Name Alfred Bernhart Died 2008 | Role Writer | |
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Professor Alfred P. Bernhart (1914–2008) was an Austrian-born Canadian urbanist, writer and engineer. Ever concerned for the well being of the planet, Bernhart developed three key theories. They are his theories on Evapotranspiration, Societal Values and Metropolis 2025. In 1976 he concentrated his efforts to improving peoples’ quality of life in its entirety rather than in customary compartmentalization. For example, “use” of the fertilizing power of effluent water for the growth of valuable vegetation, rather than mere “disposal” as damage control.
Contents
Career
Bernhart earned his Diplom-Ingenieur in 1936 and Doctor of Science in 1950 from the Technical University of Gratz. He then emigrated to Canada in 1951 as an environmental engineer for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In 1954 he started his own consulting firm which he maintained in Toronto until 2008. He was on the Engineering Professorial Staff, University of Toronto (1959 to 1976), and a consultant for environmental problems (1954 to 2008) on 150 projects in 22 countries. Invited by colleagues and former students to speak to their universities, he went on a lecture tour to the Orient in 1968.
Recognition
For the presentation of his theory of seven dimensions, he earned the Medal of Honor, 1966, University of Geneva, Italy and the Heinemann Prize 1969, Universities of Braunschweig and Hanover, Germany, which included nomination for the Nobel prize.
Our Values: Past, Present, Future,
Bernhart’s 2008 book Our Values: Past, Present, Future is dedicated to enlightened people who accept the emerging constellations of values – and act accordingly. It describes his seven dimensions. of human perceptions and abilities and how each generates a group of value judgments. The seven dimensions explained:
1) Human reaction to Distance
The first dimension: length, is perceived as distance between two points, objects or people. Distance is of declining value due to the advancement of communication technology
2) Human response to Area
In the second dimension: width combines with length to create area. This is important to sustain life. Bernhart sees area too as having a declining value due to the growing desire for togetherness.
3) Human perception of Height
Height is an important tool to accommodate many people while maintaining their need for close interactions.
4) Human experience of Time
We evaluate time as being passed enjoyably, unpleasantly that its passing is stimulating or boring. This is distinctly different from time’s cosmic aspects by which the fourth dimension drives the cosmos.
5) Human enjoyment of Life
The value of the quality of life, guided by the intellectual aspect of the fifth dimension, - will lead to a steady, no longer explosive increase in global population and all will enjoy a satisfactory life.
6) Human desire for Togetherness
Values of sharing will form the credo of the emerging society, and will bring mankind a unified language as well as an all-encompassing spiritual concept.
7) Human fulfillment by Creative
Thinking Prerogative of humanity, the supreme gift of creative thinking, through which humanity achieved its superior position among living beings,- drives the satisfying expansion of knowledge, with its simultaneous refinement of value judgments.
Evapotranspiration
Tying into Alfred Bernhart’s seven dimensions of human perceptions and abilities the change in values leads to changes in views on the disposal of waste water to views on the use of effluent water and its nutrients.
Evapotranspiration of effluent water combined with uptake of oxidized nutrient substances is the best method of “use” (not disposal) of organically polluted effluents because the method adheres best to the cycle of nature. In this cycle, human and animal excreta, as well as other organic materials, become nutrients for vegetation after microbial decomposition and oxidation. The resulting plant biomass produced by photosynthesis and stimulated by solar energy is, or should be, food for humans and animals.
Metropolis
Alfred Bernhart’s unfinished (2008) work Metropolis is based on seven dimensions of human perception. With the emergence of a “SHARING” society, replacing the fading industrial society a new value constellation evolves, which brings values arising from the sixth dimension of human conception: community in TOGETHERNESS to steeply rising guiding influence. The concepts of urban forms, - from the beginning responding to the power of the togetherness dimension, - result as multidimensional, intensely interactive metropolis.
Speaking engagements
Bernhart has presented his theories around the world, including:
Metropolis 2025 an idealized plan for a metropolis of 25 million people. New York, USA, 1967 City Planning Institute: Urban development of the Future.
Seven Dimensions of Human Perception and the values arising from them, leading into the spiritual realm. Kyoto,Japan, 1968 University seminar:
The complete cycle of biological growth and decay, including fossil fuel burning. Stockholm, Sweden, 1972 Global Conference on Environmental Balance:
Spaces of Sacrality referring to values of community versus values of area. Jerusalem, Israel, 1973 Conference on Religion and Environment.
Human Creativity as it affects prediction of the Future. Toronto, Canada, 1980 Global Congress of the Future Institute
The new Value of Sharing in this case of water, for peaceful cooperation of the Nations in North Africa Rabat, Morocco, 1991 Annual Conference of the International Water Institute