Educating Engineers for the Challenges of the Developing World through Service Learning in Ti Peligre, Haiti

Matthew Russell Capelli; Estela Patron Moen; William N. Collins

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Conference: 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Publication Date: June 10, 2012
Start Date: June 10, 2012
End Date: June 13, 2012
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Ethical Cases and Curricula
Tagged Division: Engineering Ethics
Page Count: 16
Page Numbers: 25.491.1 - 25.491.16
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--21249
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/21249
Download Count: 319

Paper Authors

biography

Matthew Russell Capelli Virginia Tech

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Matthew Capelli is a graduate student at Virginia Tech, currently pursuing an M.B.A. and a M.S. in applied economics. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.

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biography

Estela Patron Moen Virginia Tech

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Estela Moen is an instructor and Academic Advisor in the Charles E. Via, Jr., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. She received her bachelor’s degree in engineering from Duke University and her master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia. She worked as a P.E. (New York) specializing in urban hydrology, stream morphology, and bridge hydraulics before “retiring” from engineering practice and starting a career as a fundraising Program Manager for a non-profit health organization. She joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 2008, where she advises civil engineering students and teaches the course Professional & Legal Issues in Engineering.

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William N. Collins Virginia Tech

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William N. Collins is a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering.

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Abstract

Educating Engineers for the Challenges of the Developing World through Service Learning in Ti Peligre, HaitiFrom November 2009 to March 2011, engineering students from a Research I University, incooperation with an small international non-profit organization, designed and constructed a 210foot long suspended footbridge over the Thomonde River in the central plateau of Haiti. Theproject was based on the needs of the residents of the town of Ti Peligre who, for up to sixmonths per year, were isolated from gaining access to basic services such as markets, medicalcare, and educational facilities.The success of the project hinged on teamwork between the students and the Haitian community.University students were responsible for logistical planning, networking, material procurement,and design while the community of Ti Peligre provided labor, construction management, andaccommodations for traveling students. Over the span of several months, students traveled to TiPeligre to build community relationships with local leadership as well as determine projectfeasibility and assess local construction capacity. Working closely with Haitian leadership, thestudents developed design improvements that would adhere to indigenous constructiontechniques and account for the bridge site’s susceptibility to seismic and hurricane forces.In spring 2011, the bridge construction was completed under the on-site collaboration betweenuniversity students and Haitian leadership, including the expertise of a Haitian engineeringexchange student studying at the university. Students, tasked with translating their first worlddesign to a third world environment, were exposed to the reality of third world constructionpractices. While they spearheaded the design and construction, they found that it was the avidparticipation of the Haitian citizens that allowed the local community to take true long-termownership of the project.Inspired by the experience in Ti Peligre, the students extended their goals beyond the design ofone bridge and formed the first sustainable collegiate chapter of the non-profit organization inthe Spring of 2010. Creating a chapter of this organization has allowed students to broaden theircultural perspectives, gain hands on professional experience, and develop interdisciplinary skillswhile helping underserved communities. Working closely with business, architecture, geology,psychology, and communications majors, the engineering students learned to balance theirengineering design knowledge with leadership and organization skills. The chapter has beguntwo new projects and received a generous grant from an international service organization tocontinue building bridges.This paper discusses the benefits of educating engineers for the challenges of working inunderdeveloped areas. An evaluation of the sustainable project model, ethical implications ofprojects in developing countries, and an assessment of the motivations for engineering studentsto work in developing countries are also included.

Citation
Format

Capelli, M. R., & Moen, E. P., & Collins, W. N. (2012, June), Educating Engineers for the Challenges of the Developing World through Service Learning in Ti Peligre, Haiti Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21249

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -         Educating Engineers for the Challenges of the Developing World                 through Service Learning in Ti Peligre, HaitiFrom November 2009 to March 2011, engineering students from a Research I University, incooperation with an small international non-profit organization, designed and constructed a 210foot long suspended footbridge over the Thomonde River in the central plateau of Haiti. Theproject was based on the needs of the residents of the town of Ti Peligre who, for up to sixmonths per year, were isolated from gaining access to basic services such as markets, medicalcare, and educational facilities.The success of the project hinged on teamwork between the students and the Haitian community.University students were responsible for logistical planning, networking, material procurement,and design while the community of Ti Peligre provided labor, construction management, andaccommodations for traveling students. Over the span of several months, students traveled to TiPeligre to build community relationships with local leadership as well as determine projectfeasibility and assess local construction capacity. Working closely with Haitian leadership, thestudents developed design improvements that would adhere to indigenous constructiontechniques and account for the bridge site’s susceptibility to seismic and hurricane forces.In spring 2011, the bridge construction was completed under the on-site collaboration betweenuniversity students and Haitian leadership, including the expertise of a Haitian engineeringexchange student studying at the university. Students, tasked with translating their first worlddesign to a third world environment, were exposed to the reality of third world constructionpractices. While they spearheaded the design and construction, they found that it was the avidparticipation of the Haitian citizens that allowed the local community to take true long-termownership of the project.Inspired by the experience in Ti Peligre, the students extended their goals beyond the design ofone bridge and formed the first sustainable collegiate chapter of the non-profit organization inthe Spring of 2010. Creating a chapter of this organization has allowed students to broaden theircultural perspectives, gain hands on professional experience, and develop interdisciplinary skillswhile helping underserved communities. Working closely with business, architecture, geology,psychology, and communications majors, the engineering students learned to balance theirengineering design knowledge with leadership and organization skills. The chapter has beguntwo new projects and received a generous grant from an international service organization tocontinue building bridges.This paper discusses the benefits of educating engineers for the challenges of working inunderdeveloped areas. An evaluation of the sustainable project model, ethical implications ofprojects in developing countries, and an assessment of the motivations for engineering studentsto work in developing countries are also included.
AU  - Matthew Russell Capelli
AU  - Estela Patron Moen
AU  - William  N. Collins
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2012/06/10
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Educating Engineers for the Challenges of the Developing World through Service Learning in Ti Peligre, Haiti
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/21249
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--21249
ER  -