PROBLEMS

As much as a noble cause our designed shelters are, a few hindrances do stand in the way of using these
for the assistance of the people distressed by natural calamities.
The first and foremost problem is the problem of transportation of materials, our area of choice i.e. the
Kashmir region is vastly underdeveloped with little or no infrastructure, carrying cargo by road would be
met with a plethora of challenges from little or no metaled roads, dangerously narrow paths for vehicles
big enough to carry machinery or large construction materials, such usual conditions that are further
battered after being struck by earthquake can massively delay the speed of provision to the distressed.
The second problem being faced is the cost beneficence of our project, as referenced above the Kashmir
region belongs to an underdeveloped nation, managing to raise funding of such a project through
government and private channels would be a great task to accomplish as government spendings would be
primarily focused on the provision of food and medical assistance, the priority of shelter would be pushed
back circumstantially. Monetary aid or donations may or may not be adequate to cover the construction
of conventional shelters.
Thirdly, earthquakes damage underground lines, grids, transformers leaving the effected area with no
electricity supply. It can also be dangerous due to the fact if there are damaged wires laying around, it can
cause electrocution. The hilly area is also prone to heavy rainfalls and tough weather situations, making it
a test of the durability standards of the product.

Fourthly, while tents are the most basic and easiest option when considering collapsible shelters, they are
prone to all of the above environmental issues including no proper roofing to mount solar panels or
provide proper electrical supply. While this goes out of option, a constructed shelter may require more
than just technical skills and can take up a lot of time to assemble. Both the hurdles in a proper safe built
shelter that provides a secure housing to a family pulls back the idea of providing collapsible shelters.

SOLUTIONS TO THE CURRENT PROBLEMS

To show the viability of our product we must tackle these problems head on and create innovative
ways out.
Transportation of the materials is made easier by using basic lightweight materials which are
appropriately sized and can be carried in smaller vehicles and be lifted up or down and placed easily
by humans. Due to the geographical difficulties of the earthquake location, use of any sort of crane or
machinery to provide assistance to assembly is impossible. Convenient items sizing such as upto 2m in
size allows for easier transportation.
In such tough times, any monetary assistance directly goes in the food, water, medicinal and clothing
reasons. Having a concept of less marginal monetary funding for the shelters, it is a challenge to
provide the most in the least amount. We tackled by using basic materials that are easily
available( cheap costing ) that are approved by administrators under the safety requirements for a
shelter. Compared to other companies providing shelters at very costly prices, we mitigate the issue
by only targeting the necessary items and constructing them in a safe and secured manner.

The issues that arise after the earthquakes and issues that are unforeseen both create a challenging
task to design a shelter. We tackled the power outage issue by providing a small 4 solar panel system
equipped with a 600 watt inverter, a battery, basic indoor lights, charging outlets and power sockets.
While this may sound heavy on the budget, choosing budget friendly items ( which comply to regular
safety standards ) available in market allowed us to provide a solid off grid power supply in very less
amount.
While hilly areas are always prone to heavy rainfalls and high speed winds, the shelter is designed to
protect from both the issues, using basic materials that are also waterproof, lightweight but very rigid
and durable, the designs are heavier on the bottom and lighter towards the top, leaving no air gaps to
create turbulence air pockets or allow for water to flow through. While the hazards of fire are always
there when there is an electrical supply, the materials used can withstand electrical fires and are well
insulated using adequate gauge wires which mark the IP69 standard and are secured from the panels
to the inverter and battery leaving no chance of any fire. Moreover, the design provides power just
enough to cover the basic load, at such lower power supply , there is no chance for any fire hazards to
take place.
In the light of the complications that are seen in building shelters, we have tackled the issue by
designing shelters which are very easy to be assembled or disassembled. Basic materials that are also
lightweight can be easily installed using simple nuts and bolts, to assemble the structure and roof.
Assembly time is another major concern with shelters, compact sizing and simpler design allows for
quick assembly and can also be disassembled in shorter times.

RANKING THE PROBLEMS

The problems that challenge the product design and capability can be judged on their complication
depending on the effected areas. In hilly areas, where the terrain is already rugged and does not
provide proper asphalt roads or the routes are damaged due to the earthquakes, the longer sturdier
paths are taken. (1) Transportation of materials ranks to be the biggest problems that hurdles the
product. The second biggest problem that challenges the product design is cost(2), the provided
donations or fundings may or may not be enough to cover all the aspects concerned with the shelters.
(3)Safety and durability is a technical concern to the shelters. They need to be design under the
consideration that it should withstand environmental problems, and in case, there is no
reconstruction in the affected area for a long time, the product last for years of use.
(4) Ease of assembly and assembly time may be the least disastrous problem in comparison to all the
above stated issues. Nevertheless, it still is one of the major concerns attached to the product. At the
time of earthquake, there may be heavy rainfalls taking place, land erosions assisted with high speed
winds. This stresses on the issue that how fast and effective the product can be assembled. If the
product is easy to assemble, it will reduce the assembly time consumption, complications will only
push the assembly time further and further. Both the issues are linked with each other and tackled
together.

Product design specification

MATERIAL:
The materials used for the collapsible shelter consist of
- Aluminum 6061 sheets : In size (1.4mx 2m) and (1.4m x 1m) x 20
-Mild steel square section bars: 100mm x 100mm ( 2.8m,2.5m,2m) x 31
-FRC sheets (2.5mx2m) (for roof) x 04
-Plywood boards (25.4 mm thickness) (2.5mx 2m) x 04
- 25.4mm ø nuts and bolts
- Insulating rubber linings
- FSCLJ solar inverter 600 watts x01
-pro elec power socket x02
- merriway 5-meter, 3 core AC cable x02
- Deep cycle 12 v battery 200 AH x01
- 150 watt solar panels x4
 The basic material used in building a ( 5m x4m x2.8m) shelter is aluminum 6061 sheets for the walls, these
sheets are durable, water proof , rust proof and are lightweight (23 kg per sheet), due to the convenience of
its sizing, practicality and cost effectiveness makes it a better choice of use. Moreover, they have a higher life
expectancy compared to using timber which can be damaged in case of heavy rains.
The mild steel square section bars are cut in appropriate lengths which can be easily carried, it is used as a
skeleton to the shelter and holds together the sheet and the roofing. Due to its placement taking place inside
it is not affected by water. Simple bolts are placed through the sheets into the bars for easy assembly and less
time consumption. The hollow bars slide into each other at corners to provide a strengthened joint.
Fiber reinforced sheets are used for roofing because they are lightweight, waterproof, durable and very cheap.
The solar panels are bolted into each of the sheets( up to 4 panels). The Fiber sheets can sustain the weight of
solar panel (12.5kg) and can assembled or disassembled effectively. The wavy design of the sheets also allows
for water drainage. The corners of the sheet are insulated with rubber linings so no water enters inside the
cabin.
Simple 1 inch plywood boards are used as a base for the shelter. The boards can be covered top and bottom
with plastic sheet to avoid water seepage inside the cabin. The boards allow for a uniform, surface inside the
completes the cabin coverage from all 6 sides
A basic simple door of 5 ft is pivoted in the center of the cabin and 0.5 meter space above the door is left open
and used for ventilation. The simple door is held by 2 pivots and can be easily screwed in. A basic polyester net
is placed on the ventilation point.
The shelter is equipped with 4 150 watt solar panels, which are wired in series and connected to the inverter.
The 4mm DC wire used in solar panels is waterproof and is equipped with MC4 connectors which are IP69 and
provide a safe connection. The inverter is also connected to a deep cycle battery which is charged to provide
backup in the night or during cloudy weather. The inverter provides 240volt AC output to power 4 led lights
and 2 power socket boards. The inverter can provide continuous 600 watt power supply or peak 1000watt
power supply. It is also equipped with USB ports and a digital display for information.

The shelter is designed considering the intensity of the disaster and the scarcity of basic material equipment,
labor and monetary conditions. Basic materials which are easily available are used in the assembly of the
cabin. Simple nuts and bolt hold together the steel bars and the sheets, both the items used are very durable
and strong but very cost effective. This is designed based on how simple it is to assemble and requires basic
human skills. The materials used are appropriately sized and can be carried or transported by human power
instead of depending on any machinery to disassemble or move the materials. The cabin design is equipped
with off grid solar power system which allows for basic light backup and power socket backup in the night.
The shelter securely roofs and provides basic functionalities with the least costing in effected areas from the
earthquake where transportation of materials and building is difficult. Tackling the difficulties such as uneven
land area, power outage, heavy rainfalls, high speed winds, the shelter tick marks to the solution to such
problems and provide temporary relief to the affected.
Under the building by laws, the shelter covers an area of 20 square meter, minimum height clearance of 9ft,
minimum door clearance of 1 meter width ,and is water and fire resistant.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-TAC-Waterproof-Outdoor-Security-Floodlight/dp/B079LLRSG1/ref=sr_1_18?
crid=3NT1XM4SMYT3V&keywords=10+watt+led+light&qid=1659907977&sprefix=10+watt+led+light%2Caps
%2C236&sr=8-18
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FSCLJ-converter-universal-connection-600W-24vTo110v/dp/B096Y3T9RK/
ref=sr_1_8?keywords=600%2Bwatt%2Binverter&qid=1659907652&sprefix=600%2Bwatt%2Bin%2Caps
%2C434&sr=8-8&th=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/pro-elec-Trailing-Socket-Mains-Extension-Black/dp/B007ZLNQ62/ref=sr_1_18?
crid=10RXCON8RYAV5&keywords=power+sockets&qid=1659908321&sprefix=power+socket%2Caps
%2C221&sr=8-18
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bulk-Hardware-BH01453-3-Core-Metres/dp/B00JIL7ZRS/ref=sr_1_2?
crid=2QIXRI1LDZAVY&keywords=ac+wire+4+awg&qid=1659908421&sprefix=ac+wire+4+awg%2Caps
%2C195&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Deep-Cycle-Hybrid-Battery/dp/B084M48255/ref=sr_1_12?
crid=LFUY2Q5LE5Z6&keywords=flooded+battery&qid=1659908974&sprefix=flooded+batte%2Caps
%2C430&sr=8-12
https://canonshop.pk/product/solar-panel-150-w-mono/