A case study of the information system developed and implemented by the National Buildings Organization (NBO), is briefly presented here as a live example. When considering the developments in
real estate Ernakulam district and its status as a commercial hub helped it to gain a prominent place in all the studies into real estate developments in Kerala.
The NBO was set up in 1954 primarily to develop a comprehensive approach to all aspects of housing and building construction related issues, more particularly to coordinate research and to disseminate the results of that research for application. In practice, the NBO intended to achieve housing at a lower cost. The NBO was also entrusted with the responsibility to work at international level as the main United Nations Regional Housing Center.
Among the various important information disseminated by the NBO, the data related to low cost housing generated by NBO includes all types of design patterns followed since time immemorial in India, which have been well received and could be taken advantage of by all concerned.
People’s participation will go a long way to solve the housing problem and also in cutting down the various input costs. Instead of hiring laborers for every work, if the house owner himself is ready to put in his part, then he will be able to achieve much savings in input costs.
One such instance is that of a young entrepreneur who after attending various skill programmes proved his mettle by undertaking all the skilled works in the home being built by him, without any help from outside. The leading architect who designed the structure found it easy to guide his client since the good ideas were implemented as such to achieve much savings in input costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Development experts were amazed by the achievements of a distinguished personality after visiting this structure. Such case studies are worth emulating by one and all.
