T4C

23rd October 2015

Biomimicry and lots of robots – technology roundup from Technology4Change

Cactus inspired biomimicry could help solve water scarcity Researchers in Beijing have developed a prototype technology using artificial cactus spines to collect fog from the air. Read more on Materials Review. Drones and robots could create a self-repairing city Researchers at Leeds University have been granted funding from EPSRC to develop small robots that can … Continue reading “Biomimicry and lots of robots – technology roundup from Technology4Change”

7th October 2015

Smog Vacuums, 3D printing and glass-based paint – 4 of the best technology videos on the web

3D Printed Glass Team at MIT look at the potential for using 3D printing glass. The two chamber system appeared in the September edition of 3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing.   Glass paint to keep metal surfaces cool Researchers at John Hopkins University have developed a silica-based paint that reflects sunlight from metal surfaces, keeping … Continue reading “Smog Vacuums, 3D printing and glass-based paint – 4 of the best technology videos on the web”

17th September 2015

Demonstrating Flood Resilient Technologies

We met up with Stephen Garvin, Director of BRE’s new Centre for Resilience to discuss resilient technologies.  With increases in extreme weather events across the world we need to find new designs, processes and technologies to tackle the challenge.    Dr Garvin is currently looking for technologies and solutions to incorporate into the Flood Resilient House … Continue reading “Demonstrating Flood Resilient Technologies”

17th September 2015

3D printed Cool Bricks

In a very modern take on an ancient cooling technique, Cool Bricks are 3D printed porous ceramic bricks that interlock together forming a 3D lattice effect.  The porous material absorbs water, which is released as the warm air from outside passes through the lattice, with the effect of cooling the air through evaporative cooling. The … Continue reading “3D printed Cool Bricks”

17th September 2015

BIM’s silo mentality

Copenhagen is one of Europe’s great maritime hubs and home to Maersk, the world’s biggest container shipping company. Even so, the Danish capital’s historic port area known as the Inner North Harbour (Indre Nordhavn) is being transformed into a new waterfront district known as DK-2150 Nordhavn, the digits representing a brand new postal code. Find … Continue reading “BIM’s silo mentality”

17th September 2015

Irregular shaped building inspires new material

At Technology4Change we often feature examples of how technologies developed for other applications such as space, automotive and telecommunications are being applied in the built environment, but this time buildings are inspiring a ground-breaking physics innovation. Researchers at the Australian National University were inspired by the radical shape of a Canberra building to develop a … Continue reading “Irregular shaped building inspires new material”

17th September 2015

Latest tech news from across the web

  Using drones to monitor infrastructure damage Researchers at the University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, and BAE Systems are fitting drones with remote sensing systems and cameras to map damage to transportation infrastructure. Pens filled with high-tech inks for Do It Yourself sensors Researchers at the University of San Diego have developed … Continue reading “Latest tech news from across the web”

17th September 2015

Smart façades to save energy

Many glass-fronted office buildings are very energy intensive, requiring extensive heating in winter and cooling in summer to ensure comfortable temperatures for the building’s occupants. In response to this challenge researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden teamed up with the Department of Textile and Surface Design at … Continue reading “Smart façades to save energy”