F o o d S t o r a g e U n d e r g r o u n d Wa r e h o u s e

A concept to succeed

Table of Contents
Future foood storage......................................................................3
Going underground.......................................................................4
Why a shell structure?...................................................................5
Warehouse safety...........................................................................6
Automated design storage.............................................................7
A warehouse control system..........................................................8
Insipired by nature.........................................................................9
Theres no easy way........................................................................11
New future buildings.....................................................................12

Future food storage

food is clearly a critical dimension to be managed. While the ways to renovate and renovate
are many in todays industry trends show a clear
preference in three key-areas, energy efficiency,
labor efficient automation and the newest improvement in facility design that provide fast and
efficient packaging, storage and distribution of
goods in the warehouse. The proposed developroviding food has been a major concern throughout history and developing ment of the new design concept for a Food Storage Warehouse is occurring facing new concern
solutions for producing, transporting
related with sustainable development, energy
and preservation of food allowed civilizations
efficiency and emerging building technologies
to thrive and develop. Although major breakthroughs in ensuring food came with the inten- in construction industry. We are in a point that
will allow us to change the way building a strucsive mechanization and biotechnology of agriture is seen driving be new development in areas
culture, individuals all over the world still face
like car-making, ship building, manufacturing
problems accessing safe and nutritious food to
industry and 3D printing. The aim of this project
meet their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life. Developing coun- is not only to offer a sustainable design for food
storage but also to put in question the emerging
tries face new challenges like land degradation,
climate change, agriculture diseases, water crisis technologies for planning, building and maintain
and a growing population whose demands must a new construction. In order to ensure food secuhave to be meet. But also the mature countries in rity and for all individuals more sustainable food
Europe and USA are focusing in developing new storage warehouses must be develop.Technology
advancements combined with the latest demands
technology to tighten efficiency, provide benefits related to health and safety, energy efficiency in the food and beverage supply chain are perpetual non-stop motion.
and automation of services. Improving the pre
and post-harvest condition and shelf life of raw

Going underground

ellars and basement have traditionally

been the storage spaces where perishable goods wine and ice could be
kept for long periods. Thats because earth offers a good insulation both on winter and summer. These days basement are used primary for
parking cars and transportation. Thus the main
advantage of underground structures is energy efficiency; preservation is a better deal than
production. Underground buildings can help
reduce the energy demand by using beneficial
soil temperatures and large amount of earth cover as insulation. Studies have showed that underground buildings can almost be considered
zero-energy buildings as the annual energy demand is near zero. Moreover, low annual energy
demands for these underground building cases,
can be seen in a range of climates with highest
benefits in arid climates. Another factor in saving energy through earth sheltering is the reduction of infiltrated outside air; heat loss can often
be attributed to air infiltration. Because of this
the proposed the building design is an almost
full underground structure where the air circulation is fully controlled and monitored. There
are several drawbacks to underground storage
warehouses such like; high ventilation, spatial
orientation, evacuation problems or indoor air
quality. Small room and narrow corridors un4

derground could contribute to many negative

effects such as claustrophobia, lack of orientation
and lack of connection with the outside world.
This problems can be address be providing a
better design solutions. Firstly the food storage
warehouse will be fully automated requiring less
personnel to be operated and maintain located in the upper levels of the building facilitating easy access to evacuation zones in cases of
emergencies. The sense of space created by high
ceiling and glass partitions as well as providing
natural light proves the basic framework for the
interior design elements. Secondly, high ventilation demand can be seen like an advantage in
controlling the temperature of the storage warehouse and providing a tool for a better managing
the climate conditions. Another main advantage
of using underground structures is preservation
of surface spaces by requiring small footprint.
In many cases underground spaces results from
lack of surface spaces or location problems. This
can be the case in newly urban conglomerates
forming in developing countries as well as developed countries. The challenges for mature
markets are labor rates still relatively high and
unavailability of land especially in Europe. Furthermore with the rise of land price using underground structures always a good choice.

Why a shell structure?

shell structure is a particular and interesting structure from

several points of view. Because of their free space that they
provide shells are highly efficient and architecturally pleasing
structures. There are lots of possibilities and freedom regarding the design of the interior spaces of the building. The main advantage that sell
structure possess is that shell resist loads mainly through their geometry,
the most structured system is one that counts both horizontal and vertical elements. Grid shell are also inexpensive construction solution, since
less material is used, a grid shell is a less expensive structure offering
possibilities regarding operation of the building. Typically price is closely related to the size of the members used and the choice of section. The
price is a determining factor to assess the constructability of a structure.
Furthermore the erection of the building is extremely rapid since no additions need to be done to the primary structure. Unlike typical buildings
where the horizontal beams and vertical columns provide both support
for structures weight and the strength and stiffness needed to resist lateral forces the shell structures can carry loads mainly through membrane

tension with no need by any additional structural elements therefore permeating large open spaces and facades. Nevertheless, shell structures are
not a common architectural choice for buildings. That is because the grid
system must be flexible enough so can deform during the construction
phase. The most largely used materials in construction industry, concrete
and steel cannot bend easily. To allow the transformation to take place,
the grid surface must be deformable. The erection process of the grid
shell entirely relies on the quality of the nodes. The development of more
performing computers programs, the growing interest in 3D printing
technology and accessibility of new materials can make shell structures to
be a common choise.
It is remarkable to notice how one structural concept can lead to so
many innovations in terms of design methods, material, use , construction technology. After over forty years of under representation in the
building environment, the development of grid shell structures has taken
a shift.

Never forget earthquakes

nderground structures have several intrinsic advantages in resisting earthquakes motions as they are less affected by seismic wave. In general
inertial forces (acceleration) are lower for underground structures. Seismic vulnerability is better correlated with ground velocity than peak
ground acceleration. The response and the seismic vulnerability of an underground structure is controlled by the imposed seismic ground
deformation and not by the inertial forces. The structural oscillation effects are limited since they are constrained to move with ground motion. Besides,
as they are designed to support important ground loads, they often can better resist earthquake loadings.

Wa r e h o u s e s a f e t y ; k e e p t h i s p l a c e c l e a n a n d o r d e r l y

very year accidents occur while goods are being stacked or

destacked. Many of these accidents are being serious-some
even fatal. Is a real need to develop safe and efficient methods
for stacking and storage. A safe, orderly, efficient warehouse is a key to
a successful operation. The warehouse plays an essential role in the way
goods are sent, receive, stored and circulated throughout the facility.
With so much going on and so much to keep track of, a warehouse also
have more potential for accidents than areas with more limited functions. So its important to pay close attention to safety. To completely
eliminate this problem the food storage must be fully automated. The
vision is that of an warehouse system where humans interacts with
robots in achieve a more productive and intelligent way of delivering
food.

Automate d design storage

he food storage (warehouse) has long been a key component of the supply chain. Food storage is important not only for providing better conditions conserving food but also the capacity to fill orders in a timely manner. The ideal is to design every possible ordering request. Packing
and stacking has long been a teasing problem for the mathematicians who somehow fail to capture much certain knowledge. The problem arise
from the question how can you find the optimal solution in arranging most densely in space an infinite number of equal solids of a given form. The
question must sound trivial but the solution is far more complex. This frustration was not shared by computer scientists, whose more rough-and-ready
tactics have found many practical results. The use of mathematical algorithms is key to finding a correct solution. Even if we find the correct mathematical solution the reality is more complex. The warehouse food storage is dynamic with the need to adapt to changing market opportunities, competitive
pressures, technology and others variables especially those unforeseen. Using an automated system will guarantee that the final requirements will be
achieved. The system envisioned is an automated system operated by robots. The diagonal wooden grid that stores the pallets accessible only be the robots thus make it safer to operate. The robots pick, organize and store the pallets in logical system. One of the key factors to reduce the picking-time per
unit for the system is that the robots always make sure that high-runners(often used pallets are place at the top levels) of the grid, whereas low-runner(less used pallets) are placed at the lower level of the grid. Another factor that the robots consider in organizing the grid are the conditions necessary

A Wa r e h o u s e C o n t r o l S y s t e m
The Brain of the Operation

for preserving the food. Therefore the frozen food

is stored at the low levels of the building in contradiction to dry and fresh food which is stored at higher
levels. The system also consists of conveyors that make
easy the transport and sorting of the bins. The grid
is a wooden structure organized diagonally for more
energy efficiency and flexibility in use. Wood is used
as material for building the grid because is accessible,
ecological material and offers sufficient resistance for
supporting the pallets. The stiffness of the structure is
provided by the compact overall design. In spite of the
fact that the food storage warehouse will be fully automated with picking robots coordinated by complex algorithms for more productivity the warehouse will still
be planned by the working staff who will be the brain
of the operation. The Warehouse control system will be
located at the top level of the building by facilitating an
easy way for carriers to deliver and shipping the food.
The area above the warehouse will be a parking lot for
better use of the land.

Delivering fast food

n important part of the food industry faces problems not only in the producing and
preserving the food but also in distribution
segment. Rising costs, changing consumers habits, legal and environment pressures are driving people to
implement new processes simple to keep up. Because
the warehouses are a critical component of the supply
chain, they require a detailed planning process to ensure clockwork operation. Collecting data quality and
accurate trading will lead to an efficient material flow
of food increasing the speed and material handling
combined with less manpower reducing the number of
shifts in the operation. The easy way in planning and
supervision, allowing tracking and tracing current location and status of the food in the supply chain will
lead to fewer added costs by speeding and anticipating
the demands of the market. It makes great sense to cut
waste and shorten the time between production and
consumption.

Inspired by nature

he development in industrial refrigeration has always been with the important

objective of reducing electric power consumption. Optimal temperature range
for perishable food storage is 3 to 5 oC. Unfortunately this meant using refrigerants with negative impact concerning the environment. Fluorocarbon refrigerants impact the environment by ozone layer depletion and global warming. In spite of the fact
that in resents years many researchers developed a new range of refrigerants with minimal environmental impact this remains a concern especially in the developing countries. Perhaps we must find different solutions for keeping a low temperature for storing
food, a cleaner, safer, performance way of doing things. Nature has always proved to be
a better architect, providing with better solution than humans. Consider this example:
termite mounds such as those of the Macrotermes michaelseni exist in environments
where the external temperature varies from 35F at night to 104F during the day, but
the mounds themselves maintain a constant internal temperature within one degree of
87 F, day and night. Hundreds of thousands of years of evolution perfected the mounds
tunnels and air conduits to create a self-cooling ventilation system. This may be a model
to follow. It turns out that termite mounds operate on a system of convection currents
that suck air at the lower part of the mound down at the button and then up to the top.
The ducts are open and closed by termites digging new vents and plugging up old ones.
A system of channels and ducts circulates air through the mount. The passages run

through area of the mount that have walls that are porous or have
tiny ventilation holes. The pores act as fresh air ventilation and
stale air exhaust. The supply and return system performs solely on
heat and gravity with no moving parts. Underground wells supply
the termite mound with source of water and a source for cooling
the interior. The peaks and towers of the termites nest act as lungs
that expel rising hot air, which is generated by the breaking down
of the fecal comb by the fungus. The air then rises via a large central air duct, and moves up through the long porous chimneys. The
carbon dioxide in the air then diffuses to the outside, while oxygen
diffuses into the chimneys. The oxygenated air eventually loses its
heat to the cooler outside air and cools sinking down into the cellar. Such an ingenious HVAC system is necessary for the survival
of some three million termites to a single colony.
his principles are used at Eastgate building in Harare,
Zimbabwe, the countrys largest office block and shopping
center fallowing the same air-vent strategy as the termites. At Eastgate fans on the first floor suck in outside air and the
push it up along a central spire, venting it through chimneys at the
top. The building also introduces a principle that we have seen in
previous case studies such as German Reichstag. All of these designs utilize the principles of thermal movement in order to create
cross ventilation which can naturally cool a building. The result is
a building that needs no air conditioning, minimal heating and a
reduction on construction and maintenance costs.

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T h e r e s n o e a s y w a y
Back to the basics

lthough mechanism of which termites self-regulated nest works might be explained using a thermosiphon model in which the heat produced by the metabolism in the mound
produces a buoyance effect within the nest and that flow was induced by the wind passing over the open chimneys and drawing air in from openings nearer the base of the mound, this is
not completing completely true. The same model using passive system for climate control based on
gradients was used in designing the Eastgate building. However this simple model proved to reduce
the cost with ventilation and energy use is not adequately describes the ventilation and gas exchange
processes in a termite nest. The Eastgate is not equipped with porous walls or vents that open and
close depending on the fresh air required. The proposed new model describes the mound as an organ for the exchange of respiratory gases. Ventilation in the nest is driven by the tempered variation
in wind so is tidal not circulatory. Instead of designing for a standard natural ventilation strategy
such as cross-flow or single-sided ventilation, we might design a wind capture device that acts as a
gas exchange system, so that stale air and fresh air mix within a chamber that is connected to the occupied space, surface conduits and a porous outer membrane. Fluctuations in wind speed and direction then produce tidal flow. Conduits of varying sizes could be included so that the system is tuned
to varying wind frequencies. The device could be shaped so that wind is captured in all directions.

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Buildings may be constructed

by swarms of tiny robots
Neri Oxman, Associate professor of media arts and science

New Future Buildings

uilding a shell structure with porous wall is a challenging task even impossible regarding todays building technology. For a shell structure the components must be flexible
enough so that can deform during the construction phase. Materials like concrete and
steel cannot bend easily. Construction industry, buildings and infrastructure remain to be the
most expensive and slowly produced goods in our society. Nevertheless new rapid manufacturing
and free-form fabrication techniques make it feasible in the near future for this kind of structures
to be build. 3D and small robots used to manipulate small prefabricated elements will be a major
innovative step for sustainable building providing architects and engineers new radical tools for
questioning the codes and practices.

Construction technology

he new building technologies

will be the next tool for building more efficient, fast and intelligent. Throughout the history since
romans invented roman concrete, many
architectural and engineering achievements have come after the advanced in
construction building technology. With
todays methods is extremely difficult to
build shell structures and even more interconnected porous shell frames. Thats why
I believe in new opportunities that 3D
printing will offer.
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How far since judgment day?

ogether with development in 3D printing new possibilities will arise to adopt new structural systems in codes and
guidelines, like shell structures. Shell structures will require less manpower and skilled workers to the point that
most of the work will be performed by tiny robots. Even though is still unclear who printing the building will develop, like giant 3D printings or like swarms of tiny robots I incline to believe that the future homes will be build be armies
of small, practical, useful robots. The food storage will be made of small frames that will be assembled by robots more like
a lego building but unlike the frames that compose curtain walls there will have an important structural and functional
role.

The porous surface

One last final thought

he porous surface will be a game changer feature of the building allowing two main functions. Firstly it will allow expelling
of rising hot air. Secondly it will suck air from the outside for
evaporative cooling the building. More like as human skin the porous
surface will play an important role not only protecting the building
against outside loads but also regulating the temperature. The simple
principle that evaporative cooling works is that while water is evaporated, energy is lost from the air, reducing the temperature. The inside
shell membrane will act like an evaporative pad that will cool the inside
air keeping the food fresh and humidity at levels desired. The evaporation of water will require a large quantity of water provided by borehole
drilling. A water reservoir will be located at the top levels for a better
circulation of water. Unlike typical buildings where ventilation ducts
are located in the ceilings the storage food warehouse ventilation will
be achieved through ducts carved in the porous structure of the frame
shells. Warmer air will be push through a central spire.

or finding a better solution by problems that we are faced we

must adopt a new more complex design principles. Using and
improving staking algorithms or by printing a range a new materials it will help us breaking the boundaries in building ones again
after industrial revolution this time assisted by technologies like advanced computers design software, 3D printing or automation. The early adopters of these technologies will be the ones will benefit the most

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References
Bejan, A., 1997, Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics, 2nd
Chappels, H., 2010, Comfort, well-being and socio-technical dynamics of everyday life, Intelligent Buildings International
Mark Worall ,2014, Intelligent Buildings International, Homeostasis in nature: Nest building termites and intelligent buildings
J. Scott Turner*, 2001, On the Mound of Macrotermes michaelseni as an Organ of Respiratory Gas Exchange
J Scott Turner and Rupert C Soar, 2008, Beyond biomimicry: What termites can tell us about realizing the living building.
Henrik Holmberg, 1990, Analysis of Geo-Energy System with Focus on Borehole Thermal Energy Storage
Jens Petter Ryseth, Geir Fjermestad Rolandsen, Jonas Lye Scheie, Preben Grssereid and Zheng Lee, 2012, Bachelor Thesis - AutoStore
Gontikaki, M., Trcka, M., Hensen, J.L.M. & Hoes, P. (2010). Optimization of a solar chimney design to enhance natural ventilation in a
multi-storey office building.
Proceedings of 10th International Conference for Enhanced Building Operations, Kuwait: ICEBO.
Shan K. Wang, Handbook Of Air Conditioning And Refrigeration
Chris van Dronkelaar, 2013, Masters thesis Underground buildings
Thomas Bock (Prof. Prof. h. c./SRSTU Dr.-Ing./Univ.Tokio), Christos Georgoulas (Dr.-Ing.), Thomas Linner (Dipl.-Ing.) Advanced Construction and
Building Technology for Society
Celine Paoli, 2007, Past and Future of Grid Shell Structures
Kyriazis Pitilakis ,Sotiris Argyroudis and Grigoris Tsinidis, Seismic Design and Risk Assessment of Underground Long Structures
The 3D model was design in Revit 2013