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IT as Design Support
M ost houses in rural India are built by the inhabitants themselves, with the limited expertise of the local masons. This expertise is usually passed down from generation to generation, rooted in local knowledge and utilises the existing indigenous skills. This skill base, though, is seen to be dwindling slowly, with economic pressure forcing the masons and craftsmen to seek employment elsewhere, mostly in the nearest city. This trend has obviously had a negative impact on the quality of houses being built, since the local skill base is being steadily eroded. As a result, the houses constructed in villages and small towns are not culturally attuned, structurally reliable or climatically responsive. The rural populace cannot afford expensive consultants and, thus, rely on whatever masons available. In slightly larger towns, this dependency is on the local contractor. Engineers and architects are neither accessible, nor is it financially viable to approach them, considering the small amounts of money involved. It becomes imperative, therefore, that in order to improve the quality of rural habitat, some sort of support/skill enhancement be provided to these masons and contractors to bridge this gap between quality of service and accessibility. This is where BIM (building information modelling) software can be an asset.BIM software makes it possible to execute a number of processes simultaneously - design drawing, costing, bill of quantities, specifications and basic construction drawings. This is already more information than what is used currently to build houses in the rural scenario, and it can be easily provided by a programmer in one go. If this information is provided to contractors/masons for their own use, it will enable them to execute work with greater information at their disposal and, hence, greater confidence. A number of goals can be achieved using BIM. • Self-sufficiency for the masons/contractors because of information support• Skill enhancement of the mason/contractors• Quality improvement of rural housingThe key as also the limiting factor in this information support is the manner in which it is provided. Through BIM, it is possible to provide information that is alterable, as against simply providing a catalogue of designs. It is this alterable nature of the information provided that can make the BIM prospect an interesting one. If changes can be made to the designs provided in terms of roof type, door/window sizes, foundation type, etc., then the contractor/mason can act as a sort of village level engineer whose proficiency is reinforced by the information provided from a competent authority. Support in quality control, training and certification and accessing tools for better and sustained habitat delivery are some important areas where software application can add value. Ongoing Projects Development Alternatives has been facilitating and training the local masons and artisans of Bundelkhand in sustainable building practices. Masons can become the agents of change for improved rural habitat conditions, provided their basic capacities are built up to meet the needs and expectations of rural clients. To this end, one such software developed by DA is the Design Support Tool, an online Autodesk Revit-based interactive catalogue of rural house designs. The operator (mason, contractor or client) can select
the preferred house layout from an online catalogue, depending upon his
financial resources and design preferences. This brings him to the
‘building page’. A building page essentially contains all basic
information regarding the design of a house with cost-effective
technologies. It includes a plan, two sections, elevations, a cost
estimate, a bill of quantities, links to specifications, an interactive
3D model and links to modify each of the above. Subsequently, building components such as doors, windows and roofs can be altered while the layout of the house remains the same. In the present format, the roofing options are: MCR, Ferrocement channels, stone patti and plank and joist roofing. The door options include wood shutters with either an RCC frame or a timber frame. The window options include windows with a stone patti chajja or a brick-corbelled chajja. The operator can navigate between these as per his needs. For every change that is made by the operator, the building page changes the rest of the information automatically. While the people in urban centres are benefiting from the revolutionary pace of development in the IT sector, most rural areas in India are unable to access information and digital services for their own development. The design support tool being developed for masons and contractors addresses the needs of the rural entrepreneur in Bundelkhand so that he or she can provide design and cost-estimation services to the rural clients with the help of habitat experts sitting at a distance. Building Information Modelling The basic objective of BIM is two-fold: • To facilitate rapid concept-ualisation and assembly • To provide all the consultants in a project (design, structural, electrical, etc.) with a common software for interface. It is needless to say that such a software is ideal for organisations dealing with or in precast/modular systems of construction. Since the dimensions and characteristics of precast elements such as MCR tiles, Ferrocement channels and RCC planks are already known, they can be programmed into the software with ease, and later on assembled as per the individual requirement. This makes BIM software a possible asset for application in various scenarios. BIM has also made it possible to take technology closer to the end user group. Although the software themselves are still complex and difficult for the layman to use, the required simplicity can be achieved through ‘derived’ softwares. Derived softwares are basically dependent on a mother software for programming and data input, but not for interface and operability. A derived software can be a version of a more complex mother software, stripped of its technical and operational hindrances.
Participatory Planning The application of this software can be relevant in other scenarios as well. In the case of participatory planning projects, for example, where the involvement of the user group and community is essential in the decision-making process, this software can be an invaluable asset. It can narrow the gap between the technologist and the layman by providing a common, concrete platform for discussion. By generating all the visual and economic data for the user group required to quickly design their habitat, it can enable smooth interaction between the users and the engineer/architect providing the service. Do-It-Yourself… While there is currently no substantial market for DIY in the housing sector, it is conceivable that with increasing sophistication and availability of software that provides all essential data for the implementation of a construction project, people will start considering DIY houses as an economically viable option. Rehabilitation Projects Another intriguing possibility is the application of BIM-based software in the rehabilitation process for communities displaced or destroyed by natural disasters. It can lead to the quick delivery of shelters which are both disaster resistant and user friendly. With the help of this easy-to-present catalogue of the service provider’s technical and design capabilities, this software allows rapid decision making and clear, transparent interaction with the user group, thereby facilitating quick product delivery. What is important to remember is that while these softwares may be able to deliver information rapidly, the execution of construction still remains a high cost affair, requiring greater technical skill and technological know how. Nonetheless, the derived software can reduce the cost of projects significantly by ensuring an efficient habitat design-delivery mechanism. Mid-level rural contractors, masons and artisans can be the direct clients of such software, as it will allow them to engage clients and establish their own credentials as providers of quality service. q
Jaideep S Warya
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