Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 13

Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com

ScienceDirect
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

2nd Cyprus International Conference on Educational Research, (CY-ICER 2013)

Assessing of Critical Parametrs on Earth Architecture and


Earth Buildings as a Vernacular and Sustainable
Architecture in Various Countries
Hamed Niroumanda, *, M.F.M Zainb, Maslina Jamilc
a,b,c
Department of architecture, Faculty of engineering and built environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia

Abstract

Earth construction has received in the last decade an increased attention by the scientific community illustrated by a
tenfold increase of the published research articles when compared to the previous decade. An assessment guideline is
for implementing earth architecture as sustainable and vernacular architecture for various countries such as Malaysia,
Iran, USA, UK, Australia and Yemen is presented. The literature is first searched in order to investigate the earth
architecture from ancient until today. This literature search forms the rationale for the relevant stages of the
assessment guideline. Each stage is discussed and possible methods of application are presented.

© 2013
2013The
Published by Elsevier
Authors. Published Ltd. Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
by Elsevier
Selection and orpeer-review
Selection and/or peer-review under
under responsibility
responsibility of Assoc.
of Prof. Prof. Uzunboylu,
Dr. Huseyin Dr. Zehra Özçınar,
Near EastAtaturk Teacher
University, Training
Faculty of Education,
Academy,
Cyprus North Cyprus
Keywords: Earth architecture, earth building, sustainable architecture, critical parameters, questionnaire;

1. Introduction
Sustainable architecture is a category of architecture based on localized requirements and building
materials, and reflecting local traditions. Sustainable architecture behaviors evolve over time to reflect the
environmental, cultural, technological, and historical context in which it exists. It has often been
dismissed as crude and unrefined, but also has proponents who highlight its importance in current design.
Earth architecture is a type of sustainable architecture. Earth has been a tried and tested natural
construction material for thousands of years, and in combination with modern methods can be used for
modern ecological buildings. For a couple of year’s earth building techniques have been growing in Iran,
USA and all over Europe and Middle East. The reason for this increase is the interest in ecologically
friendly construction. At the same time there is both an increase of new building products and technical
developments in the production of these sustainable building materials. Earth is one of the most widely

*Corresponding author: Hamed Niroumand.


E-mail address: hniroumand@ymail.com

1877-0428 © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu, Near East University, Faculty of Education, Cyprus
doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.843
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 249

used of all building materials used for different architectural applications such as building, hills, shaped
hills, earth sheltered, terraces, garden, landscape sites and etc. In most instances the use of earth in
western developed countries is confined to earth walls only but earth walls can sometimes constitute quite
a small percentage of the structure of a building. In many developing countries where the properties of
earth construction are more widely appreciated, earth is utilized in the construction of floors and roofs, in
addition to walls. Buildings made with earth are economical, energy saving, environmentally friendly and
sustainable. Earth buildings include adobe, cob, straw and rammed earth blocks and walls. Worldwide,
traditional earth construction techniques are variously known as cob, rammed earth, pise de terre, adobe,
clay lump, mud. The earth used in the various construction techniques may be stabilized with cement,
lime or bitumen. The type of stabilizer depends upon the type of clay present in the subsoil and the desired
modification of built properties. Appropriate stabilizers will normally increase the strength and therefore,
often improve the durability of the fine product. This is particularly important in areas that experience
particularly inclement wheatear and often allow the earth construction to acquire a greater strength more
quickly. In appropriate or incorrectly stabilizers however, they can have negative effects upon the
properties of an earth building. All of these methods have been use successfully according to the local
conditions, customs, and materials.
In this study, the impact assessment of critical parameters on earth architecture and earth buildings as
sustainable architecture can be investigated.
Aim and Objectives
The main aim of this study is to predict the impact assessment of critical parameters of different
countries by earth architecture and earth buildings as a type of sustainable architecture. Critical
parameters are included architectural styles, construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic
aspects, climate conditions, and new technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings. In order to
achieve the aim of work, three objectives have been identified:
 To investigate the influence of critical parameters on earth buildings and earth
architecture in Malaysia, Iran, USA, United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia.
 To compare the influence of critical parameters on earth buildings in six countries.
 Provide a general guide for earth buildings as a type of sustainable buildings.
Scope
Impact assessment of critical parameters are included the evaluation of type of earth buildings as
sustainable buildings in Malaysia, Iran, USA, UK, Australia and Yemen based on architectural styles,
construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic aspects, climate conditions, and new
technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings. Based on different aspects of existing researches,
literature review and discussion with few senior architects and researchers, the questionnaire is completed.
The questionnaire is to be completed by architects, engineers, builders and contractors, and developers in
six countries. The questionnaire is included based on critical parameters in earth buildings such as
architectural styles, construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic aspects, climate
conditions, and new technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings in six countries. It would be
almost impossible to get responses from people who had never even considered “earth building and earth
architecture”. The questionnaires are to distribute to architects and civil engineers who are related to
architecture and building materials. Since architects and civil engineers work closely with more
mainstream building professionals in every day and have probably given some thought to the issue of
sustainable practice barriers, it has felt that this group could provide informed speculation about what is
the impact assessment of critical parameters on earth building and earth architecture in six countries. The
architects and civil engineers are used from architects society and society of civil engineers in each
country.
250 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

2. Literature Review
Unlike other species who seek a balance with nature that will ensure their survival, mankind concerns
only with the immediate satisfaction of their ‘‘needs’’ regardless that they may cause the exhaustion and
the collapse of the ecosystem which they are an integral part, and this despite the fact that scientific
community have been alerting for some time to the urgency of this problem. The construction industry is
one of the largest and most active sectors throughout Europe representing 28.1% and 7.5% of employment
respectively in the industry and in the European economy. With an annual turnover of 1200 billion Euros,
this sector represents 25% of all European industrial production, being the largest exporter with 52%
market share. In world terms the construction industry will keep on growing at a fast pace. For instance
China will need 40 billion square meters of combined residential and commercial floor space over the
next 20 years – equivalent to adding one New York every 2 years or the area of Switzerland.
Environmentally speaking, this industry accounts for 30% of carbon dioxide emissions; in addition the
global construction industry consumes more raw materials (about 3000 Mt/year, almost 50% by weight)
than any other economic activity, which shows a clearly unsustainable industry. The foreseeable increase
in world population (by 2030 is expected to increase by more than 2000 million people) and the needs in
terms of buildings and other infrastructure, would further increase the consumption of nonrenewable
materials, as well as waste production. Therefore, the use of more sustainable construction materials and
construction techniques represent a major contribution to the eco-efficiency of the construction industry
and thus to a more sustainable development. In the last decade almost one hundred research articles
related to this subject have been published in Scopus journals mostly related to rammed earth. This is just
a small fraction (less than 10%) of the research articles published about Portland cement concrete in the
same period (the largest-volume manufactured product on earth and responsible for 5% do world CO2
emissions), but it represents a tenfold increase compared to the research articles concerning earth
construction publish in the 1990s. This means that more and more research efforts are being dedicated to
transform the current building industry into a more sustainable one. Earth construction assumes in this
particular context, an environmental advantage that makes it extremely competitive when compared to
conventional materials and construction techniques. The majority of investigations carried out in this field
are mostly related to the seismic response of earth buildings, mechanical properties of earth masonry and
more recently about thermal and hydrothermal performance. The authors only found one review paper
about the selection of soils. The present manuscript reviews important aspects related to earth
construction. It addresses economic advantages, non-renewable resource consumption, waste generation,
energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, toxicity and indoor air quality. There is no consensus
about the date when man began to use earth construction. Minke mentioned this might have happened
over 9000 years ago, basing its beliefs on the fact that earth blocks (adobe) based dwellings discovered in
Turkmenistan dated from a period between 8000 and 6000 BC. Other authors mentioned that the use of
earth for construction purposes dates from the period of El-Obeid in Mesopotamia (5000–4000 BC).
According to Berge the oldest adobe blocks, which were discovered in the Tigris River basin date back to
7500 BC so earth construction could have been used for more than 10,000 years. It is not very relevant,
whether the earth construction began more than 9000 or over 10,000 years ago but its not far from the
truth that the earth construction begin with the beginning with the start of early agricultural societies, a
period whose current knowledge dates from 12,000 to 7000 BC. There are countless cases of earth
buildings, which were built 1000 years ago and made it to the XXI century. Even the Great Wall of China
whose construction began about 3000 years ago has extensive sections built on rammed earth. Evidence
shows the use of earth construction by the Phoenicians in the Mediterranean basin including Carthage in
814 BC. The Horyuji Temple in Japan has rammed earth walls built 1300 years ago. This author refers the
existence of rammed earth based buildings in the Himalayan region built in XII century. Adobe based
buildings structures are common in Central America. The ruins of the city of Chanchán in Peru are among
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 251

the most ancient earth based constructions. The village of Taos in New Mexico is another example of
ancient earth constructions (1000–1500 AC). Another good example is the city of Shibam in Yemen with
earth buildings up to 11 floors that were built 100 years ago [. Currently almost 50% of the world’s
population lives in earth based dwellings. The majority of earth construction is located in less developed
countries; however, this kind of construction can also be found in Germany, France or even the UK that
has an excess of 500,000 earth-based dwellings. Earth construction has also increase substantially in US,
Brazil and Australia largely due to the sustainable construction agenda, in which the earth construction
assumes a key role. The French laboratory CRATerre founded in 1979 and linked to the School of
Architecture in Grenoble, which acquired an institutional dimension in 1986 through the recognition of
the French Government, was capable to maintain a strong and steady action in the promotion of earth
construction. Houben et al. mention the success of an educational project undertaken in CRATerre,
consisting of a scientific workshop with over 150 interactive experiences that in just 4 years had been
attended by 11,000 visitors. As for Germany, Schroeder et al. Report the existence of vocational training
on earth construction as well as courses that confer the Expert title in this area. Three universities offer
earth construction courses respectively the University of Kassel, the University of Applied Sciences in
Potsdam and the University of Weimar (Bauhaus). Earth construction is not only dependent on adequate
training but also on specific regulations. Several countries already have earth construction related
standards. In Germany the first Earth Building Code dates back to 1944, but only in 1951 with DIN
18951, these regulations have been put into practice. In 1998 the German Foundation for the Environment
disclosed several technical recommendations known as the “Lehmbau Regeln”. Over the years they have
been adopted by all the German states with the exception of Hamburg and Lower-Sáxony. A revised
version of the ‘‘Lehmbau Regeln’’ passed in 2008. Australia was one of the first countries to have specific
regulations on earth construction. The Australian regulations were published in 1952 by the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) under the designation of
‘‘Bulletin 5’’. This document has been revised in 1976, 1981, 1987 and 1992. In 2002, the Australian
Earth Building Handbook replaces this document. In 1992 the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Public
Works published a document entitled ‘‘Bases for design and construction with rammed earth’’ to support
not only rammed earth but also adobe based buildings. Recently Delgado and Guerrero [19] stated that
earth construction is not yet regulated, posing several drawbacks such as the need to contract a building
insurance during the 10-year warranty period. Various researchers were done other researches on building
evaluation but it didn’t find any evaluation on earth building until now! Smith (2008), Laman (1999),
Nguyen et al. (2011), Rijal and Yoshida (2002), Abdel Aziz and Shawket (2011), Dili et al. (2010), Al-
Temeemi and Harris (2004), Assefaa et al. (2007), Deable and Dear (2012), Wong and Seow Jan (2003),
Al-Khaiat and Fattuhi (1990), Kim et al. (2005), Chan and Kumaraswamy (1996), Akinsola et al. (1997),
and Grac et al. (2007) investigated building factors in various buildings such as vernacular building,
sustainable building, and green buildings in different countries.

3. Research Methodology
Research methodology is description of research process that we want to do in the research. The
research methodology is a mandatory part for each research because a research needs to describe the
research steps. This part describes the methodology employed in this research. It describes the design of
the survey and questionnaire, and the procedures for conducting the research, involving details about the
participants, how the data was collected, and the statistical analyses undertaken. The current research to
predict the impact assessment of critical parameters such as architectural styles, construction methods,
materials, structural aspects, economic aspects, climate conditions, and new technologies such as
nanotechnology based on questionnaires in Malaysia, Iran, USA, United Kingdom, Australia and Yemen
then developed a relationships between critical parameters in six countries separately. Critical parameters
252 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

are included architectural styles, construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic aspects,
climate conditions, and new technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings. The questions are
written based on architectural styles, construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic
aspects, climate conditions, and new technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings. Based on
different aspects of existing researches, literature review and discussion with few senior architects and
researchers at ICOMOS, the questionnaire is completed. The questionnaire to be completed by architects,
engineers, builders and contractors, and developers in six countries then determines the impact assessment
of earth buildings and earth architecture using the questionnaire. In the final step, a comparison is done
between the responses of the architects, engineers and researcher in six countries. These steps are general
steps of the research. Each step has several sub steps and every step uses several standard methods that are
explained in this part. There are, evidently, gaps with the data collection in this research although the
analysis have made due with the best possible data available for a research work of this size, scopes and
the level. The responses investigate using T-Test and ANOVA method for analysis although the current
research uses regression method for producing related equations on critical parameters and their
relationship.

4. Resulting Guideline
The developed guideline stages can be briefly summarized as follows:
I. An assessment of the effective parameters on earth buildings and earth architecture and finding the
most important parameters in each country.
II. An assessment of the maximum effect of critical parameters on earth buildings and earth
architecture in six countries.
III. Provide a general guide for earth buildings as a type of sustainable buildings.

5. Conclusion
This study can be predicting the impact assessment of critical parameters on earth architecture and earth
buildings as a type of sustainable architecture. Critical parameters are included architectural styles,
construction methods, materials, structural aspects, economic aspects, climate conditions, and new
technologies such as nanotechnology in earth buildings. The results can be find the disadvantages and
advantages of earth buildings and earth architecture using many factors in various countries then can be
develop the earth buildings as sustainable buildings in the mentioned countries or other countries. The
results can be used by governments and related organizations for development of earth architecture and
earth building in each country.

References

Stern, N. (2006), Stern review on economics of climate change. Cambridge University Press IPCC (2007), climate change impacts,
adaptation and vulnerability. Intergovernmental panel on climate change.
United Nations (2008), acting on climate change: the UN system delivering as one. DPI/2526
World Watch Institute (2009), State of the World
Dobbs,R.,(2010),Primenumbers:megacities.Foreignpolicy; http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/prime_numbers_megacities.
Gartner, E, MacPhee, E. A. (2011), physic-chemical basis for novel cementations binders. Cem Concr Res, 41:736–49
Jimenez Delgado, MC, Guerrero, IC. (2007), The selection of soils for un-stabilised earth building: a normative review. Constr
Build Mater, 21:237–51
Minke, G. (2006), Building with earth, design and technology of a sustainable architecture. Basel- Berlin-Boston: Birkhäuser –
Publishers for Architecture
Pollock, S. (1999), Ancient Mesopotamia. Cambridge University Press.
Berge, B. (2009), The ecology of building materials. 2 ed. Architectural Press, Elsevier Science
Jaquin, PA. (2008), Analysis of historic rammed earth construction. PhD thesis. Durham University, United Kingdom.
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 253

Alexandra, S. (2006), Architecture and earth construction in Piaui: Research, characterization and analysis. Master thesis, Federal
University of Piauí, Brasil
Helfritz, H. (1937), Land without shade. J Roy Central Asian Soc, 24(2):201–16
Guillaud, H. (2008), Characterization of earthen materials. In: Avrami E, Guillaud H, Hardy M, editors. Terra literature review—an
overview of research in earthen architecture conservation. Los Angeles (United States): The Getty Conservation Institute, 21–31
Houben, H., Doat, P., Fontaine, L., (2008), Anger R, Aedo W, Olagnon C, et al. Builders grains – a new pedagogical tool for earth
architecture education. In: 5th International conference on building with earth – LEHM 2008, Weimar, Germany, 51–7
Schroeder, H., Rohlen, U., Jorchel, S. (2008), Education and vocational training in building with earth in Germany. In: 5th
International conference on building with earth LEHM 2008, Weimar, Germany,193–7
Schroeder, H., Volhard, F., Rohlen, U., Ziegert, C.. (2008), The ‘‘Lehmbau Regeln’’ in 2008 – a review after 10 years of use in
practice. In: 5th International conference on building with earth, LEHM 2008, Weimar, Germany, 13–21
Maniatidis, V, Walker, P., (2003), A review of rammed earth construction. University of Bath
Delgado, MC, Guerrero, I.C., (2006), Earth building in Spain. Constr Build Mater, 20:679–90
Middleton, G. F., (1975), Build your own house of earth compendium Pty Ltd. Mentone, Victoria, Australia
Frank, R. Walker, E. D., (1954), The building estimator’s reference book, 12th ed., Frank R. Walker, Publisher Chicago
McHenry, P. G. (1984), Adobe and rammed earth buildings, John Wiley and Sons
Rael, R., (2009), Earth Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, USA
Morgan, W. N., (2008), Earth architecture from ancient to modern, University Press of Florida, USA www.eartharchitecture.org
Azzi, V., Grac, C., Catharine, D., Kowaltowskia, C. K., Roberto, J., Petreche, D., (2007), An evaluation method for school building
design at the preliminary phase with optimization of aspects of environmental comfort for the school system of the State São Paulo
in Brazil, Building and Environment, 42(2):984–999
Akinsola, A.O., Potts, K.F., Ndekugri, I., and Harris, F.C., (1997), Identification and evaluation of factors influencing variations on
building projects, International Journal of Project Management, 15(4):263–267
Chan, D.W.M., Kumaraswamy, M.M., (1996), An evaluation of construction time performance in the building industry, Building
and Environment, 31(6): 569–578
Kim, S.S., Yang, I., Yeoa, M.S., Kima, K.W., (2005), Development of a housing performance evaluation model for multi-family
residential buildings in Korea, Building and Environment, 40(8):1103–1116
Al-Khaiat, H., and Fattuhi, N.I., (1990), Evaluating building materials used in Kuwait, Construction and Building Materials,
4(1):32–36
Wong, N.H., Seow Jan, W.L., (2003), Total building performance evaluation of academic institution in Singapore, Building and
Environment 38:161 – 176
Deuble, M.P., Dear, R.J., (2012), Green occupants for green buildings: The missing link?, Building and Environment 56:21-27
Assefaa, G., Glaumannb, M., Malmqvistc, T., Kindembed, B., Hulte, M., Myhre, U., Erikssonb, O., (2007), Environmental
assessment of building properties, where natural and social sciences meet: The case of EcoEffect, Building and Environment
42:1458–1464
Al-Temeemi, A.A., Harris, D.J., (2004), A guideline for assessing the suitability of earth-sheltered mass-housing in hot-arid
climates, Energy and Buildings 36:251–260
Dili, A.S., Naseer, M.A., Zacharia, T. (2010), Thermal comfort study of Kerala traditional residential buildings based on
questionnaire survey among occupants of traditional and modern buildings, Energy and Buildings 42:2139–2150
Aziz, T.A., Shawket, I.M., (2011), New strategy of upgrading slum areas in developing countries using vernacular trends to achieve
a sustainable housing development, Energy Procedia, 6:228–235
Rijal, H. B., Yoshida, H., (2002), Comparison of summer and winter thermal environment in traditional vernacular houses in several
areas of Nepal, Advances in Building Technology, 2:1359-1366
Nguyen, A.T., Tran, Q.B., Tran, D.Q., (2011), Sigrid Reiter. An investigation on climate responsive design strategies of vernacular
housing in Vietnam, Building and Environment 46:2088-2106
Laman, M., (1999), Breaking through the Barriers to Sustainable Building: Insights from Building Professionals on Government
Initiatives to Promote Environmentally Sound Practices, Master thesis, Tufts University
Smith, J., (2008), Implementation of a Building Sustainability Rating Tool: A Survey of the New Zealand Building Industry, Master
thesis, Victoria University of Wellington
Takona, J.P., (2002), Educational Research: Principles and Practice Book. Writers Club Press.
Vickers, A.J., (2005), Parametric versus non-parametric statistics in the analysis of randomized trials with non-normally distributed
data. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 5(35)
Niroumand, H., Zain, M.F.M., Jamil, M. (2012), Hill development by Earth architecture. International Journal of Physical
Sciences, 6 (6), 1249-1256
Niroumand, H. (2011), Nanotechnology in Architecture. Academic Publishing, Germany
Niroumand, H., Zain, M.F.M., Jamil, M. (2012), Advanced Materials Research. 457-458, 354-357
Niroumand, H., Zain, M.F.M., Jamil, M. (2012), Advanced Materials Research. 457-458, 395-398
Niroumand, H., Zain, M.F.M., Jamil, M. (2012), Advanced Materials Research. 457-458, 403-406
Niroumand, H., Zain, M.F.M., Jamil, M. (2012), Advanced Materials Research. 457-458, 399-402
254 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

Appendix A. Questionnaire Survey

Industry Information The following information is required for statistical purposes and to ensure the
reliability of the data. (1/8)
Section 1: Background (2/8)
It is very important to define earth building and earth architecture in the context of this research. Earth
building and earth architecture are defined as buildings which have been designed to minimize their
impact on the environment, and that are economic to construct and operate over the whole lifetime of the
building. Earth architecture is a type of vernacular architecture.
Question 1: To what extent would you describe your level of interest in?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Sustainability
Earth architecture and earth building
Earth building tools in construction
Earth materials
Question 2: What best describes your level of involvement with?

- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100


Sustainability
Earth architecture and earth building
Earth building tools in construction
Earth materials
Section 2: Earth Building Tools in Construction (3/8)
Question 3: What do you see as the purpose of Earth Building Tools in Construction?
Question 4: How important is it to have a national code of earth building in your country?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Level of importance
Question 5: Of the current existing national codes of earth building which are you aware of (commercial
orresidential)?
o I am not aware of any national code
o Other(s), Please specify
Question 6: Of the current existing national codes of earth building which do you have experience
with(commercial or residential)? Meaning that you have a very good understanding of how the earth
building works,either through application or through the involvement in the development process of
creating the tool.
o I have no experience with any national code
o Other(s), Please specify
Question 7: In your experience with existing national codes of earth building what have been the
highestachieved ratings/scores?
o Not applicable
o Please specify the details
Question 8: Have you completed traing to become an accredited preofessional for any existing national
code of earth building?
o No
o Yes, please specify the details
Section 3: National Guidelines and Handbooks in Earth Building and Erath Architectrue (4/8)
Question 9: Are you aware of national guidelines and handbooks in earth building in your country?
o My country don’t have national guidelines on earth building
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 255

o Yes
o No
o Please specify
Question 10: How important it for building industry to be a developed country in earth building and earth
architecture?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Level of importance
Question 11: To what extent do you think a national guideline will influence the building industry in a
shift towards more earth building development in your country?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Degree of influence
Question 12: How likely is it that you will use Green Star New Zealand once it is officially released?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
likelihood
Question 13: If you are likely to use the national guideline of earth building in your country, how do you
anticipate using it?
o Only as a design guideline
o To achieve design certification
o To achieve as built certification
o Only as a guideline to fit-out
o To achieve fit-out certification
o Only to understand the performance of a building
o To achieve performance certification
o Other(s)-please specify
Question 14: How likely is it that you will seek training to become an earth building accredited
professional?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
likelihood
Question 15: How important is it that buildings of your country seek full earth building accreditation?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Level of importance
Question 16: What would be your reasons for using the national guidelines of earth building and earth
architecture?
o Being able to assess the environmental impact of buildings
o Building comparisons at a national level
o Building comparisons at an international level
o Promotional purposes
o To use the information for company sustainability reporting
o Social and environmental responsibility to create vernacular buildings
o To compare in country’s groing market
o Other(s)-please specify
Section 4: International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOC) (5/8)
Question 17: Are you aware of the ICOMOS in your country?
o My country don’t have ICOMOS branch
o Yes
o No
256 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

Question 18: How appropriate is the approach of the ICOMOS in the establishment of a national society
on earth building in your country?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Degree of appropriateness
Question 19: Do you have any reason for your selection of the appropriateness of the ICOMOS in the
establishment of a national society on earth building in your country?
o I don’t know
o No
o Please specify
Question 20: To what extend do you think ICOMOS will influence the building industry in a shift
towards more earth building development?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Degree of influence
Section 5: Triggers, Drivers, Obstacles and Reasons for earth building and earth architecture (6/8)
The following questions relate to earth building and earth architecture and will allow direct comparisons
to be made to various countries’s resaerch.
Question 21: In you experience who triggers earth building and earth architecture in the first place?
o I don’t know
o Client
o Architect
o Engineers
o Property and Construction Professionals
o Building Contractors
o Developers
o Investors
o Other(s)-Please specify
Question 22: In your opinion who should be the main driver for earth building and earth architecture?
o I don't know
o Client
o Architect/Draftpersons
o Engineers
o Property and Construction Professionals
o Building Contractors
o Developers
o Investors
o An integrated process where responsibility is shared
o Other(s) - Please specify
Question 23: At what stage of the building process is earth architecture most likely triggered?
o I don’t know
o Preliminary inquiries
o Pre-design
o Design development
o Construction development process
o Commissioning
o Construction
o Other(s) - Please specify
Question 24: What do you think are the main drivers for earth building?
o Rising energy costs
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 257

o Government regulation
o Lower life-cycle costs
o Client demand
o Independent rating system
o Government rating systems
o Competitive advantage
o Superior performance
o Structural conditions
o Materials performance
o Increased education
o Environmental conditions
o Attraction and retention of staff
o Increased emphasis on productivity
o International trends show it is smart business
o Disruptive/enabling technology
o Other(s) - Please specify
Question 25: what are the obstacts to earth building?
o Perceived higher upfront costs
o Lack of education
o Lack of awareness
o No fiscal incentive
o Different accounting methods
o No coordination
o Politics
o Payback periods
o Education of non ‘sustainable’ people
o Other(s) – please specify
Question 26: What are your reasons for being involved with earth building?
o I am not involved
o Being part of an industry that values the environment
o Achieving lower life-cycle costs
o Contract requirement (e.g. Government tenders)
o Expanding my business with ‘sustainable’ building clients
o Benefit from publicity
o Triple bottom line reporting Attraction an re
o Tention of talent
o Vernacular product information A
o wards for earth building
o Higher return on investment on resale
o Please specify
Question 27: What do you believe are the economic reasons/benefits of earth building?
o Lower operating costs
o Lower lifetime costs
o Higher building value
o Enhanced marketability
o Helping to transform the market
o Increase staff productivity and retention
o Higher return on investment
o Reduced liability and risk
258 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

o Other(s) - Please specify


Question 28: What do you believe are the environmental reasons/benefits of earth building?
o Protection of the environment
o Reducing climate change and emissions
o Minimising ecological impact of buildings
o Scarcity of natural resources
o Improving indoor environment quality
o Waste reduction
o Other(s) - Please specify
Question 29: What do you believe are the social reasons/benefits of earth building?
o Greater health and well-being
o Improved learning and healing environments
o Tenant productivity
o Support for my country’s economy
o Moral imperative of being ‘sustainable’
o Aesthetically pleasing
o Other(s)-please specify
Technical Information (7/8)
How important is each of the following items in development of earth architecture and earth building?
a) Cost Saving
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Energy efficieng
Maintenance cost
Material cost
Construction cost
Recovery cost
b) Materials
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Clay
Sand
Straw
Cement
Emolosion oil
Rice husk
POFA
Flyash
Lime
Nanomaterials
c) Environmental
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Sustainability
Less pollution
To flight global warming
Waste minimization
Minimized site impact
d) Construction Techniques
Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260 259

- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100


Rammed earth wall
Adobe wall
Cob
Wattle and Daub
Poured earth
Extruded earth
e) Climate Conditions
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Desert
Alpine
Mild Temperate
Cold Temperate
Warm Temperate
Hot Temperate
Subtropical
Tropical
f) Productivity Gains
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Reduced health risk
Reduced safety risk
Less claims made on health costs
Boosts creativity
Higher morale
Improved indoor air quality
User satisfaction
Users have more control over their environment

g) Architectural Styles
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Islamic
Persian
Early Modern
Modern
Post Modern
Corporate
Modern
Vernacular
Neo-Vernacular
h) Application
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100

Building
Mounds
Shaped hills
Earth retained
260 Hamed Niroumand et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 89 (2013) 248 – 260

Terraces
Platforms
Excavations
Modified earth
Water retained
Cities
Information requirements (8/8)
Question 30: What information do you require in regards to earth building and earth architecture?
o Earth products
o Environmental and economic cost benefit case studies
o Earth building emerging trends
o Earth projects
o How to design earth building?
o Reviews and profiles of an existing earth building projects
o Engineering or scientific information
o How to market an earth building?
o Earth building and earth architecture acceditation course
o How to manage an earth building?
o Earth building players
o How to maintenance an earth building?
o Earth builder players
o Business management information
o Curroculum for senior executives
o Other(s)-please specify
Question 31: What is your degree of satisfaction with the current level of information about sustainable
building?
- 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100
Earth products
Environmental and economic cost beenfit case studies
Earth projects
How to design an earth building?
Reviews and profiles of existing earth building projects?
How to maintenance an earth building?
Engineering or scientific information
Earth building and earth architecture acceditation course
Earth building players
How to market an earth building?
Earth builder players
Business management information
Curroculum for senior executives
Curroculum for line staff

You might also like