Stabilized Lichen Vertical Garden Support System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical gardens face challenges such as complex installation, high maintenance requirements, structural load issues due to heavy soil, constant nutrient renewal, and specific lighting needs, making them difficult to implement and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A support system using stabilized natural lichen that does not require irrigation, phyto-stimulating light, or maintenance, applied to various surfaces using a method involving mechanical stabilization and non-toxic resin or silicone-based casting to create a lightweight, flexible, and durable lichen tile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vertical gardens use soil and complex irrigation systems, then plants can grow properly, but the structure becomes extremely complex and requires constant maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex irrigation system, soil layer, and automated fertilization system from traditional vertical gardens. Instead, it uses a lightweight felt layer for water storage and a simple drip irrigation system, removing unnecessary complexity while maintaining plant growth functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical garden system is designed to be self-sufficient with water storage capability in the felt layer, automatic drip irrigation without complex controls, and self-contained fertilization through compost placement. The system serves itself without requiring external complex infrastructure.
2Reliability
If vertical gardens use natural soil, then plants grow naturally, but the weight is extremely heavy and may cause structural damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the growing medium by replacing dense natural soil with a lightweight felt layer that can store water. This parameter change reduces the weight from potentially hundreds of kilograms per square meter to a fraction of that weight, while maintaining the ability to support plant growth through alternative water retention mechanisms.
3Reliability
If vertical gardens use automated irrigation systems, then water supply is optimal, but the system requires periodic checking and rebuilding
Solution Approach 1:
The felt layer automatically absorbs and retains water, providing continuous moisture to plants without requiring complex automated pumps or controllers. The system self-regulates water distribution through capillary action and gravity-driven drip irrigation, eliminating the need for periodic checking and rebuilding of complex mechanical systems.
4Reliability
If vertical gardens are designed for optimal plant growth, then specific artificial light is essential, but the system becomes more complex and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex artificial lighting system from the vertical garden design. Instead of installing energy-consuming LED panels or grow lights, the system relies on natural light availability, eliminating the need for additional energy infrastructure while still supporting plant growth in locations where sufficient natural light reaches the plants.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the creation of low-maintenance, stable vertical gardens that can be applied to any surface, including inclined or curved surfaces, with no need for periodic pruning or fertilization, maintaining optimal growth conditions without structural damage.
Implementation Method 1
The mixture which is cast in said die is completely free of toxic substances and, in a first alternative, is made up of a synthetic resin mix with natural water as carrier or with suitable additive to obtain coloration, additional functions or smells
Implementation Method 2
In order to be maintained in optimal conditions, said lichen has to be arranged in ambients with a relative humidity not lower than 30-40%
Implementation Method 3
The process of stabilizing and coloring is provided by means of non-toxic substances, which maintain the lichen completely natural and give it antibacterial and fire-retardant properties
Implementation Method 4
The process of stabilizing and coloring is provided by means of non-toxic substances, which maintain the lichen completely natural and give it antibacterial and fire-retardant properties
Data Source
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AI summary
Support (1) to provide vertical gardens characterized by a stabilized natural lichen (2) on the surface of the same, which does not need any maintenance, and methods to provide the support itself.