Exploring the effect of adding harmful waste instead of straw in mud bricks from an environmental viewpoint

For centuries antiquarians and archaeologists have tried to reconcile the terminology of ancient writers on architecture, such as Vitruvius, with the perceived realities of the material record. One particular issue of debate concerns the interpretation of different words for “brick” in Latin. In this paper it is argued that earlier attempts to settle this question are unsatisfactory and leave several problems unresolved. A thorough examination of literary and epigraphic sources, combined with new insights in Hellenistic brick usage, suggests that primary distinctions in Latin brick terminology were based on shape and size, rather than on a mere division between fired and unfired bricks. Thus, it is argued that later basically signified a large moulded block, but normally was used to indicate mud bricks; that laterculus changed over time from being a diminutive (a small later) to becoming the standard term for the relatively thin fired bricks of the Roman Imperial period; and that testa originally and primarily signified a fragment of a roof tile (or a potsherd), but from the 1st century AD also may designate typical Roman Imperial bricks, after they have been divided into smaller, often triangular, pieces.

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TRANSFORMING EARTH INTO HOUSES: A METHODOLOGY FOR DOCUMENTING CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES AS AN APPRENTICE IN THE IRANIAN DESERT, SOUTH KHORASAN

ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences ◽

10.5194/isprs-archives-xliv-m-1-2020-953-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol XLIV-M-1-2020 ◽

pp. 953-960

Author(s):

E. P. Ferrari

Keyword(s):

Local Community ◽

Participant Observation ◽

Arid Environment ◽

Architectural Drawings ◽

Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽

Person Perspective ◽

Mud Bricks ◽

The Village ◽

The Relationship ◽

South Khorasan

Abstract. This article presents a methodology for recording and documenting building processes using an anthropological approach. The village of Esfahak, in the region of South Khorasan (Iran) is situated in an arid environment scarce in water and trees. These conditions have resulted in the development of building forms that are almost entirely made out of earth. For centuries houses have been erected by local master masons utilizing only mud bricks and without the use of any architectural drawings. This research seeks to document how building processes unfold and are implemented in the village, for both restoration and new constructions. The researcher undertakes ethnographic fieldwork examining the relationship between villagers and their architecture. This approach is based on participant observation, engaging the local community to study how buildings were and are conceived, constructed, inhabited, maintained and restored. Moreover, the research employs an apprentice-style fieldwork method to access building sites. Thus, the researcher learns by doing with masons as a way to embody local knowledge, and not merely through passive observation. The work on site, given its processual nature, is documented through audio-visual recordings from both an external and first-person perspective. The use of head-mounted cameras facilitates review and discussion of building processes with the masons allowing for an in-depth understanding of this craft practice.

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Urban backyard swine production: A case study of Kaduna, A Nigerian metropolitan city

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v31i2.1819 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 237-244

Author(s):

G. S. Bawa ◽

T. F. Balogun ◽

L. Ega ◽

J. J. Omage

Keyword(s):

Herd Size ◽

Bank Loans ◽

Family Management ◽

Secondary Source ◽

Swine Production ◽

Indigenous Breed ◽

Production Pattern ◽

Mud Bricks ◽

Poor Management

A survey to assess the production pattern of backvard pig raising in Kaduna Metropolis was carried out using structured questionnaires. A total of 170 farmers were randomly selected for the study. 42.94% of the respondents were traders, 24.71% civil servants, 19.41% crop farmers and 5.88% were students. More women (61.76%) than men (38.23%) kept backyard pigs with herd size of 2-10 pigs. Most (86.50%) of the pigs were of the indigenous breed and are raised as a secondary source of income for the family. Management system was mostly extensive (71.24%), but majority of the producers (98.2496) fed kitchen wastes, vegetables and agro-industrial by-products as supplement. About 58. 40% of the farmers interviewed used mud-bricks with thatched roof and rammed earth floor to house their pigs over night, while 55.20% used cement blocks with zinc roof. Most of the farmers (98.20%) reported incredible market age of 11/2 years and sold their pigs live. Mortality was generally high, but was higher for young piglets than for adults and was mainly due to diseases and poor management. Only 58.82% of the respondents applied medications to their pigs, mostly against worms. Among the identified constraints to improved production are high cost and non-availability of compound fornula feeds, difficulties in obtaining bank loans, lack of organised Markets for pigs, high incidence of diseases, accidental mortality, poor management, inadequate veterinary services and lack of title to land. About 92.94% of the respondents found pig raising to be profitable. The survey showed that pig productivity into Nigeria's urban settings could be enhanced if adequate attention is paid to the removal of identified constraints to production.

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Impact of Environment on Architecture of Mesopotamia with Respect to the Use of Materials, Tools and Mode of Construction

The Academic Research Community Publication ◽

10.21625/archive.v1i1.111 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Saira Iqbal

Keyword(s):

Research Methods ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

The Earth ◽

The People ◽

Urban Settlements ◽

Mud Bricks ◽

Architectural Research ◽

Southern Iraq ◽

Design And Construction

Through architectural and engineering skills, humanity leaves its mark upon the earth. Urbanization started from Mesopotamia in west Asia where the Mesopotamian societies flourished. They evolved into various landscapes from the metal-rich highlands and elevations of southeastern Turkey to the Syrian deserts, from the woodmen of the Levant to the bogs of southern Iraq. Mesopotamian civilization, along with its architecture, survived more than three thousand years. The architecture of the Mesopotamian civilization is not only portentous in its outlook and proficient in planning, but it’s also considered rational and technical with respect to its environment.The civilization was very first of its kind, having technology and urban settlements that laid the foundation of future modern settlements. It considered the region's environment and climate as pivotal in the development of its culture and architecture.This study discusses how the people, consciously or unconsciously, shaped the land or landscape around them in relation to their environment. This study is both basic and applied, according to architectural research methods. By content, the research in this article is according to the process of design and construction and the data in this research will be analyzed morphologically and technically. The Mesopotamian people used mud bricks, aqueducts, wooden beams, Archimedes screw, courtyard and tripartite houses. The study in this article proves that all these constructions and the techniques used were according to their environmental and climatic conditions.

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Strength, sustainability and affordability of bamboo and mud bricks as materials used in local construction

Rwanda Journal of Engineering Science Technology and Environment ◽

10.4314/rjeste.v2i1.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leopold Mbereyaho ◽

Jean de Dieu Mutabaruka ◽

Abaho G. Gershome ◽

Armel Ineza ◽

Ezra Ngirabatware

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Cost Estimation ◽

Building Materials ◽

Construction Materials ◽

Conventional Concrete ◽

Environment Friendly ◽

Study Results ◽

Mud Bricks ◽

Materials Used ◽

Sisal Fibers

The construction industry is one of the rapidly growing and the cost analysis suggests that the materials cost is constantly increasing. The continuous extraction of aggregates intensively used in the field is negatively acting to the environment. Therefore research in construction materials should focus not only on discovering new alternative materials but also in appreciating the quality of those locally available for their better application. This research aimed at evaluating the performance of bamboo and mud bricks as two available local building materials, especially with regards not only to their strength but also to new performance concepts which are affordability, energy efficiency and environment friendly aspects. The study comprised mainly of laboratory tests of used materials and cost estimation analysis. Study results established that the considered bamboo and mud bricks, made in ordinary soils and reinforced by sisal fibers were reusable, environment friendly materials and energy efficient, with the bamboo showing the thermal conductivity equal to 0.1496 W/mK. Regarding the compressive strength, reinforced mud bricks with sisal fibers showed an increased value from 1.75 MPA to 4.29MPA, what was in line with related previous studies. The average compressive strength of the studied Arundinaria Alpine bamboo was established at 133,7MPA, while its tensile strength was 88.16MPA and these values were reasonable with comparison to other conventional materials. It is recommended that further research in checking the performance of other types of bamboo as well as about new construction technologies be undertaken in order to enhance the service life of both bamboo and mud bricks.Keywords: Affordability, Bamboo, Conventional concrete, Materials strength, Mud reinforced bricks, Sustainability

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