the Program Booklet - IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology ...

Tuesday, October 23, 2012
10:30am – 12:30pm
East Room, 3 rd Floor
Panel:
Designing for Sustainability
Abstract:
Too often development projects fail. An estimated 30% of water projects in sub-
Saharan Africa have failed prematurely in the last 20 years, and a mere 10% of
cooking stove programs started in the 1980s were operational two years after
startup. With similar anecdotal evidence suggesting a mixed record of success
for energy, infrastructure, health, and sanitation projects, the question we must
ask ourselves is “How can we make development projects more sustainable?” In
considering this question we often limit the available answers by framing the
problem in terms of environmental impact or technical issues associated to
durability and maintenance. And while these are vital considerations, the
product-centric viewpoint often blinds us to other pertinent long-term questions
that deal with financing, cultural preferences and societal change, management,
and logistics for delivering replacement parts. The complex interactions between
these facets of sustainability must be considered when designing products and
services for long-term viability. Evidence will show that a durable product can
fail prematurely due to lack of tools to conduct regular maintenance, a rural
health program can stagnate from logistical barriers, unexpected uses of product
waste can cause disease or environmental degradation, and projects that ease
daily hardships can be forcibly destroyed or removed if they conflict with
cultural preferences. This panel brings together a variety of viewpoints and
experiences to discuss the complex interrelationships between several facets of
sustainability, including technical, environmental, economic, social and cultural,
managerial, and supply chain and channel considerations. Examples and lessons
learned will be given along with recommendations to improve the sustainability
of the products and services we design for humanity.
Moderator:
Nathan Johnson, Postdoctoral Fellow, Homer Energy
Dr. Nathan Johnson’s expertise lies in integrated energy
systems analysis. Through his work, Johnson describes
energy flow in society and how it is influenced by dynamic
human, natural, and technical systems. His work combines
field research, laboratory research, and computational
modeling to develop decision-making tools that support the
design of sustainable products and services around the
world. These tools are primarily applied in the assessment and design of microgrid
power systems and heat systems. Linking concept to construction,
Johnson’s work provides new depth to understanding complex energy systems
2012 GHTC Page 57