Dramatic social, economic and technological changes have affected rural regions over the past 30 years as they transition from agrarian to post-agrarian economies. The waning of agricultural production has been accompanied by decreased access to desirable jobs and increased vulnerability to natural disasters brought on by climate change and exacerbated by low quality rural housing. This proposal will develop technology capable of converting natural mineral soils, a nearly ubiquitous resource in rural regions, into quality masonry construction materials with a reduced carbon footprint. This masonry can be used to provide affordable, resilient and sustainable housing with improved energy efficiency in rural regions. Additionally, the technology developed will provide valuable manufacturing jobs in post-agrarian regions while providing a basis for sustainable community development.
