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Extreme Climate Control Membrane Structures

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Macro-Engineering

Part of the book series: Water Science and Technology Library ((WSTL,volume 54))

Abstract

We consider some of the implications of the radical macro-engineering efforts in medium-to-long-term future of humanity. In addition to a particular macro-project of Earth, the ‘‘Air Bag’’ Shell based, in part, on the inspiration drawn from Yves Klein’s austere visionary ‘‘Architecture of the Air’’, we discuss some ramifications of such a wraparound effect endeavor for humanity’s prospects and its cultural outlook, including studio and outdoor art forms. Essentially, we propose an inflated building macro-project to protect Earth from some threats (small asteroids, solar flares, molecular clouds in space) posed by its unaltered trajectory through interplanetary and interstellar space. This ‘‘shell-forming’’ can also be applied to other planets and smaller solid bodies, and can be understood as a generalization of the conventional terraforming. Applied to our planet, it would be a traveling ‘‘hibernaculum’’ for humans in which weather, local time is unimportant and humankind encumbers the Earth with a light touch

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geographos, 1300 West Olive Avenue, Suite M, Burbank, California, 91506-2225, USA

    Richard Brook Cathcart

  2. Astronomical Observatory, Volgina 7, 11160, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milan M. Ćirković

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  1. Richard Brook Cathcart
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  2. Milan M. Ćirković
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania

    Viorel Badescu

  2. Geographos, Burbank, California, U.S.A

    Richard B. Cathcart

  3. Utrecht University, The Netherlands

    Roelof D. Schuiling

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Cathcart, R.B., Ćirković, M.M. (2006). Extreme Climate Control Membrane Structures. In: Badescu, V., Cathcart, R.B., Schuiling, R.D. (eds) Macro-Engineering. Water Science and Technology Library, vol 54. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4604-9_9

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