BiomiMETRIC Assistance Tool: A Quantitative Performance Tool for Biomimetic Design

Area of Science:

• Biomimetics and Sustainable Design
• Quantitative Performance Evaluation
• Life-Cycle Assessment Integration

Background:

• Biomimetic design lacks standardized quantitative performance metrics.
• Existing frameworks (e.g., ISO 18458) focus on terminology and methodology, not performance quantification.
• Designers need tools to objectively assess the biomimetic quality of their work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce BiomiMETRIC, a novel quantitative performance tool for biomimetic design.
• To provide a method for objectively evaluating the biomimetic performance of designs, projects, or products.
• To answer the question: How can quantitative evaluation of biomimetic performance be carried out?

Main Methods:

• BiomiMETRIC combines biomimetic principles with life-cycle assessment impact assessment methods.
• The tool incorporates an eight-step process for biomimetic design, with performance assessment in the seventh step.
• Evaluation involves verifying consistency with the 10 sustainable ecosystem principles from the Biomimicry Institute.

Main Results:

• BiomiMETRIC provides a quantitative analysis framework for biomimetic performance.
• A comparative analysis of stone wool and cork as insulation materials in biomimetic architecture was conducted.
• Cork, despite being bio-based, demonstrated lower biomimetic performance based on BiomiMETRIC's indicators.

Conclusions:

• BiomiMETRIC offers a valuable, quantitative approach to assessing biomimetic design performance.
• The tool facilitates a deeper understanding and application of biomimicry beyond existing qualitative frameworks.
• Quantitative evaluation highlights nuanced performance differences, even among bio-based materials like cork.