Abstract
To lose one’s home due to conflict or disaster is a devastating experience. Globally, conflict and disaster events are increasing, causing displacement and inadequate housing in many regions. Therefore, a rapid and effective housing reconstruction response is needed to improve coping capacity after each event. Housing reconstruction (HRC) approaches link resources, logistics, people, skills, and environment to deliver appropriate housing reconstruction based on a comprehensive plan. These strategies are determined by the geographic, economic, and political factors dominating each situation and circumstance. This study focuses on material adequacy. In this thesis, material adequacy refers to having sufficient quality and quantity of material to make positive impact on the processes and methods of housing reconstruction in compliance with the relevant building codes. Post-conflict or disaster, materials are likely to be scarce due to high demand, and poor, stopped, or delayed supply. Therefore, the quality and quantity of materials, skills and method of construction, prices, logistics and supply chains must be carefully considered and integrated in any HRC framework.This thesis aims to propose a material adequacy framework for post-conflict, post-disaster housing reconstruction. The study undertook an in-depth investigation of the literature to create a generic framework to better understand and aid decision-making in housing reconstruction. Twenty-nine previously published studies and review articles on housing reconstruction were used to investigate the relationship between material adequacy factors and other factors, including labour, transportation, site and environment, coordination, government, hazards, economy, project management, and community. The thematic analysis derived fifty-nine factors affecting the success and failure of the reconstruction process were deduced. Of these factors, four are related to material adequacy and are explored in detail; material availability, quality, local production capacity, and procurement strategy. The findings were used to propose an interim material adequacy framework for housing reconstruction which was evaluated by two experts working in this domain. The validated framework showed that material adequacy during housing reconstruction is influenced by the following themes/trends: Material Selection, Material Tracking Tool, Housing Reconstruction Engagement Criteria, and Material Logistical Considerations for Economic Recovery. This study affirmed the importance of material adequacy in pre-conflict, pre- disaster housing reconstruction. The novel pre-planning framework for HRC makes theoretical and practical contributions that will benefit the agencies responsible for housing re-construction as well as the affected communities.
| Date of Award | 11 Oct 2023 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Alexander Copping (Supervisor) & Kemi Adeyeye (Supervisor) |