Introduction of Stabilized Earth Blocks - 3.2 | 5. Sociological and Psychological Aspects | Disaster Preparedness & Planning - Vol 4
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Socio-political Influences on Housing

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's talk about how homes were traditionally located in communities. Wealthy individuals often built their houses on elevated ground. Why do you think this was significant?

Student 1
Student 1

Maybe it was to show their social status?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! This elevation provided a view of the entire village, reinforcing their position in the community. After an earthquake, what do you think happened to these homes?

Student 2
Student 2

They might have been more damaged than other houses since they were older or built differently.

Teacher
Teacher

Right, and as people migrated away from these homes, they left many houses vulnerable to new occupants. This phenomenon raises questions about safety. What might be some risks for those living in these vacated homes?

Student 3
Student 3

They could collapse if there are aftershocks.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! We see that housing safety is crucial, especially in disaster-prone areas.

Student 4
Student 4

And what about the communal areas?

Teacher
Teacher

Great point! Schools and community resources like toilets were heavily impacted, leading to various challenges, including the loss of education.

Teacher
Teacher

To summarize, the socio-political landscape impacts housing significantly after disasters, often leaving vulnerable populations even more exposed to risks.

Introduction to Stabilized Earth Blocks

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s introduce a potential building solution: compressed stabilized earth blocks, or CSEBs. Why do you think we need new materials like these in post-disaster recovery?

Student 1
Student 1

To make homes safer and more affordable?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! CSEBs could provide a sustainable solution using local materials. What do you think they are made of?

Student 2
Student 2

Sand, clay, and maybe some kind of binder like cement?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Typically, 5-7% cement is added to stabilize the mixture. The blocks are mold-pressed instead of fired, making them eco-friendly and easier to produce quickly.

Student 3
Student 3

How are these blocks used in building?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! The interlocking design allows for vertical reinforcements, making buildings more stable in the event of an earthquake. Can anyone think of a scenario where such strength is beneficial?

Student 4
Student 4

In areas where earthquakes are common, it would help keep buildings standing!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! CSEBs can provide long-term security and comfort for families living in disaster-prone areas. Remember: safety and sustainability.

Community Response and Temporary Solutions

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Teacher
Teacher

After the earthquake, many schools were damaged, prompting a community response. What kind of temporary solutions did NGOs provide?

Student 1
Student 1

They set up temporary schools to continue education?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! NGOs constructed schools using materials like bamboo. This quick adaptation shows resilience. What materials would YOU suggest for building temporary schools?

Student 2
Student 2

Maybe something light yet waterproof, like tarpaulins?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! They also used gravel to keep floors dry during rains. It's all about building quick and effective solutions. Why do you think education is crucial even during disasters?

Student 3
Student 3

To ensure that kids don't fall behind in their studies?

Teacher
Teacher

Absolutely! Education helps maintain a sense of normalcy during chaotic times. To sum up, community resilience through adaptability is key during post-disaster recovery.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section explores the context of housing conditions post-earthquake, focusing on the challenges and innovations surrounding the use of stabilized earth blocks as a building material.

Standard

The section outlines the sociological elements influencing housing after a disaster, the unsafe conditions of existing structures, and the introduction of stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) as a solution. It highlights how these blocks can improve building safety and provide shelter for displaced individuals.

Detailed

Detailed Summary

This section examines the aftermath of an earthquake on residential structures and the socio-political factors influencing housing. It begins by discussing how wealthy residents typically built homes in elevated areas, showcasing social status within a community. Following a natural disaster, many houses became unsafe, leaving families displaced. The narrative emphasizes the societal impact on education and community resources, showing how local infrastructures like schools were destroyed, prompting NGOs to create temporary schools with bamboo materials.

The concept of stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) is introduced as a modern solution to rebuilding efforts, where sand, clay, and gravel are mixed with a small amount of cement to create strong, interlocking bricks. The process of making these blocks includes pressing the mixture into molds without firing them, allowing for rapid and efficient construction. The section concludes by discussing the importance of these methods not only in rebuilding homes but creating a sustainable housing model that could withstand future disasters.

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History and Context of Housing in Earthquake Areas

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And this whole house has been damaged but then if you look at the sociological and psychological aspects why these houses are located here, on the top of the ridge or the top of in a slightly higher area, it’s not a mountain area but slightly but if you ever looked from the rich houses villages, you will see the whole entire village. So, this is where the traditional, the landlords or the rich people who used to settle down on the top.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk introduces the conditions of housing in earthquake-prone areas and highlights the sociological factors behind why houses are built in specific locations. Typically, wealthier individuals often build their homes in elevated areas for better views and status. This practice influences the architectural styles and the vulnerability of these structures during disasters like earthquakes.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like choosing a spot for a picnic. You might choose a hilltop for a nice view, just like wealthier people chose higher land for their houses. However, during a storm, that hill might become more dangerous if it starts to flood.

Impact of Migration and Safety Concerns

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So, people who were not having any house to live there, so when these people have migrated to a different place because they could able to afford somewhere and they could able to live somewhere else. So, that is where this unsafe houses has become a shelter for the corridor between these two families has become a shelter for the homeless people, but the question is, is it really safe to live there?

Detailed Explanation

Here, we see the effects of migration on housing dynamics. As wealthier families move away from damaged neighborhoods, their abandoned houses often become temporary shelters for those who are homeless. This raises significant safety concerns as the structures may be compromised and not suitable for living, particularly in an area still experiencing aftershocks from earthquakes.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a playground where some kids leave their broken swings behind. If new kids come to play, they might try to use these broken swings, but they could get hurt because the swings are unsafe. Similarly, homeless families moving into damaged homes risk their safety.

Infrastructure After the Earthquake

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So, that is where the schools have been stopped for about one year, nearly one year. So, how about education, you know what to do, how we can engage the community and the children because you know that is also needed, what happens to the school education and where do we provide the school facilities and this is where many NGOs have came forward, many development agencies have came, they collaborated in different forms as I am not going in detail about how differently they have collaborated.

Detailed Explanation

Post-earthquake, many schools were closed for almost a year due to damage. This severe disruption created a pressing need for alternative education solutions, prompting NGOs and other development organizations to step in. They offer support by providing temporary facilities or establishing new educational programs, highlighting the importance of education even in times of crisis.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a town where a tornado damaged all the schools, forcing the children to stay home. In response, community volunteers might gather to set up makeshift classrooms in parks or community centers, ensuring that kids can continue learning despite the chaos.

Emergence of Temporary Schools

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This is a school, a temporary school, which has been constructed to provide some education facilities for the people who does not have school, I mean at least from the neighborhood areas and you can see that the kind of linear pattern has been organized to organize the school and this is the interior of a bamboo classroom but now the question is, yes they are good at least bamboo has been supplied.

Detailed Explanation

In response to the lack of educational facilities, temporary schools made of bamboo were constructed. These schools are organized in a linear pattern to optimize space and facilitate the movement of students and teachers. The use of bamboo is noteworthy as it is a fast-growing, sustainable material that can be easily assembled.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine setting up a tent in your backyard for a party when it rains. You use whatever you have—maybe some bamboo poles and a tarp—to create a fun temporary space. Similarly, communities built schools out of bamboo to keep education going despite the challenges.

Construction of Stabilized Earth Blocks

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So, where center for earth unit in the Auroville Center has actually transferred some rammed earth and as well the compressed stabilized, here we call it as CSEB, compressed stabilized earth block... So, that is a kind of composition through which they developed these stabilized earth blocks which are about in a square shape and this is called Aurum press.

Detailed Explanation

This chunk introduces the technology of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), which is used for constructing durable housing. For effective stability, these blocks are made of a specific mix of soil, sand, clay, and a small percentage of cement. This design helps create strong interlocking structures essential for earthquake resilience.

Examples & Analogies

Think of making a cake. You mix flour, sugar, and eggs in the right proportions to make it fluffy and tasty. Similarly, by combining earth materials correctly, builders can create durable blocks that are strong enough to withstand natural disasters.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Stabilized Earth Blocks: Eco-friendly construction materials made from local earth that provide strength and sustainability.

  • Social Status and Housing: The impact of income disparities on housing and community architecture.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • A community utilizing bamboo and tarpaulins to create temporary structures as schools in post-earthquake recovery.

  • Use of compressed stabilized earth blocks in constructing homes that can better withstand seismic activity.

Memory Aids

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🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Blocks of earth, strong and neat, help us build a safe retreat.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • In a village shaken by earth’s might, homes once proud crumbled in fright. But resilient hearts came together to weave new homes, light as a feather.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember 'CSEB': Clay, Sand, Earth, Binder for safe building.

🎯 Super Acronyms

CSEB

  • Create Safe
  • Earth-bound Buildings.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Stabilized Earth Blocks

    Definition:

    Blocks made from a mixture of earth materials stabilized with a small percentage of cement, used in constructing buildings.

  • Term: CSEB

    Definition:

    Compressed Stabilized Earth Block; a type of building block used for sustainable construction.

  • Term: Social Status

    Definition:

    The position or rank of individuals within a social hierarchy.