2008 Projects:

Bolivia

2008 Slide Shows

May 2008:

• Cinco Cero Engineering
  
• Colegio Luis Espinal
  
• Methodist Convention Center
  
• Onsite Wastewater and Drainage Systems for Ponderosa School
  

July 2008:

• Biomedical Team
• Canal Magisterio

August 2008:

• Radial 16 Road and Canal
• Policia National Wastewater System
• Plan 4000 Canal

Slide Show 1 May 2008

Slide Show 2 May 2008

Slide Show 3 July 2008

ISD 2008 Summary
In 2008 three classes (31 students and 8 mentors) traveled to Santa Cruz, Bolivia for International Senior Design.  As in past years, construction on the Walter Henry School continued with two ground level classroom being completed by the end of August.  Students poured foundations, laid brick and placed concrete beams for the ceiling/floor.  Work on the school was always interesting and while learning the techniques to accomplish this from the Bolivian workers was often challenging, it was always rewarding.  From this experience everyone spoke a little bit of Spanish when they returned home.

Design Projects included storm canal and road designs, wastewater systems for government schools, a biomedical project designing a brace for polio victims, a Master’s student teaching about water quality in Bolivian schools, business feasibility studies, and communication studies.  This was the first group of classes to bring a biomedical team along, showing how ISD continues to evolve at Michigan Tech. 

With the participants majoring in Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Scientific and Technical Communication, Business, and Applied Science Education there were many opportunities to learn from one another and grow as a class.

2007 Projects:

Bolivia

2007 Slide Shows

August 2007:

• Barrio Telchi and 7th Ring Storm Water Design
  
• Flamingo Road and Storm Water Design
  
• Los Bosques Storm Water Design
  
• Moscú Avenue Storm Water Design
  
• Vallegrande Road and Storm Water Design

July 2007
Slide Show 1
Slide Show 2

August 2007
Slide Show 1
Slide Show 2

ISD 2007 Summary

ISD Group
This year eighteen students (1 Mechanical, 1 Scientific and Technical Communication, 10 Civil Engineering, 4 Environmental Engineering and two MS students) and eight mentors participated in ISD.  Giancarlo, a civil engineering student from Cochabamba, became the first Bolivian student in the class (He is now studying at MTU!).  The students worked on the Walter Henry School construction site, gathered project design data, and endured writing lessons.

Walter Henry School
Two classrooms were almost completed.  After students constructed the masonry walls, they installed ceilings by nailing chicken wire on wooden framing then placed a straw and concrete mixture over the chicken wire.  Walls were chipped in preparation for stucco and window frames were set.  At every available moment the school children showed their appreciation for the school. 

ISD Projects
This year there were two ISD classes, one traveled in July and the other in August.  Each of the five design teams were assigned a different storm drainage project aimed at alleviating rainy season flooding.  Teams met with the subalcaldesa (submayor), city engineers, barrio presidents, and local community members to collect required data and conduct soils analysis and topographical surveys.

Mentors

Theresa Moore (2001), Amy Curtis (2004), Maureen Habarth, Mary Anderson, Heather Wright, Matt Van Slembrouck (2005), Amanda Kohler and Bailey Gamble (2006), served as class mentors, guiding students in data collection and project

August 2006:

• Watt's Canal Storm Drainage
• Santa Ana Drainage
• El Recreo Drainage
• Septic System for Tierras Nuevas

August 2006 Bolivia Slide Show Part 1

August 2006 Bolivia Slide Show Part 2

August 2006 Bolivia Slide Show Part 3

Construction continued at Walter Henry school this year as ISD poured two second-story classroom floors. Additional work included laying brick walkways and walls. The worksite processes allowed students to learn Bolivian, as well as offer their own, construction techniques. Learning opportunities arose especially while constructing the classroom floors, so the methods are important to note. First, the floor was formed by placing beams and analyzing their support capabilities, fitting plastiform, and cutting/tying rebar. The next step entailed mixing, transporting, and shoveling concrete. Finally, in order to pour the floor, workers passed buckets of concrete to the second story while standing on scaffolding.

Four design groups formed within the class to analyze problematic sites in Santa Cruz: one school septic system, and three storm drainage projects.

Two pairs of ISD alumni returned as mentors: Heidi Steudle and Susie Jarosch (2003); Matt Van Slembrouck and Corrie Craft (2005). Corrie conducted graduate research in sustainable concrete. Susie was sponsored by her employer, R.W. Beck.

Giancarlo, a civil engineering student from Cochabamba, “sacrificed” two weeks of his schooling to participate in the design and construction projects and to aid ISD’s translation.

July 2005:

• 7th ring Storm Drainage
• Septic System for Littoral
• Septic System & Master Plan for Oscar Romero
• Structural Analysis for Colegio Walter Henry

August 2005:

• Feasibility Study to Rehabilitate the Curichi
• 6th ring Drainage Canal Redesign
• Septic System for La Base
• Septic System & Master Plan for La Calama

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July 2005 Bolivia Slide Show

August 2005 Bolivia Slide Show

Resumens de los informes en Español (PDF)

Two Michigan Tech classes worked in Bolivia in July and August 2005. The walls keep rising….Last year the first floor bathrooms and a school room were constructed on the new Walter Henry School site. This year another room was added on ground floor as well as 3 rooms above. Next year the freshmen through juniors will occupy these new school rooms! Design projects this year ranged from analyzing the existing structural design including testing concrete strengths and performing soil borings.

Students designed septic systems for four government schools with malfunctioning bathrooms and septic systems. School master planning is also included in for schools with rapid student growth. They also conducted drinking water quality studies at the schools. Other class members designed storm drainage solutions for the 7th ring in District 10 and another team proposed redesign solutions to standing water problems in a paved drainage canal on the 6th ring.

The final team is conducting a feasibility study of the garbage dumping and pollution in the swamps formed by former brick factories in the area. These areas are breeding ground for disease as well as play areas for the children. The District 10 sub-mayor and Santa Cruz city offices’ were extremely helpful and supportive of the design projects. Three former International Design Students returned as mentors: Marc Plotkin (2001), Tim Elmore (2002), and Tim Martin (2003). MTU ChE Alum Nancy Bach also joined us.

Los Pinos Neighborhood Storm Drainage
School Sanitary Systems and Water Quality
Montero University Storm Drainage and Feasibility
Montero Guardaria (Daycare)

Michigan Tech students finally built the first masonry walls on the new school property. Michigan Tech CEE students began “working” on these walls in Linda’s “Professional Practice” class in1998. In addition, students designed septic systems for a new government school without bathrooms and tackled a system redesign for another government school with a malfunctioning and potentially dangerous septic field. They also conducted drinking water quality studies at the schools. Other class members revised last year’s project of a comprehensive storm drainage study of Los Pinos. Working with the mayor and sub-mayor, they were able to secure city equipment and culvert to begin construction of their design.

Another group studied storm drainage of a large school site in Montero and is developing feasibility site plans for a new university. The final group is developing site plans for a new campus for a guarderia (day care), church and guard living quarters. Septic system redesign is also required for their project. Mike Paddock and Max Schmiege (the Bolivian “Chuck Norris”), Michigan Tech alums and practicing CH2MHill engineers assisted the class.

Suspended Bridge
Los Cunocos Water Supply Team 1
Los Cunocos Water Supply Team 2

This class constructed the spring and pump boxes and installed the solar powered pump as designed by last year's class while the locals laid the pipe. Solar Panels were donated by the Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory at Arizona State University with the help of Michigan Tech alum, Howard Barikmo. Solar water pump and equipment were purchased from Oasis Montana, who helped with the overall solar pump design. Design projects this year are a suspended bridge crossing of a river and a water system design for the mountain village of Los Conucos. RPCV Matt Niskanen of Turner Construction and Michigan Tech Master's International student and PCV Lyle Stone assisted this class.

Bolivia

Church Feasability Study

School Drainage System

Septic System Design

Environmental Project

Michigan Tech students installed masonry second floor classroom walls on last year's floor. In addition, they designed and constructed the septic tank on the new school property and other class members finalized the site plan using fill generated by their comprehensive storm drainage study. Another student group investigated environmental conditions at a local orphanage. Mike Paddock, an Michigan Tech alum and practicing CH2MHill engineer assisted the class.

Michigan Tech students and villagers built a large masonry water storage tank designed by Michigan Tech alum and Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), Matthew Niskanen for the village of Rancho Viejo located in the mountains near the Haiti border. Students then designed the water distribution system for the village consisting of spring and pump boxes, solar powered pump and associated distribution piping. The project is supported by the Parroquia San Pedro Apostól in El Cercado and the Peace Corps.