Well it's been fun, got to see my family and friends in Prince George over reading break. It's been so cold here that I've managed to get alot of research done. Between working on my car, visiting and doing research I think it'll be more relaxing when i get back to school.. haha.
Precast concrete is an interesting idea... If Haiti had a manufacturer and a crane, I'm sure they could use this technology to their advantage in rebuilding their cities. I will look into it, it might be a good idea to use for my building.
The Earthships are another really resourceful and environmentally friendly idea as well. Thanks Chris. I think Michael Reynolds is doing a really good thing introducing his idea to a nation that will indefinitely put it to practise.
Hati Earthquake Disaster
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Research Topic Redefined
After speaking with my mentor, I have selected a smaller building to do my research project on. Instead of researching different earthquake design technologies for a high-rise hotel in Haiti, I will research it for a 3 floor condo style 4plex (12 units) made of concrete construction. The purpose of the research will be to find an appropriate earthquake resistant technology for the concrete design to withstand up to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The project is still based around bringing tourism back to Haiti, but the report will be more of a technical report rather than analyzing the economics of the building.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Research Proposal
HAITI:
A SRUGGLING ECONOMY IN NEED OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
By: Bradley Veenstra
Summary Statement of Proposed Project
After the earthquake that rocked the Caribbean island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the country has been struggling to rebuild what is left of their cities and bring hope back to its people. With help and supplies coming from all over the world to aid them in their endeavors, they have managed to stabilize their country’s economy, but they are not yet self-sustainable. Haiti is a tropical paradise, located on the northern part of the Caribbean Sea that shares an island with Dominican Republic, a popular vacation hotspot for Canadians. Their number one resource and means of income is tourism. It is my intent to research which earthquake design technology would be the most reasonable to build a high-rise hotel resort and bring income through tourism to benefit Haiti’s economy.
Purpose
The people of Haiti are in need of help now more than ever, and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimating a literacy rate of 45%, it is up to us, the well educated and economically developed nations, to do our part and research the most reasonable approach to build a sustainable economy for a wounded nation. The purpose of this research project is to provide information on developing reliable architecture in Haiti that may be used to produce income and possible disaster shelters in the future. It will also benefit my personal ideals and those of others when it comes to possible future designs in unstable parts of the world.
Goals and Objectives of the Project
There are many different levels of earthquake sustainable design technologies in the construction marketplace. My goal is to find out what will be the most reasonable way to build a high-rise hotel resort, incorporating earthquake sustainable design technology, so that it may be used by developers to improve Haiti’s Gross National Product (GNP). The income generated by the developers using the information found will improve Haiti’s economic crisis and eventually Haiti will become completely self-sustainable. Determining the reasonable level of sustainability will also determine whether or not these hotels could act as disaster shelters in case of future earthquakes or other natural disasters.
Methodology and Analytical Approach
In order to find the most reasonable earthquake resistant technology for a high-rise hotel resort in Haiti, I will research the different types of technology on the market taking into consideration local materials, availability and cost. I will base my research on projects that have already been built and other related research in order to determine a conclusive outcome.
I will also research the impact that it will have on Haiti’s economy. I will need to be in contact with local resorts and residents to ascertain jobs, wages, accommodations for locals, education, and how much of the revenue will benefit the locals rather than international business owners. The information collected can be used in the construction and re-construction of high-rise hotels in Haiti and provide information for those prospecting earthquake resistant high-rise construction for other parts of the world.
Previous Studies/ Related Information
Since this is a region specific research due to a recent disaster, this will be a completely unique study that has never been done before. However, Seismic Engineering is a field that searches for ways to make structures, such as buildings and bridges, resistant to earthquake damage. Extensive research has been made to write building code regulations as well as region specific research for projects in the past. This research study will provide information for Haiti and its neighboring region to better its infrastructure’s resilience to future earthquakes. It will outline a project specific area of research conforming to the earthquake parameters for engineering design in the Caribbean determined during the first Caribbean conference on earthquake engineering in 1978.
Morelli, Ugo (2004) "Preventing Earthquake Disasters – The Grand Challenge in Earthquake Engineering – A Research Agenda for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)," Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 1(4), Article 410.
Tomblin, John F. (1978), The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive: Earthquake parameters for engineering design in the Caribbean,
A SRUGGLING ECONOMY IN NEED OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
By: Bradley Veenstra
Summary Statement of Proposed Project
After the earthquake that rocked the Caribbean island of Haiti on January 12, 2010, the country has been struggling to rebuild what is left of their cities and bring hope back to its people. With help and supplies coming from all over the world to aid them in their endeavors, they have managed to stabilize their country’s economy, but they are not yet self-sustainable. Haiti is a tropical paradise, located on the northern part of the Caribbean Sea that shares an island with Dominican Republic, a popular vacation hotspot for Canadians. Their number one resource and means of income is tourism. It is my intent to research which earthquake design technology would be the most reasonable to build a high-rise hotel resort and bring income through tourism to benefit Haiti’s economy.
Purpose
The people of Haiti are in need of help now more than ever, and with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimating a literacy rate of 45%, it is up to us, the well educated and economically developed nations, to do our part and research the most reasonable approach to build a sustainable economy for a wounded nation. The purpose of this research project is to provide information on developing reliable architecture in Haiti that may be used to produce income and possible disaster shelters in the future. It will also benefit my personal ideals and those of others when it comes to possible future designs in unstable parts of the world.
Goals and Objectives of the Project
There are many different levels of earthquake sustainable design technologies in the construction marketplace. My goal is to find out what will be the most reasonable way to build a high-rise hotel resort, incorporating earthquake sustainable design technology, so that it may be used by developers to improve Haiti’s Gross National Product (GNP). The income generated by the developers using the information found will improve Haiti’s economic crisis and eventually Haiti will become completely self-sustainable. Determining the reasonable level of sustainability will also determine whether or not these hotels could act as disaster shelters in case of future earthquakes or other natural disasters.
Methodology and Analytical Approach
In order to find the most reasonable earthquake resistant technology for a high-rise hotel resort in Haiti, I will research the different types of technology on the market taking into consideration local materials, availability and cost. I will base my research on projects that have already been built and other related research in order to determine a conclusive outcome.
I will also research the impact that it will have on Haiti’s economy. I will need to be in contact with local resorts and residents to ascertain jobs, wages, accommodations for locals, education, and how much of the revenue will benefit the locals rather than international business owners. The information collected can be used in the construction and re-construction of high-rise hotels in Haiti and provide information for those prospecting earthquake resistant high-rise construction for other parts of the world.
Previous Studies/ Related Information
Since this is a region specific research due to a recent disaster, this will be a completely unique study that has never been done before. However, Seismic Engineering is a field that searches for ways to make structures, such as buildings and bridges, resistant to earthquake damage. Extensive research has been made to write building code regulations as well as region specific research for projects in the past. This research study will provide information for Haiti and its neighboring region to better its infrastructure’s resilience to future earthquakes. It will outline a project specific area of research conforming to the earthquake parameters for engineering design in the Caribbean determined during the first Caribbean conference on earthquake engineering in 1978.
Morelli, Ugo (2004) "Preventing Earthquake Disasters – The Grand Challenge in Earthquake Engineering – A Research Agenda for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)," Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: 1(4), Article 410.
Tomblin, John F. (1978), The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive: Earthquake parameters for engineering design in the Caribbean,
Welcome
My name is Brad Veenstra and I have created this blog for my Aret 2220 class. My topic is on Seismic Structure in Haiti. Please feel free to comment with any advice.
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