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Fields of Research
Materials such as concrete, glass and steel are often too expensive for the poorer people in developing countries. We therefore have to come up with intelligent methods, to produce high-quality, sustainable and ecological safe materials which the poor can afford. By means of local and on-site research we examine how improvements can be made, how we can lower the building costs, and how we can deal with the environment in sensible ways.
Our strategy is about making smart combinations with existing elements, as well as reinforcing local knowledge and building methods. The chosen solutions and techniques must be logical, realistic and easy to transfer.
| In all our research we look for: |
| Innovative use of natural materials |
| Reuse of existing materials |
| Utilization of passive energy |
Current research 2010 - 2011
We are in the middle of a research project on a certain type of earth blocks, called ICEB, which stands for Interlocking Cement Earth Blocks. We are reviewing whether this system of dry-stacked blocks can be used for areas with the highest seismic risk, such as Nepal or West Sumatra in Indonesia. So far the results are not too promising, but we'll let you know if we feel that it can be done. If you have any questions, please ask!
Completed research
| Developing a manually operated rock crusher in Kaski District, Nepal (2009) | ||
| Soil composition in the mountain areas of Kaski District, Nepal (2009) | ||
| Production of building material out of rejected solid waste, India and Sri Lanka (2005) |
Developing a manually operated stone crusher in Kaski, Nepal (2009)
In the mountain areas in Nepal it is very difficult and expensive to find the right size of stone aggregate, that is needed in concrete. The people buy the cheapest pebbles they can find, which are generally too big and too smooth. The quality of the concrete mixture is low and it is difficult to cast good beams. This results in poor coverage on the reinforcement steel, which will start to rust and which will further crack the concrete. To solve this problem, we will develop a simple, manually operated stone crusher. In the period 2008 - 2009 we have made several prototypes, which we will further develop into fully and smoothly operating machines.
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Soil composition in the mountain areas of Kaski, Nepal (2009)
The prices of materials such as cement, sand en pebbles are increasing rapidly, as well as the prices of petrol and diesel, which is needed to transport the materials into the mountains. It becomes more and more important to look for affordable alternatives. In this research we will examine the suitability of local soil for block making, as we did in India last year with the pre-school. This has resulted in a simple manual, which can be used to test soil samples on-site; it can be downloaded here.
Production of building materials out of rejected solid waste (2005)
Our first research project on reuse of waste materials was submitted at the Business and Development Challenge in 2005; an international business plan competition, supporting innovative business ideas that combine profit with the improvement of living standards in developing countries. Our proposal describes the use of waste materials, which have no current recycle value, for whatever reason. We want to explore the possibility of producing building materials from those rejected items, and see if we can start up a modest local business. This total plan involves waste management, environmental education, job opportunities and durable building materials as an end product.
