starship earth revisited rapidly erectable geodesic domes, pneumatic and tensile structures in the...
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Starship Earth RevisitedRapidly Erectable Geodesic Domes, Pneumatic and
Tensile Structures in the Aftermath of an Asteroid Impact
ASTE 527: Space Exploration Architectures Concept Synthesis Studio
Angella Johnson
December 17, 2013
Asteroid Impact Energy Release
• Planet Earth is a highly complex system. An asteroid strike will
abruptly and severely affect the entire biosphere and all life forms
Asteroid Impact Immediate Effect
• Not fully known but severe
• Large scale devastation affecting all
flora and fauna
• Volcano + Tidal Wave + Earthquake
+Toxic atmosphere
Severe and immediate Impact
on Civilization• Especially on densely populated regions
• Civil unrest and chaos
• Spread of disease
• Lack of food and water
• High level of atmospheric pollution
• No access to power and communication
Natural Disaster TollRank
Death Toll Event Location Date
1 1- 4,000,000 1931 China Floods China July-Aug 1931
2 900,000-2,000,000
1887 Yellow River Flood
China Sept-Oct. 1887
3 830,000 1556 Shaanxi Earthquake
China Jan 23, 1556
4 242,000-779,000
1976 Tangshan Earthquake
China July 1976
5 500,000-1,000,000
1970 Bhola Cyclone East Pakistan
Nov 13, 1970
6 300,000 1839 India Cyclone India Nov 25, 1839
6 300,000 1737 Calcutta Cyclone
India Oct 7, 1737
8 273,400 1920 Haiyuan Earthquake
China Dec 16, 1920
9 250,000-300,000
526 Antioch Earthquake
Turkey May 526
10 260,000 115 Antioch Earthquake
Roman Empire
Dec 13, 115
Recent Natural Disaster Toll
Cataclysmic Events• Asteroid Impacts are a normal geologic
process. Weathering on Earth and Mars
quickly erases evidence
How often ?
• “City killer” are projected to occur every twenty years ! We have been
lucky because Earth is a water planet and most impacts occur over
oceans, away from land and populated regions.
“City Killers”
Barringer Crater
Impact Aftermath
• Shock and heat waves destroys up to a 500 mile radius
• Crater formation
• Tsunami / Earthquakes / Volcanoes
• Suborbital debris on global scale
• Global debris and dust cover
• Tidal Surges affect coastal cities and regions with waterways-
almost all population centers affected immediately
• Forest Fires
• No sunlight for 6 months- 1 year/ temperature plummets
• Nuclear Winter effects
• Imbalance to natural fauna and flora – agriculture affected
• Banda Aceh (2004)
• Tohoku (2011)
Impact on Population Centers
• Power grid and physical
infrastructure broken
• Lack of Food and water
• Loss of Communication
• Public health compromised - Disease
• Civil unrest
Supervolcano &Cataclysmic Events
A supervolcano is capable of producing a volcanic eruption with an ejecta volume greater than 1,000 km3 or 240 cu mi. This is thousands of times larger than normal volcanic eruptions.
VEI-8: events that throw out at least 1,000 km dense rock equivalent(DRE) of ejecta.
VEI-7: events eject at least 100 km or 24 cu mi DRE.
Large hot rock and debris strewn over wide area and fires ignited
Toxic , solar opaque atmosphere similar to asteroid impact
Large Volcanic Eruptions
Rationale
• What to do if we are unable to avoid asteroid impact ?
• Preserve and protect humanity on a global scale(starting with
population centers) for an indefinite period after a cataclysmic
event.
Concept• The “Duck & Cover Concept” is explored. Critical, physical
infrastructure system of city is repurposed in order to protect
dense populations for six months to a year after impact.
Without A Warning
In A Nutshell• Combine engineering technology and
architectural technology to build
critical structures and infrastructures
enabling human beings to survive
cataclysmic events beyond our
control.
Historical Background- VisionariesPaolo Soleri- Arcology (Architecture + Ecology)Visionary architects have designed near
self-sufficient architectures
Jacque Fresco- Venus Project
Buckminster Fuller- “Spaceship Earth”
Nader Khalili- “CalEarth”Ron Herron- Mobile City
Prediction Models vs. Response Models
• No warning – not able to predict and prepare effectively
• Every disaster has different needs
• No location data till after event
• For large scale devastation, evacuation is not possible
• Broken civil infrastructure
• Massive immediate aid request
• Some common needs can be met with preparation.
– Disaster assessment, stocking medicine, speedy comm. setup
Rationale-Space Station Regenerative ECLSS Flow Diagram
Energy SupportA major challenge is finding and utilizing alternative energy sources that will support the maximum population post-disaster.
Nuclear Energy: fusion or fission technology for energy
Solar Energy : Preferred but due to impact this might not be feasible
Environmental Support System
Water and Air
Extracted from the outside polluted air filtration, recycling
From plants in the manmade biosphere
Atmosphere regeneration - by decomposing water and chemicals,
gas mixtures as in spaceship
Food
Intensive farming - Algae and other plants grow inside the shelter
CEAC Antarctica food chamber
Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, physico chemical foods
Bacteria-Based Water
Filter
• The filtration system is portable and purifies water in less than 24 hours. The bio-reactor system uses dirt-dwelling bacteria to clean water and munch the resulting toxic sludge.
The OutbackTM Water Purification System
• This four stage gravity powered water filtration system. It eliminates harmful bacteria and viruses (E.coli,Cholera, Hepatitis and Polio)
Vertical hydroponic garden system for food source – Controlled Environment Agriculture Center
3D Printing & Dehydrated Foods
• Due to terror threats around 2011, FEMA ordered
1 billion in dehydrated food.
• Emergency Food Rations- prepared 2400 and
3600 calorie food bar (Quakekare).
• Ingredients are analyzed, product is synthesized
using 3D printing.
Emergency Medicine
• National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health
• Immediate assistance to prevent the spread of infectious
disease.
• Post traumatic stress could compromise the immune
system of many survivors which will lead to illness.
• Quarantine those who might pose a threat to the majority
• Center for Disease Control(CDC)
Triage/Emergency Assistance
Triage-sort and assist the wounded and ill in an emergency fashion after asteroid impact.
ICE/ Postdisaster Psychological Stress• Architectural solution should address the socio-psychological concerns
(ICEs-Isolated and Confined Environments) due to the extreme conditions
• “Trends of Probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in New York City after
the September 11 Terrorist Attacks”-American Journal Epidemiology (Vol.
158, No 6)
• “The Epidemiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Disasters” –
Epidemiologic Reviews (Vol.27, 2005)
Communications
• Satellites for global coverage
• Portable VSATs
• Cell infrastructure broken
• Radio for local coverage
Repurpose Tunnels & Train Stations
Underground Dwellings
Pop-Up Structures
Buckminster Fuller- Spaceship Earth
Architectural Design Concept: Geodesic domes can be used to offer an initial line of defense against the elements (dust, pollution, etc. ) after an asteroid impact.
Tensile Structure
Earthbag Dome Dwelling
Cal-Earth Institute, Hesperia
Fabric Draped Structure
Merits/ Limitations• Merits
– Take advantage of existing space technology and generate profit
– Reduce dependence on natural resources for sustainable development
– Supplement Planetary Defense Strategies
• Limitations
– Large amount of investment in a short period, for US
400K*0.3Billion/4=30 Trillion,
– Global, national consensus Reliable shielding materials and methods that
can withstand large impact shock and after effects over long periods
– Rapid, large population evacuation strategies
– Only applicable to city centers
References1. “Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response." Astronomy Jan. 2009
2. Bronstert, A. (2003), Floods and Climate Change: Interactions and Impacts. Risk Analysis,
23: 545–557. doi: 10.1111/1539-6924.00335
3. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/
4. Atmospheric science: Enigma of the recent methane budget, Nature 476, 157–158 (11 August 2011)
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcology#Development
6. D.F. Doerr, Interaction between exercising humans and growing plants in a closed ecological life
support system, Acta Astronautica, Volume 36, Issues 8-12, October-December 1995,
7. Extreme Climate Control Membrane Structures, 2006, Volume 54, 151-174, DOI: 10.1007/1-
4020-4604-9_9
8. Sui Pheng Low, & Xiu Ting Goh. (2010). Exploring outer space technologies for sustainable
buildings. Facilities, 28(1/2), 31-45
9. Shaping Climate Resistant Development report
10. "Climate costs." Nature 461.7261 (2009): 150. Academic OneFile. Web. 13 Dec. 2011
11. Frank Ackerma, The Cost of Climate Change, NRDC REPORT 2008
Questions ??
• Thank you for your time & attention!