Sustainable Building Technologies for Developing Countries

Enrico SpaconeEnrico SpaconeDepartment PRICOS

University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, ITALYAlso: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering

University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

Trieste, January 22, 2004Trieste, January 22, 2004ICSICS--UNIDOUNIDO

Who am I?

! Born in Cividale del Friuli! Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at

University “La Sapienza” Rome, 1987! Worked two years at EPF – Lausanne, Switzerland

1987-1989! MS (1990) and PhD (1994) in Civil Engineering at

University of California, Berkeley! Assistant (1995-2001) and Associate Professor

(2001) University of Colorado, Boulder! Professor (2002-) University “G. D’Annunzio” of

Chieti Pescara! Adjunct Professor (2002-), Univesity of Colorado,

Boulder

Interests

! Seismic design and analysis of civil structures

! Numerical modeling of reinforced concrete structures

! Strengthening of existing structures with fiber reinforced polymers (FRP)

! Design of structures built with traditional and/or new appropriate materials

Background and Motivation - 1

! In the next two decades, 20 billion additional people are expected to populate the Earth

! 95% of growth in under-developed countries! Unprecedented demand for all sorts of goods,

services, structures and infrastructures! Critical role of engineers in fulfilling demands! Are we ready?

IN THE NEXT TWO DECADES, ALMOST 2 BILLIONADDITIONAL PEOPLE WILL POPULATE THE EARTH. THIS GROWTH WILL CREATE DEMANDS ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE FOR:

ENERGY PRODUCTION

ENVIRONMENTALCLEANUP

MATERIALSHANDLING

FOOD SUPPLY

SUITABLELIVING

CONDITIONS

LANDSTABILIZATION

WATERPRESERVATION

HEALTH CARE

EARTH MOVING

WASTEDISPOSAL

INFRASTRUCTURE

TRANSPORTATIONDEMAND

Background and Motivation - 2

! Impact of built environment on living landscape

! Most constructions involve massive changes in natural landscape

! Can we export the building models of developed countries to developing countries?

! Is our know-how fit for tackling the problems in developing countries?

! Are our engineering backgrounds appropriate for developing countries?

Justification - 1

! Engineering practice and education are based on a paradigm of control of nature

! Major engineering achievements in the last two centuries

! Most achievements did not consider social, economic and environmental impacts on natural systems

! Major shift is needed in engineering approach to problems

Justification - 2

! Control vs. partecipation with nature! Increasing awareness of ecosystems,

preservation and restauration! Embracing the principle of sustainable

development, renewable resource management, appropriate technologies

! Need to establish new, site specific models for developing countries

Justification - 3

! Education: how we ready for this shift? Are we preparing engineers for the next challenge?

! Purification, sanitation, power production, shelter, site planning, infrastructure, food production, communication, etc. in developing countries

! These topics are not central to current curricula in developing countries

Justification - 4

! Need to train the new generation of engineers! Engineers have an obligation to provide

solutions for a sustainable development! We need to train engineers:

! Who have the right tools to address the challenges to our planet today and in the next 20 years

! Who are aware of needs of developing world! Who can contribute to the relief of endemic

problems afflicting developing countries

Proposal

! Earth System Engineering! Engineering for Developing Communities (EDC)

! Outreach and Service! Education! Research and Development –

Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technologies (CAST)

! CAST will be virtually located at the University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, with many academic and non-academic branches throughout the world

CAST – Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technologies

Viewing the Developing World as the Classroom of the 21st Century

Mission: A program dedicated to educating globally responsible students who can offer sustainable and appropriate technology solutions to the endemic problems faced by developing communities worldwide (including the US).

Issues of interest include water, sanitation, energy, shelter, health, food, jobs and capital for developing communities

Earth Systems Engineering

”ESE is a multidisciplinary (engineering, science, social science, and governance) process of solution development that takes a holistic view of natural and human system interactions. The goal of ESE is to better understand complex, nonlinear systems of global importance and to develop the tools necessary to implement that understanding”

(National Academy of Engineering, 2000)

HumanHumanSystemsSystems InfrastructureInfrastructure

NaturalNaturalSystemsSystems

CapitalCapital

GoodsGoods

Economic Issues

Political Issues Ethical Issues

Social Issues Cultural Issues

Environmental Issues

ProductionProductionSystemsSystems

ProductsProducts

ServicesServices

HumanHuman

FinancialFinancial

IndustrialIndustrial

NaturalNatural

LandLand

WaterWater AirAir

BiotaBiota

Earth Systems Earth Systems Earth Systems EngineeringEngineeringEngineering

Mission: EWB-USA helps disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students.

Vision: EWB-USA’s outward vision is of a world where all people have access to adequate sanitation, safe drinking water, and the resources to meet their other self-identified engineering and economic development needs.

Mission and Vision

1.2 Billion lack clean water2.4 Billion lack adequate sanitation2.4 Billion are at risk with malaria35,000 children die from hunger daily1.1 billion overfed vs. 1.1 billion underfed

1.2 Billion lack adequate housing1.8 Billion live in conflict zones, in transition, or in

situations of permanent instability4.2 billion are unable to read

San Pablo, Belize

Zambougou, Mali 02

Zambougou, Mali 03

Bir Moghrein, Mauritania

Kot-Timal, Nepal

Kabul, Farza, Afghanistan

CAST – Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technologies

! Center will provide a meeting arena for students, professionals, visitors, individuals from all other the world to exchange ideas, train and be trained on various appropriate technologies

CAST – Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Techologies

! Appropriate technologies in Developing Countries are:! Small scale! Energy efficient! Environmentally sound! Labor intensive! Controlled by local community! Simple

Services provided by CAST - 1

! Database development and Maintenance

! Testing and Improvement of Existing Technologies for Quality Control

! Technology Transfer! Education and Training

Services provided by CAST - 2

! Database development and Maintenance! Clearinghouse for various types of appropriate

technologies! Reorganize existing material in a coherent system

of cataloguing information! Coordinate existing services and expertise! Document existing appropriate technology

systems and their performance! Provide a unifying platform to all organizations

involved! Web accessible

Services provided by CAST - 3

! Testing and Improvement of Existing Technology for Quality Control! Many systems on the market have not

been tested! Provide on-going testing of existing

technologies! Identify range of applications! Propose modifications/improvements

Services provided by CAST - 4

! Technology Transfer! Develop means of transferring successful

technologies from one part of the world to another

! Provide entrepreneurial opportunities to host communities

Services provided by CAST - 5

! Education and Training! For students, practicing engineers and

entrepreneurs in developed countries! Platform for “TRAINING THE TRAINERS”! Provide ways to empower developing countries for

enhancing local skills! Hands-on workshops on appropriate technologies

at Center and at remote locations on a demand basis

! Meetings at annual Sustainable Resources Conference

Example of ongoing studies - 1

! Prototype rope and solar pumps for water wells and ram pumps

! Pesticide removal and drinking water treatment methods

! Water storage and water treatment systems

! Improvement of existing filtering systems

Example of ongoing studies - 2

! Attenuation of pathogens from latrines to nearby water sources

! Phytoremediation effects on wastewater treatment

! Solar water pasteurization! Improvement of existing earthenware

cooling techniques to provide storage of food and maintain the viability of vaccines at low cost

Example of ongoing studies - 3

! Production of biofuel and biomass! Small hydro systems! Solar, wind and hybrid systems for

energy production! Solar heating, cooling and cooking

systems! PV computer systems

Example of ongoing studies - 4

! Building safe structures with traditional materials

! Seismic design and performance of traditional buildings (adobe, earth, stone, etc.)

! Design codes for developing countries! … a lot more to come

Activities at University “G. D’Annunzio”

! Earth Structures: old and new ! Seismic design procedures for

traditional buildings! Strengthening older structures with new

materials (FRPs)! New structural testing facility

Possible Funding Sources

! Seed funding! National Science Foundation! European Union! Ford and Rockefeller Foundations! Italian Ministry of Exteriors! World Bank

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we

were at when they were created”

Albert Einstein