JBU hosting 7th annual disaster shelter competition

Sunday, April 15, 2018

John Brown University will host the 7th annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition, sponsored by Samaritan's Purse International, from Thursday, April 19, through Saturday, April 21, at Balzer Technology Center.

Nine teams from eight universities will design and construct a rapidly-deployable emergency and disaster shelter, which a panel of judges will evaluate for possible implementation in relief efforts worldwide.

Engineering, construction management and architecture students will use their classroom knowledge to provide practical solutions to real-world problems. The competition challenges students to submit a preliminary disaster shelter plan and a camp plan to accommodate 5,000 people, design a disaster shelter for durability testing, construct an emergency shelter and present on their designs. This competition tests students' oral and written communication skills, as well as problem-solving and team-working skills.

The universities participating in this year's competition include Dordt College (Sioux Center, Iowa), Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, Kan.), Gyeongsang National University (Jinju, South Korea), Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Murray State University (Murray, Ky.), Letourneau University (Longview, Texas), University of Arkansas at Little Rock and John Brown University.

The year's competition scenario is based on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that affected more than a million people in Nepal. The shelters are required to address the local climate in Nepal, as well as their mountainous terrain.

Each team's disaster shelter prototypes will endure durability testing -- including earthquake sustainability, heat retention, overnight habitability, wind turbulence and water resistance (new this year). In addition, teams will compete in an emergency shelter construction test, where they will be evaluated on their ability to quickly design and construct emergency shelters from given materials.

Friday, April 20, events include earthquake and heat retention testing at 7:30 a.m., emergency shelter construction test at 1 p.m., disaster shelter construction and testing at 3:30 p.m. and habitability assessment at 9 p.m., Saturday, April 21, events include rain and wind testing at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony at 12:30 p.m.

Teams will be scored based on their shelter's performance in individual events and on their presentations detailing their shelter's schematics, design and materials.

General News on 04/15/2018