EPICS: Engineering Projects in Community Service Habitat for Humanity Projects

Habitat for Humanity Bringing families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable housing" - HFH International The HFH EPICS team tasks are to design systems and structures to minimize home construction and energy costs.

Habitat for Humanity HFH team works on the National, State, & Local Levels Multi-Institutional Projects  Notre Dame  Ohio State  Wisconsin-Madison Took trip to HFHI Headquarters in Americus, Georgia

Purdue’s Habitat Team National Teams  Homeowner Surveys (NDB)  Construction Tutorial (Tutorials) State/Regional Teams  Energy Star Design and Analysis (1 st version Delivered)  Regional Headquarters and Training Facility (HQ) Local Teams  Restore Database Inventory Management (1 st version Delivered)

National Database National Survey Tool Team Purdue University Phil Chennikkara Albert Hidalgo John Horst Drew May University of Notre Dame Matt Fallon Barrs Lang Brian McRoskey Swati Malik Ohio State University Donald R. Haurin (Prof. of Econ. &Public Policy), R. Jean Haurin Research Scientist (Retired)

National Database Problem HFHI faces  There is no concrete way to show the benefits of the Habitat program to the community, both on a local and national level  Current surveys, if given, only pertain to a set of affiliates, state, or region  Homeowners are worried about sensitive information being leaked out

National Database Solution  Having a centralized secure server database for survey information and homeowner responses  HFHI standards are to use Microsoft products. Conforming to HFHI standards we are using ASP.net and SQL for this tool.  The web-based program consists of three main parts: 1.A Survey Generator 2.Homeowner Response Collection\Input 3.Statistical Analysis

National Database Create Survey (1) Affiliates send paper copy to the homeowners through regular mail Homeowner fills out survey (paper form) (2) Homeowners send paper copy to the affiliates through regular mail Affiliates enter homeowner responses into the secure Database (web-based) Changes made to the database are logged and saved. National, State, & Local levels each can use the statistical analysis tools to show “Standard of Living” changes (3) Basic Process 1 - We are not generating the surveys, this will be done by the HFHI team. A professor at Ohio State is currently doing this. Only HFHI members with the password and username will be able to alter surveys. 2 - Paper surveys may be mailed or affiliates may choose to have a computer set up to allow the homeowners to enter own results. Each homeowner will be given an ID by the affiliate as a way to keep names anonymous but allow for tracking of families for research of standard of living changes. 3 – Each level is able to view own stats and those under them. Graphs and text output will be available for viewing.

National Database The Notre Dame team, with a liaison from our team, has been working on developing the third phase of the tool. (Statistical Analysis) Crystal Reports is being used for this portion of the tool; also due to HFHI standards. Statistical Analysis

National Database Phases I, II & III Demos Enter the websiteEnter the website Phase I & II Enter the websiteEnter the website Phase III

National Database Transition Continued cooperation with Notre Dame to finish statistical analysis with our returning team member Hopefully add new schools to the project Modify database to address improvements suggested during meeting with HFHI Planned delivery: Week 4, Spring 2005

Tutorials Team University of Wisconsin Sarah Jakel Purdue University Richard Black John Hostetler Hannah Mugford Aaron Rueth Construction Tutorials

Background Affiliates need a professional grade construction tutorial geared towards their volunteer base. Also wish to improve volunteer efficiency by giving them a solid background in their area of contribution.

Overview Three current subprojects that the Tutorials Team is involved in:  Construction Tutorial Creation including Quick Reference Cards  Tutorial Generating Tool  Information Database

Construction Tutorials Demo of our Online TutorialOnline Tutorial

Tutorial Generating Tool Design a tool that allows users to create tutorials based on our template with no web design knowledge. All user needs is the actual information needed for a complete tutorial. With this information they will be able to create their own tutorials using our tool. Set up in a user-friendly Wizard format.

Tutorial Generating Tool (Cont.) Who will be using the tool?  Other HFH Student Organizations around the Country?  Other HFH Volunteer Organizations?

Information Database Setup to house the tutorials that are created once Tutorial Generating Tool is complete. Also, will be able to hold other information habitat has in a more organized manner. Organizes information based on five climate zones Each affiliate and their volunteers will be able to access information relevant to the area in which they live.

How it all fits together Three Steps  Create construction tutorial template and a few actual tutorials with Quick Reference Cards.  Next, create a Tutorial Generating Tool to allow easy creation of tutorials.  Finally, create an Information Database that will be able to house all tutorials as well as any other information needed, based on location.

Next Steps Use feedback to improve what we already have Finish creating the Tutorial Generating Tool. Design our Information Database to better fit what HFH needs and wants.

Energy Star Energy Star Team Richard Black Aaron Rueth

Energy Star Information was gathered about energy efficiency throughout the state of Indiana. Analysis was done on how this energy efficiency could be improved. This semester a webpage was delivered with the information that was found and the analysis that were done.webpage

Energy Star The fate of this team has not been decided at this point Team maybe shelved for fall semester and then revived in spring semester Transition Plan

Local Project Jessica Davis – Team Leader Joe Hoffmann – Design Supervisor Andrew Finch – Technical Supervisor Jamie Alexander – Project Partner Liaison Regional Headquarters and Training Facility Team Organization

Local Project Team revived in week 4 to integrate several aspects of the Lafayette, and other HFH affiliates, into a central location or headquarters The building will house the Habitat Restore, regional offices, a warehouse, and a prefabrication area where small projects can be constructed in the winter The building will also function as a training facility for the Lafayette area Habitat For Humanity We are working with Doug Taylor of HFH Lafayette Regional Headquarters and Training Facility

Local Project Met with project partner to find out what was desired the desired use of the building Sketched numerous floor plans that contained wanted features Revised plans to reflect improvements suggested over the course of meetings Regional Headquarters and Training Facility So Far…

Local Project Regional Headquarters and Training Facility

Local Project Research building construction and operational costs Decide whether an existing building would be possible If not, where a new building would be constructed Find money for the building construction Regional Headquarters and Training Facility What’s Next?

Local Project Have 2 team members returning next semester Next Semester will focus on the various systems involved in the building Researching HVAC, lighting …etc. Regional Headquarters and Training Facility Transition:

Local Database Team Members: Matthew Imakyure Andrew Finch

Project Summary Development of management tools for the ReStore to increase efficiency Design of a software tracking system for the ReStore product inventory Use of barcode scanner and printer for fast access to product information Intuitive user interface

Semester Tasks Deliver system to Resale Store Update and revise User’s Manual Compile and catalog an inventory of items at the Resale Store Get feedback on system operation Features additions and bug fixes

Next Steps & Transition Using feedback and results, plan improvements to the system Redesign of user interface for better integration with existing procedures Team will continue next semester and decided how to fix or redesign the project

Discussion Any Questions Thank you