BiomiMETRIC Assistance Tool: A Quantitative Performance Tool for Biomimetic Design

Abstract

: This article presents BiomiMETRIC, a quantitative performance tool for biomimetic design. This tool is developed as a complement to the standard ISO 18458 Biomimetics—terminology, concepts, and methodology to quantitatively evaluate the biomimetics performance of a design, a project, or a product. BiomiMETRIC is aimed to assist designers, architects, and engineers to facilitate the use of the biomimetic approach beyond the existing frameworks, and to provide an answer to the following question: How can a quantitative evaluation of biomimetic performance be carried out? The biomimetic quantitative performance tool provides a method of quantitative analysis by combining the biomimetic approach with the impact assessment methods used in life-cycle analysis. Biomimetic design is divided into eight steps. The seventh step deals with performance assessment, verifying that the concept developed is consistent with the 10 sustainable ecosystem principles proposed by the Biomimicry Institute. In the application of the biomimetic quantitative performance tool, stone wool and cork are compared as insulation materials used in biomimetic architecture projects to illustrate the relevance and added value of the tool. Although it is bio-based, cork has a lower biomimetic performance according to the indicators used by the biomimetic quantitative performance tool presented in this article.

Application of Biomimetics to Architectural and Urban Design: A Review across Scales

“…Further, development of assessment tools for biomimetic products and projects is needed to evaluate their contribution to sustainable development in urban areas. In regard to assessment tools, tools including a life-cycle analysis method has been proposed to help designers and engineers find solutions, using a biomimetic approach [107], and development of relevant indicators is needed to assesss the impacts of biomimetic approaches on biodiversity and ecosystems based on existing indicators [108].…”

Biomimetic Research for Applications Addressing Technical Environmental Protection

“…Several endeavors have been undertaken to link biomimetics to sustainability in theory [ 19 , 20 ], to address sustainable development in particular [ 21 ] as well as to assess and measure if and how biomimetic solutions contribute to sustainability and the various difficulties that may occur [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Such assessments vary in their origin, i.e., making a link to life cycle assessment (LCA), product sustainability assessment (PROSA), or developing new approaches, such as the bio-inspired sustainability assessment (BiSA; [ 24 ]) and other tools [ 29 ]. Some specific assessments dealt with biomimetic solutions, including façade painting inspired by the Lotus plant [ 26 ], a ceiling structure [ 22 ] or in architecture [ 24 ].…”

From innovation-as-usual towards unusual innovation: using nature as an inspiration

“…Another barrier that needs to be overcome before a more attractive business case can be proposed is the development of quantifiable performance indicators applicable in a cost-benefit framework. Until recently, no quantification tools have been regarding quantifying biomimetic performance (Terrier, Glaus, & Raufflet, 2019). Recently, however, a few interesting developments have surfaced such as the built environment sector (Hayes, Desha, & Gibbs, 2019), data center performance (Kubler, Rondeau, Georges, & Mutua, 2019) and a more generic approach trying to incorporate the life principles of Benyus as the basis for the development of 'biomiMETRIC assistance tool, the objective of which is to provide a quantification approach to each principle and a measurement indicator to assess biomimetic performance' and thus as part of a conventional design process (Terrier et al, 2019, p. 16).…”