Quake-resistant Housing (USA)
South Asia Research Institute for Policy and Development (SARID), a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts seeks to bridge the gap between “scholarship and policymaking,” by being an information resource and guide to development strategies in South Asia. Specifically SARID’s efforts focus on identifying emerging and indigenous technologies pertinent to South Asia and promoting greater use of local resources for development in the region. SARID has developed a technology to build houses for less than $5,000. This design can be constructed in approximately four weeks and that local inhabitants can be easily trained to construct their own homes. The key to his model is the use of a granular material in its original state that has strong binding properties. Traditionally, the land forces resulting from an earthquake move in a linear direction, but the damping effect of soil causes these forces to move sideways. This method prevents earthquake-related damage by dispersing the forces over a larger area. SARID has also found a way to substitute the use of cement with a combination of other materials and use non-cementations binders to keep the house structures in place. It is the low use of cement that he says significantly reduces cost of construction. Contact details: Javed Sultan Executive Director South Asia Research Institute for Research and Development (SARID) 675 Mass Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Tel: 617.492.0764 Fax: 617.492.6226 E-mail: sultanj@sarid.net
Sector: Disaster Management and Mitigation
Country: India
Area of Application: Housing, quake prone regions
Keywords: quake resistant houses
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Development Status: Commercial Prototype
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Transfer Terms: Consultancy , Subcontracting , Joint Venture , Technical Services , Technology Licensing , Equipment Supply , Turnkey
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Contact Person: UN-ESCAP/APCTT
Address: C-2 Qutab Institutional Area
City: New Delhi
Country: India
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