Engineers Without Borders: EWB-PSU: changing the landscape of the developing world Corianne Hart Engineers Without Borders, Portland State Chapter Environmental Engineering, M.S. 2008

Overview  EWB-USA  EWB-Portland State University Chapter  PSU Past Projects  PSU Future Projects  How to get involved!

EWB-USA Overview  A non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life  Involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students

EWB-USA History  Founded by Dr. Bernard Amadei, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, in April 2000  First Project – San Pablo, Belize water supply system  Mobilized 8 University of Colorado students, forming the founding members of the first chapter  Demonstrated the potential of professional and student engineers working together

EWB-USA Mission Statement To partner with developing communities to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally sustainable, equitable, and economical engineering projects. In the process of working to advance developing communities, EWB-USA promotes the development of globally aware and internationally responsible engineers, students, and professionals

EWB-USA Goals  To create a system to empower developing communities  To build relationships to meet the needs of a community  To develop a new generation of globally and environmentally aware engineers  To preserve, learn from, and propagate information on sustainable engineering practices  To develop a sustainable organization

EWB – Portland State Chapter Student service organization  Founded in 2005  30 students  4 faculty  Several professional mentors  Multidisciplinary:  Civil  Mechanical  Electrical  Environmental  Economics  Implemented 2 projects in Nicaragua

EWB-PSU Partnerships  Jessie F. Richardson Foundation  EWB Portland Professionals  Teamworks International  Nicaraguan municipality in Jinotepe  University of Paulo Friere, Nicaragua  PSU Institute on Aging

EWB-PSU Events and Fundraising  EWB-PSU Annual Fundraising Banquet  Chinook Book Fundraiser  West Coast regional workshop (2007)  PSU – Student Activity Leadership Program

EWB-PSU Projects - Nicaragua  2006 Implementations Assessments  2007 Implementations Assessments  2008 Future Projects

EWB-PSU Nicaraguan Communities (2006)  Jinotepe Water distribution system  Matagalpa Irrigation system

EWB-PSU Completed Projects and Assessments (2006)  Implementation: Matagalpa irrigation system  Assessments: Jinotepe water distribution system Finished drip system at orchard Schematic of irrigation drip system implemented in Matagalpa

EWB-PSU Nicaraguan Communities (2007)  Implementations Jinotepe ○ Hogar  Assessments El Bluff ○ Community & Schools Puerta Cabezas ○ Hospital & School Jinotepe ○ School and Huehuete well

EWB-PSU Completed Projects and Assessments (2007)  Water Tank & Tower Installation  Roof Stabilization System  Electrical System Upgrade Installation Preliminary foundation designInstalling tank and tower

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007  Team members: 9 engineering students 1 professional engineer 9 health students  Implementation Two weeks in country June 2007

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007  Residents of the Hogar

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tank & Tower Installation Goals:  Elevate the 2500-liter tank currently on ground Locate tower for this tank Construct the concrete tower footings Isolate the current tower for continued facility water service. Install the tank  Elevate the new 5000-liter tank Construct the concrete footings for the second new tower. Install the tank  Connect tanks

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tower Site Assessment First time to see the site Check physical dimensions Connect to people at the Hogar

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tower Introduction to Nicaraguan engineering students Start foundation excavation

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tower Adjustments to a prefabricated tower Nicaraguan students brought skills and equipment

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tower Placement of 5000 L water tank

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Water Tower Setback: Leg of tower directly over an unpressurized water main Solution: Rotated tower legs

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Roof Stabilization System Goals:  Stabilize the roof system to prevent tiles from shifting or falling during a seismic event.  Metal tension strapping to be attached into the roof frame and concrete of the exterior wall.

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Roof Stabilization: 700 feet of CS16 galvanized steel tension strapping donated by Simpson Strong-Tie

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Roof Stabilization: Bolted strapping to concrete wall

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Roof Stabilization: Straps must be installed in tension

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Electrical System goals:  Examine and correct the unsafe existing circuits.  Consider the exposed junction boxes.

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Electrical Nicaraguan electrical contractor assessed students with electrical work

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Electrical Students measured and cut all conduit

EWB-PSU Nicaragua 2007 Electrical Created individual light switches for each room

EWB-PSU Active Projects (Spring 2008)  Jinotepe elementary school flooding project  Puerto Cabezas hospital water distribution/ purification project  Huehuete well design/management Central clinic in Puerto CabezasSchool flooding project in Jinotepe

Engineers without Borders Get Involved!  Become involved in building a better world one community at a time, whether you are: An engineering student A student in some other field of study A professional engineer or university faculty member Not an engineer at all!

Engineers without Borders Get Involved!  How to Volunteer? Join or Start a Chapter Be a Professional Reviewer Coordinate Between Projects Provide Technical Expertise Help as a Non-Engineer Support Our Administrative Needs

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” –R.W. Emerson Thank you