Search for: All records

Abstract The research discussed is part of a Belmont Forum disaster risk reduction project aimed at enhancing the resilience of low-income housing. This paper examines feasibility and viability of using emerging digital technologies to enhance the resilience of low-income housing based on requirements of resource constrained, low-lying coastal areas in East Africa. The authors focus on the need to facilitate data and knowledge sharing across domains to: 1) reduce or avoid the potential property loss from flooding events through mapping the interdependencies and interconnectedness across natural and human systems; 2) coordinate the provision of temporary shelter for displaced victims, and 3) building (back) better during the recovery phase. The deployment of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, BIM, Digital twin, VR/AR in disaster risk management is still an emerging area of research. In general, cutting-edge digital technologies are deployed as standalone solutions to address existing data and knowledge sharing needs that are unique to a sub-group of stakeholders. A more holistic and comprehensive solution will require an integrative framework that supports the seamless flow of information across the stakeholders. We propose to address this need through an artificial intelligence enhanced data, information and knowledge sharing platform that synthesizes content into actionable insights 

There are ongoing research efforts directed at addressing strength limitations of compressed earth blocks (CEB) that inhibit their deployment for structural applications, particularly in areas where masonry systems are regularly subjected to lateral loads from high winds. In this paper, the authors focus specifically on the extent to which polypropylene (PP) fibers can be used to enhance the flexural performance of CEB. Cementitious matrices used for CEB production exhibit low tensile and flexural strength (brittle) properties. This work investigates plain (unreinforced) and fiber-reinforced specimens (short flexural beams) with fiber mass content of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0% and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) content of 8%. The influence of the inclusion of fiber was based on tests conducted using the Standard Test Method for Flexural Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (ASTM C1609). Material properties that were quantified included first-peak strength, peak strength, equivalent flexural strength, residual strength, and flexural toughness. There was an observed improvement in the performance of the soil-fiber matrixes based on these results of these tests. It was also observed that when the fiber content exceeded 0.6% and above, specimens exhibited a deflection- hardening behavior; an indication of improvement in ductility. An equivalent flexural strength predictive model is proposed.