On October 26, 2009, researchers at Georgia Tech’s Center for Biologically Inspired Design (CBID) were awarded $768,000 by the National Science Foundation for the future development of a database of biological systems.
The team, lead by Spencer Rugaber and Ashok Goel, of engineers and biologists hope to build an interactive tool that will look at certain biological systems and assist in applying those systems to new engineering design models. The tool will also function as an extensive database of biological systems (all functionally represented), on any level.
This type of interactive database will be extremely helpful not only to biologists and fellow natural scientists, but also to those working in engineering, architecture, and design. It will serve as a sort of common ground between the disciplines, allowing each group to communicate clearly about mutually beneficial representations of biological systems.
Designers and engineers often look to nature for design advice, and many natural systems have led to award-winning product development. With more research going into biologically inspired design, it is likely that the horizon for such products and designs is endless.
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