2014 update, belize open source - sustainable development and engineers without borders-usa...

Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development and Engineers Without Borders-‐USA (EWB-‐USA) in northern Belize

Patrick Coyle EWB-‐SFP, Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development,

Public Laboratory for LLNL-‐ November, 2014

Agenda •  Overview: Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development

•  Overview: •  Engineers Without Borders-‐USA (EWB-‐USA)

•  Engineers Without Borders — San Francisco Professional Chapter (EWB-‐SFP)

•  Status update: Five EWB chapter projects in northern Belize

•  Belize kite aerial photo-‐mapping results

•  EWB Nicaragua composJng toilets • More photos

•  Belize Open Source 40-‐acre site looking toward August Pine Ridge village

What is Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development?

•  Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development, as a 501(c)(3) non-‐profit, •  promotes environmentally and socially sustainable

development •  invites collaboraJon on an open source approach to

develop and parJcipate in a land-‐based learning and community outreach center on a working farm on 40 acres in northwestern Belize

•  partners with EWB-‐USA to collaborate with EWB chapters on projects

Summary: HOME donaJons leveraged with matching

Year HOME Pledges

DonaJons EWB Matched August Pine

Ridge school Muffles College

Total Donated

2014 $2520 $1500* -‐ $500*

2013 $1768 $1500* $1500* $500*

2012 $2060 $1500 $1500 $500 -‐

2011 $2800 $1500 $1500 $500 $500

2010 $500 $500 $500 $500

Total $9648 $6500 $5000 $2500 $500 $14500

*Projected: No 2014 chapter match

Starts 12/2

AcJviJes: Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development

•  Donate HOME donaJons to EWB chapters working in Belize, prior years matched with year-‐end funds from EWB-‐USA

•  Muffles school: $500 for emergency construcJon of new sepJc tank

•  August Pine Ridge school: •  $500 for public address system •  $500 for teachers’ texts and filing cabinet for new

classrooms •  $500 to replace termite damaged wooden classroom

windows with metal hurricane shuders •  $500 for bike racks •  $500 for mulJpurpose room

AcJviJes: Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development (cont.)

•  Raised funds and built first visitors’ accommodaJons at BOSSD for the CSU EWB team during their visits to construct the new classroom building in August Pine Ridge

•  ConJnuing to seek a US Rotary club to partner with Belize Orange Walk Rotary and the CSU EWB August Pine Ridge project

•  IniJated DIY aerial photo-‐mapping program: engaged schools and made iniJal set of maps

•  Developing programs to use the Belize property •  Passed through donaJon to EWB-‐SFP Nicaragua

composJng toilets

Agenda •  Updates and status: Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development

•  Engineers Without Borders-‐USA (EWB-‐USA)

•  Engineers Without Borders — San Francisco Professional Chapter (EWB-‐SFP)

•  Updates and status: Three EWB chapter projects in northern Belize

•  Belize photos •  Road past Belize Open Source 40-‐acre site toward August Pine Ridge village

EWB-‐USA vision and mission Vision is a world in which all communiJes have the capacity to meet their basic human needs

Supports community-‐driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementaJon of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership

EWB-‐USA Growth

2000 8 Members 1 Chapter 1 Project

2014 14,700 Members ~ 300 Chapters 684+ Programs 39 countries

•  Established in 2004 •  ~ 200 acJve members •  7 infrastructure programs •  2 Appropriate Technology Design Team (ATDT) projects

•  ExecuJve Commidee and support commidees provide chapter management, fundraising, and publicity

EWB-‐SFP NaJon’s 1st Professional Chapter

EWB-‐SFP Programs and LocaJons Kenya Water Supply

El Salvador Water & SanitaIon

Fiji Water System

Kenya Water System

HaiI Community Health Clinic and Solar Power

Honduras Bridge ConstrucIon & Water DistribuIon

Nicaragua ATDT ComposIng Toilets Water distribuIon – solar pump

Tanzania Well rebuilding, water DistribuIon & solar pumping

EWB Project Process and Commitment

•  Projects have a non-‐governmental organizaJon (NGO) or community based organizaJon (CBO) partner acJng as a liaison to the community

•  Three project phases: 1.  Assessment 2.  Design and ImplementaJon 3.  Monitoring and EvaluaJon

•  Long-‐term infrastructure projects have a minimum 5-‐year commitment to the community

•  Appropriate technology projects vary in length depending on the requirements of the NGO and community

What’s the connecJon? •  Coyle is founder and a Director of Belize Open Source -‐

Sustainable Development, a 501(c)(3) non-‐profit •  Lead for EWB-‐SFP Appropriate Technology Design Team

and Co-‐president for EWB West Coast Region •  Serves on EWB-‐USA West Coast Technical Advisory Team

and leads monthly team reviews of project applicaJons •  Authored EWB applicaJon for the August Pine Ridge

Community Improvement Program – the new classroom building has now been completed by EWB-‐Cleveland State, water quality improvements in design

•  Public Lab organizer: presented at EWB Regional Workshops and EWB InternaJonal on “Simple, Inexpensive Aerial Photomapping with Balloons or Kites” and mapped sites with students in Belize

Belize Open Source -‐ Sustainable Development and EWB chapters

•  We’ve supported five EWB chapters working in northern Belize •  Cleveland State University, August Pine Ridge •  Iowa State University, Trinidad •  Lamar University, Chunox in the Corozol District •  Texas A&M, San Mateo on Ambergris Caye •  Oregon State University, Valley of Peace (new)

Two EWB chapters projects are acJve

•  This year we’ll support the two EWB chapters with acJve projects in northern Belize •  Cleveland State University, August Pine Ridge •  Lamar University, Chunox in the Corozol District

• The EWB Cleveland State University August Pine Ridge classroom building project is complete. They are working on water quality improvements • Lamar University is fundraising to implement sanitaJon system leach field

Other EWB chapter projects are closed

•  These three EWB chapters completed, cancelled, or were unable to launch their projects •  Iowa State University, Trinidad: completed, closed •  Texas A&M, San Mateo on Ambergris Caye: cancelled •  Oregon State University, Valley of Peace (new): unable

to launch

Where is Belize?

Belize up close •  Belize is small: About 175 miles,

north-‐south, by 80 miles wide •  It has diverse land regions: cayes,

barrier reef, beaches, tropical rain forests, caves with rivers running into them, mountain pine ridge, and savannahs (where we are)

•  Belize is small enough and transportaJon is good enough that a stop at Belize Open Source can be included as part of your iJnerary, along with whatever else you choose to do in Belize

•  If you visit Belize and volunteer with BOSSD, a reasonable porJon of your trip expenses can be tax deducJble

How to get involved •  Contact me:

•  [email protected] •  Belize Open Source: hdp://belizeopensource.org

•  SFP-‐EWB: hdp://ewb-‐sfp.org/ •  EWB-‐USA: hdp://www.ewb-‐usa.org/

•  Individual chapters and projects are accessible through the EWB-‐USA website

•  Public Lab: hdp://publiclab.org/

How to donate to chapters I’ll be donaJng to the two chapters sJll working in Belize – websites are in preparaJon to take donaJons starJng in December. EWB-‐USA’s partners aren’t matching chapter donaJons this year

•  hdps://ssl.charityweb.net/ewbusa/pfp/fundraisingforbelize.htm

•  hdps://ssl.charityweb.net/ewbusa/pfp/lamaruniversityinbelize.htm

August Pine Ridge, Belize School Building Update

Cleveland State EWB project •  The new school building provides addiJonal space for the

current overcrowded school that serves approximately 450 students and serves as a hurricane shelter for the general community •  A project-‐specific assessment trip was completed in

May 2010 and the floor plan for the school was finalized and approved by the community

•  Data on building material quality and availability was gathered along with material prices

•  Detailed site soil samples were collected and shipped to CSU’s campus for laboratory tests. Soil characterisJcs were incorporated into the school building’s foundaJon design

•  Soil characterisJcs for a leach field for the school building’s sepJc system were evaluated

Cleveland State EWB (cont.) •  The skill level of local labor for construcJon was assessed •  A Belizean Civil Engineering firm agreed to help the

chapter with construcJon in Belize, paperwork required by the Central Building Authority (CBA) to secure construcJon approval and building codes used in-‐country

A Final Design Report (FDR) with all necessary design calculaJons and construcJon documents was submided to EWB-‐USA for review and implementaJon was approved

Floor plan – classroom building

Cleveland State EWB funding •  The preliminary esJmate for construcJon, furnishing and

outiung the school was ~$150k USD •  The community agreed to raise $100k in cash and/or

in-‐kind contribuJons (including labor) •  The CSU Chapter agreed to raise up to $50k (Coyle/

BOSSD helped in modest amounts) •  The community applied for funds to the Belize Natural

Energy Trust (a fund organized by an oil company) for $50k and to the Social Improvement Fund (an internaJonal development fund in the Caribbean)

•  (as of early August ‘12, the cost to date was ~$134k, with $61k from Belize and $73k from CSU EWB)

•  ConstrucJon began in April, 2011 and was completed in 2012

CSU Project Manager/ Site Engineer and APR School Project Committee Chairman Julio Magaña at the completion of the project.

Classroom tiled and ready for use. The door is only open when the building is utilized as a hurricane shelter by the community. Similar doors allow passage throughout the building in safety.

Not everybody could be listed. We wish to also thank BASF, Parker Hannifin Company, and Belize Open Source, to name a few more.

While in Belize the leaking roof on the existing school was repaired. No more leaks. The black of the roof is the build up of ash from the burning of sugar cane. Because of the slope on the new school, each passing rain helps to keep the roof clean.

Anemometer installed on the roof of the other school building. Data collected by the students of APR is emailed to CSU engineering students working closely with Dr. Majid Rashidi and his wind amplification turbine system to properly size the wind turbines.

CSU Students Amy Kalabon (left) and Alice Summerville (Right) level stone for the leach field on the school property.

Completion of pipe runs to septic tanks behind the school. At this time the tanks are sealed and the pipes all covered.

Distribution box walls poured, top was added the next day and everything is now covered with fill material.

The leach field with all the pipes set awaiting the final cover of 18 inches of soil.

TBD description.

CSU next steps Mid-October, 2014, Ryan Polder, chapter president, provided updates: •  Sent pictures from latest trip in March and reported on the water project update submitted for Alcoa grant •  Wrapping up the design of the water system •  Planning to travel when that is finished and start acquiring materials •  Excited about the future of the project, as are a large number of people in the college. There has been a large amount of interest generated in joining our organization among our peers, and attendance at the last general chapter meeting was about double (maybe even more) than what we typically expect •  Primarily concerned with staying in August Pine Ridge for the immediate future

CSU next steps • The team was awarded the 2013 NCEES Engineering Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education, $25,000 grand prize for its submission, Design, Funding, and Construction of the August Pine Ridge School/Hurricane Shelter in Belize – the funds will be used to repay repay part of the university loans for construction costs.

• Awarded $10,000 for Alcoa Creation of a Global Engineer Grant for Water Quality and Alternative Energy project

• The August Pine Ridge Water Board has done a pilot program with water meters to prepare for metering and use-based fees to encourage water conservation and reduce operating costs.

• Students continue working with Dr. Majid Rashidi and his wind amplification turbine system to examine the feasibility of wind energy. Solar is also being considered.

Alcoa CreaJon of a Global Engineer Grant: Interim Report

Completed final assessment trip for Water Quality and Alternative Energy project

•  Proposed the water treatment plant design to the community - plan to install a four tank water filtration system to rid their water of hardness, pesticides, and other unsatisfactory chemicals to allow for potable consumption •  Performed final water quality testing for both municipal and ground water sources •  Installed solar panel panel for feasibility testing is currently being monitored for electrical output levels. The electricity is being used to supplement the electrical demands of the local elementary school •  From meeting with community and water board, have identified a community contractor to assist in construction of the treatment plant

Water Quality Testing Photo (left to right) Anna Florian, Stephen Kolbus, and Michael Sutadji taken by Norbert Delatte

Installation of Solar Panel Photo of Michael Sutadji taken by Anna Florian

Discussion Panel with Community over Water Treatment Design Presentation Photo of Community members taken by Michael Sutadji

Lamar University, village of Chunox in the Corozol District

•  Implement sanitaJon system for the St. Viatore vocaJonal high school •  Performed test to determine water quality, soil type, soil

percolaJon, water table, land survey (for a percolaJon field), located a site for the bathrooms

•  Formed Memorandum of Understanding with the school – •  we will provide materials and design •  the school will provide labor, some lodging and meals

•  Currently working on alternaJves Analysis: our preferred alternaJve is a standard flush toilet. The effluent waste will be treated by a percolaJon field

Lamar next steps In October, Laura Soto, the new chapter president, provided updates: •  Speaking to members of the Spindletop Rotary Club here in Beaumont, TX to find out more about Rotary funding •  Although the project design has been completed, mentor has warned that may need adjustments to the design and travel plan/budget. If so, have 4 skilled/experienced engineers who will not take long to make the adjustments •  After mentor review, will be able to turn it into EWB –USA HQ •  Hope to apply for EWB-grants for the 2015 Spring semester •  Will be having a softball tournament fundraiser in the spring of 2015 as well as a Gala possibly in late may 2015 or fall 2015. Plan to get speaker from Betchel, and hopefully some sponsorship from DuPont. We are hopeful that both of our fundraisers will be successful •  Provided design drawings of the percolation field and the site plan •  Because of cost, chapter has decided not to construct the restroom facility. Design is complete and has potential to become a part of the project if find a way to fund it

•  Established in 2008 •  Consists of over 20 current members •  Started our first project in 2009 •  Traveled to Belize for the first time in 2010

About Lamar University Chapter

!  We have raised about $25,000.

!  We are fundraising and preparing grant applications for the balance of the estimated $50k total.

!  Final design is complete and approved by EWB-USA - just need the funding.

LocaIon Official Address: St. Viator High School

1.5 mi. beyond Chunox Village

Chunox – Sarteneja Road

P.O. Box 330

Corozal Town

St. Viator VocaIonal High School

Cafeteria

Water Supply •  Water line from Chunox

•  Chunox uses reverse osmosis on community water

•  There is no water filtration on site

•  Supplies Cafeteria •  School Well, pond

•  Supplies shower, animals, and crops

Pit Latrine Bathrooms

Status: grassroots aerial photomapping program in Belize

•  During 9-‐day trip in February ’13, engaged schools to develop capabiliJes and make iniJal set of maps (Belize Open Source property, August Pine Ridge school classrooms and surrounding community, and Muffles College)

•  Posted Research Notes on Public Lab, in context of a plan to: •  develop capabiliJes, •  archive, access and communicate with the images, •  implement training through classes in local schools, •  conJnue with ongoing workshops for future visitors to extend

techniques and map more of the country's sites of interest with emphasis on community needs and benefits to local users, as well as some the gorgeous sites

•  August Pine Ridge school and Muffles College Environmental Sciences program parJcipated. Jeff Warren and Stewart Long, Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science, have parJcipated in planning

Blanca Torres, principal of the August Pine Ridge school, wrote, “The aerial photo mapping seems very interesting. I shared with my children and sisters the images of our village … and they just loved them. … I welcome these opportunities where I can involve my students in new learning experiences. I am very interested in exposing them through your mapping project. We feel pride in having our community appear in internet pages and more if we are involved in getting those images.”

2013 August Pine Ridge RC school mapping session

TBD description.

In progress and completed new classroom building Richard Obratil, former Chapter President, Project Manager/Site Engineer EWB-Cleveland State University Chapter, wrote, “... here is a picture of the building…”

2013 Muffles Junior College, Belize mapping sessions

Muffles Junior College, Belize mapping sessions •  Did two hands-on training and mapping sessions with Rafael Castillo, the faculty advisor, and the Environmental Club at the Muffles Junior College campus near Orange Walk Town

•  Left them with a complete KAP mapping kit

•  Put a sustainable mapping capability in place at Muffles which can serve the Environmental Science program

Site: Belize Open Source Sustainable Development

•  This 40-‐acre rural property is located in northwestern Belize near the Mexican and Guatemala borders about 16 miles from Orange Walk Town, between the villages of August Pine Ridge and San Felipe and 3.5 miles to the Rio Hondo Belize/Mexico border

belizeopensource.org

•  Google Maps shows it, but unJl recently, two more clicks in and you ran out of pixels – it’s beder now

2013 Belize Open Source mapping session


Images were from Canon A1200 in juice bodle rig shooJng in conJnuous mode (Qstarz gps tracker flown as well)


Images from Delta LevitaJon


Natalio Soliz flying the kite

2014 Belize Open Source mapping sessions

SFP-‐ATDT ComposJng Latrines in Nicaragua

•  In 2010, EWB-‐SFP ATDT, Alvarez Co-‐op, Alcance Nicaragua (AN) and Outreach InternaJonal (OI), built ten composJng toilets with the community of Los Alvarez, Nicaragua (134 families, ~ 938 people)

•  95% of its latrines were in poor condiJon. These latrines flood with water during the winter and fail structurally, resulJng in illnesses due to exposure to fecal mader and water contaminaJon

•  The environment is polluted and inhabitants are exposed to physical harm due to latrine collapse

Completed composJng toilet from 2010 pilot implementaJon trip

Phase 1 •  In April 2010, EWB-‐SFP visited Los Alvarez for an exploratory trip

•  The design selected, with the input from the community, was a two-‐compartment composJng latrine that would allow one compartment to be sealed during the composJng process

•  Planning and material procurement took place between October-‐December 2010

•  ConstrucJon took place in January 2011 and ten composJng latrines were built

• Workshops were conducted on the use and maintenance of the composJng latrines

•  blog: hdp://compostnica.wordpress.com/

ComposJng Latrine Status •  The first composJng toilets are working great

•  User acceptance has been high •  GeneraJon and use of compost for agricultural applicaJons has been successful

•  The community wants more units

Phase 2 Planning •  A member of the Alcance Nicaragua designed and built a “hybrid” composJng toilet which decreased the cost by half, to approximately $300 per toilet

Prototype reduced cost redesigned toilet

Phase 2 Planning (cont.) •  Goal: build fourteen composJng toilets in El Llanito community using the new design ($336/toilet)

•  Alcance Nicaragua responsibiliJes: materials procurement and transportaJon, idenJfying new beneficiaries, managing the construcJon, and collecJng beneficiaries’ contribuJon (40% of cost)

Phase 2 Planning (cont.) •  July 2014: AN selects parJcipants •  August 2014: Material Procurement prior to construcJon start

•  August 19-‐August 31: ConstrucJon •  Post ConstrucJon:

•  DocumentaJon

Phase 2 ConstrucIon

Preparing foundaJon

Phase 2 ConstrucIon (cont.)

Concrete in foundaJon form


Building the vaults


Sealing the vaults with plaster coat


Building the upper structure


Families with completed toilets

Families a}er workshop

CSU and my photos

TBD description.

CSU prior photos

2014 update, belize open source - sustainable development and engineers without borders-usa...

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