Applicability and scalability of a sustainable re-construction framework for seismic-prone heritage areas of Gujarat, India.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
In this follow-on, we will extend our findings and make them tangible and relevant to the community, local authorities and stakeholders, raising awareness and supporting earthquake preparedness using the methodology developed in the initial research project. We will study its applicability and scalability in Gujarat, India, by developing pilot activities and outputs for Bela, based on data already obtained, as a framework that can serve for implementation in similar cases beyond this project.
Vernacular housing in heritage settlements is liable to deterioration, damage and destruction due to disasters and human-induced hazards. Inhabitants mainly build this non-monumental heritage as an affordable response to local climatic, environmental conditions based on traditional modes of living and building. If located in seismic areas, it is at greater risk due to the recurrent and destructive threat of earthquakes. But responses are usually activated afterwards, lacking mitigation strategies to diminish destruction.
The most common post-earthquake approach is to build anew yet the most sustainable is to reuse, considering building's embedded energy and heritage significance. However, in mid and low-income heritage areas, documentation for a culturally-sensitive recovery and preparedness is usually absent, repairs are costly and slow, and large numbers of affected constructions hinder damage assessment. To tackle this, we exploit advanced documentation technologies aiming towards a new approach to re-construction: a culture of repair, reuse, adaptation and risk mitigation.
In previous phases of this project, we combined 3D laser scanning, drone capture, photography and social surveys (interviews) to develop a sustainable re-construction methodology for seismic-prone heritage settlements of Kutch (Gujarat, India). It could improve the chances of a rapid and effective response in case of an earthquake, enhance the possibilities of reusing existing structures, and increase preparedness and resilience in local communities, by defining four strategic guidelines:
1 Immediate post-earthquake action: data obtained to inform damage assessment and planning at two different scales (village - individual buildings)
2 Mid and long term study: evaluation of previous earthquake responses, risk assessment and mitigation (preparedness)
3 Community engagement and participation: critical for local validation, support and knowledge incorporation. Communities' heritage valuation and conservation: bottom-up perspective to empower a local agency.
4 Applicability via institutional partnerships: overarching structure linking Academia, local NGOs and Governmental Institutions to support the methodology implementation with specific technical skills and local capacity-building.
After the 2001 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7 Mw scale an owner-driven approach, financially supported by the government and technically supported by local authorities and NGOs was implemented to repair buildings. However, the quality of the result was not always adequate for the specific type of construction, poorly or incompletely executed. These processes could be enhanced and scaled up to reach more families if the proposed methodology is implemented.
Advances have been made concerning engagement with governmental institutions and reaching local authorities. However, the gap that needs further study and will be addressed in this project is regarding impact and applicability.
Based on the methodology developed, we will create impact at three levels: 1) Institutional: via developing a disaster risk management plan and post-earthquake actions with local authorities; 2) Tangible: via developing and applying an example repair solution; 3) Academic: via technical support, publications and presentations. This will be done in collaboration with our project partners in India, in which each institution will play a specific leading role for each level.
Vernacular housing in heritage settlements is liable to deterioration, damage and destruction due to disasters and human-induced hazards. Inhabitants mainly build this non-monumental heritage as an affordable response to local climatic, environmental conditions based on traditional modes of living and building. If located in seismic areas, it is at greater risk due to the recurrent and destructive threat of earthquakes. But responses are usually activated afterwards, lacking mitigation strategies to diminish destruction.
The most common post-earthquake approach is to build anew yet the most sustainable is to reuse, considering building's embedded energy and heritage significance. However, in mid and low-income heritage areas, documentation for a culturally-sensitive recovery and preparedness is usually absent, repairs are costly and slow, and large numbers of affected constructions hinder damage assessment. To tackle this, we exploit advanced documentation technologies aiming towards a new approach to re-construction: a culture of repair, reuse, adaptation and risk mitigation.
In previous phases of this project, we combined 3D laser scanning, drone capture, photography and social surveys (interviews) to develop a sustainable re-construction methodology for seismic-prone heritage settlements of Kutch (Gujarat, India). It could improve the chances of a rapid and effective response in case of an earthquake, enhance the possibilities of reusing existing structures, and increase preparedness and resilience in local communities, by defining four strategic guidelines:
1 Immediate post-earthquake action: data obtained to inform damage assessment and planning at two different scales (village - individual buildings)
2 Mid and long term study: evaluation of previous earthquake responses, risk assessment and mitigation (preparedness)
3 Community engagement and participation: critical for local validation, support and knowledge incorporation. Communities' heritage valuation and conservation: bottom-up perspective to empower a local agency.
4 Applicability via institutional partnerships: overarching structure linking Academia, local NGOs and Governmental Institutions to support the methodology implementation with specific technical skills and local capacity-building.
After the 2001 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7 Mw scale an owner-driven approach, financially supported by the government and technically supported by local authorities and NGOs was implemented to repair buildings. However, the quality of the result was not always adequate for the specific type of construction, poorly or incompletely executed. These processes could be enhanced and scaled up to reach more families if the proposed methodology is implemented.
Advances have been made concerning engagement with governmental institutions and reaching local authorities. However, the gap that needs further study and will be addressed in this project is regarding impact and applicability.
Based on the methodology developed, we will create impact at three levels: 1) Institutional: via developing a disaster risk management plan and post-earthquake actions with local authorities; 2) Tangible: via developing and applying an example repair solution; 3) Academic: via technical support, publications and presentations. This will be done in collaboration with our project partners in India, in which each institution will play a specific leading role for each level.
| Title | Digital Bela: Architectural Heritage in a new light. Permanent Exhibition at Bela |
| Description | The exhibition consisted of a large plan of Bela at 1 to 100 scale, showing the 18 buildings that were interiorly scanned and an explanatory panel about the research project's work. This material had previously been exhibited at Nottingham Trent University, and went back to Bela to stay there permanently, open to the public for future reference, to complement the 1:1 strategies of repair and retrofitting that were implemented at the birdfeeder building. The aim is that this building, which is open to the public, becomes a point of reference for the people, who can refer to the exhibition and measures implemented on that building to reinforce their own houses in preparation for the next earthquake. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | No impacts have been identified yet, as the exhibition was recently installed in February 2024. |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/02/17/repair-and-reinforcement-strategies-at-the-chabutra-birdfeed... |
| Title | Re-construction map for Bela |
| Description | Map of Bela indicating the different actions for the buildings located in the historical area, according to the level of damage visually identified. |
| Type Of Art | Image |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | No impacts identified yet. |
| Description | In phase 3 of this research project, we studied the applicability and scalability of a sustainable re-construction framework for seismic-prone areas of Gujarat, India we developed in the previous two phases using a methodology based on advanced recording technologies such as 3D laser scanning and drone capture and interviews. We had put into practice and studied the guidelines of this framework as presented in a Policy Brief previously developed, via developing three main outcomes: 1) A Disaster Risk Management Plan for Bela using the data from previous phases; 2) A re-construction map, defining different actions according to the level of damage of each building for the historical area of Bela; and 3) designing and building repair and retrofit strategies in one building, as a tangible example of actions that can be implemented in other building to mitigate damage for future earthquakes. |
| Exploitation Route | Via adapting the framework developed into other seismic-prone heritage areas and raising awareness of mitigation strategies required. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/ |
| Description | Development of a Disaster Risk Management Plan for Bela |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | Local authorities were involved in the process of development of the Disaster Risk Management Plan (DRMP) for Bela and also participated in informative sessions with the local community of Bela. This helped to raise awareness of mitigation strategies required in case of disasters. The development process of this DRMP is also important for two reasons: 1) it sets the scene to replicate it and develop DRMP for other areas, and 2) it creates relevant contacts and collaboration between institutions and the local community, which increases preparedness for the next earthquake to occur. |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/02/17/presentation-of-disaster-risk-management-plan-of-bela-by-gid... |
| Description | Workshop on Disaster Risk Management at the Gujarat Institute for Disaster Risk Management |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Students became aware of how complex and difficult it is to manage a post-disaster emergency situation and the range of stakeholders involved. |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/12/12/disaster-risk-reduction-and-management-workshop-at-gidm/ |
| Description | Early Career Research Grant. Faculty of Engineering. |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2023 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Description | Research Equipment Pipeline, 3D laser scanner equipment for the ACT Research Group. Faculty of Engineering. |
| Amount | £89,581 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Title | 'Applicability and scalability of a sustainable re-construction framework for seismic-prone heritage areas of Gujarat, India' UoN Dataset |
| Description | This is the University of Nottingham archival dataset for the research project 'Applicability and scalability of a sustainable re-construction framework for seismic-prone heritage areas of Gujarat, India', funded by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Project Reference: AH/X006832/2. Contents: 1. 3D (Scans and Photogrammetry) 2. Photographs 3. Maps of Bela 4. Bird feeder building repair & retrofitting 5. Re-construction map (files) 6. Disaster Risk Management Plan for Bela (files) 7. Bibliography |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impacts have been identified yet, as it will be made available after the embargo period regarding publications. |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/publications-%e0%aa%aa%e0%ab%8d%e0%aa%b0%e0%aa%95%e0%aa%be%e0%aa%b6%e0%... |
| Description | Collaboration between the University of Nottingham and the Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage, Nottingham Trent University |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team collaborated with the Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) via creating academic and collaborative links between the two universities in Nottingham, considering the direct contributions of NTU as the host institution of phases 1 & 2 of this research project: 'A sustainable re-construction method for seismic-prone heritage areas of India based on advanced recording technologies'. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Global Heritage, Nottingham Trent University, has contributed with the time of Professor Gamal Abdelmonem as Co-I in this research project. |
| Impact | OUTCOMES RECORDED: 1) Academic participation in the research 2) Contribution to Permanent Exhibition installed inside the example of strategies' building at Bela. 3) Contribution to the 3D for Heritage India-Phase 3 UoN Dataset: 1. 3D (Scans and Photogrammetry) 2. Photographs 3. Maps of Bela 7. Bibliography |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Field work 1 at Bela |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Our local research team in India, from the Center for Heritage Conservation, CEPT Research and Development Foundation, GIDM and the Hunnarshala Foundation, visited Bela, in Kutch, in the first week of May 2023. The site visit involved discussions with the community, on-site understanding of the digitally documented structures in the previously funded project, identifying structures that can work as an example to demonstrate post-earthquake repairs and re-construction techniques, and initial on-ground data collection for preparation of a disaster management plan. The visit also involved discussions with the government authorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/06/27/phase-3-field-work-at-bela/ |
| Description | Field work 2 at Bela |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Members of our local research team, Shubham Daberao, from the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM), and Aditya Singh, from the Hunnarshala Foundation, visited Bela at the end of October 2023 for Phase 3 of this project. The site visit aimed to build upon the current development of a Disaster Risk Management Plan through strengthening the local capacities of the villagers, led by GIDM. The activities included presentations to the inhabitants, workshops and discussions with local officials of Bela and Rapar to facilitate processes during the plan preparation, and visiting the facilities and shelters available in case of an emergency. The Hunnarshala Foundation helped support these activities with the local community and led the building process of an example of repair and re-construction strategies applied to one of Bela's relevant and valuable structures. They visited the building to identify details of the damage, compare it to the 3D data, and assess the availability and cost of local materials and labour. They presented the proposals to members of the community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/10/26/phase-3-field-work-2-at-bela/ |
| Description | Final presentation of the project at CEPT University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | On the 15th of February 2024, Dr Bernadette Devilat gave a final lecture at the School of Architecture, CEPT University. After an introduction by Saatvika Pancholi, the presentation summarised the latest phase of this research project, which studied the applicability and scalability of the framework developed in previous phases by creating a disaster risk management plan for Bela, a re-construction map and building a prototype, as a tangible example of repair strategies. The audience was international as it was hosted live to all via the YouTube channel of the School of Architecture, CEPT University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/02/15/final-presentation-about-phase-3/ |
| Description | Final presentation of the project at the ACT monthly seminars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | On the 6th of February 2024, Dr Bernadette Devilat gave a final lecture at the Architecture, Culture and Tectonics (ACT) Research Group monthly seminars, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham. The lecture was open to all staff and students from the ACT research group. Members of other research groups within the department also attended. After an introduction by Professor Jonathan Hale, the presentation summarised the latest phase of this research project, which studied the applicability and scalability of the framework developed in previous phases by creating a disaster risk management plan for Bela, a re-construction map and building a prototype, as a tangible example of repair strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/03/06/final-presentation-at-the-university-of-nottingham/ |
| Description | Introductory lecture about the research project at Winter School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Introductory lecture by Dr Bernadette Devilat, the PI of this research project, explaining the relevance of heritage intervention in post-earthquake contexts, what has been done thus far for the last three years, and the planned activities at Bela, our case study. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/12/12/winter-school-at-cept-university/ |
| Description | Launch of permanent exhibition at the example of repair and reinforcement strategies building |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | On the afternoon of the 17th of February 2024, we held an informative session with the local community at Bela's Chabutra (bird feeder), featuring the repair and reinforcement strategies implemented as a tangible example, led by the Hunnarshala Foundation. Our research team, Bernadette Devilat & Felipe Lanuza, from the University of Nottingham; Jigna Desai, Mrudula Mane & Saatvika Pancholi, from the CEPT Research and Development Foundation; Aditya Singh from the Hunnarshala Foundation, & Shubham Daberao, from GIDM, were on-site for these activities. They held conversations with the community explaining the repair and reinforcement measures applied to the damaged building, which were done using the same amount of funds that the government would provide in case of an earthquake. Also, the exhibition: 'Digital Bela: Architectural Heritage under a New Light' was set up there. This material had previously been exhibited at Nottingham Trent University, and went back to Bela to stay there permanently, open to the public for future reference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/02/17/repair-and-reinforcement-strategies-at-the-chabutra-birdfeed... |
| Description | Paper presented at the i-rec Conference 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Paper presentation: Advanced documentation technologies for a people-centred preparedness and re-construction in Bela, India. Presented at the i-rec Conference 2023: Tensions Between Tradition and Innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Action, and Reconstruction: Reflecting on Tohoku's Recovery Twelve- Years Later, organised by IRIDeS, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Japan. 1-4 June 2023. Abstract available: https://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/media/files/event/event/iRec2023/i-Rec2023_Abstracts.pdf Co-authors: Dr Felipe Lanuza, Mrudula Mane and Zeus Pithawalla. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://irides.tohoku.ac.jp/media/files/event/event/iRec2023/i-Rec2023_Abstracts.pdf |
| Description | Phase 3- Field work 3 at Bela |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We have carried out another fieldwork at Bela, this time with students from CEPT University, as part of their winter school, and with members of the team from the University of Nottingham, GIDM, CHC CRDF and the Hunnarshala Foundation. On the first day, we carried out a reconnaissance walk of the village, visiting the structures that were documented in phase 1 of this project, in which the students developed repair and re-construction proposals and had a lecture about post-earthquake damage, assessment and possible repair techniques. On the second day, we visited building 4, the bird feeder, where repair strategies were demonstrated. It was explained how to recognise damage in the structures of the village using this case as an example, and supporting the students' visits to their sites for visual damage assessments. The students also contributed with some hands-on work on repairing that structure, like removing roof tiles, the interior plaster to properly assess the cracks identified, and constructing a gabion sitting at the entrance, using the same mesh that will be used to support the corner of the buildings and filled with stones to clear the site. This building was in the process of intervention as an example of strategies that can inform the reinforcement needed in other buildings to make them resilient to future earthquakes. The on-site work also served to strengthen the links with the local authorities and representatives of the community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/12/12/phase-3-field-work-3-at-bela/ |
| Description | Presentation of the Disaster Risk Management Plan at Bela, India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | On the morning of the 17th of February 2024, we held activities at Bela's School for all the community and local authorities. The activities started with laying out the 3D laser scanning map of the village of Bela, so to use it for talking and locating the spaces designed as key buildings and evacuation spaces. Then, Saatvika Pancholi and Bernadette Devilat delivered a presentation about the project, summarising what has been done thus far and inviting the community to visit the Chabutra (bird feeder), in which examples of repair and reinforcement strategies were built. The final part of the activities was led by Shubham Daberao, from the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Risk Management (GIDM), who presented the Disaster Risk Management Plan for Bela that was developed in this last stage of the project. Local authorities, such as the Talati, Medical Staff from the Primary Health Centre, Anganwadi Workers, local officials from Bela Gram Panchayat and teachers from Shree High Secondary School, were also present. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2024/02/17/presentation-of-disaster-risk-management-plan-of-bela-by-gid... |
| Description | Presentation of the project and Winter School at Part 2 Architectural students UoN |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the project and Winter School organised at Bela with CEPT University. Part 2 architectural students from the University of Nottingham were invited to participate. The presentation was done in October 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/10/11/activities-at-bela-with-cepts-winter-school/ |
| Description | Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A website that will outlast the research project and act as a repository of data and activities. The website was translated into Gujarati to reach local audiences in Gujarat, India. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/ |
| Description | Winter School at CEPT University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | From the 4th to the 11th of December 2024, the Post Disaster Heritage Re-construction in Bela Winter School was held at CEPT University, Bela and Bhuj. The winter school focused on designing retrofit measures for some vernacular structures in Bela, using 3D data already available. This was informed by the seminar contents and on-site, hands-on building of the earthquake-responsive retrofits of a historic structure, following a process of damage assessment. It helped participants understand how the documentation through 3D LiDAR scanning supports the development of culturally sensitive post-earthquake re-construction. The course also included learnings from disaster management and risk preparedness plans. The activities started with a lecture by Bernadette Devilat summarising the research project. Jigna Desai gave a talk regarding the ethical considerations we have included while working with the local community. Saatvika Pancholi explained earthquake considerations for non-engineered structures. Nigar Shaikh explained structural considerations and gave a safety brief to the students. The activities also included visiting our case study, Bela, and the Hunnarshala Foundation in Bhuj, where the students had lectures and saw the 1:1 examples of construction methods and techniques built as part of the Hunnarshala facilities. On the last day, the students presented their proposals at the School of Architecture, CEPT University, receiving feedback from all the tutors and the local research team involved in this research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://3d4heritageindia.com/2023/12/12/winter-school-at-cept-university/ |