Development of a simple sustainable camping shelter for addressing the needs of refugees in Jordan

Abstract

The most important sectors that integrate renewable energy resources and sustainable technologies in their applications are the civil engineering and architectural sectors as in green structures. Jordan is one of the countries that hosts many refugees due to unstable situations in the region, and therefore, the main aim of this study is to develop a simple unique structure as a camping shelter for refugees. A set of characteristics were established including mainly: sustainability, mobility, and foldability to promote the efficiency of structure in terms of water, energy, and materials while reducing the impact on the environment. The structure is chosen to be a pyramid shape to ensure its structural stability and allows for foldability, ease of installation, and integration of the energy harvesting systems. The shelter materials for partitions and base were selected based on many considerations including: weight, thickness, corrosion resistance, fire resistance, greenness, insulation, availability, strength, and waterproofing. The outcome of this study is the development of a simple sustainable shelter that can be utilized effectively to accommodate the basic needs of refugees in Jordan comfortably with an estimated annual savings of $2000 to $5000 compared with regular shelters. It is anticipated that the approach and findings of this study lays down new perspective in the development of camping shelters for refugees the world is facing on a daily basis due to natural disasters or political conflicts.