As the frequency of natural disasters continues to increase, we must ensure that our response to these events is as quick, reliable, and effective as possible. Earlier this year, thousands of emergency personnel were actively helping to manage and extinguish an unprecedented series of wildfires across Los Angeles County, many of whom traveled from out-of-state and occupied local hotels. With over 10,000 homes destroyed by these fires, this hotel space is a critical safety net for displaced residents. Providing temporary shelters to first responders would free up hotel space and allow them to operate closer to the fireground, reducing transportation time and improving fire coverage. In order to be effective, these shelters need to be durable, easy to operate, and compatible with emergency equipment. By utilizing 3D printed material with innovative built-in folding patterns, new shelters can be created with a reinforced enclosure and efficient operation on-site, making it effective for quickly changing conditions. Experimenting with the granular settings of the 3D printing process, such as its infill, density, angle, or layering allows us to add functional details to the enclosure of these shelters that is custom-made to enhance the working conditions of first-responders through aesthetic and equipment-specific features.
A Collapsing Environment
