Embedding Modular Open Systems for Efficiency and Adaptability in Post-Disaster Shelters

Shelter provision after natural disasters is a critical effort in the recovery process. Various shelter strategies take up large part of the resources mobilized by governments and organizations involved in relief operations. However, considerable gaps and high inefficiencies persist that lead to waste and generally unsustainable use of aid material in current strategies. The paper revaluates the systemic gaps as factors to address in conceiving the shelter process to be more efficient and adequate. The study draws on a conceptual framework developed by the authors, derived as an analogy to architectural concepts of flexibility and adaptability, to respond to the problems. Based on the framework, an open modular scaffold system is introduced to help develop shelters in an incremental construction process. Testing its geometrical and logistical feasibility to inquire its performance, the paper shows how the system could be implanted as an initial emergency structure in existing shelter designs. The study emphasizes how such a basic assembly, with an embedded construction logic, could be used to extend the lifespan of shelters, enable the incorporation of local materials, optimize resources and reduce waste, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of post-disaster shelter operations.