Similarities and Differences between Humans' and Social Insects' Building Processes and Building Behaviors

Despite of the simplicity of their individuals, social insect societies are structured social organizations that accomplish complex tasks which far exceed the individual capacities of a single insect. These self-organized systems offer possibilities for inspiring new and future solutions and technologies to benefit human construction practice. Biomimetic research of this kind studies systems that have evolved in the natural world in order to imitate and apply them in processes to benefit humans. We present the social insects' main building-behavior principles and their potential to influence the building industry and human building processes, considering process stages and durations, communication and information flow, governance, functional specialization of workers, supply chains and materials. We review existing biomimetic applications in different fields related to construction management with respect to biological swarm systems and social insects in particular. Finally, we identify opportunities for examining and enhancing building construction processes, inspired by the behavioral principles of the social insects.

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