Methodology

The methodology for the study and preparation of guidelines will involve setting up a small consultative group of architects, structural engineers and technocrats who will steer the programme by drawing up a framework for the study including secondary information collection; relevant collaborations with institutions/individuals in different states; and the categorization and identification of the regions for preparation of guidelines. This will be called the Program Committee. Various methods will be used to list and document innovations/building practices. An assessment of the skills available and the environmental implications of promoting a particular building practice or material will also be assessed. The structural validation will be followed. If absolutely essential some laboratory research validation will be undertaken. The guidelines will be prepared and a dissemination strategy including at least one training cum opening event in each of the regions will be undertaken.

The proposed method is described below in detail.

For steering the process of documentation and developing the technical guidelines, there is a Program Committee. The Program Committee overviews and directs the project periodically. Under the guidance of the Program Committee, the project is planned in following two stages:

  1. Studying and documenting traditional building technologies
  2. Developing the guidelines based on the study

Different stages of the methodology are explained below.

1. Studying and documenting traditional building technologies

This will have following main components.

  • Identification of building practices, information collection, documentation - by research teams ( A template has been developed for documentation. It can be seen here.)
  • Preparation of documents, drawings and submission on AinA-wiki.
  • Feedback and comments on the document- by reviewers, with help from authors
  • Improvements, additions, modifications - by research teams
  • Editing and improving text and graphics - by technical and communication team
  • Publishing on web - by Administrator, AinA-wiki

A secondary data survey will be carried out based on the vulnerability and hazard maps. This study will help in understanding the vulnerability the region is exposed to and thus deciding which four regions shall be taken up for the project. Further data will be collected from the libraries of different architecture colleges and other organisations. This will help identify the building practices that can be taken up for the documentation.

For information collection, research teams will carry out basic survey in different regions/ states to identify various technologies for documentation. Initial teams have been identified to carry out the initial survey. For identification of building practices and documentation, local organisations working in the region may act as nodal agencies to help organise meetings with masons and master craftsmen who are involved with construction in the region. After spending time in the field, the authors/ research assistants will compile the building practices in a presentable form in prescribed format and submit the first draft for review. This could be done either on this AinA-wiki developed by PiC Consulting alongwith CEPT or in terms of computer data files (open office document or MS word etc.)

The panel of reviewers will look at the information and evaluate it on the basis of scientific parameters. If any information is missing, the research assistants will have to provide the required and additional data as per the requirements. If the information is not available with the authors, they may be required to go back to the region for further research. Once the experts/ editors approve the data, the technical and communication team would work on the material and make it comprehensive with all written material, graphics as well as other data formats.

Once the data is found to be of acceptable quality by the reviewer's panel, the information will be published on wiki as authenticated. With this, the information will be available to the public for reference.

2. Developing the guidelines based on the study

Based on the traditional building practices documented, team of experts will develop the technical guidelines. The guidelines will be validated and published by respective State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA).

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