(Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry ; July 17, 2012)

The Termite Mound (plate 4) study has revealed the energy saving for air-conditioning. The mound structure and the air circulation has inspired the architects develop ‘green design’. Termite Mound has given us the concept of energy conservation in architecture construction.

It is observed that the Compass Termite helps the tracker to identify the direction because of their structural orientation. 

“The compass termite (Amitermes meridionalis & A. laurensis) which build tall wedge-shaped mounds with the long axis oriented approximately north–south which gives them their alternative name of compass termites. This orientation has been experimentally shown to assist thermoregulation. ...This allows the compass termites to live in poorly drained areas where other species would be caught between a choice of baking or drowning. The column of hot air rising in the aboveground mounds helps drive air circulation currents inside the subterranean network. The structure of these mounds can be quite complex.”
(Ref. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termite ; July 18, 2012)

Plate 5A Safety Strap	5B Slip on Plastic Brace	5C Velcro Mechanism

Velcro is a popular product accessory that is attached in numerous products. It has literally replaced the traditional zipping mechanism in many products. “The product’s inventor George de Mestral stumbled upon the idea by observing how burrs stuck to his dog’s fur and his clothing. By mimicking the small hooks of the burrs, he was able to develop the product we now know as Velcro.”
(Ref. http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/biomimicry.html ; July 18, 2012)