Tag: ata2147

The RS-360 – Water Leak Detection

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1) Sustainability Problem – Water Management

2) Technology – the RS-360 is a wireless expandable system designed for localized leak detection for multi-floor facilities. In the event of a leak, it detects and shuts off the water supply, using dual sensors that detect leaks or temperature dips; an audible alarm is then sounded.

A customizable cellular SMS text message is sent in the event of a detection (by the SensorSays accessory, which is part of the system. There is also the option of relaying the message via an Auto Dialer, which is also available for land line-generated phone call notifications.

The RS-360 also has a/an

  • 100′ wireless signal range between the wireless sensors and receiver; each system can accommodate up to 78 additional sensors
  • Closed-loop RF system, which keeps the system working even when power and Wi-Fi are lost
  • Remote manual valve override control
  • Onboard battery backup providing up to 48 hours of ongoing protection during a power outage;

Sources

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rdt-introduces-wireless-plumbing-leak-protection-technology-for-homes-businesses-and-high-value-collectibles-300270693.html

http://reliancedetection.com/products/wireless-leak-detection-water-alarm/

 

3) Organizational Stakeholders

  • Government Agencies
  • Real Estate/Property Managers
  • Educational Institutions
  • Hotels/other commercial buildings

 

4) Deployment of technology – 3 Steps

  • Assess buildings
  • Procure hardware and proceed with installation
  • Make provision for technical support and institute a System Maintenance log

 

5) Comment on ” Conserving water, one shower at a time” by AGATHETECH ()

Nebia has 10 precision-tuned nozzles that atomize water into millions of microdrops which hydrate skin far better than ordinary showers.

 

 

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SmartSMS-NET – Soft dB’s Sound Masking System

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1) Sustainability Problem – Sound Pollution at the Workplace

Average adults spend over 10.3 years (90,000 hours) at work in their lifetime and noise is one of the most common and yet least perceived occupational hazards. It causes hearing loss, anxiety, stress; it affects concentration, creativity and eventually productivity.

2) Technology – Soft dB’s sound masking system – SmartSMS-NET

According to Soft dB, the SmartSMS-NET emits a soft, inconspicuous background sound with the use of a loudspeaker system. The ambient sound level becomes more uniform and otherwise noisy distractions are muffled by the sound masking.

Soft dB’s sound masking system has three unique features:

  • Automatic Equalization Process

Masking sound level is adjusted automatically in real-time. A 340 narrow band equalization (instead of the usual 20 1 /3 octave bands) ensures the production of a uniquely smooth, regular and comfortable sound masking, irrespective of the acoustical characteristics of the workspace

  • Real-Time Adaptive Adjustment of the Masking Sound Level

The system continuously adjusts the masking sound level based on ambient noise measurement. In a busy work area, the masking sound increases, and decreases when the work area quiets down.

  • Networked System

The system is very flexible; it features small masking zones and larger masking zones. It combines the flexibility of network systems and the cost efficiency of centralized systems

The system has four main components: Speakers, Adaptive Sensors, SMS-NET Rack-Mounts and the SMS-Net

Sources

http://wowmediar.com/wowmedianew/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/SMS-NET-Sound-Masking-system.pdf

http://blog.pksafety.com/how-to-reduce-noise-pollution-at-work/

http://www.softdb.com/sound-masking/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0KLgk-e81wIV2AeBCh3r6g4kEAAYAiAAEgISjfD_BwE

3) Organizational Stakeholders

  • Businesses
  • Schools
  • Courts
  • Counseling Centers
  • Public Institutions
  • Hospitals

4) Deploying the Technology

  • Consult with Soft DB about the specific needs of the environment at stake
  • Arrange for a physical evaluation to be conducted
  • Based on recommendation of consultants, discuss system with all relevant stakeholders and proceed to order system for installation

 

5) My comment on “From your plate… Back to your plate” by CG3052

“The Zera Food Recycler requires a plant-based additive made out of coconut husk and baking soda to assist in the breakdown process.”

Robotic Nurse Assistant – RIBA

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1. Sustainability Problem: High cost and disruptions to quality health care as a result of work-related injuries amongst nurses.

 2. Technology – The Robotic Nurse Assistant

  • RIBA, which stands for Robot for Interactive Body Assistance, was developed by RIKEN and Tokai Rubber Industries
  • RIBA is a robot that is intended to work in nursing care situations were it would lift up a human into its arms, transfer them into bed, or a wheelchair
  • RIBA does this using its very strong human-like arms and by novel tactile guidance methods using high-accuracy tactile sensors
  • RIBA was developed by integrating RIKEN’s control, sensor, and information processing and TRI’s material and structural design technologies
  • RIBA can over time be adapted for use in disaster situations as well

Source

https://getreferralmd.com/2016/01/healthcare-technology-2016/

http://rtc.nagoya.riken.jp/RIBA/index-e.html

 

3. Organizational Stakeholders

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Rehabilitation Centers
  • Hospices
  • Relief/Disaster organizations

4. Deployment of  Technology

  • Contact Riken to get a full understanding of the capabilities of RIBA
  • Train Health personnel to operate RIBA
  • Hold separate shareholder workshops with clinical staff and with patients to assess any apprehensions and address them before introducing versions of RIBA to the various organizations on a pilot, ahead of full implementation.

 

My comment on “OLLI – the self-driving electric mini bus”  – post by (ms5584) MARIGSKO

Olli is a 3D-printed minibus, and it can be “printed” to specification in “micro-factories” in a matter of hours.

Commercial Fusion Energy

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1) Sustainability Problem: Air Pollution

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, power generation is one of the leading causes of air pollution; based on research collected in 2010, U.S.-based power plants are the single largest factor contributing to global warming

2) Technology – Fusion Energy

The nuclear-fusion-energy power plant, which is being developed by the Canadian Company, General Fusion is intended to be the first commercially viable nuclear-fusion-energy power plant.

  • It produces zero greenhouse gas emissions
  • It has no radioactive waste disposal problems,
  • It emits only helium as exhaust; and has a zero possibility of a meltdown scenario.
  • Requires less land than other renewable energy sources
  • According to General Fusion, there is enough fusion fuel to power the planet for hundreds of millions of years.

Sources

http://generalfusion.com/2016/06/general-fusion-featured-on-bbc-world/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/tech-innovations-save-us-from-climate-change/

3) Organizational Stakeholders

  • Industries/Businesses
  • Local government agencies
  • Energy Companies
  • Non Profit Organizations

4) Three steps in Deploying this technology

  • Invite General Fusion to assess power needs of city/ community
  • Draw a plan to phase out the use of fossil fuels as power for buildings
  • Draw up a distribution plan ahead of installation of plant and training of personnel

 

Comment on ““Turning Climate Pollution Into Fish Feed” by MAH S. ()

Novonutrients is also developing new microbes, using synthetic biology, that can produce vitamins and probiotics, which can also be used as ingredients in feed.

Re-circulating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

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1. Sustainability problem: Food Security (Depletion of Fish Stock)

According to the FAO approximately 57 percent of fish stocks are fully exploited and another 30 percent are over-exploited, depleted or recovering. Whilst drought conditions affect food production and the population of fish in seas and rivers reduce, food demand is projected to rise by at least 20 percent globally over the next 15 years according to the World Bank.

2) Technology: Re-circulating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

The land-based, closed-containment Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) is a facility that is capable of growing fish like Atlantic salmon and trout from egg to smolt to market-size adult fish everywhere.

  • Developed by the Freshwater Institute, the RAS system incorporates several water-filters, which removes residual waste like leftover food and fish waste and converts it to nitrogen and phosphorous-rich fertilizer
  • Fishes are raised on sustainable fishmeal-free feed and reared in water that is continuously re-circulated through circular tanks and water treatment processes.
  • The aquarium generates its own current, so the fishes swim in a continuous slow-moving circle thereby creating an optimal environment for their growth.
  • RAS technology also allows for the flexibility to produce fish locally in order to reduce transportation cost and carbon emissions.
  • It’s a water-efficient system, which ensures that about ninety-nine percent of the water is recycled.
  • The RAS-raised salmon grow to harvest size about 6 months sooner than salmon in other aquaculture systems

Source

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxp7SKs8GE4

https://www.conservationfund.org/projects/get-to-know-the-freshwater-institute-s-spring-hill-salmon

3) Organizational Stakeholders:

  • Supermarkets
  • Non Governmental Organizations that focus on food security
  • Food Businesses
  • Fertilizer-making companies
  • Local government agencies responsible for food security

4) Deploying Technology

  • Undertake a needs assessment to inform the siting of the project within a community where demand for fish will be high
  • Securing a market: arrange a stakeholder engagement session and explain to the relevant people how the system works and its benefits to the community
  • Secure land for the project and proceed to install the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)

 

Comment on ‘Solar: Try windows if roof space is not enough’ by DRB2171

Unlike previous ‘ transparent’ solar cells, which were only partially transparent, these cells, with the help of the Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrator (TLSC) are clearly transparent.

Extinguish Fire with Low Frequency Sound Waves

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1. Sustainability Problem: Forest Fires

Year in and year out, wildfires ravage forests; destroy lives, property, and critical ecosystems. The burning of these forests also causes the release of significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the National Interagency Fire Centre, from January 1 to October 3, 2017, there have been 49,864 fires, which affected 8,426,099 acres.

2. Technology

  • In an April 2015 article titled “Dousing Flames With Low-Frequency Sound Waves,” physicsworld.com reported on a prototype acoustic extinguisher developed by two engineering students of George Mason University, Tran and Robertson.
  • According to the article, the technology is founded on the principle that there are mechanical pressure waves that cause vibrations in the medium in which they travel, and sound waves have the potential to manipulate both the burning material and the oxygen that surrounds it.
  • At lower (bass) frequencies, from 30 to 60 hertz, the sound waves are able to effectively displace the oxygen, keeping it from the flames long enough to suffocate them.
  • With an amplifier and cardboard collimator to focus the sound, the final extinguisher prototype is a hand-held, 9 kg, mains-powered device with the capacity to quickly put out small, alcohol-fuelled fires

Source

http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2015/apr/02/dousing-flames-with-low-frequency-sound-waves

3. With further research, this could potentially be a useful technology for dousing bigger fires in all situations – urban or rural situations. Organizational stakeholders that will need to use the scaled up technology are

  • Fire Departments
  • Disaster Response Organizations
  • Forest Departments
  • Forest Owners

4. Deploying the Technology

  • Provide training for officers of the fire department and all relevant stakeholders within the district who are likely to use the technology
  • Procure equipment for relevant public authorities
  • Policy: require non-governmental stakeholders in fire-prone areas to secure equipment

 

Comment on post on AirCarbon by CG3052

According to New Light Technologies, they have successfully shifted the cost structure of the greenhouse gas to plastic conversion process, and enable AirCarbon to out-compete oil-based plastics, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, due to Newlight’s 9X biocatalyst’s ability to generate a polymer conversion yield that is over nine times higher than previous attempts – from a yield ratio of 1:1 to 1:9; without exhibiting a negative feedback response.

Transform Non-recyclable Municipal Waste Into Green Fuels & Chemicals

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1. Sustainability Problem: Non-Recyclable Solid Municipal Waste

Most large cities have heaps of municipal waste that they are unable to deal with. Even more worrying is the fact that a significant percentage of this waste is non-recyclable. Landfills are quickly losing their charm as an efficient way to manage this waste due to their ability to pollute surrounding soils and water bodies, the NIMBY phenomenon quickly spreading across communities and the rising cost of land.

2. Technology: Enerkem’s Exclusive Thermochemical Process

  • Enerkem, uses a thermochemical process to convert non-recyclable waste into green chemicals and biofuels i.e. methanol and ethanol
  • Enerkem’s exclusive process is environmentally sound and requires relatively low temperatures and pressures, which reduces energy requirements and costs
  • The technology is able to convert multi-feedstock – this is to say Enerkem’s system is able to transform an indiscriminate mix of solid municipal waste.
  • The technology replaces the use of petroleum for the production of liquid transportation fuels and chemicals

 Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThyJHghnT-k

http://enerkem.com/about-us/technology/

3. Organizational stakeholders that will need to use the technology:

  • Municipal Authorities in order to handle the waste of cities
  • Businesses that generate a lot of waste
  • Green Energy companies

4. First 3 steps in deploying this technology:

  • Create an efficient aggregation program for bringing the waste to designated points
  • Partner with Enerkem to arrange for installations
  • Have a distribution system in place for immediate distribution of finished products (Fuels and Chemicals)

 

Comment on the “ArchiBlox Positive House” post by WEN1215

The ArchiBlox Positive House merges urban farming and insulation by incorporating sliding edible garden walls to reduce sunlight infiltration and a green roof for increased thermal insulation.

E-Waste Recycling Technology

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1.The Sustainability Problem:

Waste management is a problem across the world because of rapidly growing populations and reckless consumerist behaviour. It is an even bigger problem for developing countries due to inadequate infrastructure and the use of these countries as dumping ground for derelict equipment and devices that developed countries have no more use for. E-Waste management is, therefore, a critical issue.

2. Sustainable Technology

An automated e-waste shredder by Sims Recycling Solutions that has incorporated a CRT processing element to ensure almost every aspect of electronic waste is salvaged at the end of the recycling process. To ensure that

  • Toxic materials like fluorescent bulbs and batteries as well as parts with concentrations of lead and phosphors are sorted out beforehand within the CRT processing plant,
  • The remaining part of the gadgets is then shredded, sent down conveyor belts where magnets separate metals, and sensors pick out glass from plastics.
  • At the end of the process, two glass cullets are bulked up to CRT manufacturers where they are used to make new CRTs whilst the metals and plastics are bulked and sold to relevant industries.

3. The organisational stakeholders that will benefit from this e-waste processing technology are

  • CRT Manufactures,
  • Municipal Waste Management departments,
  • Businesses and industries that use the recycled plastics and metals as raw material.

4. First three steps in deployment:

  • Municipal waste management departments to provide containers and designated points for e-waste disposal,
  • Collaboration between Sims Recycling Solutions and local authorities to establish the recycling plants
  • Communities and Private Sector to be encouraged to participate in safe disposal programs that feed the recycling plants and eliminates the rubbish heaps in communities.

 

Sources

https://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/new-automated-technology-speeds-up-e-waste-recycling.html

https://youtu.be/wYLtiPsYuY0

 

Comment on ‘Biodegradable Eco-bags‘ post by tw2618 (TIMOTHY WIRANATA)

The cassava bags are converted naturally into carbon dioxide and biomass and leave no toxic residue during or after use.