Digital wood craft

In 1995, Robin Evans points out in his book The Projective Cast how the development of techniques changed architecture and the space inhabited in times of Gothic and early Renaissance. We see a parallel phenomenon today, where the interplay of technology and tool gives shape to new design (Kolarevic 2005). Yet in opposition to the interwoven fields of design and craft of the late Gothic, todayis building sector is enormously diversified, and a growing complexity in the building process and number of used materials can be observed. This gives an opposite point of departure into a more integrated field of design and innovation in architectural design and building industry

Potential bioethanol and biogas production using lignocellulosic biomass from winter rye, oilseed rape and faba bean

To meet the increasing need for bioenergy several raw materials have to be considered for the production of e.g. bioethanol and biogas.In this study, three lignocellulosic raw materials were studied, i.e. (1) winter rye straw (Secale cereale L), (2) oilseed rape straw (Brassica napus L.) and (3) faba bean straw (Viciafaba L.). Their composition with regard to cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and ash was evaluated, as well as their potential as raw materials for ethanol and biogas production. The materials were pretreated by wet oxidation using parameters previously found to be optimal for pretreatment of corn stover (195 1C, 15 min, 2 g l_1 Na2CO3 and 12 bar oxygen). It was shown that pretreatment was necessary for ethanol production from all raw materials and gave increased biogas yield from winter rye straw. Neither biogas productivity nor yield from oilseed rape straw or faba bean straw was significantly affected by pretreatment. Ethanol was produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae during simultaneous enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid material after wet oxidation with yields of 66%, 70% and 52% of theoretical for winter rye, oilseed rape and faba bean straw, respectively. Methane was produced with yields of 0.36, 0.42 and 0.44 l g_1 volatile solids for winter rye, oilseed rape and faba bean straw, respectively, without pretreatment of the materials. However, biogas productivity was low and it took over 50 days to reach the final yield. It could be concluded that all three materials are possible raw materials for either biogas or ethanol production; however, improvement of biogas productivity or ethanol yield is necessary before an economical process can be achieved. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Translating material and design space:Strategies to design with curved creased surfaces

This paper shares findings from the project DevA (Developable surfaces in Architecture), a research by design based project developed a collaboration between academic and industry partners. The project aims to investigate the use of curved sheet material in architecture using hybridised 3D modelling and pattern cutting techniques. The project investigates how digital design and fabrication technologies enable the development of new structural concepts through the new means of material specification and detailing at unprecedented levels of precision. The paper presents speculative research project as well as the demonstrator Reef Pattern

Why diversify annual biomass production for energy – exemplified by green house gas emissions from the Danish IBUS bioethanol production concept

There is a need for integrating the biomass starting point into the energy manufacturing steps. It will secure that bioenergy is produced with limited use of non-renewable fossil fuel to secure that in the application of biomass a net emission reduction of green house gasses take place along the whole chain. Intercropping, defined as the cultivation of two or more species simultaneously on the same area of land, is an traditional practice still widespread in the tropics and common in developed countries before the ‘fossilization’ of agriculture. This cropping strategy is based on the manipulation of plant interactions in time and space to optimize resource use and productivity. It is regarded as the practical application of basic ecological principles such as diversity, competition and facilitation (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al., 2007). Cereal-legume annual intercropping show the possibility to increase input of leguminous symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation into cropping systems reducing the need for fertilizer N applications (Jensen, 1996). Moreover, less need for pesticides are obtained due to improved competition towards weeds (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al., 2001) and less general damages on intercropped species by pest and disease organisms (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al., 2007). Intercropping is a more adaptive management practice as compared to the present arable crop rotations consisting mainly of sole crops. Perennials like clover-grass intercrops or mixtures are obviously more diversified than traditional annual crops. Clover-grass leys are important in many agroecosystems today due to quality as feed for livestock, a high dry matter production (10 t ha-1 yr-1 unfertilized, where 95% of the N accumulation is N2 fixed by clover (Jørgensen et al., 1999) providing a nitrogen-rich residue, which may significantly reduce fertilizer requirements for the succeeding crop when mineralized (Hauggaard-Nielsen et al., 1998). Furthermore, clover-grass lays can be harvested several times a year and processed to ethanol throughout the year. It is very much questioned whether bioethanol is a sustainable energy resource that can offer environmental and long-term economic advantages over fossil fuels, like gasoline or diesel. The aim of the present presentation is to debate the substitution of fossil fuels by crop biomass requiring the right selection of plant species according not only to chemical quality for efficient conversion but also to secure the development of ecologically benign farming system including biomass for energy

Terrain Ruggedness and Caribou Forage Availability during Snowmelt on the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

This paper reports a close link between terrain ruggedness and forage availability for caribou during snowmelt. Indices of terrain ruggedness based on contour characteristics from topographical maps were related to field measures of cover, biomass, and live/dead ratio of graminoids within the Kuparuk Oilfield, Alaska. Terrain ruggedness was found to be the most significant factor affecting forage availability during snowmelt within the study area. Terrain ruggedness was positively correlated to 1) graminoid cover within wet, moist and dry herbaceous tundra, 2) cover of four individual graminoid species, 3) height of Salix planifolia, 4) amount of Eriophorum vaginatum flowers, and 5) live/dead ratio of plant material during early and late snowmelt. The live/dead ratio of plant material varied among vegetation types during snowmelt, causing rugged areas to have sprouting green plant material available for forage throughout this period. While annual differences in snow depths and snowmelt will affect forage availability in a given year, indices of terrain ruggedness combined with vegetation maps can substantially improve our understanding of how forage availability for caribou may vary across the landscape during snowmelt.Key words: Alaska, caribou forage, spring, topography, vegetationCet article rapporte le lien étroit qui existe entre le caractère accidenté du terrain et la disponibilité d'herbage pour le caribou durant la fonte nivale. On a relié les indices d'aspérité du terrain déterminés par les caractéristiques des courbes de niveaux sur les cartes topographiques aux mesures sur le terrain du tapis, de la biomasse et du rapport de graminées vivantes aux graminées mortes dans le champ pétrolifère Kuparuk en Alaska. On a trouvé que l'aspérité du terrain était le facteur le plus important affectant la disponibilité d'herbage durant la fonte nivale dans la zone d'étude. L'aspérité du terrain était corrélée de façon positive 1) au couvert de graminées de la toundra herbacée saturée d'eau, humide et sèche, 2) au couvert de quatre espèces individuelles de graminées, 3) à la hauteur de Salix planifolia, 4) à la quantité de fleurs de Eriophorum vaginatum et 5) au rapport du matériau végétal vivant au matériau végétal mort au début et à la fin de la fonte nivale. Le rapport de ces deux sortes de matériau végétal variait parmi les types de végétation durant la fonte nivale, ce qui faisait que les zones accidentées avaient de nouvelles pousses de matériau végétal disponibles comme herbage durant toute cette période. Bien que les différences d'une année à l'autre dans l'épaisseur de la neige et dans la fonte nivale aient des répercussions sur la disponibilité d'herbage au cours d'une année donnée, des indices de l'aspérité du terrain combinés aux cartes de végétation peuvent nous aider considérablement à comprendre comment la disponibilité d'herbage pour le caribou peut varier dans tout le territoire au cours de la fonte nivale.Mots clés: Alaska, alimentation du caribou, printemps, topographie, végétatio