The recent devestation in Iran left us without some beautiful and ancient buildings, and killed over 30,000 inhabitants. The high number of fatalities has been blamed by the media on Bam's traditional building methods.

The dangers of unreinforced mud brick construction are multiplied by urbanization. The growth of cities means that one earthquake can kill tens of thousands where once only hundreds would have been affected. Urbanization means that there is economic pressure to build taller and narrower, and closer to your neighbours. Traditional earthquake prevention methods may not be possible in the new context. The earthquake hits and everyone's buildings fall onto everyone elses, burying people under tonnes of mud and dust.

The media's concentration on the collapse of mud brick structures omits the fact that a big problem in the developing world is getting concrete construction right. In fact, traditional building methods have often proved safer. In Armenia's big quake of '88, modern buildings killed more people than old unreinforced ones. Centuries of living in earthquake-prone zones affects the way buildings are traditionally built.

Reinforced concrete frames in the developing world are often built incorrectly with the wrong concrete and a lack of steel reinforcing at critical junctions. Modern buildings are commonly subject to infill panel shear failure and "soft storey collapse". This can be prevented by increasing frame design loads. The Earthquake Research Centre (ERC) at Victoria University's Architecture School in Welington says in a recent newsletter that, "if we can't make these changes, then rather than using a system that almost every earthquake reminds us is flawed, we should cease using RC frames. They should be banned."

The problems, apart from cost, are that the knowledge isn't getting through, and that this knowledge doesn't take into account valid local construction methods. Jitendra K. Bothara, writing for the ERC, states that while engineers in Nepal are trained, the artisans who in 98% of cases design and construct the buildings, are not. Where engineers are involved, they work in opposition to craftsmen which also prevents the dissemination of knowledge. GHI suggests that, "some significant portion of the human and fiscal assistance directed toward Bam should be allocated to training local masons on how to build earthquake-resistant structures."

Other towns in the developing world are apparently disasters waiting to happen. Cities are filling and growing faster than ever and the quality of cheap residential housing is low. Geohazards International (GHI) in the U.S. stated a few years ago that, " in 1950 there were 3 earthquake-threatened “megacities” -- that is, cities with populations greater than 8 million -- while in 2000 there will be 28."

The international community needs to stop its bandaid approach to earthquakes in developing countries. It needs to arrive before the quake, not arrive afterwards to quickly build equally shonky RC buildings. The expertise and technology exists to strengthen old buildings and make sure new ones are built to last. Geohazards International are hoping that the severity of this disaster might shock people into action, saying "most housing in Bam will have to be rebuilt, and this is the time to train a new generation of masons on how to do things right. Regardless of the funding source, this should be a requirement of all reconstruction projects."

RELATED EXTERNAL SITES

bestpractices.org - ERC profile

best practices database - urban solutions for the developing world

Bricks, Mortar, and Earthquakes - Historic Preservation vs. Earthquake Safety by Randolph Langenbach 1989.

Earthquake Research Centre, Victoria University - The ERC has been around since 1996 and is the only earthquake research centre in the world focussing on developing countries.

geohazards international - "a nonprofit California organization located in Palo Alto. GHI is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable communities recognize their risk and implement methods to manage and reduce that risk."

GHI press release - "BAM: THE HIGH COST OF COMPLACENCY"