Proposed doctoral thesis outline

Working document — proposed outline and development programme for the GTI doctoral project.

This is an English overview of Cuprins propus pentru TD GTI IIM. Proposed thresholds, standards, software and sites described in that document are research and development proposals, rather than adopted standards or completed outputs.

Proposed thesis structure

Introduction: context, research problem, objectives, hypotheses and relevance.
Theoretical framework: therapeutic gardens, permaculture, sustainable design, EcoDesign, EcoInnovation, ethical and symbolic frameworks, plant communication and passive greenhouse concepts.
Methodology: comparative pilots and a control, implementation methods, horticultural and ecological measurements, wellbeing questionnaires and life-cycle assessment.
Prototype: initial planting, monitoring over two growing seasons, possible greenhouse extension and photographic/GIS documentation.
Results: plant performance, maintenance inputs, water use, biodiversity, user wellbeing and comparison with the control.
Discussion: interpretation, limits, risks and revision of the hypotheses.
Proposed GTI specification: minimum requirements, design guidance, verification and adaptation to climate.
Conclusions and recommendations: practical applications, replication and dissemination.

Planting and seasonality

The proposed planting palette is structured in groundcover, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees. Examples include Thymus serpyllum, Fragaria vesca, mint, lavender, lemon balm, echinacea, yarrow, currants, roses, elder, birch, Scots pine and walnut. Local growing conditions, maintenance, plant compatibility and suitability for users remain part of the design assessment. The document aims for successive seasonal interest rather than one short flowering period.

Digital and open-source proposals

The suggested website includes an introduction, project specification, practical handbook, plant information, a configurator, sensor data, a map of replicated gardens and contact facilities. A mobile application might provide QR information, a visit diary and experimental plant-sonification content. The proposed repository separates documentation, plans, species information, IoT software, monitoring data and licences. These are planned components.

Development model

The garden is described as modular and scalable: small planting modules, medium gardens and larger institutional sites. Establishment, maturation and seasonal adaptation are treated as distinct stages. The document separates the horticultural foundation from exploratory studies involving geometry, plant communication, passive greenhouses and digital tools.

Proposed specification and checklist

The Romanian document includes a draft labelled GTI (IIM)-S:2026. It proposes:

a 10 m² minimum complete module and a modular design;
at least three vegetation layers and three successive flowering or fruiting periods;
targets of at least 70% perennial species, 30% plants described as therapeutic and 20% ornamentals; these categories may overlap;
soil assessment, organic amendments, mulching and low-water irrigation;
local or recyclable construction materials and life-cycle assessment;
garden stages of 0–3 months, 3–12 months and 1–3 years;
a mature-maintenance target below 45 minutes per week per 50 m²;
monitoring of plant establishment, mortality, ground cover, biodiversity, water and energy use;
assessment of user wellbeing, including proposed WHO-5 and PSS-10 measures;
design plans, a species list, maintenance instructions, user guidance and an annual report.

These numerical values are draft project targets. Their feasibility and validity require assessment. The draft's reference to a national standard expresses an ambition, not evidence of formal adoption.

Intended outputs

A documented prototype; a proposed specification and checklist; a practical handbook; design plans; an open-source repository; a public portal; and research publications. The complete Romanian document includes the draft checklist tables and further implementation details.

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