Abstract
Anthropogenic degradation of the environment is pervasive and expanding. Human construction activities destroy or damage habitats of nonhuman lifeforms. In many cases, artificial replacement habitats become necessary. However, designing for the needs and preferences of nonhuman lifeforms is challenging. Established workflows for this type of designing do not exist. This paper hypothesises that a multi-scale modelling approach can support inclusive, more-than-human design. The case-study project tests this approach by applying computational modelling to the design of prosthetic habitats for the powerful owl (Ninox strenua). The proposed approach simulates owls’ perception of the city based on scientific evidence. The tools include algorithmic mapping, 3D-scanning, generative modelling, digital fabrication and augmented-reality assembly. Outcomes establish techniques for urban-scale planning, site selection, tree-scale fitting, and nest-scale form-making. The findings demonstrate that computational modelling can (1) inform more-than-human design and (2) guide scientific data collection for more inclusive ecosystem management.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Le Roux, D., Ikin, K., Lindenmayer, D.B., Blanchard, W., Manning, A., Gibbons, P.: Reduced availability of habitat structures in urban landscapes: implications for policy and practice. Landsc. Urban Plan. 125, 57–64 (2014). https://doi.org/10/f55h66
Debus, S.J.S., Chafer, C.J.: The powerful owl Ninox strenua in New South Wales. Aust. Birds. 28, 21–38 (1994)
Hogan, F.E., Cooke, R.: Insights into the breeding behaviour and dispersal of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) through the collection of shed feathers. Emu-Austral Ornithol. 110, 178–184 (2010). https://doi.org/10/d2c6rt
Isaac, B., Cooke, R., Ierodiaconou, D., White, J.: Does urbanization have the potential to create an ecological trap for powerful owls (Ninox strenua)? Biol. Conserv. 176, 1–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10/f6c3zf
Cooke, R., Hogan, F., Isaac, B., Weaving, M., White, J.: Urbanization and raptors: trends and research approaches. In: Boal, C.W., Dykstra, C.R. (eds.) Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Cities, pp. 64–76. Island Press, Washington (2018)
McNabb, E., Greenwood, J.: A powerful owl disperses into town and uses an artificial nest-box. Aust. Field Ornithol. 28, 65–75 (2011)
Larson, E.R., Eastwood, J.R., Buchanan, K.L., Bennett, A.T.D., Berg, M.L.: Nest box design for a changing climate: the value of improved insulation. Ecol. Manag. Restor. 19, 39–48 (2018). https://doi.org/10/gfgb8t
Bradsworth, N., White, J.G., Isaac, B., Cooke, R.: Species distribution models derived from citizen science data predict the fine scale movements of owls in an urbanizing landscape. Biol. Conserv. 213, 27–35 (2017). https://doi.org/10/gbxrkb
Cooke, R., Grant, H., Ebsworth, I., Rendall, A.R., Isaac, B., White, J.G.: Can owls be used to monitor the impacts of urbanisation? A cautionary tale of variable detection. Wildl. Res. 44, 573–841 (2017)
State Government of Victoria: NaturePrint: Strategic Biodiversity Values. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Melbourne (2018)
Carter, N., Cooke, R., White, J.G., Whisson, D., Isaac, B., Bradsworth, N.: Joining the dots: how does an apex predator move through an urbanizing landscape? Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 17, 1–12 (2019). https://doi.org/10/gfw2jf
State Government of Victoria: Strategic Biodiversity Values. http://maps.biodiversity.vic.gov.au/viewer/?viewer=NatureKit
Atlas of Living Australia: Occurrence Records Map. https://www.ala.org.au/
Newton, I., Kavanagh, R., Olsen, J., Taylor, I. (eds.): Ecology and Conservation of Owls. CSIRO, Collingwood (2002)
Webster, A., Cooke, R., Jameson, G., Wallis, R.: Diet, roosts and breeding of powerful owls Ninox strenua in a disturbed, urban environment: a case for cannibalism? Or a case of infanticide? Emu 99, 80–83 (1999). https://doi.org/10/chg6xn
City of Melbourne: Urban Forest Visual
University of Melbourne: Tree and Plant Data. https://sustainablecampus.unimelb.edu.au/key-areas/campus-grounds/urban-forest-data
City of Melbourne: Open Data Portal. https://data.melbourne.vic.gov.au
McNabb, E.: Observations on the biology of the powerful owl Ninox strenua in Southern Victoria. Aust. Bird Watch. 17, 267–295 (1996)
Goldingay, R.: Characteristics of tree hollows used by Australian birds and bats. Wildl. Res. 36, 394–409 (2009). https://doi.org/10/c338hx
Gibbons, P., Lindenmayer, D.B.: Tree Hollows and Wildlife Conservation in Australia. CSIRO, Collingwood (2002)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Roudavski, S., Parker, D. (2020). Modelling Workflows for More-than-Human Design: Prosthetic Habitats for the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua). In: Gengnagel, C., Baverel, O., Burry, J., Ramsgaard Thomsen, M., Weinzierl, S. (eds) Impact: Design With All Senses. DMSB 2019. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29829-6_43
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29829-6_43
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29828-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29829-6
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)