Evaluation of Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Units in the Context of COVID-19

Abstract

Disasters affecting the whole world in different ways and degrees may happen at any time – even simultaneously – need to be reconsidered, especially so at the moment of writing (early in the 21st century) under the shadow of an ongoing pandemic. Earthquakes (occurring at a higher level now in Turkey) should be discussed within this pandemic context; preventative measures require to be put in place as well as disaster management plans. This paper focuses on temporary housing design: a crucial aspect in any anticipated extension of rehabilitation and reconstruction periods. It has taken the Marmara Earthquakes (1999) as a case study. Criteria are defined based on limiting the rate of infection and motivating people to stay indoors, and are weighted using a multi-criteria decision-making method called Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The plans of the various house-types have been evaluated within this framework: the data developed is based on the temporary housing design and a correlation established between their ability to stand up to pandemic conditions and the sizes of the units.