Building Living Structures – The Use of Space and Time for their Development

Authors: Righi CA*

DOI: 10.23880/oajar-16000385

Volume 10, Issue 2

Abstract

Solar radiation is the planet's main driving force. Its uneven and variable distribution generates the movement necessary for ecosystems to function as we know them. This energy, captured and transformed by autotrophic organisms, is then moved through the food chain. Plant canopies play an important role in this transformation, determining how the process will occur and the distribution of energy within plant communities. Many studies have been conducted on the structure of isolated plants and vegetative canopies of plantations. The vast majority of the latter studies deal with the development and formation of monospecific canopies with plants of the same age. I was unable to find anything in the literature that demonstrated the construction of a three-dimensional canopy (a group of plants forming an absorptive structure) in order to increase both the capture of radiation and its efficiency. Also, nothing was found about the temporal aspect, which is so necessary for trees and the formation of stable places suitable for the development of living beings, as well as nothing related to height and its variation as a planning factor. Thus, I propose here the use of these two additional variables in the rational construction of living absorptive structures. I thus seek to provide the initial understanding for the development of land use systems that take into account the three-dimensional structure of living beings (even more important when dealing with plants living in communities - systems). The development of an undulating system (in waves) is presented here exhibits an ordered variation of the tree canopies, also generating waves of work and harvesting and thus providing an adjustment, albeit incipient, to the ecological systems with simulations of emerging trees and forest gaps. I believe that in this way, the establishment of more resilient land use systems will simultaneously promote permanent soil cover, a better coupling to local conditions and its integration with the other components of the landscape, thus favoring the entire biotic structure and the people.

Keywords: Wave-Project; Land Use System; Solar Radiation; Agroforestry

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