Assessing the condition of traditional Khmer timber houses in Cambodia: A priority ranking approach

• Main Authors: Che-Ani, A.-I (Author), Hashim, A.-E (Author), Mohd-Tawil, N. (Author), Mohd-Zain, M.-F (Author), Ramly, A. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fungal infestation; Insect attack; Priority ranking system; Timber defects
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher; View in Scopus

 Traditional timber houses provide a significant image of the built environment heritage, especially for south-east Asia, which holds more than half of the timber species in the world. It is therefore vital for professionals to ensure that the timber houses are still in good condition. When judging the condition of the building, a comprehensive evaluation is desirable, so that a reliable recommendation can be made within the shortest possible time frame. The priority ranking system developed through this research is appropriate for this purpose. The streamlined methodology uses numerical coding for the survey pro forma. From the priority ranking, the data are used to determine the condition of the house: dilapidated, fair or good. As this is a pilot project, the system was tested on the small-scale traditional timber house called Khmer houses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We found that the survey effectively reflects the current state of the house. © 2008 PALGRAVE MACMILLAN 1742-8262.