Sandra Alicia Utrilla Cobos

Tests for Waterproofing Materials, Made of Opuntia ficus-indica

Mexican cacti have captivated the scientific community due their extraordinary characteristics and benefits.This research established a new way to use this ancestral plant as a substitute for other construction materials that given their industrial and technological processes have-in several cases-skyrocketed their costs, besides of being a constant hazard for the environment. Thus, by looking back how ancestors used to solve their construction needs, it would ultimately allow us to find better ways to protect the environment. Production process is analyzed; experimented with it; and its prominent characteristics analyzed derived from Opuntia ficus-indica extract combined with other natural materials to be then used it as a waterproofing material.

Natural Materials to Absorb Water from Environment

In nature, there is a large number of materials to be discovered, all with different characteristics and for certain functions. In the case of plants, they are responsible for collecting, taking care and protect water naturally.In Mexico there are different plants of the cactus family, which catch and retain water for their existence, so some plants collect more volume of body water than they have. It is very important for this investigation.In Mexico and throughout the continent there is a common cactus or chumbera that easily adapts to the environment and very rampant in this country, so that its study and analysis makes it one of the most important natural systems for this research, because 95% of it is water and the other 5% is organic material.Later, the common Maguey or agave plant is analyzed, which is important for the history of ancient Mexico, this long before the Spaniards arrived in America. The agave juice and whole plant were an important part of Mexican culture [1], even today is used in many regions and is an important part of the economy in this country.Last but not least is the barrel cactus plant, which surprisingly lets us see how natural systems build structural and formal elements in order to the creation and configuration of new materials that can significantly help to collect water.

Data Interactivity in Social Networks as a Strategic Design - An Approach to Fair Trade

Nowadays, the electronic means of communication have an unprecedented impact in the way of projects are developed. The electronic information –due to its nature– has now a more democratic approach of operation, plummeting the power of the great companies and governments. With the creation of the web 2.0, the common users of Internet have now a huge number of communication tools, which allow them to know –in an immediate, measured and effective way– what they or others think or believe. So, the object that has changed as a main channel is the operation by Internet. This current and simple –for many– phenomena, has a deep implication in the way of replanting the new paradigms with a global impact in productive projects as a commerce target.

Biomimicry: natural systems in situ analysis aimed to rain water harvesting

Water is a valuable natural resource which poor management is making it scarce. It is this lack of care that has created a series of social and technical problems, among them, the difficulties to distribute it to every home, particularly in Mexico. In order to solve such problems, it is necessary to find alternatives for its harvesting, care, distribution and use; allowing reducing social stress and better water stewardship [1]. One option is using Biomimicry and design as tools to find innovative, sustainable solutions. This paper aims to report the initial results of the first stage from a research project currently being carried out in which two different Mexican plants of notable importance, in economic and even gastronomical terms, had been analyzed through the eyes of the Biomimicry in order to extrapolate possible solutions of water harvesting and distribution.