there is a responsibilities on the engineers and researchers in this field to make aware about cost effective techniques to the peoples specially in the developing countries like INDIA.
it is nothing but use of innovative composite materials based on local resources from forestry, agriculture, natural fibres, plant materials, and other local resources like agricultural and industrial wastes available within small geographical regions. Such alternative materials can be manufactured using the fibres as reinforcement in a binder such as cement or polymer.
on this subject matter u are discussing about LCH, it will of important to know that for an effective n wide participation for house developer in adopting a low cost housing technique in construction, the design must firstly be subjected to these techniques as u can not use a LCT for a high tech residential design,hw do u now approach these building construction system much talked about?
Low cost housing is not the economical structural designing, but it is technique of utilizing waste/retrieved material, which is a great challenge for the environment now a days .
indeed it is a great challenge in integrating the waste building material in creating or converting it for building purpose,much may not be achieve in applying the techniques on complex building,but a great development can be seen on small residential building and unit buildings.
Its not about the actual building materials it's about getting the user to actually accept a different forms of structure as they generally will not accept something that may be perceived as inferior.
Emerging technologies such as Glass fiber reinforced gypsum, speed floor system, panel building system, pres-stressed precast hollow core members, ligh gauge steel framing, technology using expanded steel mesh panels, polystyrene beads and autoclave aerated concrete technologies are available for potential use in lower cost affordable housing