ASSESSMENT OF TERMITE MOUND POTENTIAL IN BLOCK PRODUCTION FOR LOW-COST HOUSING

The project "Assessment of Termite Mound Potential in Block Production for Low-Cost Housing" aims to investigate the suitability of termite mound soil as a material for block production in low-cost housing. It will assess the engineering properties of termite mound soil, including its compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and water absorption properties, to determine its potential as a construction material. This study shows that termite mound soil has good engineering properties and can be used as a sustainable and low-cost construction material. It involves laboratory testing of termite mound soil samples to determine their engineering properties. The samples will be tested for compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and water absorption properties, among other properties. The results after 28 days of curing shows that the highest compressive strength for clay block is 7.73/ 2, Termite mound block is 5.48/2, and sandcrete block is 14.84/2. For water absorption on clay, sancrete and termite mound (100× 100 × 100)after 28 days of curing are 2%, 2% and 1% respectively. For thermal conductivity test carried out on Termite mound, clay and sandcrete 100×100×100mm block samples after 28 days are 13 w/m℃, 13 w/m℃, and 15 w/m℃. These results provide valuable information on the suitability of termite mound soil as a material for block production in low-cost housing. The study will contribute to the development of sustainable and affordable housing solutions, particularly in rural areas where termite mounds are abundant. The findings of this project will also provide a basis for further research on the use of termite mound soil in construction.