Research and Development on the Database for Visualizing Invisible Parts of Wooden House in Japan

Abstract

This paper introduces the database to provide common information of existing wooden houses, which the authors have been trying to establish under a national project for promoting the second-hand market of existing houses in Japan. In Japan, 2010, we have about 58 million houses, of which about 50 million are occupied and used by households. This means that houses in Japan are more than enough according to statistical data. Now we need to utilize existing houses, handling with methods of renovation and distribution. One of the most important points is that we can easily get technological information of a house to keep on using and utilizing through renovation work. But actually it is not easy to get information sufficient for renovation and distribution before partial demolition work. Therefore, the authors are trying to establish the database, which provide information about materials and construction methods of a wooden house and visualize parts of wooden house like structure, inside of wall, floor and base where it is difficult to see and inspect from on-sight investigation. This paper introduces not only the outline and the way of using of the database for visualizing invisible parts of wooden house, but also progress status of research and development.