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
