JAPAN’S AIR LIFT HOUSES: RECENT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN.
Introduction
Earthquake is a situation that is common in places like California and Japan. It creates a very powerful impact or force on buildings and other structures. This force can lead to collapse of buildings and other structures on land. Buildings that are constructed and built ordinarily cannot withstand the shockwaves that is caused by earthquakes. An earthquake sends shockwaves to the ground.
An earthquake is the shaking of the earth surface which is caused by a sudden release of energy within the earth crust. This release is called seismic waves also known as shockwaves (shear waves). It was during the 20th century, that people became knowledgeable or aware in the area of seismology. Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes. This scientific study gave answers as to how earthquake occurs. An American geologist named Harry Fielding Reid explained tectonic earthquakes. Reid created a theory called elastic rebounding theory. According to the theory, a tectonic earthquake happens when there is a strain in the rock masses which have accumulated to a point where the resulting stress exceed the strength of the rock and a sudden fracture occurs. This research work is based on the recent innovative technology created by a Japanese to save lives in the event of earthquake.
Air Lift Houses
The uncertainty as to whether earthquake will occur or not had led Japan to create houses that can be lifted to the air from the earth surface for several inches and remains in that position until the end or after the occurrence of the earthquake. The moment an earthquake is being detected, a storage tank that is filled with air will lift the house up to 1.8 inch until it is detected that the shaking has stopped.
Japan has had over 10,000 earthquakes in and around the country. In order to avoid loss of lives in an unforeseen circumstance like earthquakes in Japan, an inventor called Shoichi Sakamoto invented an air lift system that will automatically raise and isolate the whole house until the earthquake stops. In 2010 an interesting invention was made to prevent disaster like earthquake from happening in the country because Japan is always prone to earthquake. An elastic iron alloy was invented to serve as an alternative resource to make building to be more adaptable to shifting outdoor conditions. The alloy has some set of wires that serves as memory that architects would insert the wires into the structures or building which will enable the buildings to adapt to earthquake movement but would also maintain the wall’s shape by being stretchy enough to not fall apart.
The benefit of building air lifted houses in Japan is to the effect that temporary houses will create a solution to victims of such disaster. It will also enable people to go back to their daily routine as if nothing happened or occurred in the first place. It is imperative to state that the temporary houses will serve as a determining factor in recovery.
Conclusion
Japan has taken drastic measures in curbing the adverse effect of earthquake by the introduction of its innovative technology. Japan developed this innovative technology to help the entire country prevent loss of lives, being a country that is prone to earthquakes. With the creation of this air lift houses, it will give a sense of safety in the minds of the occupants of the areas usually affected by earthquake. It is advised that countries that suffer from earthquakes can emulate the likes of Japan and search for a far better option to prevent people from dying from such disaster.
Article by Opokuma, Victor Ebikonbo-ere
Photocredit: Unsplash