Update: SIREWALL course

As outlined in my research proposal i would like to take a course through SIREWALL, a company that builds rammed earth structures based in salt spring island, on the process of building with rammed earth and the benifit to the occupants. The closest course date is in April, but i think that might be a busy month so i will try to take it in May. I have emailed the company for more information on the course, such as if im still able to registar and i will post the progress in a coment below when i get a response.

Research Thesis:

How can rammed earth building techniques be applied in the thompson-cariboo region with ameuter builders with little or no experience?

Interesting look into rammed earth houses by David Suzuki

Month Forecast

The plan for the next month or so will be to do some experimental testing of building a rammed earth wall. Some small sample test bricks will be made using a wooden form and mallet and local soil will be tested and used in this process. The experimentation will be done to find the best method of soil composition testing that will be later used on site and to get some practical experience testing soil. The basic jar test method will be used for this stage of the research and the use of professional help will be determined from this testing. Bellow is a sample of what the testing will determine.

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/exper1/exper1.htm

UREAP Scholorship update

Upon the review of the research proposal by the undergraduate research department they have decided to fund the proposed research. The grant is for $4500 with an addition $1000 for the purchase of materials or professional testing. This is extremely exciting for the future of the project and i am looking forward to the construction of the mock wall.