Overseas Organizations’ Activities to Improve Seismic Performance of Masonry Houses in Developing

CountriesAs a reference for BRI project formulation

Satoru OBAResearch Institute for Urban & Environmental Development, Japan

Research Background/PurposeGeneral perceptions

Traditional masonry houses have weaknesses in seismic resistance.

In spite of efforts to strengthen these houses, proposed techniques have not used widely.

Gathering information (through internet) on the activities of overseas organizations

concerning their achievements, encountered problem, and so on

As a reference for the formulation of BRI project

Organizations Being ResearchedI. International/Multi-National OrganizationsII. Bi-Lateral Aid AgenciesIII. Academic/Professional SocietiesIV. Universities/Research Institutes/ Information

CentersV. Others doing international activities

NGOs, Companies, Conferences, Networks

Many Organizations are acting variously.

Five Projects Being Looked into Some Detail

Ⅰ.I/MOs

Ⅱ.BAAs

Ⅲ.A/PSs

Ⅳ.Us/RIs/ICs

Ceresis/GTZ/PUCPProject

○Ceresis

○GTZ

○PUCP

IDRC/PUCPProject

○IDRC

○PUCP

IAEE/EERITutorial

○IAEE/EERI

○contributors

World Bank/METUProject

○WB

○METU

NICEE/IITKActivities

○WB

○IAEE

○NICEE/IITK

All are/include transnational activities.

Project 1:Ceresis/GTZ/PUCP Project

Targeted Buildings Adobe (existing)

Technical Solutions Reinforcing walls

• electro-welded wire mesh + cement mortal

Dissemination Methods demonstration houses manuals DVDs trainings/workshops

early-late ‘90s

Ceresis: Regional Seismology Center for South AmericaGTZ: German Agency for Technical CooperationPUCP: Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Project 2:IDRC/PUCP Project

Targeted Buildings Adobe （ new） Quincha (new) mud +wood

Technical Solutions Reinforcing walls

• cane & wood + cement mortalDissemination Methods

demonstration houses manuals pamphlets/booklets videos trainings/workshops radio shows

middle ‘80s-late ‘90s

IDRC: International Development Research Centre (Canada)

Project 3:IAEE/EERI Tutorial (on the Web)

Targeted Buildings Adobe (new & existing) Other masonry buildings, etc.

Technical Solutions（ Adobe） Reinforcing walls

• reinforcement with any ductile material

• ring beam• buttresses & pilasters, etc.

Quality Management• materials & construction

Building Form Planning• squat & single story• small windows• regular & compact plan, etc.

Dissemination Method tutorials (on the Web)

2003-ongoing

IAEE: International Association for Earthquake EngineeringEERI: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (USA)

Construction

Project 4:World Bank/METU Project

Targeted Buildings– Masonry (existing)

Technical Solutions Reinforcing walls

• scrap-tires

Dissemination Methods posters pamphlets/booklets website trainings/workshops

2004

METU: Middle East Technical University (Turkey)

Project 5:NICEE/IITK Activities

Targeted Buildings Masonry (new & existing)

Technical Solutions Reinforcing walls

• ring beam• protecting window corners, etc.• Quality Management• materials & construction

Dissemination Methods Earthquake Tips（ on website; in

newspapers & journals） trainings/workshops acquiring & disseminating latest

professional information e-conference

focusing on 2001-ongoing activities

NICEE: National Information Center of Earthquake Engineering(India)IITK: Indian Institutes of Technology, Kampur

Research Findings 1Substantial Accumulation of Efforts on

Technical Development & Dissemination Various techniques have been developed. Their seismic performance has been proved. Affordability and technical simplicity have been sought.

e.g., scrap-tires = US$100, wire mesh = US$400/housing unit Various methods/tools have been used to disseminate.

methods/tools used in the five examples translation of useful foreign manuals (e.g., IIEA 1986 Manual) demonstration of improvement effect (e.g., UNCRD shake

table demo） international networks for collaboration/information sharing （World Housing Encyclopedia）However, new techniques haven’t been used as expected.

Research Findings 2 Various Challenging Obstacles to Dissemination

possible breakthrough

low-cost information provision(e.g., Web, information center)

Intnl. research networkcontinuing education

quake areas’ key stakeholders exchanging knowledge intnlly.

?

?

? (good governance & PPP)

?

?? (good governance & PPP)

obstacles

expensive information access cost unreachable of LDC professionals

shortage of researchers (worldwide) shortage of engineers learned seismic design

peoples’ lack of knowledge on earthquakeand their disregard for risk

enormous amount of informal housingpriority on not disaster mitigation but povertyissues (food, shelter, health, education)

public sector’s neglect to revise codes and to diffuse techniques

insufficient support to the poor (low cost loan ）

no established method in effective diffusionprivate sector’s disregard of codes

?popular perception inhibiting improvement= traditional materials inferior to modern ones

Thank You.