Past Projects
CEE 492 - Engineers for a Sustainable World (formerly known as CEE 402 - Engineers without Frontiers through Spring 2004) has been offered through the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Cornell University since the spring term of 2003. Each semester several student teams work on engineering problems that face the local community, the nation, or the world. This page contains information about past class projects. Where available, background information, student proposals and presentations, and pictures are included for each project.
Fall 2007 Projects
Helping to Rebuild
New Orleans
This new project
involves working with a community in the New Orleans 7th Ward to
design a community center which can house volunteers who help
with the rebuilding effort and also residents of the community
- Learn more about the 2007-2008 New Orleans project here
- Project Supervisors : Dr. Francis Vanek and Dr. Park Doing
- Partner Organizations : St.John's #5 Faith Church, New Orleans 7th Ward
Design and Testing
of Solar Ovens
This continuing
project is investigating the effects of varying several design
parameters to improve the performance of solar powered ovens for
cooking food. They are also working with a rural community in
Nicaragua to implement the ovens. For information about past
work on this project, see
Past projects.
- Learn more about the 2007-2008 Solar Oven project here
- Project supervisor: Mr. Tim Bond
- Partner Organizations: STEVEN Foundation, Grupo Fenix, Sabana Grande, Nicaragua, and Las Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa, Nicaragua
Cleaning Cayuga Lake
This continuing project will examine recent spikes in bacteria levels in the
Southern end of Cayuga Lake. The team will try to better
understand the magnitude and sources of the problem, and will
try to propose ways to mitigate it. For information about
related past work, see
Past projects.
- Learn more about the 2007-2008 Cayuga Lake project here
- Project Supervisor : Ms. Sharon Anderson and Prof. Ruth Richardson
- Partner Organization : Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Exploring
Biofuels for the Ithaca Region
This new
project is surveying technology for using local wood resources
for heat, hot water, and other applications, and also working
with the Cayuga Nature Center (located in Tompkins County) to
develop a pilot and demonstration project at the Center.
- Learn more about the 2007-2008 Biofuels project here
- Project Supervisor : Dr. Anthony Nekut
- Partner Organization : Cayuga Nature Center
Fall 2006 Projects
Cleaning Cayuga Lake
This continuing project will examine recent spikes in bacteria levels in the
Southern end of Cayuga Lake. The team will try to better
understand the magnitude and sources of the problem, and will
try to propose ways to mitigate it.
- Learn more about the 2006-2007 Cayuga Lake project here
- Project Supervisor : Ms. Sharon Anderson and Prof. Ruth Richardson
- Partner Organization : Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Design and Testing
of Solar Ovens
This continuing
project is investigating the effects of varying several design
parameters to improve the performance of solar powered ovens for
cooking food. They are also working with a rural community in
Nicaragua to implement the ovens.
- Learn more about the 2006-2007 Solar Oven project here
- Project supervisor: Mr. Tim Bond
- Partner Organizations: STEVEN Foundation, Grupo Fenix, Sabana Grande, Nicaragua, and Las Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa, Nicaragua
Treatment of Rural
Water Supplies in Honduras
This project
involves developing a system for the removal of turbidity from
spring and mountain stream water after rain storms so that the
water can be treated effectively for use by rural communities.
- Learn more about the 2006-2007 Water Supply project here
- Project Supervisor : Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk
- Partner Organizations : AHJASA and Agua Para El Pueblo
Feral Robotic Dogs:
Autonomous Toxin Information Agents
This
continuing project deals with redesigning off-the-shelf robotic
dogs so that they can detect environmental pollutants and so
that they can move around different terrain outdoors. Once
redesigned, they will be released at a known hazardous waste
site in the community as an awareness-raising event.
· Learn more about the 2006-2007 Feral Robotic Dogs project here
· Project Supervisor : Dr. Park Doing
· Partner Organization : Xdesign Group
Fall 2005 Projects
Design and Testing of Solar Ovens for use in Morocco and Ecuador
This continuing project is investigating the effects of varying several design parameters to improve the performance of solar powered ovens for cooking food. They are also working with a rural community in Morocco and a women's group in a small village in Ecuador to implement the ovens. For information about past work on this project, see Fall 2004 solar oven project.
- Learn more about the Solar Oven project here
- Project supervisor: Mr. Tim Bond
- Partner Organizations: STEVEN Foundation, Mohammed V University, and Intag, Ecuador Women's Group
Treatment of Rural Water Supplies in Honduras
Building on related, previous work with this partner organization, this project involves developing a system for the removal of turbidity from spring and mountain stream water after rain storms so that the water can be treated effectively for use by rural communities. For information about related past work, see Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 water supply project.
- Learn more about the 2005-2006 Water Supply project here
- Project Supervisor : Mr. Fred Stottlemyer and Dr. Monroe Weber-Shirk
- Partner Organizations : AHJASA and Agua Para El Pueblo
Cleaning Cayuga Lake
This exciting new project will examine recent spikes in bacteria levels in the Southern end of Cayuga Lake. The team will try to better understand the magnitude and sources of the problem, and will try to propose ways to mitigate it.
- Learn more about the Cayuga Lake project here
- Project Supervisor : Mr. Cliff Callinan (DEC in Albany)
- Partner Organization : Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Facilitating use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for vehicles
Now in its fifth semester, the Liquid Solar project team is tackling challenges related to the use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for diesel powered vehicles. Fall 2004 liquid solar project for past work on this project.
- Learn more about the LiquidSolar project here
- Project Supervisor : Professor Norman Scott
- Partner Organization : Liquid Solar
Feral Robotic Dogs: Autonomous Toxin Information Agents
This continuing project deals with redesigning off-the-shelf robotic dogs so that they can detect environmental pollutants and so that they can move around different terrain outdoors. Once redesigned, they will be released at a known hazardous waste site in the community as an awareness-raising event.Visit the Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 Feral Robotic Dogs websites!
- Learn more about the Feral Robotic Dogs project here
- Project Supervisor : Dr. Park Doing
- Partner Organization : Xdesign Group
Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 Projects
Design and Testing of Solar Ovens for use in Ecuador and Morocco
This continuing project is investigating the effects of varying several design parameters to improve the performance of solar powered ovens for cooking food, and is working with Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco as well as the Moroccan ministry of energy in order to implement the ovens. Additionally, a women's group in a small village in Ecuador may use a modified version of the ovens for heating textile dyes used in their small cooperative. For information about past work on this project, see Spring 2004 solar oven project.
Project Supervisor: Mr. Tim Bond Partner Organizations: STEVEN Foundation, Mohammed V University, Moroccan Ministry of Energy, and Intag, Ecuador Women's Group
Treatment of Rural Water Supplies in Honduras
Building on related, previous work with this partner organization, this project involvesddeveloping a system for the removal of turbidity from spring and mountain stream water after rain storms so that the water can be treated effectively for use by rural communities. For information about related past work, see Spring 2004 water supply project.
Project Supervisor: Mr. Fred Stottlemyer Partner Organization: Agua Para El Pueblo
Facilitating use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for vehicles
Now in its third semester, the Liquid Solar project team is tackling challenges related to the use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for diesel powered vehicles.
Project Supervisor: Professor Norman Scott Partner Organization: Liquid Solar
Feral Robotic Dogs: Autonomous Toxin Information Agents
This exciting new project deals with redesigning off-the-shelf robotic dogs for use as toxin sensors. Once redesigned, they can be released as a pack to identify toxins in a community in a compelling way.
Project Supervisor: Dr. Park Doing Partner Organization: Xdesign Group
Spring 2004 Projects
This new project, in conjunction with the STEVEN Foundation, is investigating the effects of varying several design parameters to improve the performance of solar powered ovens for cooking food.
Project Supervisor: Tim Bond Partner Organization: STEVEN Foundation
Now in it's second semester, the Liquid Solar project team is tackling challenges to the use of vegetable oil as an alternative fuel for diesel powered vehicles.
Project Supervisor: Norm Scott Partner Organization: Liquid Solar
A continuation of the work done in the Spring and Fall of 2003, this project is developing a software tool for the design and construction of water supply systems in rural Honduras.
Project Supervisor: Monroe Weber-Shirk Partner Organization: Agua Para El Pueblo
This exciting new project, a partnership with the Cooperative Extension of the University of the Virgin Islands, deals with identifying a low cost and effective means of reducing stormwater runoff from individual homesites on the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Project Supervisor: Ruth Richardson Partner Organization: UVI Cooperative Extension
Fall 2003 Course Projects
Liquid Solar Project - In the first semester project, students designed an automatic switching system to change between diesel and vegetable oil and researched an appropriate way to collect and distribute waste vegetable oil in the Ithaca area for use as an alternative fuel for diesel vehicles.
Project Supervisor: Norm Scott Partner Organization: Liquid Solar
A continuation of the work done in the Spring and Fall of 2003, this project is developing a software tool for the design and construction of water supply systems in rural Honduras.
Project Supervisor: Monroe Weber-Shirk Partner Organization: Agua Para El Pueblo
This project countinued work from Spring 2003 and repaired a footbridge that had been undercut by erosion, making the bridge hazardous and a potential liability.
Project Supervisor: Tim Bond Partner Organization: Finger Lakes Land Trust
This projects objective is to improve earthquake risk education curriculum so that there is less confusion, primarily with the large amount of structural concepts.
Project Supervisor: Rebekah Green Partner Organization: Afete Hazrik Eitim Projesi
Spring 2003 Course Projects
Assistive Technologies Project - A partnership to improve the accessibility to indispensable resources for people with low vision and to increase awareness of available assistive technologies and public library services in the community at large. Project Supervisor: Jim Ferwerda Partner Organization: Finger Lakes Independence Center
Water Supply Project - The students working on this project set out to learn about water supply and development issues, to become familiar with resources that currently exist, and to develop a design tool that would improve upon current resources.
Project Supervisor: Monroe Weber-Shirk Partner Organization: Agua Para El Pueblo
Etna Bridge Project
This project sought to repair or replace a footbridge that has been undercut by erosion, making the bridge hazardous and a potential liability.
Project Supervisor: Tim Bond Partner Organization: Finger Lakes Land Trust
Spring 2003 Class