Shelter Lab

Shelter Lab

Goals

Shelter Lab is developing a fully capable shelter prototype to deploy in a developing country by May 2017. The project is intended to extend beyond that date to complete full testing, manufacturing development, and further technology enhancements.

Issues Involved or Addressed

While modular structures and various equipment and supplies exit to enable disaster relief or self-sustained living, there is no single solution to provide low cost, light weight, modular structures containing all technologies needed to support a family for medium to long-term habitation in remote locations without ready infrastructure. This team is working to understand the user experience and the resources available to design a shelter system that relies on local maintenance, is self-sustaining, and provides a safe and secure home for displaced families. Students will work to achieve various goals required to attain the next major semester milestones and engage in future project planning to keep the shelter's development on track.

Methods and Technologies

  • User experience
  • Housing and urban infrastructure
  • Structural engineering
  • Sustainability reporting & analysis
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Marketing and business applications

Academic Majors of Interest

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Business, Marketing

Preferred Interests and Preparation

Interest in designing future oriented structures for disaster-struck communities in need from an engineering, international affairs, and/or business perspective.
Mechanical, Electrical, Materials Science, Computer Science Engineering
Health Sciences
Public policy
Pre-law

Team Advisors

Sponsor(s)

Related Sites