Barriers Militating Against the Adoption of Biomimicry as a Sustainable Construction Practice

Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

^* Corresponding author: architectoguntona12@gmail.com

Abstract

The integration of sustainable practices into construction processes and activities are imperative for achieving the greening agenda of the construction industry. However, there has been a proliferation of several sustainable construction practices (SCPs) with biomimicry standing out among them. As a novel approach that studies and emulates nature’s forms, processes, and strategies to proffer sustainable solutions to human challenges, biomimicry is beginning to gain momentum in its application across different sectors. This research sets out to identify what constitutes the barriers to the application of biomimicry. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted to establish the perception of construction professionals on the significant barriers to biomimicry adoption and implementation. A quantitative approach to data analysis was employed using the mean scores of the identified variables. Lack of awareness, lack of professional knowledge, and lack of training and education are identified as the top three barriers to biomimicry adoption and implementation. The study recommended that government, relevant professional bodies and stakeholders should encourage and embrace the adoption of biomimicry through awareness, education, training, and inclusion in the curriculum of institutions of higher learning. These will maximise the potential of biomimicry to aid innovative and sustainable outputs in the construction industry.