The paper presents some results of a three-year research aimed at mitigating the water crisis in the marginal areas of sub-Saharan Africa, through repairing and performance improving of widespread, small-sized structures for the regimentation of torrential waterways. These structures, also known by the French name of barrages or by the English name of sand dams, are reconstructed in concrete blocks armed masonry, self-produced by manual forming in steel molds. The international research was leaded by the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University (Scientific Director prof. Adolfo F. L. Baratta), in partnership with the École supérieure d'ingénierie, d'architecture et d'urbanisme in Bamako, Mali. Furthermore, it involved a private financier (Romagna Acque Società delle Fonti SpA), two international cooperators (Gente d'Africa onlus and AES Architettura Emergenza Sviluppo) and CEFMECTP, an Italian institution for training and safety in construction. The main objective of the research was the performance improvement (still being monitored) of two barrages in the Kayes region in Mali. Furthermore, these interventions were carried out in collaboration with the local unskilled workers, with the aim of training the Malians in using the technology of concrete block armed masonry: they were taught how to use concrete blocks in all the construction process phases, from the concrete production in extreme environmental conditions, to the shaping of the elements, to the procedures for natural drying, and finally to the installation. The research results are both direct and indirect. In addition to the reconstruction of the dams and the training of local workers, direct results include the replenishment of the aquifers with consequent feeding of the wells for about 20 villages, corresponding to about 30,000 people. The indirect results include the creation of some micro-entrepreneurial activities, mainly linked to the breeding and sale of fishes, in addition to the extensive cultivation of rice, used for local consumption and for the sale or exchange with other goods and services. Finally, a series of considerations will be made on the microclimatic changes aimed at mitigating temperatures, currently being monitored.

Baratta, A.F.L., Finucci, F., Magaro', A., Mariani, M. (2022). Strutture per l'irreggimentazione delle acque in muratura armata di blocchi di calcestruzzo nell'Africa subsahariana. In Concrete 2021. Criteri di manutenzione degli edifici esistenti e di nuova progettazione nel XXI secolo (pp.47-56). Campobasso : Università degli Studi del Molise.

Strutture per l'irreggimentazione delle acque in muratura armata di blocchi di calcestruzzo nell'Africa subsahariana

Adolfo Baratta
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Fabrizio Finucci
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Antonio Magaro'
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Massimo Mariani
Membro del Collaboration Group
2022-01-01

Abstract

The paper presents some results of a three-year research aimed at mitigating the water crisis in the marginal areas of sub-Saharan Africa, through repairing and performance improving of widespread, small-sized structures for the regimentation of torrential waterways. These structures, also known by the French name of barrages or by the English name of sand dams, are reconstructed in concrete blocks armed masonry, self-produced by manual forming in steel molds. The international research was leaded by the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University (Scientific Director prof. Adolfo F. L. Baratta), in partnership with the École supérieure d'ingénierie, d'architecture et d'urbanisme in Bamako, Mali. Furthermore, it involved a private financier (Romagna Acque Società delle Fonti SpA), two international cooperators (Gente d'Africa onlus and AES Architettura Emergenza Sviluppo) and CEFMECTP, an Italian institution for training and safety in construction. The main objective of the research was the performance improvement (still being monitored) of two barrages in the Kayes region in Mali. Furthermore, these interventions were carried out in collaboration with the local unskilled workers, with the aim of training the Malians in using the technology of concrete block armed masonry: they were taught how to use concrete blocks in all the construction process phases, from the concrete production in extreme environmental conditions, to the shaping of the elements, to the procedures for natural drying, and finally to the installation. The research results are both direct and indirect. In addition to the reconstruction of the dams and the training of local workers, direct results include the replenishment of the aquifers with consequent feeding of the wells for about 20 villages, corresponding to about 30,000 people. The indirect results include the creation of some micro-entrepreneurial activities, mainly linked to the breeding and sale of fishes, in addition to the extensive cultivation of rice, used for local consumption and for the sale or exchange with other goods and services. Finally, a series of considerations will be made on the microclimatic changes aimed at mitigating temperatures, currently being monitored.
2022
9788896394366
Baratta, A.F.L., Finucci, F., Magaro', A., Mariani, M. (2022). Strutture per l'irreggimentazione delle acque in muratura armata di blocchi di calcestruzzo nell'Africa subsahariana. In Concrete 2021. Criteri di manutenzione degli edifici esistenti e di nuova progettazione nel XXI secolo (pp.47-56). Campobasso : Università degli Studi del Molise.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11590/422189
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact