BIOMIMETIC OF XEROPHILOUS PLANTS IN THE DESIGN OF WATER STORAGE SYSTEMS. Analysis and use of functional principles

The paper aims to present how the application of nature-inspired principles by the xerophilous plants of the Brazilian Semiarid region can influence the creation and development of designs for water storage systems. The study analyzes how the chosen species (mandacaru, coroa-de-frade and palma forrageira) survived and evolved over time, adapting to one of the planet’s hardest climatic conditions and regions, the Brazilian Caatinga biome. Considered an important innovation tool, biomimetics transforms the way of thinking and creating new solutions: by doing things as nature does, we can change the way grow food, produce materials, generate energy, heal, store information, and do business, even knowing that biomimetics is not simply a matter of copying or duplicating biological structures.
It is based on those principles that we envision the possibility of seeking inspiration to reduce problems related to water scarcity. By being in a region characterized by climatic aridity, water deficiency and unpredictability of rainfall, the xerophylous plants (cactus) have evolved and adapted, standing out for tolerating water scarcity, resist drought and to store water efficiently.
The biological nature of cactus shows us several principles, forms and mechanisms that can be applied to solve problems and think about new products and technologies. It is imperative the ability of those plants to develop natural strategies for maintaining life in so extreme climatic conditions as heat and insolation as those of the Brazilian northeastern semi-arid region, resulting in strategies of collection, storage and management of water complemented by a structural defense system against predators and natural weather.