Identifying and Testing Sustainable Materials for Shelter Panels

Project Overview

Project Description

Pallet Shelter creates rapid-response shelters to bring the safety and security of a home to the most vulnerable populations. This project will focus on identifying and testing a sustainable construction panel material that can be sourced and manufactured locally to meet the design requirements of a shelter already developed for displaced populations. The material must be affordable, durable, structurally sound, locally available, thermally insulating, and simple to produce in low-resource environments to support local economic development. The Fellow will work on producing a Material Feasibility Report, Manufacturing Guide for Local Panel Production and Prototype Panel Specifications & Testing Results.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Material Sourcing and Evaluation
   • Identify locally available, sustainable materials that can be processed into panels, such as bamboo composites, agricultural waste products, compressed earth, or recycled plastic composites.
   • Evaluate each material based on durability, estimated structural integrity, weather resistance, thermal insulation, and environmental impact to ensure suitability for shelter panels.
2. Manufacturing Feasibility and Panel Design
   • Assess the feasibility of manufacturing panels from the chosen material(s) locally, considering the tools, labor, capacity, and infrastructure needed for production.
   • Design a sustainable production workflow, ensuring that panels can be manufactured efficiently in local facilities while also offering employment opportunities to community members.
3. Prototype and Field Testing
   • Support Pallet Shelter team in assessing structural integrity, thermal performance, and weather resistance.
   • Identify any adjustments needed for regional variations in material availability or manufacturing capabilities.

Impact

The project’s anticipated environmental and social impact is rooted in its approach to sustainable material sourcing and local manufacturing. By using globally available, eco-friendly materials and fostering local economic development, the project aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).

Eligibility Criteria

Skills / Experience

• Required:
  • CAD Modeling
  • MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems)
  • Research
  • Technical Writing and Documentation
  • Prototyping / Fast Prototyping
• Desired:
  • Manufacturing/Design for Manufacturing
  • Process Design
  • Multidisciplinary Communication
  • Knowledge of Relevant Regulations and Standards

Discipline:

• Mechanical / industrial / materials engineering or similar

Time zone compatibility (when the Fellow should be available for meetings):

• PT (UTC-8)