Industrial - Bachelors

Beeway System

A portable combination bee hotel and miniature native garden. In order to mitigate the damage that monoculture farming activities causes to native pollinator species and their habitats, the Beeway system aims to bridge the gaps between habitat fragments as well as reintroduce native biodiversity to agricultural spaces.

Mack Tobin

The System in Action

About this Project

Features

An animated diagram of Beeway units, caravan-trailer sized beehouses, places across a field with bees flying between

Purpose

Benway units are designed to work in tandem, able to be driven out and deployed across fields, taking up a small amount of space thanks to their small footprint. By being deployed in either a grid or chain-like formation, Beeways provide native bees with resting and feeding infrastructure, allowing them to travel further across fields. This not only leads to the more effective pollination of crops but also native species along the edges of habitats, preventing further degradation.
The rear side of the Beeway unit, fitted with a water and fertiliser tank
The flowerbeds that line the side pods of Beeways can be loaded with a variety of native flora, providing bees with a diverse diet which has been found to improve their health and pollination quality, while providing pollen to many native species in surrounding natural bushland. The material of frames are also interchangeable to accommodate different bee species. Beeway units are fitted with large, gravity-fed water and fertiliser tanks able to supply water and nutrients for up to a year without needing to be replenished. Fed to the flowerbeds by hidden tubing, the flow rate of both water and fertiliser can be adjusted to suit the current flora. A tight mesh lining each side pod holds down the soil and plants during transport while allowing soil and plants to breathe.

Value

In order to provide value to farmers, Beeway units have been constructed from cheap yet durable materials and many prefabricated components. While providing pollination to native bushland, Beeways also promote the effective pollination of crops. Many
features make it easier to use, such as a standardised 50mm trailer mount, and gas support struts to ease the lowering of side pods. With the option of renting out Beeways seasonally or purchasing for full-time use, Beeways are a flexible solution for farmers no matter what their need may be.

Renders

Model Development

Mack Tobin

Mack is a designer with a passion for environmentally sustainable design and alternative materials. With a strong knowledge of 3D printing & rapid manufacturing, he prefers a hands-on, physical approach to design development, creating highly-detailed prototypes that can be continually refined & improved.