Disaster response (merged thread)

[Fuchs]

There's also concrete cloth/canvas.
http://s146224806.websitehome.co.uk/

[Bill Moore]

Fuchs, thanks for the link. The possibilites are endless if we can get these ideas funded to support reconstruction efforts and then get the solutions into the right hands (and right minds). Seen similiar innovation with plastic and other materials. How do we tie them together into a flexible system to support areas effected by disaster?

[motorfirebox]

On a similar topic, it seems like it'd be a good idea to implement gobar gas initiatives.

[Bill Moore]

Another good link on innovative and sustainable technologies (low tech, high conceptual) that can be applied to support stability operations.

Anyone interested in forming a NGO that reaches out to these and other companies in hope of providing an effective response to disaster? Does one already exist? I can't see the government being effective at this. This may be something that the Gate's Foundation can support?

[Dayuhan]

Prefabs have major advantages where you need fast deployment, as in disaster relief. Disadvantage is that they cut down opportunities to employ and train local labor. As with anything else, advantages and disadvantages have to be weighed according to the specific circumstances in a given case.

There are huge numbers of useful technologies out there, the challenge lies in getting them to where they are needed and getting them adopted.

[Rex Brynen]

Prefabs have major advantages where you need fast deployment, as in disaster relief. Disadvantage is that they cut down opportunities to employ and train local labor. As with anything else, advantages and disadvantages have to be weighed according to the specific circumstances in a given case.

There are huge numbers of useful technologies out there, the challenge lies in getting them to where they are needed and getting them adopted.

The disaster relief community is well aware of what is possible in the way of prefabricated housing--and, as Dayuhan wisely notes, the potential drawbacks involved too. I might also add three other things to his list:

1) Those displaced by disasters won't always accept all prefabricated housing if it is too remote from local experience, especially in the post-emergency phase.

2) Whenever there is an emergency, precious time can be wasted trying to fend off overeager providers of prefabricated housing that is too costly, too slow, available in inadequate numbers, can't easily be transported, or is otherwise inappropriate. It becomes even more of a problem when they have their local embassy lobbying you to buy the stuff too.

3) Providing nice prefabricated housing to only a small proportion of those in need of shelter can set you up for an enormous political backlash.

This isn't to say that it isn't part of the answer--it is. However, it is to say that it is far from being a magic bullet.