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WATER RESOURCES EVALUATION FOLLOWING NATURAL DISASTER IN HAITI

Abstract

This paper will present a case study of the impacts of a hurricane and the resultant flooding during June 2005 in Deschapelles, Haiti on spring box collection systems and gravity feed water systems which serve Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) and the surrounding Deschapelles community. The paper will explore long and short term options for replacement or rehabilitation of existing systems and discuss the field evaluation performed and recommendations made by the author in cooperation with the directors of the Grant Foundation. HAS is a private hospital which was founded in 1954 by Dr. Larimer and Mrs. Gwen Grant Mellon. Currently HAS is funded and administered through the Grant Foundation in Pittsburg and provides medical services, community development, and community health services to the Artibonite Valley in Haiti in service to well over 300,000 people. The paper presents the culmination of the project which has evolved over the past five years involving the professor project leader, two graduate students, and one senior level BSCE in developing field survey data, technical feasibility studies and preliminary cost estimates.

Introduction

What characteristics define educational pursuits that interest the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)? The Environmental Engineering Division of ASEE is interested in the application of service learning in developing communities especially in the topical areas of providing safe water and sanitation. Case studies presented regarding the experiences of members in developing countries that develop educational opportunities for members, students and indigenous populations should be of interest. Additionally, ASEE members need to realize that their technically specialized education and American experiences do not provide the context to guide them in developing countries. To actually be an effective leader/engineer for students and for the indigenous population in an international service learning situation, the professional engineer/educator needs to invest time in learning about and understanding how the specific culture, social and economic realities, and project environment will integrate to impact the proposed design. Not only must any proposed solution be cost effective, but also robust and simple to operate and maintain, and congruent with the indigenous population. The subject project has been used successfully to present specific examples of international environmental design topics and project management topics to junior and senior level undergraduates in Civil Engineering at both Ohio Northern University and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The paper is presented here as a case study of a specific project for the professional development of engineering faculty.

It is suggested that a definition of Liberation Engineering for the governance of international service work be considered in guiding the efforts of our society members in their international service pursuits: “Liberation Engineering is the study and implementation of practices and

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Berdanier, B. (2006, June), Water Resources Evaluation Following Natural Disaster In Haiti Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--1449