Buildings entirely of timber have often survived earthquakes, where
masonry and concrete buildings have not, due to their inherent
flexibility (fire risk has sometimes served to dissuade timber
construction in earthquake prone places - see my article on Antigua:
"Disasters" 8/3 1984). Such generalisations, however, rely upon sound
construction techniques. Bamboo may have been the only material
available (?) but its introduction into masonry construction would
have relieved timber shortage - of which I was concerned. There was a
memorable report a while back after another Pakistani earthquake
where masonry buildings were appearing on a river estuary due to the
migration of refugees from the mountains using their indigenous
construction knowledge. Construction techniques shift with the
populations that carry them; that is, like people they cannot be
relied upon to remain static.
Knowledge and information abounds: the problem is to get it
promulgated to where it is needed and where it can be adapted and
applied. Neither is it a matter of global transmission; somewhere in
Pakistan/Kashmir there will be carpenters - just as somewhere in the
USA there is the knowledge of flood management and storm resistant
construction !
James
At 17:30 21/10/2005, you wrote:
>This is all really useful,but unfortunately shows how crucial things learned
>years ago have not been taken up by governments etc...
>
>I understand that one of the problems in the KAshmir/Karakorum and related
>regions is a serious shortage of trees! Timber would have to be brought in
>from quite some distance.
>
>In an evaluation of the Karakoram region years ago, I seem to remember Ian
>Davis also suggesting that there is a problem with the shortage of carpenters
>and the decline of knowledge of safer building techniques in that region.
>Might this also apply to Kashmir?
>
>On a more positive note, last year I heard in Colombia that there had been
>successful trials using bamboo in earthquake-proof construction, to achieve
>the flexibility that James mentions. But no idea if it has been taken up
>widely...
>
>Terry Cannon
>
>
>Quoting James Lewis <[log in to unmask]>:
>
> >
> > I have been away for most of this week having a look at some of the
> > flood-prone areas of the UK, hence this delayed response to
> > reconstruction issues in Kashmir. It might make things easier to add
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.12.4/146 - Release Date: 21/10/2005
|