Need a Building? Just Add Water

Troubleshooter · 03-16-2005, 12:13 PM

http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,66872,00.html

By Rowan Hooper | Also by this reporter Page 1 of 1

02:00 AM Mar. 15, 2005 PT

In a world with millions of refugees, numerous war zones and huge areas devastated by natural disaster, aid agencies and militaries have long needed a way to quickly erect shelters on demand.

Soon, there will be such a method. A pair of engineers in London have come up with a "building in a bag" -- a sack of cement-impregnated fabric. To erect the structure, all you have to do is add water to the bag and inflate it with air. Twelve hours later the Nissen-shaped shelter is dried out and ready for use.

...more...

Happy Monkey · 03-16-2005, 12:21 PM

This is extremely cool.

But what's a Nissen?

wolf · 03-16-2005, 12:22 PM

Didn't they used to be called Datsun??

I think it's like a quonset.

Troubleshooter · 03-16-2005, 12:27 PM

Cute Wolf, cute...

We call them Quonset huts here on this side of the pond.

glatt · 03-16-2005, 12:29 PM

I heard about this on NPR the other day. It's a cool idea. It reminds me of the old plaster casts that were made of strips of gauze that had been pre-saturated with plaster powder. You just add water and put the gauze on the broken arm or whatever.

The best part of this shelter is buried deep in the article and is easy to miss.

Quote:

Concrete Canvas comes folded in a sealed plastic sack. The volume of the sack controls the water-to-cement ratio, eliminating the need for water measurement. You literally just add water.

Normally, it takes some experience to know how much water to add to concrete to get the proper strength. Too much or too little, and you have a weak structure. Possibly a dangerous structure. This shelter system is truly foolproof.

It's also cheap.

I wonder how tall it is. At $2100, it would make a pretty cheap car port. I might buy one at that price. I wonder what the neighbors would think.

mrnoodle · 03-16-2005, 03:07 PM

I'm taking one hunting. My camp will be the envy of all.

BigV · 03-16-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

I'm taking one hunting. My camp will be the envy of all.

What kind of pack animals do you use?
From the story on Wired:"... A bag weighing 230 kilograms (approximately 500 pounds)."

lookout123 · 03-16-2005, 04:50 PM

steroids,mr noodle? are you prepared to have an * next to your name for all eternity?

xoxoxoBruce · 03-20-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

What kind of pack animals do you use?
From the story on Wired:"... A bag weighing 230 kilograms (approximately 500 pounds)."

Take 100 of them.

03-16-2005, 12:13 PM	#1
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Need a Building? Just Add Water http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,66872,00.html By Rowan Hooper \| Also by this reporter Page 1 of 1 02:00 AM Mar. 15, 2005 PT In a world with millions of refugees, numerous war zones and huge areas devastated by natural disaster, aid agencies and militaries have long needed a way to quickly erect shelters on demand. Soon, there will be such a method. A pair of engineers in London have come up with a "building in a bag" -- a sack of cement-impregnated fabric. To erect the structure, all you have to do is add water to the bag and inflate it with air. Twelve hours later the Nissen-shaped shelter is dried out and ready for use. ...more... __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-16-2005, 12:21 PM	#2
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	This is extremely cool. But what's a Nissen? __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-16-2005, 12:22 PM	#3
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Didn't they used to be called Datsun?? I think it's like a quonset. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

03-16-2005, 12:27 PM	#4
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Cute Wolf, cute... We call them Quonset huts here on this side of the pond. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

03-16-2005, 03:07 PM	#6
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	I'm taking one hunting. My camp will be the envy of all. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

03-16-2005, 04:50 PM	#8
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	steroids,mr noodle? are you prepared to have an * next to your name for all eternity? __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

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