[ike]

Originally Posted by prajwalmr62

Technically any tree that we grow is carbon negative.

Yes they are when trees are still alive and breathing. Not after they have been processed and made into crash barriers. Bear in mind that this processing also releases carbon into the atmosphere but probably way less than steel.

[prajwalmr62]

Originally Posted by ike

Yes they are when trees are still alive and breathing. Not after they have been processed and made into crash barriers. Bear in mind that this processing also releases carbon into the atmosphere but probably way less than steel.

Of course it won't absorb any carbon after harvest. But it needs carbon to grow, and some percentage of this carbon is converted to mass. This carbon-converted-to-mass is kept out of atmosphere until it is released again by burning or composting.

[maddy42]

Originally Posted by ike

Yes they are when trees are still alive and breathing. Not after they have been processed and made into crash barriers. Bear in mind that this processing also releases carbon into the atmosphere but probably way less than steel.

Processing Iron ore to steel is multiple times more carbon intensive then processing Bamboo. Bamboo plants will continue to grow shoots and produce multiple poles over its life time. Unlike Iron ore, which ones dug out, cannot be replaced.

[Formula1]

Originally Posted by nishsingh

So, looks like this situation called for a test and certification to prove the efficacy of bamboo, which is what the government has done.



We shouldn't be panning the move just because it is bamboo (and in our minds a regressive material).

Remember how Coalgate used to chide us for using Charcoal for brushing our teeth in the 80s? (People might remember the punchline "Badan ke liye itna kuch, aur daaton ke liye Koyla?")

Well, guess what, the same company has after 30 or so years decided that charcoal is a good way to clean up teeth and now actively advertise their charcoal infused toothbrush and toothpaste!

Attachment 2425873

It's not as if Colgate didn't know charcoal is a great adsorbent. It was market capture then when they chided charcoal, and it is market capture now when they are advertising the same.

That being said, there is a huge difference between normal charcoal and activated charcoal.

[Pennant1970]

I don't know if this is off-topic, but bamboo is a headache and almost ineradicable as a weed. I have been battling with bamboo around our home for nearly 3 decades. The damn thing keeps resprouting and grows to enormous height and girth in months. Don't tell me that encouraging the plantation of bamboo is a good idea. I hope people have learnt lessons from acacia and eucalyptus over the years.

As for research success and proof of concept, I will refrain from comment, as nowadays opinions are used as evidence of criminality when expressed in opposition to a particular, prescribed, philosophy which is acceptable to powers that be. So, no politics, no philosophy!

[SuperGirl_Dad]

A Little way off topic - way back in 91/92 during our summer vacation we usually go to picnic in Mahabalipuram from Madras, in two Ambassadors. This monumental ~75 km journey used to take more than 3 hours with pitstops. Start time used to be 10am and we used to have home prepared lunch on the way. Those days no ECR and the road to Mahabalipuram was surrounded by bamboo fields on either sides, along the coast. We had started on that particular day and after about 2 hours wanted to have food, so we waved for the other car to stop in the side. The lead car got off the road and wanted to stop near a bamboo field. But there was steep slope of 3 feet and the lead car just could not stop. Finally they levelled 4-5 bamboo trees and came to a halt. No injuries, just the metal bumper was bent and some bamboo trees levelled. My grand father used to joke, had it been a tamarind trees, the car would have crumbled like a papad, but bamboo trees possibly saved us that day.

So now we have come a full circle - we have smooth highways with steel fencing and barriers and now going back to bamboo. Maybe the answer to some of lifes most complex problem is always the simplest one.

[maddy42]

Originally Posted by Pennant1970

I don't know if this is off-topic, but bamboo is a headache and almost ineradicable as a weed. I have been battling with bamboo around our home for nearly 3 decades. The damn thing keeps resprouting and grows to enormous height and girth in months. Don't tell me that encouraging the plantation of bamboo is a good idea. I hope people have learnt lessons from acacia and eucalyptus over the years.

You need to get the root network of the plant to eradicate it completely. It almost creates a web which doesnt let other plants grow near it easily.

Plantation on arid or unused land is being promoted by the forest depts and the bamboo mission. Dont want to argue here. You do you

[Thad E Ginathom]

I have been told by a gardener that there is bamboo varieties that spread and take over, and bamboo varieties that don't. It is already used commercially. We can leave the problems of growing it to the the growers: I'm sure they know what they are doing.

[ASP_73]

Simple math shows that just 1 sqkm land area cultivating Bamboo (Bambusa Balcooa), 10mx10m per plant, 5m useful length and 6 years to harvest is enough to cover 2000km highway length with both sides barricades.

1sqkm land cultivation combined with a processing unit can generate at least 500~1000 decently paid local employment ?

[AZT]

Originally Posted by Formula1

It's not as if Colgate didn't know charcoal is a great adsorbent. It was market capture then when they chided charcoal, and it is market capture now when they are advertising the same.

That being said, there is a huge difference between normal charcoal and activated charcoal.

Off topic but I have used charcoal for brushing my teeth and while it is a great whitener, it's also very abrasive. Damages the enamel over the long term. What they are adding to the tooth paste now is probably ineffective and just branding.

[AutoNoob]

Originally Posted by jalsa777

This is the kind of attitude which tempers or even kills research-oriented work in India and we continue to see brain drain in higher research.

I know it's off-topic, but I fully agree with your post and the quoted statement in particular.

People have right to express their opinions, but why to criticize anyone's experimentation/ research without going into the detailed background or reasoning. Every research may not yield the intended results, but atleast they tried. At every step there is analysis, reasoning, changes, re-calibration and then again evaluation. It's disheartening to see cynicism replacing scientific temper.

Coming back to topic, in this thread, three designs are shared :

1. by OP : using Beema bamboo and coir
2. by shankar.balan : the roller type barrier
3. by TusharK: Bambusa Balcoa (Beema bamboo), treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE)

Test videos and subsequent details are for the third type. Many members commented (expressed their opinions) based on their understanding of bamboo or visuals from the test, damage to car etc. etc. But no one has shared the target parameters vs. the outcome. Though visually the impact seems severe, it may still be within the target parameters. It's difficult for me to comment off-the-cuff, without studying the details. GNCAP tests are best example - the objective is to minimize impact on occupant, not save the vehicle. Few extra plastic/ metal bits detaching from the vehicle may not mean that the test failed.

Personally speaking, in more than two decades in engineering domain, I have faced many situations where no conclusion can be made till data is analysed. Visual exterior observations do not always correlate with the data observed at the target points.

[Sankar]

Here we go again... there is a lack of "data" on the performance of the bamboo barrier. When the "data" is provided opinions will change. Till then it will stay as is, based on the available data gathered from visual as well as documentation (or the lack there of).

In contrast this is how a brochure with a bit of "data" on the product they are selling looks like. Its an Indian company, Tata Steel. This is how general public's safety is not experimented with when world class solutions exist (at home).







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