UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY, ABBOTTABAD CAMPUS

RESEARCH WORK & METHODOLOGY

FINAL SUBMISSION

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

BY: NAJMA BIBI

ROLL NO: 10
BATCH: 14
INSTRUCTOR: DR.GHOUSIA SAEED
DATE: 22 OCTOBER, 2020

 RESEARCH TOPIC:
 “RESISTIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF
FLOODING ON BUILDINGS”

1- INTRODUCTION:

The study will be based upon a brief literature review related to the
effects of floods and its resistive measures taken in buildings. A study
population will be for the research to study baseline data about the
damage caused to the buildings. A case study will be studied for the
resistive measures to be applied and then the required resistive
measures will be introduced to reduce the impact of flooding on
buildings.

 NATURAL DISASTERS:
Natural disasters refer to an event or series of events which gives rise to
causalities and/or damage or loss of property, infrastructure, essential
services or means of livelihood on a scale which is beyond the normal capacity
of the affected community’s ability to cope without aid.

TYPES OF NATURAL DISASTERS:

Different natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, cyclones and
flooding etc. have different effects, causes and resistive measures.
This report highlights the impacts of flooding on buildings as it is one of the
most common and vulnerable disaster in Pakistan.

 FLOODING IN PAKISTAN:
Floods are among the most destructive and vulnerable form of natural
disasters causing extensive damage to infrastructure, the economy and
devastation to human settlements. Flood is basically a natural hydrological
phenomenon. Its occurrence is usually the aftermath of meteorological events.
Flooding is caused by the overflowing of rivers and lakes; by serious breaks in
dikes, levees, dams and other protective structures; by uncontrollable releases
of impounded water in reservoirs and by the accumulation of excessive runoff.
Pakistan has faced major flood disasters numerous times in the past. This
report is based on the observations from 2010 flood that has affected many
regions of the country. I have specifically experienced the destruction caused
by the floods to the infrastructural setup.

 AFFECTS OF FLOOD ON INFRASTRUCTURE:

The effect on floods on infrastructure causes immense damage to the
buildings that in turn affects the psychological and physical conditions of the
residents. Flood damages the foundations of the buildings. The walls and
floors of the buildings damps down due to water pressure. In some cases the
buildings collapses due to major floods. Materials and plastering is worn out
due to hazardous chemicals in the flood water. These effects on infrastructure
are costly and take a long time to refurnish the affected buildings.

 RESISTIVE MEASURES:
In Pakistan, safety measures are not implemented at a high level. The resistive
measures would include the application of different flood resistive materials
that are damp proof. It would also include the different design strategies
related to the elevations and different levels of the building. It would also
include the study of soil and hydrology level of the site on which the building
is being affected by flood.
The research will be carried out in nowshehra district of province Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

LITERATURE REVIEW:
 Literature review for the topic is done from different secondary
sources which include:

I. RESEARCH PAPER:
NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN PAKISTAN
(2008)
Himayatullah khan
Professor, department of development studies
Comsats institute of information technology, Abbottabad
And
Institute of development studies
NWFP agricultural university, Peshawar

The research paper explains the various concepts used in disaster

management. The concepts explained include: disaster, hazard, vulnerability,
capacity, and risk and disaster management cycle. In addition to the
terminologies, the study also seeks to explain various types of disasters. It also
gives a detail of various disasters occurred in Pakistan as well their
management and mitigation strategies. The paper also discusses disaster
management policy at national level as well as disaster management and
national plans in Pakistan.

II. BOOK:

NATURAL DISASTER DATA BOOK 2013

AN ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW

The Asian disaster reduction center (ADRC)

 Natural disasters data book 2013 provides the statistical perspectives in
figures and tables for 2013 as well as for the period 1984-2013 based on data
obtained by EM-DAT.
Data book 2013 also contains tables of the 25 worst disasters by number of
people killed and total affected people, economic damage, and their respective
ratios to population and gross domestic product. It also includes tables of
2013 disasters in ADRC member and other Asian countries sorted by country
and disaster type.

III. RESEARCH ARTICLE:

FLOOD DISASTER PROFILE OF PAKISTAN: A REVIEW (2014)

Floods- disaster profile of Pakistan clearly entails that the country has
experienced severe and life-threatening flooding in the recent past. During
heavy monsoon rains every year, people’s exposure and vulnerability to
extreme flooding increases due to the country’s current socioeconomic
conditions. A fundamental change in the country’s development path is
needed to prevent future catastrophic floods that decouples exposure and
vulnerability from economic growth and is more in harmony with the
functioning, capacities and thresholds of the natural environment.

IV. RESEARCH PAPER:

FLOOD RESISTANT HOUSES IN INDIAN ENVIRONMENT

Floods are among the most destructive and common natural hazards causing
extensive damage to infrastructure, the economy and devastation to human
settlements. India is highly vulnerable to floods and out of the total
geographical area of 329 mha, more than 40 mha is flood prone. It has been
estimated that India got struck by about 481 natural disasters in past three
decades, 184 were flood disasters affecting millions of people and took over
4000 lives.
This paper put forward an overview of the flood resistant houses and suggests
the measures to be adopted in the design of such houses.

2- RESEARCH PROBLEM:

Different natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, cyclones

and flooding etc. have different effects, causes and resistive
measures.
I will work upon the effects of flooding and its resistive measures in
the region.
Flooding is the most vulnerable disaster that has caused a huge
damage to the infrastructural setup of buildings in the region.
No resistive measures are being applied so far to reduce the impact
of such disasters. So I will introduce those measures in my research.
My research problem is stated that:
“RESISTIVE MEASURES THAT CAN REDUCE THE IMPACT OF
FLOODING ON BUILDINGS”

3- RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
Q1- What are the resistive measures that can help to reduce the impact of
flooding on buildings?
Q2- How can the resistive measures help minimize the impact of flooding on
infrastructure?
Q3- How does flood effects buildings?
Q4- What is the role of effective building materials in reducing the impact of
flooding on buildings?
Q5- What type of buildings are the most exposed to the risk of being effected
by flooding?
Q6-What are the building construction techniques that can be used to reduce
the impact of flooding?

4. HYPOTHESIS

As my research is qualitative in nature so hypothesis is not applicable in this

case. However given is some of the hypothesis related to the research topic.

H1- Resistive measures can help to reduce the impact of flooding on buildings.
H2- Resistive measures cannot help to reduce the impact of flooding on
buildings.
H3- Effective building materials can help to reduce the impact of flooding on
buildings
H4- Effective building materials cannot help to reduce the impact of flooding
in buildings.
H5- Effective building construction techniques can help to resist damage
caused by flood.

5. STUDY DESIGN
• STUDY POPULATION :
In order to analyze the damage caused by flooding to the buildings the study
population for my research would be the people of Mohalla mullah khel,
village Tarkha, tehsil Pabbi, district nowshehra, kpk, Pakistan.

• SAMPLE POPULATION:
For a more precise study, i selected a sample population of people from 3
houses from Mohalla mulla khel that were most affected by the flood to study
the effects of flooding caused to their houses.

• STUDY DESIGN:

My research problem is based on both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Qualitative part of the research includes the strategies that i will be proposing
to reduce the impact of flooding on buildings. While the quantitative part of
my research would include investigation from the affected people and their
experiences about the damage caused to the buildings.

My research problem is based on study design on the basis of investigation,

i.e. “experimental study design”. i will conduct an after only experimental
design that will include the baseline data on the basis of respondent’s recalls
and secondary resources. Experimental study design includes the study of
cause to establish the effects.
This study design will help to gather baseline data and then establish the
solutions for the cause.

My study population is constituted by the people in selected 3 houses in

Mohalla mulla khel that were most affected by the flood caused in 2010 in the
region. I have easy access to the selected three houses and the people living in
these houses can be easily approached during any time of the for the baseline
data. Due to constrain in time and privacy issues in the area, it is not possible
for me to access more houses.
From these houses, only a sample population of the elderly age group people
that have experienced the flood and have full knowledge about the situation
caused during that time will be selected for the required baseline data. Some
data will also be based on personal observations during that time.
The consent will be soughed by the willingness of the participant. it will be
made sure to keep in mind the ethical issues while collecting the data from the
participants.
The data will be collected by direct interviews from the selected sample group
as the literacy rate of the people is below average and they can conveniently
answer the questions in their local language rather than solving a
questionnaire or any other method. This will help in the authenticity and
liability of the data. The questions will be asked related to the physical effects
of the flood on their buildings.
I will explain the questions to the respondents in easy to understand language
so they can answer it appropriately.
I will record the answers in my electronic device and also note down the
important points physically. If i have any queries, i can easily access the
population again.

For the qualitative part of the research paper, my study population would be a
case study from a research article that has suggested flood resistance in
residential buildings in India.

CASE STUDY:
RESEARCH ARTICLE:
FLOOD RESISTANT HOUSES IN INDIAN ENVIRONMENT
The frequency and intensity of floods has grown in the country over the years
primarily due to the increased encroachment of flood plains. Interestingly,
while the number of deaths caused by floods has decreased over the last
decade, but the number of affected populations and economic losses has
increased significantly. Keeping these points into considerations a solution to
this problem has to be put forward to mitigate the flood havocs by
constructing flood resisting houses. This paper put forward an overview of the
flood resistant houses and suggests the measures to be adopted in the design
of such houses.

6. ETHICAL ISSUES:

During the interviews it will be kept in mind to take care of the ethical issues
of the respondents by respecting their sentiments and not ask personal
questions. It will be kept in mind to not expose their personal data without
their permission. It will be also kept in mind to keep the questions unbiased
and use the data provided by the respondents appropriately.

7. SAMPLING:

The selection of sample or study population for the research will be based
upon quota sampling. Quota sampling is based upon the selection of sample
based on visible characteristics related to our research area and the
population which is most accessible to the researcher.

In my research, I will select a limited number of 3 houses based on the ease of

accessibility and ethical problems. The age group of people selected is based
upon their level of maturity in recalling the event that occurred in 2010 that
has caused harm to their houses. It is expected that the sample of the people
would not exceed from more than 10 people.

8. ANALYSIS OF DATA:
The data of the report will be analyzed manually by conducting interviews
from people of selected houses for baseline data related to the conditions of
the building after the flood. The questions asked in the interview will be based
upon their recall on the damage caused by flood to their buildings. The data
for resistive measures is taken from secondary resource which is a case study
on the basis of which I will introduce measures to reduce the impact of
flooding on buildings in Pakistan.

9. STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT:

The structure of the report will have the following chapters:

1. Title page
2. Abstract
3. Contents list
4. List of tables, diagrams and illustration
5. Glossary
6. Acknowledgements
7. Main text
CHAPTER 1- Introduction
CHAPTER 2- literature review
CHAPTER 3- Research methodology
CHAPTER 4- Discussion
 Natural disasters
 Types of natural disasters
 Effects of floods
 Effects of floods on buildings
 Resistive measures taken in Pakistan

CHAPTER 5- Summary /Conclusions/recommendations

 8. References

9. Appendices

10. PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS:

The different problems that I faced during the data conducting phase were the
accessibility to different houses in the area. It was not possible to reach out
every house for data analysis due to cultural, ethical and other financial
limitations. The people of the area are reserved minded and do not open up
easily to interviews and surveys.

It was a challenge to obtain proper data related to the research because of

their low level of understanding on the research problem.
One of the main issues was that there are no proper resistive measures taken
in the country related to natural disasters so no data could be collected by live
survey of such buildings.
Other problem was that there is no proper baseline data available on the
conditions of the buildings during the flood in 2010. This unavailability of
authentic data has resulted in conducting interviews from the people and
relies on their recall of the situation which is not much authentic and reliable.

11. APPENDIX

The questions asked in the interviews during the data collection phase are as
follows:

1- What was the intensity of flood in your area?

2- What do you think were the reasons of flood affecting your building?
3- What was the intensity of damage caused? (in terms of cost)
4- What parts of the house were most affected?
5- How did you repair the damage caused by the flood?
6- What were the details of the damage caused to different parts of the
building?
 12. WORK SCHEDULE- Proposed time frame for the
project
The report was handed to us on 27 august 2020. There was a total time of two
months for the report submission.

TASKS TO BE COMPLETED IN WEEKS

1- research problem and literature review Week 1-2
2- research questions , study population, Week 3-4
operational definitions, hypothesis
3- study design and sampling Week 5-6
4- compilation of research proposal Week 7
5- finalizing the report/cushion time Week 8