Innovation inspired by Nature DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry Innovation inspired by Nature A new era is beginning – “I think the Biggest Innovations of the 21st century will be at the Intersection of Biology and Technology.”

Mother Nature is one of the universe's most incredible designers

DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry Humans are very clever, but without intending to, we have created massive sustainability problems for future generations. Fortunately, solutions to these global challenges are all around us. “Finding Design Inspiration from Nature to solve Human Problems”

Nature has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with

BioMimicry Velcro Airplanes Solar panels modelled on Ivy DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry There are examples of biomimicry all around us – Velcro Airplanes Solar panels modelled on Ivy Buildings modelled after Termite Mounds

Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers “They have found what works, what is appropriate, and most important, what lasts here on Earth”

BioMimicry DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry

The creation of Velcro was actually inspired by burrs when Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, found them on his dog’s fur 

BioMimicry DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry

Materials researchers and engineers at Kansai University, Japan saw amazing potential in the structure of the mosquito’s mouth

Calla Lily Based Impeller Jay Harmon, founder of PAX Scientific, designed a fan on the shape of a hurricane, but also created an incredibly efficient impeller in the same spiralling design as a Calla Lily.

“Designs that allow aging gracefully without losing functionality much”

“Designs that can help shrink, expand, maintain forms depending upon the need of the user”

“Designs that can blend with different spaces, seasons and sectors”

“Designs that can self correct themselves” Autopsies Designs

Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry Case Study: Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe

DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry Termite mounds may not look too impressive but they actually helped Architect Mick Pearce, at Arup Associates design the energy-efficient Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe Building’s design principles - are based on African termite mounds It does not require conventional heating or air-conditioning We generally think of termites as destroying buildings, not helping as designers

DESIGN BY NATURE - BIOMIMICRY CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL BioMimicry The temperature inside their nest to within one degree, day and night (while the temperatures outside swing from 42 °C to 3 °C) The operation of buildings represents 40% of all the energy used by humanity, so learning how to design them to be more sustainable is vitally important Eastgate - uses 90% less energy for ventilation than conventional buildings of its size Already saved - over $3.5 million in air conditioning costs

Eastgate Building, an office complex in Harare, Zimbabwe, has an air conditioning system modelled on the self-cooling mounds of termites

Design as a system approach how people can come up with new and innovative ways of doing things. These headhunters no longer have to go out into the jungle because they have figured out an easier means of producing food. The older headhunter is somewhat unhappy with the new system. This is a common occurance in today's society. It is sometines difficult to adapt to a new way of doing something, even when it saves a lot of time and effort.

Design as System Approach CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Design as System Approach Case Study: Green Revolution – Punjab, India

Case Study: Green Revolution DESIGN as SYSTEM APPROACH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Case Study: Green Revolution History- In 1965, the government of Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided to take a major step in agricultural development for India Thus, Green Revolution was applied to the period from 1967 to 1978 in the parts of Punjab and Haryana state. At that stage Green Revolution was concerned only with Wheat & Rice. Dr. M. S. Swaminathan has led the Green Revolution project

In 1970s when High Yield Varieties (HYV) of rice and wheat made their entry into India in the form of green revolution, Punjab and Haryana proved to be the most successful stories for them. HYVs offered a higher level of per capita income that would be translated into a better lifestyle

Case Study: Green Revolution DESIGN as SYSTEM APPROACH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Case Study: Green Revolution Methods Used in Green Revolution- Double/Multiple Cropping System Seeds with Superior Genetics Proper Irrigation System High Yielding Variety (HYV) of seeds Use of Pesticides and fertilizers Use of modern machinery ( Tractor, Harvester, Thrasher) Expansion of farming areas

As a positive result of Green Revolution- Today, Punjab produces, 2 % of Wheat 1% of rice 2 % of Cotton Its per capita income (2006) at Rs 28,605 is way above the national average of just Rs 6,929. Punjab also claims a 100% rural electrification as well as almost 99% connectivity of villages by road against the national average of just over 40%.

Case Study: Green Revolution DESIGN as SYSTEM APPROACH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Case Study: Green Revolution Advantages- Yields increases three times Multiple Cropping Other crops grown which varied the diet Surplus to sell in cities creating a profit improving the standard of living Allows purchases of fertilizers, machinery etc. India becomes self sufficient in food grains

Case Study: Green Revolution DESIGN as SYSTEM APPROACH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Case Study: Green Revolution Limitations - The green revolution, howsoever impressive, but not a 100% success. Only Punjab and Haryana states showed best results of Green Revolution The new farming techniques, has given birth to the serious pollution of drinking water causing cancer and other diseases A recent Punjab University study found a high rate of genetic damage among farmers, which was attributed to pesticide use. Soil pollution due to fertilizer., chemical and pesticides Lead to unemployment and rural-urban immigration

Is this A Sustainable Growth? Green Revolution Is this A Sustainable Growth?

Design as System Approach CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Design as System Approach “Sustainability” is first concern for this high agricultural production level Punjab consumes highest amount of fertilizers in the country, amounting to almost 10% of the national consumption with just 1.5% of the geographical area of the country. On top of it, the water level in Punjab has been falling by 50 to 70 cm every year which is another matter of concern. And already, 97% of the cultivable land is under plough indicating no further expansion of the cultivable land.

According to a research done by Punjab Agricultural University in 2007, Punjab has already lost 5.1mn tonnes of nitrogen, 2.5mn tonnes of phosphorous and 4.7mn tonnes of potassium, each one of these being very crucial for the crops to grow and provide nutritional value. 

Design as System Approach CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Design as System Approach Land consolidation is another major issue. Small or marginal farmers have found it difficult to benefit from HYVs, machinery and fertilizers in their fields due to which the wealth disparities have widened further than before. Also, installing pumps and using higher amount of fertilizers have increased the cost of production, thereby increasing the average debt taken by the farmers. Every year, a lot of subsidies have to be provided to the farmers in form of cheap electricity, loan waivers and lower interest rates. These costs are seldom counted as the costs of production in awarding the success crown to Punjab.

Sustainability - System Approach is required DESIGN as SYSTEM APPROACH CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN – OPEN DESIGN SCHOOL Sustainability - System Approach is required Green Revolution has done a lot of positive things, saving the lives of millions of peoples and exponentially increasing the yield of food crops But environmental degradation makes the Green Revolution as overall inefficient, short-term solution to the problem of food insecurity. So, more sustainable and environmental friendly system approach is needed

References: http://biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/ Ackoff R.L., Redesigning the Future, John Wiley, New York, 1974 Swaminathan, M.S., Science and the Conquest of Hunger, Concept, Delhi, 1983, p. 409.

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