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Learning from nature – Biomimicry innovation to support infrastructure sustainability and resilience

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  • Hayes, Samantha
  • Desha, Cheryl
  • Baumeister, Dayna

Abstract

Regenerative development calls for built environment design, construction and operation approaches that do not degrade social and ecological systems but actively regenerate them, with net positive performance outcomes. Within infrastructure, existing industry approaches focus on improving sustainability and resilience through progressive reductions in negative impact. To shift beyond damage reduction towards regenerative performance, it will be necessary to harness new and innovative technologies, design and engineering approaches as they emerge. The field of biomimicry looks to biology and ecology to identify natural models that can inspire design and engineering solutions. Despite increasing biomimicry research, enquiry into infrastructure opportunities for biomimicry has been limited, and the potential for biomimicry to support regenerative performance in infrastructure has not been explored. This paper uses a systematic literature review to identify applications of biomimicry in built environment, with a focus on the potential for infrastructure applications. The paper identifies a need for further investigation into ‘system-level’ biomimicry opportunities; for clearer articulation of sustainability and resilience benefits; and for greater alignment with broader industry and global trends. The paper is relevant for practitioners, academics and government agencies looking to leverage emerging technologies and innovation to achieve project and organisational sustainability, resilience and regenerative performance objectives.

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  • Hayes, Samantha & Desha, Cheryl & Baumeister, Dayna, 2020. "Learning from nature – Biomimicry innovation to support infrastructure sustainability and resilience," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:161:y:2020:i:c:s0040162520311136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Min & Liu, Peihan & Chao, Xiangrui & Han, Zhenglin, 2021. "The performativity of city resilience for sustainable development of poor and disaster-prone regions: A case study from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Samantha Hayes & Cheryl Desha & Savindi Caldera & Mark Gibbs, 2023. "A Transformed Approach for Benchmarking the Performance of ‘Sustainable’ Infrastructure," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Gregory C. Unruh, 2023. "From Geomimetic to Biomimetic Manufacturing: Digitally Transforming Industry for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Marcia Sierdovski & Luiz Alberto Pilatti & Priscila Rubbo, 2022. "Organizational Competencies in the Development of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria in the Industrial Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Rodríguez, Rosa M. & Labella, Álvaro & Nuñez-Cacho, Pedro & Molina-Moreno, Valentin & Martínez, Luis, 2022. "A comprehensive minimum cost consensus model for large scale group decision making for circular economy measurement," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    6. Zhao, Ge & Zhou, P. & Wen, Wen, 2021. "Feed-in tariffs, knowledge stocks and renewable energy technology innovation: The role of local government intervention," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

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