Building Disaster Resilience with Indigenous Knowledge

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24710289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Area studies
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: FUJIEDA Ayako 京都大学, 地球環境学堂, 助教 (60598390)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: フィジー / サイクロン / 自然災害 / 伝統建築 / 伝統知識 / 自立的再建

Research Abstract

Fiji is widely recognied to be vulnerable to natural disasters due to its location and characteristics. In the light f resilience, indigenous knowleddge tha thas been generated and accumulated over years in adapting to the local environment has the potential to enhance the capacity of the local people to cope with natural disasters. This paper explores the potential use of fijian traitional housing as an alternative in rural Fiji where housing reconstruction depends on heavily on the external assistance. Field study was carried out to understand current conditions and the potential of traditional housing construction in the modern conext.