Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248
Anna Jiang, A. Bilton
Efficient irrigation water usage is vital for low-income countries to keep up with projected population and income growth. Current weather- and soil-moisture-based smart irrigation controllers are not easily transferable to the economic and technological context of low-income countries and small remote farms. This paper presents the design of a passive automated irrigation controller that uses standard PVC fittings locally available to our community partner in Nicaragua. The actuation of the valve in the controller is driven by the soil water tension (SWT) from unsaturated soil. The key components of the controller are a ceramic tip connected to a tube of water, a rubber membrane, and a piston that acts like a stopper for the irrigation. The piston length is designed with an initial deflection in the membrane, causing it to push back against the inlet to shut off irrigation. A model of the system composed of the Green-Ampt equation for soil-water dynamics, empirical data for the relationship between soil moisture and controller pressure, and finite element model of the membrane is used to design a controller. The initial system consists of a 2″ diameter rubber membrane and a 1″ diameter piston. The initial deflection is 1.6cm to create enough force to stop the irrigation until the SWT reaches −35kPa. The controller costs approximately $CDN130 with PVC parts purchased in Canada with retail prices. The cost is expected to drop when discounts from retail prices are actualized. The design has the potential to greatly reduce water usage in drip irrigation systems.
{"title":"Design of a passive irrigation controller for efficient water use in low-income countries","authors":"Anna Jiang, A. Bilton","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248","url":null,"abstract":"Efficient irrigation water usage is vital for low-income countries to keep up with projected population and income growth. Current weather- and soil-moisture-based smart irrigation controllers are not easily transferable to the economic and technological context of low-income countries and small remote farms. This paper presents the design of a passive automated irrigation controller that uses standard PVC fittings locally available to our community partner in Nicaragua. The actuation of the valve in the controller is driven by the soil water tension (SWT) from unsaturated soil. The key components of the controller are a ceramic tip connected to a tube of water, a rubber membrane, and a piston that acts like a stopper for the irrigation. The piston length is designed with an initial deflection in the membrane, causing it to push back against the inlet to shut off irrigation. A model of the system composed of the Green-Ampt equation for soil-water dynamics, empirical data for the relationship between soil moisture and controller pressure, and finite element model of the membrane is used to design a controller. The initial system consists of a 2″ diameter rubber membrane and a 1″ diameter piston. The initial deflection is 1.6cm to create enough force to stop the irrigation until the SWT reaches −35kPa. The controller costs approximately $CDN130 with PVC parts purchased in Canada with retail prices. The cost is expected to drop when discounts from retail prices are actualized. The design has the potential to greatly reduce water usage in drip irrigation systems.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"80 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126263019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239303
D. Danley
Microgrids using renewable energy generators and energy storage are being suggested as a solution to rural electrification for many developing countries, even those with existing transmission / distribution networks. This is being driven by the rapidly falling costs of both solar and energy storage. However, the technology is changing rapidly in this area and existing technical standards often do not address major parts of microgrids. It is important that standards be established to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, affordable, and clean power in these remote communities. Another way to look at it is to treat microgrids as formal “utilities” rather than as a private remote power system with a few customers. This paper looks at existing IEC and IEEE Microgrid Standards, identifies gaps, and offers suggestions for additional technical standards in the following areas: project planning, solid-state inverters, energy storage, distribution system planning, meters, household wiring, system performance reporting, environmental, and decommissioning. This paper expands on work done with NRECA International and the International Finance Corporation for development of technical standards for ‘mini-grids’ in Tanzania. Formal results of the IFC study have been shared with stakeholders, but have not yet been formally published.
{"title":"Technical standards for PV/storage/generator microgrids","authors":"D. Danley","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239303","url":null,"abstract":"Microgrids using renewable energy generators and energy storage are being suggested as a solution to rural electrification for many developing countries, even those with existing transmission / distribution networks. This is being driven by the rapidly falling costs of both solar and energy storage. However, the technology is changing rapidly in this area and existing technical standards often do not address major parts of microgrids. It is important that standards be established to ensure the delivery of safe, reliable, affordable, and clean power in these remote communities. Another way to look at it is to treat microgrids as formal “utilities” rather than as a private remote power system with a few customers. This paper looks at existing IEC and IEEE Microgrid Standards, identifies gaps, and offers suggestions for additional technical standards in the following areas: project planning, solid-state inverters, energy storage, distribution system planning, meters, household wiring, system performance reporting, environmental, and decommissioning. This paper expands on work done with NRECA International and the International Finance Corporation for development of technical standards for ‘mini-grids’ in Tanzania. Formal results of the IFC study have been shared with stakeholders, but have not yet been formally published.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"108 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124858159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239322
M. Sterling
Big Data and Big Data Analytics are a set of emerging technologies that allow researchers, organizations, and businesses to draw actionable insights from large data sets. A primary source of such large data sets are those created in a healthcare or medical context. This can include data from, but not limited to, electronic health records, mobile applications (mHealth), diagnostic equipment, genomics, and social media. Consequently, Big Data technologies promise to have a transformative impact in healthcare, public health, and medical research, among other application areas. For example, researchers are already developing new standards, protocols, and study designs that are more suited mHealth interventions as opposed to the traditional randomized clinical trial. Also, the easy availability of data now allows population level studies at scales that were previously unimaginable. Although Big Data and Analytics have the potential to deliver significant benefits in healthcare applications, the full consequences of this technological shift are, as yet, unknown. The application of Big Data in healthcare is often viewed as an inevitability or technological imperative. This perspective discounts the role of human agency in a dangerous way. As a theoretical foundation, we review relevant ideas from the organizational communications literature and discuss theories of technology acquisition such as adaptive structuration. The notion of situatedness is explored with examples drawn from visualization, augmented reality, and cultural heritage. Due to significant interest, systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses on the topic of Big Data in healthcare are already available. These reviews help to delineate both the potential benefits and challenges in this area. In particular, we emphasize challenges with high human costs such as the privacy of patient data and the thoughtful design of technological interventions for at-risk populations. Lastly, we show how a situated perspective is a necessary tool in building next generation healthcare information systems.
{"title":"Situated big data and big data analytics for healthcare","authors":"M. Sterling","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239322","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239322","url":null,"abstract":"Big Data and Big Data Analytics are a set of emerging technologies that allow researchers, organizations, and businesses to draw actionable insights from large data sets. A primary source of such large data sets are those created in a healthcare or medical context. This can include data from, but not limited to, electronic health records, mobile applications (mHealth), diagnostic equipment, genomics, and social media. Consequently, Big Data technologies promise to have a transformative impact in healthcare, public health, and medical research, among other application areas. For example, researchers are already developing new standards, protocols, and study designs that are more suited mHealth interventions as opposed to the traditional randomized clinical trial. Also, the easy availability of data now allows population level studies at scales that were previously unimaginable. Although Big Data and Analytics have the potential to deliver significant benefits in healthcare applications, the full consequences of this technological shift are, as yet, unknown. The application of Big Data in healthcare is often viewed as an inevitability or technological imperative. This perspective discounts the role of human agency in a dangerous way. As a theoretical foundation, we review relevant ideas from the organizational communications literature and discuss theories of technology acquisition such as adaptive structuration. The notion of situatedness is explored with examples drawn from visualization, augmented reality, and cultural heritage. Due to significant interest, systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses on the topic of Big Data in healthcare are already available. These reviews help to delineate both the potential benefits and challenges in this area. In particular, we emphasize challenges with high human costs such as the privacy of patient data and the thoughtful design of technological interventions for at-risk populations. Lastly, we show how a situated perspective is a necessary tool in building next generation healthcare information systems.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"101 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130881237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239300
Malini L. M. Frey, Manoj Pokkiyarath, R. Mohan, N. Shibu, Vidal Conejo Gracia, V. Mohan, Siddhan
Augmenting educational opportunities for rural village girls in India has been highlighted as a significant Millennium Development Goal (MDG) necessary to help eradicate poverty in developing countries. The role of proper electrification in rural villages, another MDG, plays a significant role in providing necessary energy for educational needs. In a small village in the state of Jharkhand, India there are serious problems with current limited educational opportunities, particularly for girls, as well as electrification problems. These obstacles were assessed, and it was determined that with a proper and reliable electrification system in place, a Distance Learning (DL) educational program to support village education could support continued and constant education for girls through primary and secondary school. Interviews with villagers resulted in very positive support for such a system within the village. In this paper we address the current obstacles to education in the village. Also presented are the practical challenges in attaining the technical framework for the proposed DL innovation including software, suitable learning facilities, network connectivity, personnel support, and so on, all dependent upon a larger framework of reliable sustainable power system. In terms of electric availability, it is widely assumed that Indian villages now have electricity through efforts of government initiatives. However, the reality is that in many villages the actual electrical access has not been adequate to meet even simple village needs. A sustainable electrification model to support current grid is also currently underway for the village. The overall goal of the program is to enhance academic educational achievements of village girls, adolescents, and adults, thus helping to uplift the standard of living in the village, and diminishing current problems related to current low educational status of most there.
{"title":"Elevating education of India's rural village girls through distance learning technology supported by sustainable electricity","authors":"Malini L. M. Frey, Manoj Pokkiyarath, R. Mohan, N. Shibu, Vidal Conejo Gracia, V. Mohan, Siddhan","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239300","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239300","url":null,"abstract":"Augmenting educational opportunities for rural village girls in India has been highlighted as a significant Millennium Development Goal (MDG) necessary to help eradicate poverty in developing countries. The role of proper electrification in rural villages, another MDG, plays a significant role in providing necessary energy for educational needs. In a small village in the state of Jharkhand, India there are serious problems with current limited educational opportunities, particularly for girls, as well as electrification problems. These obstacles were assessed, and it was determined that with a proper and reliable electrification system in place, a Distance Learning (DL) educational program to support village education could support continued and constant education for girls through primary and secondary school. Interviews with villagers resulted in very positive support for such a system within the village. In this paper we address the current obstacles to education in the village. Also presented are the practical challenges in attaining the technical framework for the proposed DL innovation including software, suitable learning facilities, network connectivity, personnel support, and so on, all dependent upon a larger framework of reliable sustainable power system. In terms of electric availability, it is widely assumed that Indian villages now have electricity through efforts of government initiatives. However, the reality is that in many villages the actual electrical access has not been adequate to meet even simple village needs. A sustainable electrification model to support current grid is also currently underway for the village. The overall goal of the program is to enhance academic educational achievements of village girls, adolescents, and adults, thus helping to uplift the standard of living in the village, and diminishing current problems related to current low educational status of most there.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"65 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130967212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260
Khalil Ahmed, Sarang Shaikh, A. Shah
Pakistan recently released its first multi-dimensional poverty report in 2016, which underlined the fact that a country with almost 200 million in total population has a 39% rate for poverty, precisely estimating it to detail that around 78 million people are still living below the national poverty line. The poverty has distressed around 55% of the population residing in rural parts of the country. However, it is the rural part that has been contributing a lot in agriculture and possess a high potential for future to help Pakistan, not only to gain a competitive edge in developing a sustainable agriculture, but also alleviating poverty by employing much population of its rural parts and by also providing them with worthful opportunities for their production. Indeed, Pakistan is an Agriculture based economy, and around 44% of the population is directly employed in Agriculture contributing 24% in making up total GDP of Pakistan. District Khairpur in rural Sindh province of Pakistan, has a 27% population living under poverty line but the district also is home to a huge date palm industry. Pakistan the 5th largest producer of Date Palm with above 650 metric tonnes of annual production output and making up to an estimated 9.6% of total date palm production globally. However, the purchasing rates are 565 US Dollars/Tonne, discounting as low as approximately 4.5 times lesser than the highest in the global market. The reasons are manifold, ranging from unawareness on increasing yield output of date palms, in-appropriate post-harvest management, lack of food quality, safety measures and underestimating the probable worth of production by date palm producers. Surely, technologies can help reconciles the necessity for sustainable and profitable food production. Moreover, employing Post-harvest technologies can play the vital role in boosting date palm productivity, therefore, reducing the post-harvest loss augmenting to contribute a sustainable agriculture. It can be done in ways that are social, economically and environmentally sustainable. This paper proposes a study on post-harvesting technology, i.e. Solar-Cum-Gas fired date dehydrators deployed as a testbed project in district Khairpur, Sindh of Pakistan. A comparative analysis of traditional methods and new innovative post-harvesting approach are discussed to conclude social implications of date palm producing farmers and significance of attaining a competitive edge by increasing exports in international markets. Additionally, this paper also proposes recommendations on the need for greater follow-up in tracking the adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems, poverty reduction through the introduction of sustainable post-harvest technologies and value addition methods to obtain its real perspective worth from produced date palm outputs. Possible opportunities and potential advancements are suggested as a future work to be progressed.
{"title":"Contributions of post-harvesting technologies in alleviating poverty: A case study of date palm cluster in Khairpur district, Sindh, Pakistan","authors":"Khalil Ahmed, Sarang Shaikh, A. Shah","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260","url":null,"abstract":"Pakistan recently released its first multi-dimensional poverty report in 2016, which underlined the fact that a country with almost 200 million in total population has a 39% rate for poverty, precisely estimating it to detail that around 78 million people are still living below the national poverty line. The poverty has distressed around 55% of the population residing in rural parts of the country. However, it is the rural part that has been contributing a lot in agriculture and possess a high potential for future to help Pakistan, not only to gain a competitive edge in developing a sustainable agriculture, but also alleviating poverty by employing much population of its rural parts and by also providing them with worthful opportunities for their production. Indeed, Pakistan is an Agriculture based economy, and around 44% of the population is directly employed in Agriculture contributing 24% in making up total GDP of Pakistan. District Khairpur in rural Sindh province of Pakistan, has a 27% population living under poverty line but the district also is home to a huge date palm industry. Pakistan the 5th largest producer of Date Palm with above 650 metric tonnes of annual production output and making up to an estimated 9.6% of total date palm production globally. However, the purchasing rates are 565 US Dollars/Tonne, discounting as low as approximately 4.5 times lesser than the highest in the global market. The reasons are manifold, ranging from unawareness on increasing yield output of date palms, in-appropriate post-harvest management, lack of food quality, safety measures and underestimating the probable worth of production by date palm producers. Surely, technologies can help reconciles the necessity for sustainable and profitable food production. Moreover, employing Post-harvest technologies can play the vital role in boosting date palm productivity, therefore, reducing the post-harvest loss augmenting to contribute a sustainable agriculture. It can be done in ways that are social, economically and environmentally sustainable. This paper proposes a study on post-harvesting technology, i.e. Solar-Cum-Gas fired date dehydrators deployed as a testbed project in district Khairpur, Sindh of Pakistan. A comparative analysis of traditional methods and new innovative post-harvesting approach are discussed to conclude social implications of date palm producing farmers and significance of attaining a competitive edge by increasing exports in international markets. Additionally, this paper also proposes recommendations on the need for greater follow-up in tracking the adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems, poverty reduction through the introduction of sustainable post-harvest technologies and value addition methods to obtain its real perspective worth from produced date palm outputs. Possible opportunities and potential advancements are suggested as a future work to be progressed.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132974859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239228
D. Myers, Steven P. Diesburg, P. Lennon, S. McCarney
Solar direct-drive (SDD) appliances including refrigerators and freezers are widely used for storing vaccines and other medical products in locations without reliable mains electricity. The capacity of the solar array powering an SDD appliance must be large enough to provide sufficient compressor runtime during periods of reduced solar irradiance. SDD appliance solar arrays therefore create useful quantities of excess electricity that are currently not utilized. An energy harvest control (EHC) that prioritizes the power requirements of the appliance and diverts excess electricity to other purposes has the potential to power a wide range of electrical devices, including health facility lights, appliance data loggers, medical devices, and mobile phone chargers. This paper discusses results of laboratory testing of two EHC prototypes employing different control logics using simulated and actual solar power, as well as results from field testing. In laboratory testing, the prototype EHCs demonstrated diversion of useful amounts of electricity to secondary loads without adversely affecting refrigerator performance in most cases. Some problematic interactions between the refrigerator compressor controller and EHCs were observed. Field tests of the EHC prototypes in Colombia demonstrated the usefulness and acceptance of EHCs in providing power to community- and district-level health facilities. Development of more low-powered medical devices that can take advantage of the limited power provided by EHCs would be of great benefit to health facilities in areas without reliable mains electricity. Prioritized control of loads on solar arrays may have applications beyond medical refrigeration appliances.
{"title":"Energy harvesting controls for solar direct-drive medical cold chain equipment","authors":"D. Myers, Steven P. Diesburg, P. Lennon, S. McCarney","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239228","url":null,"abstract":"Solar direct-drive (SDD) appliances including refrigerators and freezers are widely used for storing vaccines and other medical products in locations without reliable mains electricity. The capacity of the solar array powering an SDD appliance must be large enough to provide sufficient compressor runtime during periods of reduced solar irradiance. SDD appliance solar arrays therefore create useful quantities of excess electricity that are currently not utilized. An energy harvest control (EHC) that prioritizes the power requirements of the appliance and diverts excess electricity to other purposes has the potential to power a wide range of electrical devices, including health facility lights, appliance data loggers, medical devices, and mobile phone chargers. This paper discusses results of laboratory testing of two EHC prototypes employing different control logics using simulated and actual solar power, as well as results from field testing. In laboratory testing, the prototype EHCs demonstrated diversion of useful amounts of electricity to secondary loads without adversely affecting refrigerator performance in most cases. Some problematic interactions between the refrigerator compressor controller and EHCs were observed. Field tests of the EHC prototypes in Colombia demonstrated the usefulness and acceptance of EHCs in providing power to community- and district-level health facilities. Development of more low-powered medical devices that can take advantage of the limited power provided by EHCs would be of great benefit to health facilities in areas without reliable mains electricity. Prioritized control of loads on solar arrays may have applications beyond medical refrigeration appliances.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130224075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288
Kimberley Hawtin, P. Gardner-Stephen
Existing ad-hoc wireless communications systems are based around Wi-Fi communications, owing to the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi; no other open wireless communications channel offers the capabilities and benefits of mass-production consumer markets. However in some situations even long-range directional Wi-Fi links are not suitable. For example Pacific nations spread over island groups and archipelagos may have tens to hundreds of kilometers between population centers, coupled with a lack of areas of high elevation required to facilitate the longest range Wi-Fi links. In contrast, HF (High-Frequency) radios can facilitate communications over thousands of kilometers. We describe proof-of-concept integration of existing HF radio systems with the Serval Mesh, creating the opportunity to provide two-way secure text messaging and related communications services between communities separated by hundreds of kilometers, using heterogeneous radio links, without user configuration. Significantly, this proof-of-concept operates between Codan and Barrett HF radios, demonstrating that cross-vendor interoperability is possible, despite the incompatibilities that can arise between vendors in the HF space. The potential of this proof-of-concept was acknowledged by strong interest from the UN World Food Programme in seeing the integration of existing HF radio systems and the Serval Mesh to support humanitarian field operations.
{"title":"Self-configuring heterogeneous HF/UHF/Wi-Fi disaster communications networks","authors":"Kimberley Hawtin, P. Gardner-Stephen","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288","url":null,"abstract":"Existing ad-hoc wireless communications systems are based around Wi-Fi communications, owing to the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi; no other open wireless communications channel offers the capabilities and benefits of mass-production consumer markets. However in some situations even long-range directional Wi-Fi links are not suitable. For example Pacific nations spread over island groups and archipelagos may have tens to hundreds of kilometers between population centers, coupled with a lack of areas of high elevation required to facilitate the longest range Wi-Fi links. In contrast, HF (High-Frequency) radios can facilitate communications over thousands of kilometers. We describe proof-of-concept integration of existing HF radio systems with the Serval Mesh, creating the opportunity to provide two-way secure text messaging and related communications services between communities separated by hundreds of kilometers, using heterogeneous radio links, without user configuration. Significantly, this proof-of-concept operates between Codan and Barrett HF radios, demonstrating that cross-vendor interoperability is possible, despite the incompatibilities that can arise between vendors in the HF space. The potential of this proof-of-concept was acknowledged by strong interest from the UN World Food Programme in seeing the integration of existing HF radio systems and the Serval Mesh to support humanitarian field operations.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"105 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133876450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282
Zacakry Minshew, A. El-Shahat
The fundamental roots of micro-grids are different types of renewable energy sources. There are two broad and distinctive control set ups for power systems. They are centralized and decentralized (hierarchical) controls. In market models of micro-grids there are normally groups of electricity sources and loads that operate in synch with a centralized grid or macro-grid. This paper studies the functionality and ideas of micro-grids. Then implementing Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for the proposed micro-grid in very precise manner is established. It proposes general simulation modeling for micro-grid using MATLAB, Simulink and (ANN). Its goal is to connect between the most important parameters in DC-Microgrid and price. This modeling approach proposes general Modeling and simulation at more probable situations for variable values at each bus. The ANN model for the proposed range of Different parametric characteristics is presented for Extended Analysis on IEEE 14-Bus Test System. Finally, algebraic equations for the ANN model are deduced in order to optimize them in the future for optimal micro-grid's performance. The training, testing and validating data for this ANN model is extracted from a real micro-grid to connect between numbers of units at each DG source (Distributed Generation), Loads, Minimum/ Maximum Power, Marginal Loss Factor and Time (Hour) over 24 hours as inputs, with Cost ($), Saving ($), Revenue ($), Profit ($) as outputs. So, it helps the humanity to understand more about renewable energy sources and techniques. Moreover, it presents an excellent model to predict the price and saving with this trend in power systems especially from the side of humans or customers. The work is useful for creating sustainable business model for energy access to energy deprived population. The paper's presentation includes examples and comparisons for approach's validity. Now, there is a running real-time validation for the work via OPAL real-digital-simulator.
{"title":"DC micro — Grid pricing and market model","authors":"Zacakry Minshew, A. El-Shahat","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282","url":null,"abstract":"The fundamental roots of micro-grids are different types of renewable energy sources. There are two broad and distinctive control set ups for power systems. They are centralized and decentralized (hierarchical) controls. In market models of micro-grids there are normally groups of electricity sources and loads that operate in synch with a centralized grid or macro-grid. This paper studies the functionality and ideas of micro-grids. Then implementing Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for the proposed micro-grid in very precise manner is established. It proposes general simulation modeling for micro-grid using MATLAB, Simulink and (ANN). Its goal is to connect between the most important parameters in DC-Microgrid and price. This modeling approach proposes general Modeling and simulation at more probable situations for variable values at each bus. The ANN model for the proposed range of Different parametric characteristics is presented for Extended Analysis on IEEE 14-Bus Test System. Finally, algebraic equations for the ANN model are deduced in order to optimize them in the future for optimal micro-grid's performance. The training, testing and validating data for this ANN model is extracted from a real micro-grid to connect between numbers of units at each DG source (Distributed Generation), Loads, Minimum/ Maximum Power, Marginal Loss Factor and Time (Hour) over 24 hours as inputs, with Cost ($), Saving ($), Revenue ($), Profit ($) as outputs. So, it helps the humanity to understand more about renewable energy sources and techniques. Moreover, it presents an excellent model to predict the price and saving with this trend in power systems especially from the side of humans or customers. The work is useful for creating sustainable business model for energy access to energy deprived population. The paper's presentation includes examples and comparisons for approach's validity. Now, there is a running real-time validation for the work via OPAL real-digital-simulator.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134287775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239314
Connor Higgins, Hartini Margot, Sara Warnquist, Eric Obeysekare, Khanjan Mehta
Food and financial insecurity are becoming prominent issues facing much of the developing world. As population densities in these already resource constrained regions continue to increase, it is inherent that a source of sustainable income and a reliable food source be provided, especially to rural populations. Mushroom cultivation is an environmentally benign, sustainable source of nourishment that is rapidly growing to become a profitable sector of agriculture. In high-resource settings, technological advancements have enabled farmers to maximize mushroom yields and quality while minimizing cost and input resources. However, these same benefits have not yet been realized in low- and middle-income settings and challenges characteristic to those contexts have hindered the development of mushroom cultivation. In order to better understand current efforts and their challenges, this article reviews cultivation technologies in both high- and low-resource settings. The outcomes of this review are then synthesized into a comparison of different cultivation technologies on the basis of cost, required resources, and overall success. Challenges and opportunities associated with mushroom cultivation in the developing world are also identified. For example, two prominent challenges in the developing world are spore production and post-harvest transportation and storage. Future practitioners, researchers, and entrepreneurs will be able to use this comparison to identify innovative ways in which the technological advancements of mushroom cultivation in high-resource settings can be applied to resource constrained environments.
{"title":"Mushroom cultivation in the developing world: A comparison of cultivation technologies","authors":"Connor Higgins, Hartini Margot, Sara Warnquist, Eric Obeysekare, Khanjan Mehta","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239314","url":null,"abstract":"Food and financial insecurity are becoming prominent issues facing much of the developing world. As population densities in these already resource constrained regions continue to increase, it is inherent that a source of sustainable income and a reliable food source be provided, especially to rural populations. Mushroom cultivation is an environmentally benign, sustainable source of nourishment that is rapidly growing to become a profitable sector of agriculture. In high-resource settings, technological advancements have enabled farmers to maximize mushroom yields and quality while minimizing cost and input resources. However, these same benefits have not yet been realized in low- and middle-income settings and challenges characteristic to those contexts have hindered the development of mushroom cultivation. In order to better understand current efforts and their challenges, this article reviews cultivation technologies in both high- and low-resource settings. The outcomes of this review are then synthesized into a comparison of different cultivation technologies on the basis of cost, required resources, and overall success. Challenges and opportunities associated with mushroom cultivation in the developing world are also identified. For example, two prominent challenges in the developing world are spore production and post-harvest transportation and storage. Future practitioners, researchers, and entrepreneurs will be able to use this comparison to identify innovative ways in which the technological advancements of mushroom cultivation in high-resource settings can be applied to resource constrained environments.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130196957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259
Eric D. Rasmussen, Jeffrey F. Williams
The advent of old diseases in new places, of newly-emerging infectious diseases not seen before, and of highly resistant organisms, has complicated disaster response and the management of displaced populations. One method for addressing that developing risk is to attack pathogens before they become life-threatening infections using area and wound decontamination and disinfection techniques. Current methods for disinfection, however, can contribute to the development of resistance, prove toxic to tissues, and damage the environment. We review here an emerging technology based on hypochlorous acid (HOCl), with emphasis on a novel pure and stable form (Brio HOCL™), that inactivates viruses, bacteria, endospores, and fungi, is safe for human tissues (including eye, lung, and skin), is environmentally benign requiring no toxic waste disposal or hazardous material management, and yet is capable of degrading the infectivity of highly-resistant prions at a Log Reduction Value (LRV) of >5, equating to roughly a 99.999% elimination.
{"title":"Stabilized hypochlorous acid disinfection for highly vulnerable populations: Brio HOCL™ wound disinfection and area decontamination","authors":"Eric D. Rasmussen, Jeffrey F. Williams","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259","url":null,"abstract":"The advent of old diseases in new places, of newly-emerging infectious diseases not seen before, and of highly resistant organisms, has complicated disaster response and the management of displaced populations. One method for addressing that developing risk is to attack pathogens before they become life-threatening infections using area and wound decontamination and disinfection techniques. Current methods for disinfection, however, can contribute to the development of resistance, prove toxic to tissues, and damage the environment. We review here an emerging technology based on hypochlorous acid (HOCl), with emphasis on a novel pure and stable form (Brio HOCL™), that inactivates viruses, bacteria, endospores, and fungi, is safe for human tissues (including eye, lung, and skin), is environmentally benign requiring no toxic waste disposal or hazardous material management, and yet is capable of degrading the infectivity of highly-resistant prions at a Log Reduction Value (LRV) of >5, equating to roughly a 99.999% elimination.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"150 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134173421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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