Global Project Experience@ WPI

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Dr. Tahar El-KorchiProfessor & Head

Civil, Environmental & Architectural Eng.

Interim Head – Fire Protection Eng.

Co-Director Morocco & Panama Proj. Centers

Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering

WPI FPE Laboratory

The WPI Difference

Projects-GPS

Projects-HU&A

Projects-IQP

Projects-MQP

WPI’s Global Projects Program

40 years46 project centers 1000s impacted

Panama Canal

Morocco

• Collaborative Learning• Inquiry and Research• Communications• Critical Thinking• Team Work

• Multidisciplinary• Cultural Emersion

Global Projects @ WPI-Learning Objectives

Morocco Project Center

• Cohort & Team Selection• Schedule: 7 weeks on site; 7 weeks Prep• Can also be done on campus over 3 terms• Project development & Preparation• Onsite project work• Project Objectives & Learning Outcomes• Feedback and Assessment

Process

• Arrive; Housing; Meals; Orientation• Arabic Lessons, Exploring Rabat• Meeting Sponsors• Weekly work schedule of 40 hr/week• Weekly reports and presentation to WPI faculty• Final Report to Sponsors• Submittals: Reports, blogs, presentations,

posters, etc. All in 7-8 weeks• Travel, Exploring, Discovery on weekends• Excursion to Desert and Imperial Cities

Tasks & Schedule in Morocco

• Current State of Autism in Morocco• Mentorship Program :Al Akhawayn University &Rita

Zniber Foundation Orphanage(Meknes)• Rehabilitation and Repurposing of Foundouks in the

Rabat Medina• Advancing Water Management Strategies in Morocco• Energy Sustainability in Morocco• Fog Harnessing & Greywater recycling Dar-Si-H’mad; Sidi

Ifni

Sample Projects in Morocco

Interviewing Families with Autistic Children

Panama Project Center

IQP and MQP

• A competition that challenges students around the world to design, build and operate a comfortable and sustainable net zero-house powered by solar energy.

• Held bi-annually in the United States since 2002, and in Europe since 2010.

• First in Asia: The SD-China competition is a collaborative effort between U.S. DOE and the China National Energy Administration(NEA).

• WPI, Ghent University, and NYU-Poly have been chosen as one of a select group of 23 university teams worldwide to participate in the Solar Decathlon Competition

• Our three-university team, led by WPI, will design and construct a net-zero solar powered, prefabricated house, and showcase it to approximately 20,000 visitors in Datong, China in August 2013.

• WPI is one of only 7 U.S. universities to participate.

• Our House –Solatrium -is the only one made in the USA to compete in Datong

ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING WPI

Design & Development

• Innovative atrium design

• Composite materials

• Advanced phase change materials

• Passive cooling and heating approach

• Prefabricated structure

• Local community partnerships

• An international perspectiveand collaboration

House Construction at @WPI

House Construction @WPI

WTHS Partnership