“That is an eight-week venture the place college students dive deep into the analysis and prototype concepts. The objective is to ship a completely functioning, full-scale idea prototype.” -Sue Fairburn
College students at Kwantlen Polytechnic College in British Columbia, Canada have designed a intelligent resolution to guard firefighters from wildfire smoke. The prototype shelters make the most of three-layer air filtration system designed for use on the hearth strains and at hearth camps. The British Columbia Wildfire Service has plans to check these clean-air shelter prototypes at hearth camps impacted by wildfire smoke this summer season.
KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY STATEMENT:
Subtle tents designed by Kwantlen Polytechnic College (KPU) college students to guard firefighters from forest hearth smoke may very well be examined in hearth camps in B.C. this summer season.
The prototype shelters, designed to be used on hearth strains and hearth camps, goal to offer wildfire crews entry to wash air in smoky environments.
Kevin Kang, a third-year pupil on the Wilson Faculty of Design at KPU, believes the venture might considerably enhance firefighters’ security and effectiveness.
“These professionals are sometimes stationed removed from their base camps and are always uncovered to dangerous smoke and poor air high quality, even throughout breaks. Our objective was to create a clean-air shelter that might assist scale back the instant risks of smoke inhalation and handle the long-term well being dangers.” –Kevin Kang
The shelters are straightforward to arrange and geared up with a three-layer air filtration system much like superior cabin air filters. The system removes a variety of pollution and creates a breathable atmosphere inside the tent.
A smaller tent is designed for 2 individuals and tailor-made for hearth line use. It’s powered by a transportable, rechargeable battery, growing its performance in distant and off-grid places. A bigger shelter is designed for hearth camp use. As these camps will be dynamic and develop rapidly, the tent can accommodate as much as 12 individuals, offering an area for relaxation or meals.
The BC Wildfire Service has plans to check these clean-air shelter prototypes at hearth camps impacted by wildfire smoke this summer season.
“Discovering a sort of respiratory safety that’s efficient below excessive situations is difficult. Traditionally, the BC Wildfire Service workers weren’t supplied respiratory safety in opposition to wildfire smoke, ash and mud publicity on the fireline. Future iterations of those clean-air shelter prototypes may signify one potential instrument, amongst many others, for addressing smoke publicity throughout wildfire response.” -Jesse Wallace-Webb, preliminary assault crew chief and analysis analyst on the BC Wildfire Service
Such tasks are a part of the educational course of for third-year college students of the Bachelor of Design, Product Design program on the Wilson Faculty of Design. Program instructors choose a venture matter annually and companion with native companies or organizations to offer college students with hands-on expertise.
“That is an eight-week venture the place college students dive deep into the analysis and prototype concepts. The objective is to ship a completely functioning, full-scale idea prototype.” -Sue Fairburn, design teacher at KPU and researcher in design for excessive environments
The theme of this 12 months’s venture was impressed by John Valliant’s guide Fireplace Climate: The Making of a Beast, which is about wildfires in northern Alberta.
“Fireplace Climate set out far more consciousness in me concerning the significance of the issue. Final 12 months was actually unhealthy for wildfires, not simply regionally. It’s vital and difficult world wide.” –Sue Fairburn
College students within the product design program at KPU be taught to create progressive options mixing design, enterprise and advertising programs. This system focuses on analysis, design considering and hands-on prototyping to develop sustainable, moral design options.
