Portland State Professor Evan Thomas spent part of his life designing life support systems for the harsh environments in space. Now, Thomas is using his expertise to improve the living conditions of people on Earth, with technology he is developing for use across the world.
Portland State Professor Evan Thomas spent part of his life designing life support systems for the harsh environments in space. Now, Thomas is using his expertise to improve the living conditions of people on Earth, with technology he is developing for use across the world.
This spring, he will lead a program that will send 500 high-efficiency cook stoves and water filtration systems equipped with high-tech sensors to Rwanda in an effort to improve living conditions for its residents. The program is a partnership between PSU and water filtration company DelAgua. Work has also been contracted out to Manna Energy Limited, a company for which Thomas serves as vice president.
The program is designed to serve over 750,000 households: “The program will cover the entire western province of Rwanda,” Thomas said. Students will also be sent to Rwanda this spring in order to participate in the program, and permanent staff members will be situated there throughout the year.
Rwanda currently faces health issues stemming from unclean water and inefficient cook stoves. Drinking unfiltered water can contribute to the spread of diseases and takes the lives of 1.5 million children each year. In many homes, the only form of stove is an open fire, which can produce soot and smoke. Breathing in soot and smoke can contribute to the development of upper respiratory disease, which annually kills more than 1.6 million people worldwide.
In addition to providing clean water and energy, Thomas and his staff will also collect data regarding the usage and efficiency of the stoves and water filters. Data will be collected via the newly designed SweetSense, a sensor designed and developed in PSU’s Sustainable Water, Energy and Environmental Technologies Laboratory.
“It is designed to be modular so it can be used for different applications,” Thomas said.
The SweetSense unit is attached to the filter or stove and collects data when the device is used. The sensor then transmits the data from Rwanda to the SWEETLab in Portland using a cellphone network. Data is collected at a high frequency, allowing for sufficient sampling for use in analysis. Additionally, the sensor functions at a very low power level, allowing it to run off of five AA batteries for 6–8 months.
There are several different types of this innovative sensor, with costs of design ranging from $150–500. Each model has different data-collection capabilities, some only measuring usage while others have the ability to take photographs and collect more complex data.
SweetSense allows for data to be collected without the cost of sending a surveyor across the world. It also lets researchers collect more precise and accurate data on a day-to-day basis.
“These sensors have the potential to revolutionize the way we monitor international development projects, because they reduce the need for in-person spot checks. The sensors help determine whether the devices are working and whether people use them,” said Jenny DuVander, communications director for the Institute for Sustainable Solutions. ISS is working to support Thomas’ efforts and will assist him in further endeavors.
Thomas is also working on projects in other locations worldwide. The project in Rwanda and other projects SWEETLab develops will provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students: “We’ve had students in Guatemala,” Thomas said, and added that students will also be going to India this summer to implement a program there. “It’s a very cool research opportunity,” he added.
Students in the engineering programs at PSU will have an opportunity to become involved with these community development projects overseas as data is collected and transmitted. “Engineering students in the SWEETLab are helping to design the remote sensors and track incoming data,” DuVander said.
All of the current developments surrounding SweetSense have been funded by a $550,000 grant awarded to Thomas in partnership with Oregon BEST, the Lemelson Foundation, Stevens Water and Mercy Corps.
“[Thomas] has received more than $500,000 in support to commercialize his remote sensors. This will allow him to begin manufacturing and selling them at scale so they can be used in international development projects around the world,” DuVander said.
The project is planned to expand next spring, with Rwandese health workers providing enough cook stoves and filters to serve 5.5 million people.
