Indian Ocean Issues

[SDR]

In digesting the recent geological event, as its tragic aftermath unfolds, an opportunity for professional observation, research and education in our field may present itself. I note, in aerial video shown today, an isthmus or peninsula in which small structures have been flattened, while good-sized trees remain, seemingly intact (and living?) What can we learn, or re-learn, from this (unpredicted), uniquely-widespread traumatic occurrence?

SDR

[Donald]

Lets see, homes in this part of the hurricane world are reguired to be put up on tree like structures (piers) above the water levels of onrising tides...and some still don't survive the great waves. For tsunami waves, it would be similar to a building located in a raging river or rapids. No small structure would be able to withstand that over any time.

You can also learn that already there is suggestion being made that the Tsunami disaster in Asia was caused not by a naturally occurring environmental phenomenon, but by...you guess it.....global warming! That's right...all the SUV drivers now have reason to feel really guilty: they are directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people.

So be on the lookout for an anti-capitalist, global warming explanation for what happened. Once the initial coverage has subsided, the media will begin asking questions, America will be blamed, and so will George Bush.

Just be forewarned. Remember: when a natural disaster happens, it's the United States' fault.

An finally, to install future warning systems for oncoming tsunami's would be the most prudent "opportunity for professional observation, research and education" one would offer at this time forward. If by chance that in the future, mother nature rears its ugly head once more to the size and magnitude of this, then it is only by ignorance alone that the Indian Ocean World Countries have to blame on such another tradgic event.

[Architorture]

early warning is the key...except for those islands that were located almost immediately on top of the epicenter...for them there was absolutely no warning...but that is just nature...

maybe what we should abstract from this is that tropical climates and beautiful lands often times come with severe albeit not constant circumstances from nature

[ruchira]

early warning, ya it will lessen the pain and maybe minimise the loss of life but even then the loss of property will remain. the loss of their homes and all that they possess can reduce lives to nothing but misery. when fleeing fron a natural disaster one cannot think about carrying anything but bare essentialls on person. only a percentage of ppl in cities have insurance. most of the coasts are lived with fishing villages whose daily bread is earned from the sea. those villages are likely to get and have been washed away. so, being alive, yet left with nothing to live on is a greater curse than the advent of untimely death.
aid can help, but benifit a precious few. they can hardly provide for the irrepairable loss of lifelong plans and psychological scars that are to mark their lives forever.

[svenglezz-ASMEIL]

Read today on the net they have a "text" message service coming out....to warn of major events prior to the event. Note th'r going to charge for this service

But just a "new" way to save lives in the future, with a simple application...with text messages to devices (cell phone etc.)

For the homes...hmmm....only re-inforced sturctures could handle the "wave" (from pictures I have seen), but what about "earth-homes" homes partially in the ground would that not help for the future.

I personaly have been a fan of this type of integration of the enviroment and human living, just the cometics of a development of earth homes is worth it, let a'lone the "huge" energy savings and so on...would luv t'a hear peoples views on this issue. (if w'r gona' re-build we should do it right....and just maybe come out of all this as the leaders in Developing Waterfront Housing).

Kind Regards,
Sven

[P.C.]

Donald ;
"Lets see, homes in this part of the hurricane world are reguired to be put up on tree like structures (piers) above the water levels of onrising tides...and some still don't survive the great waves. For tsunami waves, it would be similar to a building located in a raging river or rapids. No small structure would be able to withstand that over any time."

Structures where the waves float under seem to hold , anyway these waves act different than the tradisional ocean wave --- it's rather a flood than a wave and if anything try stop it, the wave will just grow in hight so no doubt structures like piers or main part is a few floors above must offer some safety. Again structure seem to be the important issue .

P.C.

[Donald]

Yes PC it is a wave, a "pressure wave" where no structure anchored to the ground could withstand over time. The effect is like a rushing rapid over the landscape and causing a flood as you call it. But its the pressure coming all at one time that makes it so powerful. Floating structures work in movies like "Water World". Even the floating structures in this disaster ended up in trees and powerlines or merely washed out to sea.

Look at the expanse of this disaster, look at the aerial satellite photo comparisons, and see how nature shapes and then reshapes the islands that were destructed. No structure and no man-made bubble would withstand this disaster without taking on a new look, location or life of its own.

[svenglezz-ASMEIL]

Hello again,

Not t'a burst anyones bubble.....but a home in the ground would withstand the harsh tsunami.....I know the earth-home is below the water level but it would still survive the wave...esp. if you design it to suit the tsunam. If there is a will there is a way

I hope people start to look into this and just maybe save lives in the future while helping the enviroment.

These "earth-homes" or what~ever you want to call'em are the way to go in my view....and over the years have seen some really nice designs...that not only look great but are energy effiecent and in some cases need no Heating and/or Air Conditioning.

Anywho....take care,

Sven

[Donald]

They are "the way to go" if you like living in a cave under the muck for days on end while they dig your bubble out of the debris... and bring plenty of oxygen tanks with you or you will be out of air shortly thereafter.

[SDR]

(Another design discussion forum has today initiated a thread on the matter of the civility of its posters to one another. As with this board, only one or two regulars exhibit the aggressive angst, intemperance, and questionable relevance demonstrated above. My suggestion, there as here, is for an editing and/or self-deleting function to be enabled, which might result in some improvement in the civil flow of ideas, and would permit typographical corrections, too!)

A semi-underground building type could conceivably be "streamlined" enought to withstand destruction by natural elements, as well as providing thermal advantages (see the work and writings of long-time advocate Malcolm Wells). While subject to flooding and temporary uninhabitability, such dwellings and public buildings would be restorable after a major event. Perhaps this is what was being suggested.

SDR

[SDR]

I have not seen, and cannot imagine any reasonable and scientifically informed example of, a suggestion that the tsunami was the result, directly or indirectly, of anything other than the recorded offshore seismic event of Jan 2.

[Donald]

I clearly can't see how your reply offers any solution for those in the Indian Ocean area who cry for help. Take a close look at this article and tell us how the subterranium bubble would survive in this type disaster:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/02/international/worldspecial4/02indo.html?ex=1262408400&en=fdd445f6a7d2c498&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt

I have a good friend who lives in Sri Lanka, and he was fortunate to be 30miles up country from Columbo, and didn't have to find a place to flee to escape.

You must be either living in the same svendaydream of a lost legend long past his time that you reference or are you living in a bubble?. Remember the link you started and offer up something better than the warning system that allows these people run for their lives before the walls come caving in on them.

[SDR]

I don't think anyone is suggesting a way for residents to be able to stay in their homes during a tsunami. Rather, it seems that the best that could be hoped for would be for a) a warning system, which has often been proposed, is feasible, and was thought to have been in place already, and b) a building type whose basic elements would survive the trauma of a tsunami, and provide the basics of shelter for returning survivors. These expectations recognize the forces of nature and the physical realities, and seek to deal with them in the best way possible.

SDR

[SDR]

Correction: The event occurred on Dec 26, not Jan 2, as I stated above.

[Donald]

I take it from your past comments that you are not an architect SDR....I might have to soon apply for this grant and you may be the first on my list to research

http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HHS/NIH/NIH/PA-05-037/listing.html