3 Key Strata of Sustainable Design

Back when I was putting together the concept behind surface appliance as a means to gather and monitor real-time surrounding data with the Thymotecture Project, I was developing a system for multi-sensors and needed to find a framework on how exactly measurements should be taken. So whether in theory or actually getting the project built someday, I realized that measuring live parameters around a living space actually falls into three basic categories or three key strata since the segregation involves their own respective spheres.

I thought it would be useful to share not only for that specific project but basically to show that these three key strata can be used as an outline to help complete the factors affecting any sustainable design.

Scheerbart’s Glasarchitektur written in 1914 observed that the idea of double walled glass architecture as an insulating cavity also acted as a medium for segregating both external and internal conditions. Taking this as a basis and considering other affiliated variables such as social or artificial elements, factors of urban ecology may be assessed and categorized into three key strata namely the geographic, abiotic, and anthropogenic.

1. Geographic

Geographic stratum multi-sensors are designed to gather external factors related to natural environments and planetary conditions such as atmospheric or tectonic behaviors. Eventually during post analysis, data gathered can serve as controls to benchmark climate responses or for calibrating future prototyping mechanisms.

• Wind Speed or Direction
• Magnetic Fields
• Liquid Precipitation
• Relative Humidity
• Barometric Pressure
• Chemical or Gas Concentration
• Radiation
• Temperature
• Angular and Linear Positions

2. Abiotic

Abiotic stratum multi-sensors measure inorganic compounds and factors in the environment which directly affect living conditions of human beings and other biological organisms in a given environment. Most of these multi-sensors for abiotic components take similarity to natural biological sensors of living organisms with regards to sensing:

• Light
• Motion
• Magnetic Fields
• Gravity
• Humidity
• Moisture
• Indoor Air Quality
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Electrical Fields
• Sound

 3. Anthropogenic

Anthropogenic stratum multi-sensors primarily measure components related to human activities that designate impact on the environment. The term anthropogenic was introduced by A. P. Pavlov, a Russian geologist technically referring to human interference. Anthropogenic components may compose of dimensions in:

• Population Density
• Competition, referring to the lack a resource of one party due to consumption of another
• Fitness
• Movement
• Tolerance
• Growth
• Community Composition
• Location