"Biomimetics: nature, master of civil engineering."

In nature, every form, nexus and movement has a purpose, a reason. In its apparent chaos, it hides the secret of its survival. Biomimetics, a science inspired by flora and fauna, allows us to find efficient answers in civil engineering, facing the challenges of resilience and sustainability of critical infrastructures.

All living organisms that populate the wild natural landscape have spent millions of years perfecting their place in the world, modifying their structure or their context to adapt to the passage of time. Their permanence is a lesson in resilience. César Martín-Gómez, Doctor of Architecture and expert in biomimetics, explains: "this science, applied to civil engineering, seeks to transform construction methods and improve the energy efficiency of buildings, inspired precisely by natural principles".

Resilience and sustainability

Biomimetics has driven architectural techniques and technologies that promote the optimization of natural resources and even the reduction of the carbon footprint. As indicated in the article Bio-logic, a review on the biomimetic application in architectural and structural design, published in 2022, its influence has reached disciplines such as engineering, the choice of materials or the digital design of more robust infrastructures.

One of the achievements made in this field is the understanding of biological principles to directly influence energy efficiency. "Engineering has adopted animal thermoregulation for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. For example, it has been simulated how the thermal regulation of tuna can reduce energy demand in office buildings by up to 30%," explains the expert, who participated in the research on this energy behavior. This fish generates heat in its body - in its internal muscles - and distributes it outwards. The study revealed that this same logic can be used to reduce heating in offices by placing the areas that generate the most heat - for example, rooms with a lot of staff or machinery - in the center of the building. In addition, biomimetics has also led to the development of innovative materials, such as self-cleaning surfaces, inspired by the lotus effect, or reversible adhesives, emulating the capabilities of the gecko.

Paradigmatic cases in applied biomimetics

Engineering is already benefiting from the adoption of natural strategies that make infrastructures more resilient. Several examples worldwide show how biomimetics is bearing fruit in major projects. "At the Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe, a termite-inspired ventilation system was applied , achieving 90% savings in air conditioning costs," says Martin-Gomez. This building uses a natural solution to regulate the interior temperature without the need for a conventional heating and air conditioning system, demonstrating the potential of biomimetics to create more sustainable spaces.

Facade-integrated thermoelectric systems are also currently being explored as alternatives to common heat pumps, such as those developed by Martín-Gómez himself and successfully tested in Antarctica in 2018. The vertical cooling panels are inspired by elephant ears. As the researcher states, they can "dissipate between 107 and 230 W/m², which makes them an innovative alternative for high-density buildings". This subject solutions, in addition to being efficient, offer a more sustainable and economical approach to design.

Protection against natural hazards

Biomimetics offers innovative solutions for protection against natural hazards, integrating principles from nature itself into the design of materials and systems. Martín-Gómez points to examples such as "self-healing materials that automatically restore minor damage, early warning systems inspired by animal communication networks, or adaptive Structures that modify their behavior in the face of extreme events. An area of active research in this field is the development of integrated thermoelectric systems that allow buildings to maintain habitable conditions during power outages, which is crucial for critical infrastructures during natural disasters.

Biomimetics has also enabled the development of early detection and emergency response technologies. Plant roots, for example, communicate mechanical stresses through chemical signals, inspiring distributed sensor networks for continuous structural monitoring. And ant colonies optimize their evacuation routes through pheromones, a behavior that applies to emergency signaling systems. " Although direct applications are limited, the research explores bio-inspired sensors that detect microscopic structural changes and distributed communication systems for rapid response coordination," says Full Professor.

Challenges and opportunities for the future

Despite the many possibilities offered by biomimetics for building smarter and more resilient cities, there are several limitations and technical challenges that still need to be overcome. "Current fabrication techniques are not capable of accurately replicating microscopic biological Structures , and the complexity gap between multifunctional natural systems and engineering applications remains significant," says the expert.

However, the opportunities for the integration of biomimetics in smart cities are enormous. These cities are expected to integrate thermal self-regulation systems, water management inspired by forest ecosystems, and distributed communication networks based on natural nervous systems. In addition, the convergence of technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and biological principles will enable significant progress in the creation of adaptive and sustainable infrastructures. "4D printing, for example, will pave the way for the construction of infrastructures that evolve over time, automatically adapting to new needs and challenges," concludes Martín-Gómez.

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