Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering

Putting forward an innovative approach to solving current technological problems faced by human society, this book encompasses a holistic way of perceiving the potential of natural systems. Nature has developed several materials and processes which both maintain an optimal performance and are also totally biodegradable, properties which can be used in civil engineering.

Delivering the latest research findings to building industry professionals and other practitioners, as well as containing information useful to the public, ‘Biotechnologies and Biomimetics for Civil Engineering’ serves as an important tool to tackle the challenges of a more sustainable construction industry and the future of buildings.

1.- Introduction to biotechnologies and biomimetics for civil engineering 2.- Basics of construction microbial biotechnology  3.- General aspects of biomimetic materials 4.- Bioinspired design for climate change 5.- Bioinspired building facades 6.- A green building envelope: a crucial contribution to biophilic cities 7.- Architectural bio-photo reactors: harvesting micro-algae on the surface of architecture 8.- Reducing indoor air pollutants through biotechnology 9.- Bio-inspired self-cleaning materials 10.- Bio-Inspired strategy for developing innovative bridges 11.- Bioinspired sensors for structural health monitoring 12.- Bioinspired flexible construction materials 13.- Bioinspired concrete 14.- Production of bacteria for structural concrete 15.- Bacteria for concrete surface treatment  16.- Bacteria for surface treatment of normal and lightweight concrete: A case study 17.- Biotechnological aspects of soil decontamination 18.- Microbial fuel cells for water treatment

Fernando Pacheco-Torgal is an investigator in the C-TAC Research Centre at the University of Minho. Authored more than 250 publications, 97 in CrossRef, 88 papers in peer reviewed journals, 71 publications referenced in ISI Web of Knowledge-WoK, 41 papers published in ISI-A1 journals, 29 chapters in international books. First author of 15 papers in ISI-A1 journals with a special mention. Six papers in the Top 25 Hottest articles of Science Direct, seven papers in the Top 5% most cited and two papers in the Top 10 most cited articles between 3428 published since 2008. Citations received in ISI WoK-474 (h-index=12), citations received in Scopus-604 (h-index=14) and citations in Scholar Google-1291 (h-index=19). H-index prediction for the year 2017 using Körding´s algorithm (WoK h-index=17, Scopus h-index=21). Awarded with the Certificate of Excellence in Reviewing by the Editor-in-Chief of the ISI journal Construction and Building Materials in 19 of June of 2014. Invited reviewer for 48 international journals. Since 2009 he was invited to review 131 SCI papers. Grant assessor for the Australian Research Council, the Foundation for Polish Science and the British Research Council. Lead Editor of 10 international books with more than 300 contributors from 44 countries. Some of these books are available in the libraries of Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of California-Berkeley, Princeton University, Cornell University, University of New York, University of Washington, Tsinghua University, ETH Zürich, Tech Univ. of München and Tech Univ. of Berlin.