Managing Low Cost & Innovative Housing Technologies”

International Centre for Advancement of Manufacturing Technology (ICAMT)

In cooperation with

Building Material & Technology Promotion Council

Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)
Organize
International Seminar

Exhibition

“Managing Low Cost & Innovative Housing Technologies”

22-27 August 2004

Ahmedabad, India

AIDE-MEMOIRE

Download brochure (pdf format)

BACKGROUND

In every country the housing industry is a fundamental and strategic sector linked to improving the standard of living. The housing sector depends highly on technological innovation as a constant driving force. Technological innovation creates added value, it improves the product, and cuts the costs, thus allowing for a greater distribution of the product on the market and an extension in the distribution range.

Two main problems faced by developing countries are – creating sustainable livelihoods and preserving the environment. There are also severe problems of agro-industrial wastes and their management. Over the years, energy efficient technologies have been developed, which not only convert waste into value-added composite materials for low cost housing but also generate employment in rural areas.

The construction industry in the developing economies is facing an immense and apparently worsening problem of required materials shortage aggravated by rising prices. In most countries, frequent shortages have often led to further increases in prices and profiteering, thus marginalizing more and more people beyond the affordability level. The consequent impacts are severe: skyrocketing housing costs and expanding unplanned settlements in urban areas, and an ever-deteriorating housing quality in both urban and rural settlements.

One strong option is to promote use of innovative composite materials based on local resources from forestry, agriculture, natural fibres, plant materials, and other local resources like agricultural and industrial wastes available within small geographical regions. Such alternative materials can be manufactured using the fibres as reinforcement in a binder such as cement or polymer. Besides meeting the needs of housing sector, the industrial production of the composite materials would greatly help in environmental protection, energy efficiency and employment generation in the manufacturing sector.

Research and development efforts in past 2 to 3 decades in several countries, especially in India, have led to the development of various scientific and engineering aspects of composite materials from local resources. Such efforts have reasonably demonstrated and established that many of these materials from local resources can effectively substitute traditional materials like cement, steel, and wood. However, these technologies, except in a few countries, have not widely gone to industrial enterprises. The performance evaluation from field application of these materials indicates their usefulness in other developing countries too.

JUSTIFICATION

With rapid urbanization, population growth and industrialization, the skills, materials and financing for the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of housing, infrastructure and other facilities are often not available or are of inferior quality. Public policy and private investment should, together, facilitate an adequate supply of cost-effective building materials, construction technology and bridging finance to avoid the bottlenecks and distortions that inhibit the development of local and national economies. By improving the quality and reducing the cost of production, housing and other structures will last longer, be better protected against disasters, and be affordable to low-income populations and accessible to persons with disabilities, which will provide a better living environment.

Especially in developing countries there is an urgent need to be better acquainted with new techniques on composites and new materials for low cost housing design and their production processes.

Having a mind that UNIDO-ICAMT is implementing an Inter-Regional Programme on Capacity Building for Transfer of Energy-Efficient and Eco-Friendly Technologies and Promotion of Local Investments in the Area of Materials based on Local Resources for Low Cost Housing in Africa, Asia and Latin America, UNIDO International Centre for Advancement of Manufacturing Technology (ICAMT) in cooperation with Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), Ahmedabad will organize an International workshop and exhibition on "Managing Low-cost & Innovative Housing Technologies" that will be held in Ahmedabad, India from 22-27 August 2004.

OBJECTIVES

· To present a global perspective on low cost housing technologies

· To present the state of the art of the latest innovative technologies for manufacturing pre cast building components

· To disseminate up-to-date information, knowledge and experience on design, production, certification and application of low cost and innovative housing materials

· To present the country perspective on status of low cost housing technologies.

· To promote and encourage networking and cooperation between countries of the region, for the adoption of appropriate and affordable technologies on low-cost housing

· To arrange display of innovative & low cost housing materials developed & promoted by Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC).

OUTPUTS

· Awareness and capacity development of about 30 technologists, from both R&D institutions and enterprises on managing low cost building materials based on Agro Industrial wastes.

· Networking of enterprises, R&D and Standardization institutes, counterpart agencies operating in the housing sector in order to strengthen South-South Cooperation.

· Develop an action plan for implementation by UNIDO-ICAMT and Building Material & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) for commercialization & transfer of proven technologies in India, South East Asia & Africa.

PROFILE-OF PARTICIPANTS

There will be approximately 30 experts from industrial R&D institutions, researchers and technologists from developing countries. A number of senior level decision-makers will be encouraged to participate. Participants will be required to present a short report of the state-of-the art of the building materials production industry using local materials in their country of origin and/or company where they are employed.

PROFILE OF RESOURCE PEOPLE

The resource persons will be from renowned National & International institutions. The resource persons will be invited to deliver key lectures on the main topics of the programme.

DOCUMENTATION:

The basic documentation for the Training Course will consist of the following:

· Aide-Memoire of the training workshop and agenda

· Illustrative brochures / publications of Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) on innovative building materials and construction technologies.

· EDI publication on Entrepreneurship development

· List of participants

· Lecture notes.

LANGUAGE:

All Lectures and their related documentation will be in English

PROGRAMME – STRUCTURE AND CALENDER

Day 1 (22^nd August 2004)

1600 h – 1730 h Inaugural session – Inauguration of International Seminar & Exhibition. (Inauguration by Kumari Selja, Hon’ble Minister of Urban Employment & Poverty Alleviation, Government of India in presence of Mr. A.J.J. Rwendeire, Managing Director, UNIDO Vienna)

1730 h – 1830 h High Tea

Day 2 (23^rd August 2004)

0930 h – 1000 h Fly Ash: A useful resource for Innovative Building Materials :An Indian perspective

1000 h – 1100 h Low Cost Housing – Indian perspective

1100 h – 1130 h Tea

1130 h – 1215 h Need and Relevance of Entrepreneurship Development

1215 h – 1300 h EDP Input and sequencing

1300 h – 1400 h Lunch

1400 h – 1445 h Promotional Strategies

1445 h – 1530 h Selection of Entrepreneurs

1530 h – 1600 h Tea

1600 h – 1730 h Country presentation – Status of low cost housing technologies ( 3 countries – 30 minutes each)

Day 3 (24^th August 2004)

0930 h – 1030 h Opportunity identification

1030 h – 1100 h Tea

1100 h – 1200 h Business Plan Preparation

1200 h – 1300 h Major Managerial Interventions

1300 h – 1400 h Lunch

1400 h – 1530 h Standardization and Certification for low cost Building Technologies

1530 h – 1600 h Tea

1600 h – 1730 h Country presentation – Status of low cost housing technologies ( 3 countries – 30 minutes each)

Day 4 (25^th August 2004)

0930 h - 1030 h Private - Public Partnership : Cost-effective Housing Construction – A GSDMA Perspective

1030 h - 1100 h Tea Break

1100 h - 1200 h Application of the Glass Fibre Composites Innovative Technology Options for Housing

1200 h - 1300 h Waste Based Building materials – Environment Friendly Technology Options for Housing

1300 h - 1400 h Lunch

1400 h - 1530 h Ferro cement Technologies: A viable solution for Low Cost Housing.

1530 h - 1600 h Tea Break

1600 h - 1730 h Country presentation – Status of low cost housing technologies ( 3 countries – 30 minutes each)

Day 5 (26^th August 2004)

0930 h - 1030 h Role of Building Centres in propagating low cost building technologies.

1030 h - 1100 h Tea Break

1100 h - 1200 h Social and Environmental Aspects of low cost Building Technologies

1200 h - 1300 h Alternative Technologies : Construction with Economy

1300 h - 1400 h Lunch

1400 h - 1530 h Technology Options for Low cost Disaster Resistant Housing

1530 h - 1600 h Tea Break

1600 h - 1730 h Country presentation – Status of low cost housing technologies ( 3 countries – 30 minutes each)

Day 6 (27^th August 2004)

0930 h - 1030 h Quality Aspects of Low Cost Building Technologies and the issues involved in training.

1030 h - 1100 h Tea Break

1100 h - 1130 h Low Cost Housing – A Global perspective

1130 h – 1200 h Low Cost Housing –Chinese perspective

1200 h - 1300 h Community level Participation in Low Cost Housing Technologies

1300 h - 1400 h Lunch

1400 h - 1430 h Inter-Regional Programme on Capacity Building for Transfer of Energy-Efficient and Eco-Friendly Technologies and Promotion of Local Investments in the Area of Materials based on Local Resources for Low Cost Housing in Africa, Asia and Latin America – An Introduction

1430 h - 1530 h Post Programme follow-up and discussions

1530 h - 1600 h Tea Break

1600 h – 1730 h Feedback Session & Valedictory

VENUE AND DATES

The workshop and the exhibition will be held from 22^nd August to 27^th August 2004 at EDI premises in Ahmedabad. The address is as under:

Entrepreneurship Development Institute

Via Ahmedabad Airport & Indira Bridge),
P.O. Bhat 382 428, Dist. Gandhinagar,
Gujarat, India

+91 - 79 - 23969159
+91 - 79 - 23969161
+91 - 79 – 23969163

Fax: +91-79-23969164

PARTICIPANTS:

· 24 international participants to be sponsored under India-ASEAN initiative.

· 6-8 international participants to be sponsored by UNIDO-ICAMT.

FINANCIAL/ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ICAMT FINANCED PARTICIPANTS:

For the participants that are invited by ICAMT to attend the workshop, round trip air/train economy transportation from the airport/station of departure will be arranged and prepaid tickets issued where necessary according to UNIDO standards (i.e. the most direct and economical route). Room will be provided upon arrival at EDI, Ahmedabad. The Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided at EDI. Invited participants will be provided US $ 20 per day as pocket allowance to cover miscellaneous expenses. No other expenditure will be reimbursed.

The participants will be required to bear the costs of all expenses in their home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditure for passport, visa, and any other miscellaneous items as well as internal travel to and from the airport/station of departure in their home-country.

The organization will not be responsible for any of the following costs that may be incurred by the participant while attending the training course:

· Compensation for salary or related allowances during the period of the course;

· Any cost incurred with respect to insurance, medical bills and hospitalization fees;

· Compensation in the event of death, disability or illness;

· Loss or damage to personal property of participants while attending the course.

VISA ARRANGEMENTS

To enable the participants to apply for visa, ICAMT will issue an invitation letter to all the overseas participants /faculty. Participants are requested to contact local Indian consulates in their home country for Visa.

AIRPORT

All the overseas participants/faculty are requested to send their arrival schedule at the following e-mail address / fax number. Organizers will arrange meeting at the airport.

E-mail: bmtpc@del2.vsnl.net.in

d.ballani@icamt.org

Phone: +91-11- 24638096,24638097 (BMTPC)

+91-79-23969159,23969161, 23969163 (EDI)

+91-11-24647083 (ICAMT)

Fax: +91-11-24642849 (BMTPC)

+91-79-23969164 (EDI)

+91-11-24627082 (ICAMT)

CONTACT PERSONS:

UNIDO-ICAMT

Mr. M. Sahu

Project Director