43 results |
F28
|
✔ |
Benefits of and methods for fostering diversity, inclusion and retention in the engineering sector.
(more)
Historically EWB and research students have conducted impactful research to generate insights into diversity and inclusion in engineering and STEM more broadly. The objective of this project will be to build on the outputs from previous years. The scope will be refined after the research outputs from 2018 are reviewed in December 2018 and will focus on both engineering education and professional practice. |
Education;Professional Practice |
Australia |
EWB |
F30
|
✔ |
Evaluating efforts towards Reconciliation within Australia’s engineering sector.
(more)
|
Professional Practice |
Australia |
EWB |
G15
|
✔ |
Adapting water-tanks into BCA compliant cyclone proof dwellings.
(more)
On Cape York there's precedent for using water-tanks as dwellings with some modification. The purpose of this research is how to adapt water tanks into dwellings in a way that meets BCA standards and cyclone proof while being transportable and have a basic rainwater harvesting system. |
Shelter |
Australia |
Centre for Appropriate Technology (CfAT) |
G18
|
✔ |
Alternative refrigeration on remote indigenous homelands.
(more)
Currently on homelands the largest demand on the solar energy systems is refrigeration that can take up to 70% of the power generated. As such, there is an opportunity to reduce the cost of the required solar systems by establishing refrigeration solutions that require minimal energy input. Here researchers are encouraged to find ways to eliminate the requirement for the significant battery storage capacity currently required, or ideate entirely different approaches to freezing and cooling food supplies. |
Energy |
Australia |
Centre for Appropriate Technology (CfAT) |
G21
|
✖ |
Mobile solar water pumping system.
(more)
Currently there are a number of bores at numerous different sites on the Cape. Each of these have their own solar powered pump for drawing water. CfAT have identified that a great way to save costs would be to have a single unit that can be removed and transported between different sites. The system should consist consisting of a solar pump with array and 100m of pipe or alternative that can be used to access water from a series of stationary bores while ensuring the water source remains protected. |
Energy;Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Australia |
Centre for Appropriate Technology (CfAT) |
H09
|
✔ |
Small scale household or decentralised wastewater treatment systems beyond septic tanks.
(more)
Currently the only alternative to large waste treatment plants in Vanuatu are household septic tanks. The focus of this research is to build on previous research to support the establishment of technologies that can treat wastewater without the need for a larger wastewater treatment plant. |
Energy;Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
H10
|
✔ |
Methodology for mapping to support spring rejuvenation strategies.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste are focussing on the rejuvenation of springs which, combined with gravity-flow schemes, are the main source of potable water for communities given lack of accessible ground-water. This is becoming increasingly challenging as climate change reduces flow rates. To empower communities to deploy appropriate strategies to manage spring water, access to accurate information to establish hydrogeology will be critical. The aim of this research is to collect together relevant data to produce a map and tool that be used in decision-making by communities aiming to sustainably manage their spring water. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
H11
|
✔ |
Review of spring rejuvenation approaches.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste are focussing on the rejuvenation of springs which, combined with gravity-flow schemes, are the main source of potable water for communities given lack of accessible ground-water. This is becoming increasingly challenging as climate change reduces flow rates and water quality at source and in transmission is challenging to manage. The aim of this project is to review current literature and approaches to spring rejuvenation strategies in low-income contexts and produce a tool that can be used by people in the field to select appropriate strategies. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
H13
|
✔ |
Establishing benefits of and barriers to meaningful community engagement in projects delivered by the Australian engineering sector.
(more)
With the launch of our 2030 strategy influencing the Australian Engineering Sector to take a leadership role in developing and stewarding “technology that benefits all” has become a key priority. We believe a critical element of this is ensuring engineering work delivered by the Australian Engineering sector engages communities meaningfully in projects, particularly groups that have been negatively impacted anecdotally. This research will aim to establish the different approaches to community engagement in the sector and how this relates to best practice to produce a series of recommendations we can use to help inform professional practice. |
Professional Practice |
Australia |
EWB |
H14
|
✔ |
Assessing the applicability of humanitarian engineering skillsets to the Australian engineering sector.
(more)
With the launch of our 2030 strategy influencing the Australian Engineering Sector to take a leadership role in developing and stewarding “technology that benefits all” has become a key priority. We believe that several of the skills developed by those engaged in “humanitarian engineering” have the potential to add a value to roles in the engineering sector while enabling it to steward “technology that benefits all”. This research, through a process of interview with former field professionals who have subsequently returned to roles in Australia, wills eek to establish how individuals who have developed several unique skills overseas apply these on return to Australia. |
Professional Practice |
Australia |
EWB |
H21
|
✖ |
Support the design of appropriate hard-rock sanitation solutions.
(more)
|
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Cambodia |
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK |
H22
|
✔ |
Investigate possible sanitation technologies for coastal areas.
(more)
|
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Cambodia |
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK |
H23
|
✔ |
Methods for the safe treatment of Indonesian cottage industry wastewater.
(more)
|
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
|
Corethics |
H25
|
✔ |
Methods for monitoring textile industry wastewater quality in the field.
(more)
|
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
|
Corethics |
I01
|
✔ |
Composting toilets to support permaculture.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste, in collaboration with Permatil, are interested in investigating composting toilets which will support permaculture in communities while enabling access to improved sanitation. This project will explore different options for composting toilets and their use to support agriculture to provide a recommended design for field trial and eventual deployment. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I02
|
✔ |
Water resource capacity monitoring in spring systems.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste, in collaboration with Permatil, are involved in monitoring and managing water resource capacity. The aim of this project is to build on previous research and produce a tool which can be used to more accurately monitor and measure water resource capacity in spring systems including variations to water availability month-to-month. This will empower community decision-making around water use, inform policy decision-making and create a deeper understanding of the impacts of climate change. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I03
|
✖ |
Ablutions block to support small-scale food production in water restricted home gardens.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste, in collaboration with Permatil, are interested in investigating water efficient irrigation for home gardens in water scarce environments. Many communities in Timor-Leste face water scarcity and the impacts of climate change are exacerbating this. The aim of this project is to build on previous research and review approaches for different methods of greywater reuse from specifically designed shower and toilet blocks, including greywater treatment, to provide water efficient irrigation methods for small-scale food production in home gardens in water scarce communities. |
Agriculture |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I04
|
✔ |
Large scale water storage alternatives for domestic use and small scale garden irrigation.
(more)
The EWB team in Timor-Leste are focusing on strategies to reduce water insecurity which is being exacerbated by the impacts of climate change. Currently the main approach to large-scale storage of water in Timor-Leste is the use of reinforced concrete tanks, however these are expensive to implement and maintain, with ongoing maintenance required as leaks and cracks occur. The aim of this project is to identify alternative large-scale water storage options that can be implemented at the community level at low-cost to increase the levels of water available for small-scale irrigation and domestic use. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene;Agriculture |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I05
|
✔ |
Technologies and strategies to support community access to water after disaster events.
(more)
Timor-Leste is prone to flooding events which can wipe out critical water supply infrastructure. With flooding events predicted to occur more regularly as a result of climate change, the EWB team in Timor-Leste are investigating disaster preparedness plans to enable EWB to be ready to support communities to access water in the near and medium term after a disaster. This project will investigate disaster preparedness strategies and technologies for water security at the community level and make recommendations to EWB on technologies and approaches that will enable EWB to rapidly restore water access with communities after disaster events. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I06
|
✔ |
Innovations for more efficient coffee harvesting and/or processing at the community level.
(more)
https://ewb.box.com/s/ks8rgkd5tinp9kedeygwqwrqqy77470y |
Agriculture |
Timor Leste |
EWB Australia in Timor-Leste |
I07
|
✔ |
Waste incinerator design for medical waste from health centres.
(more)
Health centres in Vanuatu have identified a desire for an incinerator to dispose of medical waste in an appropriate and safe manner. Previous attempts to implement incinerators have faced the challenges of maintaining an appropriate temperature, operational skills, low availability and high costs of incinerators. This project will review existing incinerator technologies and ideate design for an appropriate, low-cost incinerator for medical waste. |
|
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I08
|
✔ |
Design of an effective faecal sludge management system for peri-urban and rural areas.
(more)
Septic tanks are common in Vanuatu, however outside of the urban centres of Luganville and Port Vila there is no management system for faecal sludge. This project will research and investigate options for faecal sludge management systems that can be deployed in peri-urban and rural settings across Vanuatu. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I09
|
✔ |
Technologies to support low-cost vertical farming for backyards.
(more)
Communities in Vanuatu have expressed an interest in cultivating vertical gardens in their backyards. Members of the community are constrained by space and lack of ownership over that space, so vertical home gardens will enable communities to grow their own food. The aim of this project is to review existing research on technologies that support vertical gardens and conduct feasibility screenings for options which will contribute to successful designs or vertical gardens. |
Agriculture |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I10
|
✔ |
Low-cost footbridge design for school access.
(more)
The EWB team in Vanuatu are investigating designs for a low-cost footbridge that will enable safe and easy access to schools across rivers. This project will investigate locally available and sustainable materials, such as bamboo, which could be used and produce a design for a structurally safe, low-cost footbridge. |
Education |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I11
|
✔ |
Non-electric washing machine design for larger loads.
(more)
The EWB team in Vanuatu are prototyping a non-electric tumble-drum washing machine which can manage 5-7kgs of washing at a time. This project will look at designs for a larger scale tumble drum machine which could manage loads of 10-12kg and could be implemented at a community level, or be used for small hotels that are currently washing their linen by hand. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I13
|
✔ |
Investigation and development of locally available carbon product for dry-composting toilets.
(more)
The EWB team in Vanuatu are interested in developing a dry-compost toilet. Successful use of a dry composting toilet requires an availability of carbon rich product, such as sawdust, to be thrown in to dry out the faecal matter. However, traditional carbon-rich products used are not abundant in Vanuatu, and can be costly to bring in. The aim of this project is to investigate and develop a locally available carbon-rich product which can be used in dry-compost toilets. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I14
|
✔ |
Design of a dryer to supplement the tumble-drum washing machine.
(more)
The EWB team in Vanuatu are prototyping a manual, low-cost tumble drum washing machine for communities in Vanuatu. The tumble-drum was designed in response to the proposed ban on single-use plastics by the government, which would include disposable nappies, necessitating the need for reusable nappies and an affordable way to clean them. Drying reusable nappies is also a challenge, given the humidity of the climate. The aim of this project is to investigate designs for a low-cost drying mechanism which could work in conjunction with the tumble drum which will enable families to safely dry their nappies. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I15
|
✖ |
Review of plastic light weight nappies and other compostable technologies.
(more)
With a ban on single-use plastics in Vanuatu imminent, the EWB team in Vanuatu are investigating different compostable nappy technologies which could be used in conjunction with reusable nappies. Building on existing research, this project will look at ‘plastic-light’ nappies which are more compostable than standard disposable nappies, as well as other technologies, such as banana fibres, which can contribute to the design of a compostable nappy. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Vanuatu |
EWB Australia in Vanuatu |
I16
|
✔ |
Review of technologies for seasonally flooded communities.
(more)
In 2020 a team of students working with EWB Cambodia and Engineering for Change developed a compendium of sanitation solutions for hard-ground/rock environments where digging can be challenging and contamination of water sources is hard to manage. The aim of this research project is to deliver a similar review of technologies appropriate for the many communities which experience seasonal flooding to develop a report detailing different approaches and recommendations for those that may be most appropriate for the variety of flooding contexts within Cambodia. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I17
|
✔ |
Design iteration of hands-free handwashing station.
(more)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EWB’s team in Cambodia developed a hands-free handwashing station which has been deployed in various circumstances and with great success. To assist with the scaling up of this product, the aim of this project is to investigate opportunities to improve the design and/or adaptations for the design to make it appropriate for different contexts and users given the variety of stakeholder interests while improving ease of transport. |
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I18
|
✖ |
Ideation for items constructed from injection moulded recycled plastics to support people with disabilities.
(more)
A longstanding partner of EWB Cambodia, Light for the World, has recently secured a Precious Plastics Recycled plastics extruder/injection molding machine in Pursat. The original purpose was to enable access to PPE and now there’s an opportunity to use the device to create items that will empower people with disabilities living in rural communities in the local area. The purpose of this research project is to investigate potential applications of the machine and develop designs that can be constructed using the machine. |
Assistive Technology |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I19
|
✔ |
Design of a low-cost motor attachment for a water pump cart.
(more)
The EWB team in Cambodia have developed a manually operated water pump cart which assists people living with disabilities undertaking agricultural work to transport water. The aim of this project is to investigate ways in which a motorised element could be added to the water pump cart to make the water pump cart accessible to a broader range of people with disabilities while keeping it affordable. |
Assistive Technology;Agriculture |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I20
|
✔ |
Design of an affordable solar component for an injection-moulded hand pump.
(more)
An injection-moulded hand-pump design which utilises recycled plastic to provide access to clean water has been developed by a team of students . The aim of this project is to review and design a solar element which could be used in conjunction with the hand-pump to reduce the manual labour involved to make the design more accessible while keeping the pumps affordable. |
Energy;Water, Sanitation and Hygiene |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I22
|
✔ |
Technologies to support decentralised solid waste management in remote and rural areas.
(more)
Waste management in Cambodia is increasingly becoming a focus across the country, however it is particularly challenging in remote and rural areas. The aim of this project is to review and identify appropriate strategies and technologies to support solid waste management in remote and rural areas, reviewing approaches in other contexts to recommend approaches that may be suitable for the rural Cambodia context. |
Business Development |
Cambodia |
EWB Australia in Cambodia |
I24
|
✔ |
Exploring opportunities and barriers to engineers supporting a “world where technology that benefits all”.
(more)
|
Professional Practice |
Australia |
EWB |
I25
|
✔ |
Modular construction design for community hub using on Country materials.
(more)
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation has done much to create opportunities for younger people in the community as well as opportunities to connect with Country and culture. The programs have expanded rapidly in the last year and there’s a desire to see all the programs housed under one roof to facilitate connection. As such the aim is to have a hub with storage for the ranger and crocodile management teams, a keeping place and spaces for coming together and yarning while still feeling connected to Country. There are also ambitions to have facilities for research at such a hub with view to building it up over time. The focus of this project is to review modular construction approaches that could support this incremental growth of a hub on Country through review of approaches other people have take and modular construction methodology. The recommended approach should be flexible yet culturally appropriate, making best use of resources already on-Country to minimise impact. |
Shelter |
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I26
|
✔ |
Low-cost electric outboard motor for river and creek access.
(more)
The Crocodile Management Team use a range of boats to conduct crocodile monitoring and capture activities where there may be a danger to the public. Generally these use petrol outboard motors. However recently the crocodiles have adapted and now hide at the sound of an outboard. The team do have a small electric outboard motor on one boat but this often can’t be used as its not powerful enough to against the current of the rivers and creeks the boats have to navigate. The aim of this project is develop an electric outboard motor that can operate in these conditions while producing minimal sounds and reducing environmental impact. |
Energy |
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I27
|
✔ |
Off-grid low-energy coral biobank.
(more)
Yirrganydji sea Country is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the rangers work with a number of different stakeholders on the reef to monitor biodiversity and heal the coral. There are concerns that many species of coral may die out altogether in the years to come. One partner Dawul Wuru work with is Reef legacy who are aiming to pull together a biobank storing all of the hundreds of species on the reef, with a view to repopulating he reef in the future when conditions are more favourable. Reef Legacy is keen to work with different peoples along the Great Barrier Reef to establish regional biobanks in addition to the central one. These would empower Traditional Custodians to ensure that coral stays alive on Country even if they are adversely affected on the reef itself, and empower them to heal the reef in the future while enabling cultural connection and engagement with traditional knowledge about the coral. This project will focus on how to establish a low-energy regional biobank that could form part of the broader community hub. |
Energy |
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I28
|
✖ |
Solar-powered coral terrarium design.
(more)
The aim of this project is create a small version of the biobank concepts that can be used to sustainable store an maintain coral at the household level (see I27). The unit would need to be self-sufficient and portable while keeping the coral alive. The project was inspired by terrarium and is intended to engage the broader community on coral preservation with coral that be kept alive in the household in addition to the biobank. It would also enable education programs the rangers run with schools in the region. |
Business Development |
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I29
|
✔ |
Designs to enable effective mangrove restoration for erosion control.
(more)
Mangroves are an important feature for Yirrganydji serving a range of cultural purposes. In addition, more and more is being understood about the important ecosystem services that mangroves provide in terms of carbon storage and erosion control as well as flood resilience. As such the ranger are often involved in activities such as mangrove restoration. However when the purpose of the restoration relates to erosion control this has been historically challenging as it’s proven difficult to protect the planted mangroves long enough to establish and resist the rapid currents that build up after heavy rainfall. The aim of this project is to establish method to ensure the mangroves are protected long enough to become established and able to resist rapid currents. |
|
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I30
|
✔ |
Literature review to help optimise blue carbon initiatives.
(more)
Dawul Wuru are currently collaborating on research to understand the “blue carbon” potential of mangroves in tropical regions. Mangroves have proven to be very effective for storing carbon, effectively acting as pumps to store carbon dioxide in the mud where they are rooted. There are now schemes whereby you can receive carbon credits which can be sold on carbon markets for protecting and restoring mangroves, a “blue carbon” scheme. Dawul Wuru are interested in establishing such a scheme on Country. The aim of this research is to review the literature on Blue Carbon to make recommendations and design a method to optimise the value such a scheme would provide. |
|
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I31
|
✔ |
Design of facilities for rehabilitating injured dugong.
(more)
Dugong ae important culturally to the Yirrganydji People and paly an important role in the conservation of sea Country. Unfortunately dugong often become injured and there are currently no facilities on Country to collect, treat and return them to ensure the population is sustainable. The aim of this project is to design a system which can transport and then help Dugong on Country while they are treated for any injuries. The design should operate off-grid while maintaining the water quality needed to sustain the dugong. |
|
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |
I32
|
✖ |
Traditional fishtrap inspired aquaculture design.
(more)
Aquaculture is seen as one potential source of employment for Yirrganydji youth and Dawul Wuru are considering options to build up an industry in this area. On Country there are still a number of traditional fish traps, constructed using rocks on the shoreline, designed to support more effective fishing practice. The aim of this project is to design an aquaculture approach that build on this traditional approaches and other inspiration to develop and effective and culturally appropriate approach to aquaculture on Country |
Business Development |
Australia |
Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation |