Engineering 215, Introduction to Design, at Humboldt State University partners with World Shelters 501(c)3 to bring improvements to the shelters and work with the resources in Haiti.

1. World Shelters Project
Engineering 215
Spring 2010
for Humanitarian Needs

2. World Shelters Mission:
• World Shelters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that designs,
produces, and delivers temporary and permanent
structures for both emergency response and long-
term humanitarian needs.
• World Shelters’ low-cost, durable structures can be
easily assembled in a variety of configurations to
support the needs of afflicted communities and relief
organizations world-wide.
• World Shelters endeavors to integrate with local
communities and their economy.

3. Previous Projects:
• Indonesia
• Hurricane Katrina
• Jordan
• Uganda
• Sri Lanka
• El Salvador
• Kosovo
• Guam
• Mozambique

4. Haiti:

5. Trauma Center
•For staffing, equipment and supplies by medical agency
•3000 ft2 total enclosed space
•Separate rooms for surgical procedures
•Cots/”ward beds” for 30 patients
•Adequate lighting for different purposes
•High air-exchange ventilation
•Refrigerator and freezer
•Surgery prep sinks and sterilization
•PV panels, batteries and generator

6. Transhel
•One door
•Two opening windows with insect screens
•Six panel vents
•Solar 25w powered roof fan/vent, fully self-contained
•Panels made from non-corroding, flame-retardant, UV
resistant materials

7. U-Dome
•Simple assembly
•Low cost
•Withstand wind, rain & snow
•Hard walls for durability
•Lightweight shipping
•Flame retardant
•UV resistant
•Weather tight
•Shingled construction

8. Just Add Sticks (JAS) System
•Very low price point
•Cost includes capital spent in the afflicted region
•Standard kit provides 18 m2 of shelter for family of five
•Connector kits are universal, for use with any “sticks”,
•plus roofing and wall membranes

9. Just Add Sticks (JAS) System
•Incorporate locally available “sticks”: bamboo, wood, etc.
•For Haiti, use bamboo from Caribbean.
•Simple assembly of familiar “3-4-5” truss-roof frame;
modular design allows multiple sizes.
•Withstand wind, rain; support CGI roofing.

10. Engineering 215 Project 1
2 Teams
•Existing JAS Shelter uses multiple connecting pieces
•Made from corrugated PolyPropylene
•Reduce connecting pieces to single unit
•Use single unit connector for every joint
•Simplifying on site construction

11. Engineering 215 Project 2
•Increase hurricane resistance of JAS Shelter
•Withstand Category I Hurricane(90mph with safety factor)
•Anchoring and internal strapping
•Local materials

12. Engineering 215 Project 3
•Develop a rigid wall system for the JAS shelter
•Lightweight, cheap and thin
•Transitional toward permanent housing
•Local materials and labor, minimize outside materials
•3-5 year lifespan minimum for 200,000 shelters

13. Engineering 215 Project 4
•Rubble to Resource
•Rubble is an insurmountable problem
•Building materials are and will be scarce
•Gabion baskets are labor intensive
•Require minimal outside materials
•Eventual manufacture of baskets in Haiti

14. Engineering 215 Project 5
•Dirt as a Resource
•Rammed earth, adobe blocks, earthbags
•Dirt will be the most important rebuilding resource
•Clay will be quarried elsewhere and transported to site
•No additional reinforcing materials will be available

15. Engineering 215 Project 6
•Increase lifespan of PolyPropylene structures
•Unprotected PolyPropylene will last 3-5 years in sunlight
•Additional UV protection will extend the lifespan
•Application of painted or applied UV barrier
•Reflective laminate to lower emissivity

16. Engineering 215 Project 7
•Provide shower systems for unsheltered in California
•Greywater management for shelters
•Integrated shower system
•Off-grid design approaches
•Engineered for both people and the water cycle

17. Thank You!
World Shelters
550 South G Street, Suite 3
Arcata, CA 95521 USA
www.worldshelters.org
Kurt
passivegreendesign
@yahoo.com
Armand
armand@worldshelters.org