EWB Challenge
Letters of Introduction
Dear Students,
Vanakkam and welcome to India! The 2011 Engineers without Borders Challenge provides an exciting opportunity to focus on improving infrastructure, livelihoods and development in a village called Devikulam in southern India.
Devikulam is a small village located in one of the most underdeveloped districts in the state of Tamil Nadu. The village consists of approximately 89 households, almost all of whom live below the poverty line, half of the
population in Devikulam also belong to the Scheduled (Dalit) Caste. While most households in Devikulam have an electricity connection, houses in the area referred to as the ‘colony’ are generally in very poor condition
and there is limited access to safe drinking water.
Household income in Devikulam is generally obtained through irregular agricultural work on farms in the surrounding areas. The nearby large centres of Pondicherry and Chennai can be a magnet for migration as
villagers move in search of employment; however, with nearly 60 percent of the district population having attained only primary level education or less, the employment choices are limited.
Pitchandikulam Forest is a community founded as part of the international township of Auroville, physically located in Pitchandikulam Forest, which the organisation planted and developed over the last 40 years.
Pitchandikulam is located 30 km from Devikulam in an area of 60 acres that has been restored from barren over-used farmland into a tropical dry evergreen forest with a wide diversity of flora and fauna and a seedling
nursery. Apart from the office, there is also an education centre. It has a strong focus on restoration and eco-friendly technology and the staff are involved in training village communities in the process of eco-restoration
as well as in the use of medicinal plants, with links to and support from traditional healers.
For over 12 years now Pitchandikulam Forest has been working in Devikulam and the surrounding villages of the Nadukuppam panchayat (administrative unit of a region). Initially programs focussed on providing the
community with knowledge on sustainable land use planning and eco-friendly practices, however in later years, work has expanded to include environmental education, women’s empowerment, alternative income
and health programs. Some of our current initiatives include:
• environmental education and awareness programs for school children and other community members;
• community asset building projects, health and adult literacy programs;
• micro-finance schemes in the village with women’s self help groups (currently consisting of approximately 420 members);
• training programs for community members in sustainable livelihood practices to secure jobs and/or launch local enterprises;
• a traditional health care system is also facilitated through 3 rural dispensaries and herbal medical health camps that have resulted in a revival of this knowledge and affordable health care for the villagers.#p#分頁標題#e#
In 2010, Pitchandikulam Forest also began an Innovation’s Project in Devikulam. The project has aimed to address some of the current local demands through the introduction of sustainable technologies in the areas of
construction, water supply and treatment, and alternative energy. The Innovation’s Project has also sought to offer a variety of training programs to develop skills and ensure environmental values are firmly established
among the local population. This project has provided an opportunity to showcase a range of alternative technologies suitable for implementation in villages, as a model for the government and other agencies.
Pitchandikulam Forest feels that the EWB Challenge is an excellent opportunity to explore many more original and innovative ideas for implementation at the village level in rural India. We are thrilled to be involved
with the EWB Challenge for 2011 and look forward to sharing the cultural values, stories, knowledge and experiences of those living in Devikulam. We are excited about this opportunity to hear your ideas and use them
to deliver improved livelihoods for the people of the region.
We welcome you to Devikulam and look forward to working you over the coming months through the 2011 EWB Challenge.
Enjoy the challenge!
Joss Brooks
Director
3
Dear Students,
I’m thrilled that so many first year engineering students will be actively involved in working with Pitchandikulam Forest for their first-year design projects. I
visited the area for the first time in late 2009 and was amazed at the incredible and diverse work that Pitchandikulam Forest are doing and the innovations
they have shown in their approach.
Pitchandikulam Forest has created a true eco-oasis in Auroville not far from the crowds and pollution of Chennai, and in fact one of their major projects they
have at the moment is rehabilitating and greening a polluted waterway. It is a showcase for what can be done and how the environment can be enjoyed!
The need is certainly great in the area, but the outlook is positive with a motivated community, a fantastic community partner in Pitchandikulam Forest and the
prospect of some wonderful designs from first year students such as yourselves. The Challenge is asking you to come up with innovations for the rural habitat
project in the Devikulam village to complement existing sustainable development projects. In coming up with designs, the most important thing is to put
yourself in the shoes of the community throughout the design process, be creative and have fun!
The EWB Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn, understand and participate in a wonderfully rich culture and be involved in an exciting time of
change for the less privileged living in Devikulam. It is an opportunity to learn not just about the challenges facing their community, but the global rural poor.
Access to things we take for granted like water, sanitation, energy, education and health care is extremely difficult for many of the world’s poor. As engineers#p#分頁標題#e#
and global citizens, we can facilitate access to these basic human rights with the will to make a difference and an appropriate approach.
I am really looking forward to sharing your ideas with Pitchandikulam Forest, but also sharing your journey as students and engineers with our Community
Partners in India.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Cunningham
South Asia Programs Coordinator
Engineers Without Borders
EWB Challenge 2011
1 Introduction to the EWB Challenge..............................................................................................................5
2 Project Topics .....................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Design Area 1 – Devikulam Industry Development Plan......................................................................7
2.2 Design Area 2 - Building Construction........................................................................................................8
2.3 Design Areas 3- Transportation....................................................................................................................9
2.4 Design Areas 4- Water Supply and Sanitation Systems........................................................................10
2.5 Design Areas 5- Energy....................................................................................................................................11
2.6 Design Areas 6- Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)
for Educational Activities................................................................................................................................12
2.7 Design Areas 7- Waste Management .........................................................................................................13
2.8 Design Areas 8 - Housing................................................................................................................................14
3 Key Design Considerations.............................................................................................................................15
4 Submissions Requirements & Program Rules...........................................................................................15
4.1 Reporting requirements..................................................................................................................................15
4.2 EWB Challenge Rules........................................................................................................................................16
5 Program Overview.............................................................................................................................................18
5.1 Developing Engineering Graduate Attributes..........................................................................................18#p#分頁標題#e#
5.2 Supporting EWB’s Work with Communities...............................................................................................18
6 Working With Engineers Without Borders..................................................................................................19
6.1 Introduction to EWB ......................................................................................................................................19
6.2 EWB’s work with disadvantaged communities.........................................................................................19
6.3 EWB’s past work around the world...............................................................................................................20
6.4 Past Projects in India.........................................................................................................................................21
7 Development Agenda in India.......................................................................................................................22
7.1 India at a glance..................................................................................................................................................22
7.2 Development Priorities....................................................................................................................................22
8 Pitchandikulam Forest......................................................................................................................................24
9 Devikulam Community and the Region.....................................................................................................25
9.1 Women’s Self Help Group...............................................................................................................................25
9.2 Health Camps ....................................................................................................................................................26
9.3 4.4.3 Famers Association.................................................................................................................................26
4.5 Devikulam Development................................................................................................................................27
4.6 Student Proposals..............................................................................................................................................27
4.7 Student Learning Outcomes..........................................................................................................................28
10 Supporting Resources ......................................................................................................................................29
11 Previous Challenges..........................................................................................................................................29#p#分頁標題#e#
11.1 Beyond the 2008 EWB Challenge..................................................................................................................29
11.2 Beyond the 2009 EWB Challenge..................................................................................................................30
11.3 Beyond the 2010 EWB Challenge..................................................................................................................31
Table Of Contents5
The EWB Challenge is a design program for first-year University students coordinated by Engineers without Borders Australia (EWB) and delivered in
partnership with Australasian universities. It provides students with the opportunity to learn about design, teamwork and communication through
real and inspiring sustainable development projects.
Each year, the EWB Challenge design brief is based on a new set of sustainable development projects identified by EWB with its community-based
partner organisations. The inaugural EWB Challenge ran in 2007 with students developing project ideas and concepts to support the expansion of
the Uluru Children’s Home in India. In 2008 and 2009 students created innovative project solutions to support the development of communities in
Cambodia - for citizens in Kandal Province, as well as those living on and around the Tonle Sap Lake. Last year, students supported remote Aboriginal
communities living in South-Western Queensland.
In 2011, students will be looking at the problems faced in the remote community of Devikulam in the Pitchandikulam region of India. Teams of four
to six students are invited to collaborate on engineering and design projects that address project ideas identified by the Pitchandikulam Forest
organsiation. Students’ designs and ideas make a direct contribution towards EWB’s work with the Devikulam community.
The EWB Challenge is open to students undertaking a first-year university1 course registered with the EWB Challenge. The course may run in Semester
One or Semester Two. Students studying in the disciplines of engineering, architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, science, business and
social science are encouraged to participate.
Each university may nominate up to four team submissions for external judging. The 2011 EWB Challenge submission process closes on 22 July 2011
(Semester One courses) and 21 October 2011 (Semester Two courses).
EWB will host a regional judging final, inviting the top four to six teams to present their work and be assessed by a multidisciplinary panel of judges.
The finalists will be announced by the 28th of October with regional judging occurring between the 5th and 13th of November (depending on the
regional area). The top team in each region will be invited to present their work at the annual AAEE Conference at the beginning of
December. Awardees will be announced at a special awards ceremony following the presentations.#p#分頁標題#e#
1International universities may participate in the EWB Challenge. However team travel expenses to the awards ceremony are not be covered by the program.
Introduction to the EWB Challenge67
In 2011 EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest have worked together to identify a
range of relevant student projects. Students are invited to develop innovative
and appropriate project solutions that can make a real contribution towards
the sustainable development of Devikulam.
This year’s challenge has been separated into eight design areas including
industry development, building and construction, transportation, water
supply and sanitation, energy, information, communication and technology
(ICT) for educational activities, waste management, and housing. Design
teams may wish to address a single issue or provide an integrated design
solution for two or more issues. Alternative projects may also be considered.
The EWB Challenge is an open-ended learning experience and the breadth
and depth of design is left to individual universities and design teams to
scope, within the context of the submission requirements (see Section 4).
The following information has been provided to assist in the development
of concept designs for various projects such as physical infrastructure and
appropriate technologies. These designs, coupled with knowledge and
skills sharing, aim to support Pitchandikulam Forest to address the social,
environmental and economic issues facing people in the region. Contextual
information on each design area can be found on the EWB website or by
following the link given under “further information”.
Project Topics7
Project Statement
The people of Pitchandikulam Forest seek to improve the employment prospects of the people in the region. To do this, they are seeking to develop
a thriving community which has new industry and purpose. Your challenge is to identify potential issues around implementing opportunities for the
community, and put forward a viable proposal to take to the community.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered as a priority. The proposal should:
• Create a source of revenue for the community.
• Have low start-up and maintenance cost.
• Build upon skills that people in the community already have.
• Create stable local employment for a wide range of people in the community.
• Improve the annual income per capita of the community.
• Be eco-friendly by avoiding contamination of the local environment, or unfairly drawing upon community resources.
Suggested Projects
Pitchandikulam Forest has been working with the central government looking at enterprise development
opportunities within communities, run mainly through self-help groups. EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest#p#分頁標題#e#
invite you to either consider one or more of the following new industry proposals, or scope a new project:
• Quilting
• Spirulina project
• Small step bags
• Medicinal plants
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au /devikulamindustrydevelopmentplan
2.1 Design Area 1 – Devikulam Industry Development Plan
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of fundamental concepts of development, including the
issues surrounding knowledge and technology transfer, community management, wealth creation and small-scale development.89
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest wishes to provide better facilities for the people living at Devikulam, through construction and renovation projects. These
projects aim to increase the morale, quality of life, and cohesion within the community. Your challenge will be to provide eco-friendly design proposals
that would help to achieve these aims.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should:
• Explain measures taken that would help to reduce cost, construction time, and negative environmental impacts.
• Consider factors such as heating and cooling, lighting and the material selection.
• Use locally available materials as much as possible.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design
projects:
• Creation of design changes to existing buildings.
• Design of a community hall.
• Design of a primary health care centre.
• Renovate the village temples.
• Design of new village temples.
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/buildingconstruction
Design Area 2 - Building Construction
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of building design. This would involve either the design
of new buildings or the renovation of existing ones. Issues such as climate and culture need to be considered in any proposals.9
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest has identified the transport system in Devikulam and the entire Panchayat region as a problem that needs to be addressed.
One of their aims is to improve the community’s transport infrastructure to make it easier for the people living in the area to move in between villages
and to the capital city Pondicherry. Another aim is to make it easier for the citizens of the Devikulam community to commute, especially for those who
regularly need to walk to the village to collect their drinking water.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should consider the following:
• The cost associated with implementing and maintaining the system.#p#分頁標題#e#
• The problems faced by the people of Devikulam with regards to travelling to Pondicherry during monsoon seasons.
• The cost to the people that would use the transport system.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Develop a long term road maintenance plan
• Design a low cost and appropriate pathway to Pondicherry that would not be affected by the
monsoon.
• Develop a cost effective and environmentally friendly transport system for Devikulam and the
Panchayat region.
• Develop an effective way of transporting drinking water from the village to the Thoppu or Colony
(See section 7).
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/transportation
2.3 Design Areas 3- Transportation
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of transport systems planning. Some of the
issues that need to be looked at include traffic management, infrastructure, maintenance, feasibility, and funding. The scope of
these projects could be extended to include the entire Panchayat region.101
Project Statement
Access to clean drinking water is an important issue that needs to be addressed in the Devikulam community. Providing access to more clean drinking
water and preventing the contamination of existing supplies would be the key aim of this project area. Devikulam also needs proper infrastructure
and education programs in place in order to stop open defecation practices and ensure that human waste is disposed of properly. This is important for
preventing outbreaks of disease due to poor sanitation which is currently a major problem throughout India.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should consider:
• The effect that any chemicals used will have on the environment.
• Cultural beliefs and practices of the people living in the community.
• Cost associated with implementing any proposal.
• Infrastructure already in place for water and sanitation.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Cost effective rainwater capture and storage system.
• Develop a reliable water delivery system that would be accessible throughout the day.
• Propose a method of reducing bacterial contamination from the village pond.
• Water consumption efficiency measures.
• Determine a method for the reduction of salinity in the water.
• Toilet waste treatment systems e.g. waste bio-digester systems.
• Determine a method to distil the bore water for consumption.
• Develop a proposal for a biomass system.
• Develop a cost effective pump to reduce the cost of implementing a pond and baffle reactor.#p#分頁標題#e#
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/watersupplyandsanitationsystems
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of chemical engineering, fluid mechanics, or purification processes. The issues that
would need to be addressed in this design area include the management, distribution, and purification of water for the community. Students interested in this project area
could also look at issues associated with maintaining good sanitation practices in the community through education, improved infrastructure, and proper waste management.
Design Areas 4- Water Supply and Sanitation Systems11
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest is looking to find a clean, renewable and reliable back - up power source that could be used during black - outs in Devikulam.
In addition to this Pitchandikulam Forest is also looking at design proposals for reliable and safe cooking technologies. The design proposal would
need to move away from the bio-mass fuel supply that is currently being utilised as it has led to many serious health problems.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should consider the following:
• Frequent power outages mean the community requires a back-up or alternative power supply.
• Maintenance of any systems and processes.
• Implementation costs which may be a barrier to the design.
• 70% of India’s population cook on bio-mass stoves that are inefficient and impact health.
• Improvements to health and environment through reduced deforestation.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Development of smokeless stove technology
• Building energy efficiency
• Alterative cooking systems
• Bio-digesters
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/power
Design Areas 5- Energy
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of renewable technologies, power distribution,
and energy use. This area will look at how cost-efficient, reliable, and clean energy could be supplied to the community. Implementation
costs, power distribution, reliability, and maintenance are some of the issues that would need to be examined.123
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest is looking to create a computer information centre in the region which can provide training to women’s groups, farmers,
students and other villagers. This site will also be used as the base for collating all regional population and infrastructure data and provide a conduit
for information exchange between the communities and the government.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should consider the following:#p#分頁標題#e#
• The community currently is reliant upon mobile phones to communicate and there are no landline telephones.
• Computer skills vary throughout the community and so should start at a basic level and build in complexity.
• Educational priorities are for school students undertaking Math, Science and English, as well as farmers and women’s groups; therefore specification
of who will use the resource and how it is to be used is necessary.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Cost-effective internet and communication systems.
• Software (educational games) relating to primary and secondary education.
• Hardware for interactive educational games.
• Development of a tutorial software program that will provide basic computer awareness training.
• Interactive software programs that teaches users sustainable practices.
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/ictedu
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of telecommunications, computer systems
or education. This area will look at how Pitchandikulam Forest can utilise these technologies to teach students basic computer skills
and about sustainability. Additionally it can also help identify simple technologies that might be available to improve this process.
The plausibility of implementing these technologies and their cost to operate should be a key factor in the design.
Design Areas 6- Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for Educational Activities13
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest is interested in developing a cost effective waste management system within the community or to develop an effective method of
transporting solid waste to the village of Kadapakkam. It would be ideal to have a waste management system that integrates waste reduction, re-use and
recycling strategies with livelihood and energy generation. It is recognised that many waste streams can be reused or modified to become a valuable product.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal
should consider the following:
• The benefits of converting a waste stream into a valuable product which becomes an income stream.
• Waste management can also incorporate the neighbouring village of Nadukuppam.
• Waste is currently dumped behind people’s houses.
• Numerous education campaigns have been conducted with limited success locally and nationally.
• Pitchandikulam has been involved in a solid waste management program with the East-West Foundation of India in
Kadapakkam, a village approximately 22 km away from Devikulam.
• At Kadapakkam’s solid waste management site, three staff members sort waste and recycling materials.#p#分頁標題#e#
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Integrated waste management systems including recycling and reuse opportunities.
• Composting system for household waste.
• Waste collection devices.
• Waste reduction and management education.
• Develop a cost effective way of transporting solid waste from Devikulam to the Kadapakkam waste management
facility.
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/ictedu http://www.ewb.org.au//wastemanagment
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of reducing and preventing waste produced from the community
using innovative and people-focused methods or finding an effective transportation method to collect and transport the waste produced. A key
consideration is how to incentivise waste management within the community so that it will be self sustaining.
Design Areas 7- Waste Management145
Project Statement
Pitchandikulam Forest is looking to improve the ability of housing in the community to handle the hot and wet seasons. Houses in Devikulam are
mostly huts with cement or mud floors, walls made from mud or burnt brick, and roofs made of either thatch or palm leaf.
Considerations
When designing a solution, the following issues have been identified and should be considered a priority. The proposal should consider the following:
• The community prefer staying in mud-thatch houses as they are cooler to live in.
• Government houses (constructed of concrete) are so hot in the summer that they have to sleep outside at night-time.
• Colony residents want to improve the quality of their mud houses to provide better protection from the rain.
• Group government housing has been provided which is in urgent need of maintenance
• Open defecation is a problem and provision of toilet facilities at each house would be beneficial.
• Housing design would need to consider the climate of the area- homes have sloping roofs made of slate due to the monsoon type climate.
Suggested Projects
EWB and Pitchandikulam Forest invite you to consider one or more of the following design projects:
• Re-design existing mud-thatch houses at Devikulam.
• Develop a way to reduce heat retention and energy costs in government housing.
• Design group houses for the colony residents.
• Develop a way to improve protection from the rain.
• Design toilet facilities for households.
Further Information
http://www.ewb.org.au/housing
This design area would develop the skills and knowledge of design groups in the area of construction and design of community housing.
This area will look at how the buildings provided can be improved to handle the climate of the region and investigate how construction can#p#分頁標題#e#
be used to improve sanitation practices.
Design Areas 8 - Housing15
According to EWB and Pitchandikulam, all student proposals must meet the following criteria:
• Alignment with the cultural responsibilities of the Devikulam community, such as protecting cultural sites.
• Setting an example of sustainable land management.
• http://www.400190.com/dissertation_writing/Engineering/2012/0313/1084.html Creation of opportunities for Devikulam people so they can improve their livelihood in the region.
• To create centres of environmental education and training in rural and coastal contexts.
• Proposed solutions must consider the capacity of the community to maintain the equipment and build on their existing
community strengths.
• To take the necessary steps to protect, preserve the existing natural environment, and encourage traditional practices.
Key Design Considerations