Author(s)

Mark Edward Alston^*

University of Salford Manchester, Manchester, UK.

The adaptive capacity in creating intelligent glass surfaces will be investigated using the principles of solar absorbance and active fluidic conductivity management as an energy system. To act as a thermal adsorption layer by applying bio-logically inspired engineering aims, of capture in enabling thermal transfer and control to regulate material composition. The creation of an adaptive cooling layer, by responsive measures to mirror our eco-systems through the employment of programmable self-awareness measures to regulate solar adsorption. These strategies for adaptation could enable the transformation of tall buildings, from mere material entities to mimic the intelligent surfaces of trees. Nature’s eco-systems are living multi-functional mechanical information systems of chemical composition forming hierarchical structures. They have the ability to learn and adapt to changing climatic circumstance by self-regulation of solar adsorption, to achieve material thermal management. These programmable controls of adaptive material performance change in relationship to solar capture. Could this be harnessed to exploit the functionalities and behavior of materials on the surfaces of buildings to act as an energy system, by the application of bio-logically inspired engineering aims: 1) Material absorbency: thermal conductivity adsorption of solar irradiance. 2) Adaptive real-time performance: material autonomy.

Energy, Biological Inspired Engineering, Solar, Adaptive, City Resilience

Alston, M. (2015) Natures Buildings as Trees: Biologically Inspired Glass as an Energy System. Optics and Photonics Journal, 5, 136-150. doi: 10.4236/opj.2015.54013.