REPORT ON

Self-sustaining,
Survival Pods.
Prototyping Emergency Shelter
Systems.

Barani P Karthik
What are A shelter that could protect
people from devastating
Emergency natural disasters like
Tsunami, Floods and
Capsules/ Pods? Earthquakes. These were
particularly intended at first
for the very young, the
Why do we need elderly and the infirm who
them? cannot so readily escape.
 It is possible to safeguard
ourselves from natural
disasters with the help of
How is it possible? Capsules.

The objective is to make it

Is it for all? out of indigenous, high-
grade materials so
minimally that it can be
available for all.
Problems
Thousands of people are left stranded every year when a natural
disaster strikes, here are a few drastic events through the history.

Credits to cmax
The Tsunami is one of the most commonly known and one of
the most devastating. People in the coastal regions of south-india
like Chennai, Cuddalore, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari,
were badly affected, leaving lakhs of people on the streets without
any proper shelter and rehab measures.
Credits to cmax
Case Study
Yes, there are a very few
emergency shelter capsules
Are there any in the market which are
existing systems? stationary, not easy to
manufacture or won’t be
easily affordable.
Why do we need
We can give better hope at an
to do this? affordable cost and make it
more versatile and dynamic.
Personal
• Capsule resides on or near home,
Safety work place etc.
System and • No need to evacuate to high ground
or safe havens
it’s • Easy access to capsule especially
Advantages. during a night time event
• Streets are hazardous due to
earthquake damage
• Capsule can protect from earthquake
then tsunami
• Accessible with minimal warning time
• Easy evacuation for young, old &
infirm family members etc.
• Personal environment helps to relax
and reassure children
• Capsule is not vulnerable to unknown
water height
• Provides warmth, shelter, security
during post tsunami period prior to
rescue crews arriving
In theory, crawling inside any Survival Capsule/ Pod and bolting
the door will save you from anything a tsunami can throw at
you—impacts, heat from fires, and even survive underwater
with a 60-minute air tank. So long as the pod isn't submerged
underwater, survivors can stay inside it indefinitely and use it for
shelter after the storm has passed. Tsunami waves typically flow
around 25 mph, so the capsule would have to withstand
impacts from objects carried by the wave at that speed.

Project Study
It is necessary to understand and know the possibilities as
well. By knowing the existing products, projects on the Survival
Pods, a better yet efficient Survival Pod can be brought in the
bigger picture. Here are some of the more familiar and the
interesting products made worldwide.
Ecocapsule by Nice Architects

While it doesn’t necessarily have to be for some potential Armageddon

scenario, the Slovakian company’s eco-pod would be able to allow
someone to live comfortably, provided they had a source of food, for a
long, long time.
The futuristic pod looks like something akin to a 1950s trailer park
caravan, but on its outside it features an array of energy-generating
and storage tech, including a small 750W wind turbine, 2.62m2  of solar
panels on its roof and a rain collector that can be used as the
Ecocapsule’s running water supply.
The company says that, while it would definitely be snug, the
Ecocapsule can house two adults and has a bed, built-in kitchenette
with running water, flushing toilet and even a hot shower.
The other benefit is that it can be taken on the road when you’re trying
to either start your new off-the-grid home, or flee some terrifying end-
of-days event, by hitching it to the back of a car. While it doesn’t
necessarily have to be for some potential Armageddon scenario, the
Slovakian company’s eco-pod would be able to allow someone to live
comfortably, provided they had a source of food, for a long, long time.
Living Roof by adNAU

Self-contained, portable and prefabricated, this Living Roof idea

encapsulates an ideal of mobile and modular urban expansion the only
way most cities can still go.
Each unit can rotate into various functional configurations and
can also exist off the grid; they rely on a highly-insulated exterior shells,
a series of solar panels and mini-turbines on either end (that both
generate power and pump rainwater to waiting collectors).
The Pod rotates for the desired modes (Lounge, Sleep and Work)

“Guests can choose their desired mode and the ring rotates the
appropriate module downwards. Luxury, style and ecology are
effortlessly provided in the Living Roof. A new urban retreat, a refuge
to recover, plan excursions into the city, or simply stare into the stars.”
“Used as an alternative to hotel rooms or as a temporary residence for
multi-city dwellers, the Living Roof project exists as individual suites
spread throughout the city. Inside, rather than dispersing activities
horizontally, a functional ring vertically combines sleep, lounge and
work areas.”
Falling somewhere between a UFO and a giant alien football, there is
no doubt these portable rooftop pods make a strong visual statement-
their additive nature is otherworldly but strangely beautiful.
The LEAP (Living Ecological Alpine Pod)
by Luca Gentilcore and Stefano Testa

The Alpine huts are modular, highly sustainable and complete with a
comfortable interior. The LEAP is a technologically sophisticated
shelter, prefabricated and assembled offsite, that does not alter the
environment in which it is placed.
This type of installation represents an interesting form of support
to trekking and mountaineering activities with a much lower
environmental impact than the traditional mountain shelters. LEAP
solves all the problems of existing types of bivouac. It is entirely built
off-site, suitable for transport by helicopter and easily installed on
location at high altitude requiring a limited number of operations. It is
built using state-of-the-art technology for durability and to withstand
all kinds of mechanical and atmospheric stress. It offers comfort
beyond any present proven standard.
Designed to resist the stresses of extreme altitudes the pod has
photovoltaic film incorporated in the outer shell to provide the energy
necessary to run the installed equipment.
Even if limited, the interior space is furnished for a pleasing and
rewarding stay under all aspects. The selected materials guarantee
durability, hygiene and safety (class A1 fire-reaction) while providing a
warm and welcoming interior of refined design. The proposed
solutions are fully customisable both for the functional layout and the
finish of the materials used.
Respects the Environment

The aesthetic features of LEAP don’t try to mimic or resemble any

traditional alpine structure. On the contrary, the intention is to
effectively declare its unrelated look in the surroundings through the
expression of its high-tech features. The ecology of LEAP lies in its
transitional nature and total reversibility. At the end of its “life cycle” the
pod can be lifted away by helicopter without leaving any permanent
trace of its presence in the natural environment. The industrial off-site
construction makes use of ecologically certified materials and
processes and leaves no production waste.
Ideation
Images used are sketched and/or extracted from the respective Reference
Books, Webpages.

Report started on July 2016.

Final Draft August 2016.
Barani P Karthik
baranipkarthik@icloud.com