[Radix] Poverty is a Vulnerability Multiplier

[Frederick Krimgold]

George,
	The question of cost is certainly relevant. First the estimated  
difference in cost for a vulnerable reinforced concrete building and a  
"safe" one is about 5% in terms of material. The key difference is  
competent design and construction. Competent design and construction  
require training and checking. The checking or regulatory cost is  
estimated at about 1% of building cost. That includes plan review,  
materials testing and on-site inspection. The political cost includes  
facing down major developer interests and property owners. We need to  
invest specifically in the design, construction and regulatory  
functions.
	I agree that shoddy building is a global problem and that it need to  
be dealt with globally. However, educational and regulatory programs  
are currently initiated at the national or local level and active  
regulation has to take place at the local level. There should be a  
global initiative for improving building quality and safety and it  
must result in competent local regulation of buildings and land use.
										Fred
Dr. Frederick Krimgold
Director
Disaster Risk Reduction Program (DRR)
Virginia Tech
Advanced Research Institute (ARI)
4300  Wilson Blvd., Suite 750
Arlington, VA 22203 USA
Main: 703-528-5500
Direct: 703-387-6033
Fax: 703-528-5543
Email: krimgold at vt.edu
Web: www.ari.vt.edu/DRR







On Jan 17, 2010, at 3:31 PM, George Kent wrote:

> Frederick, you attachment is interesting, but what about the costs?
>
> What if we view shoddy building practices as a global problem, and  
> not merely a series of national problems. Maybe one could imagine an  
> international agreement that set some basic standards and, together  
> with that, offered some sort of financial support from  
> implementation in poor countries?
>
> Aloha, George
>
>
> On Jan 17, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Frederick Krimgold wrote:
>
>>
> <Haiti.doc>
>>
>> Dr. Frederick Krimgold
>> Director
>> Disaster Risk Reduction Program (DRR)
>> Virginia Tech
>> Advanced Research Institute (ARI)
>> 4300  Wilson Blvd., Suite 750
>> Arlington, VA 22203 USA
>> Main: 703-528-5500
>> Direct: 703-387-6033
>> Fax: 703-528-5543
>> Email: krimgold at vt.edu
>> Web: www.ari.vt.edu/DRR
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 15, 2010, at 9:10 PM, George Kent wrote:
>>
>>> What can Radix say about the tragic Haiti story? Many people blame  
>>> the deaths simply and directly on the earthquake, but I'd say it  
>>> is important to look into the hypothesis that poverty is a  
>>> vulnerability multiplier. Can appropriate comparisons be made to  
>>> test/demonstrate the proposition?
>>>
>>> Aloha, George
>>>
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>

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