Dhiti

Nirmaan

NSS

Apogee 2012
Technology reaching its destiny

I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy.

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Though we have remarkably skilled engineers in India, our engineering, innovative and ground breaking solutions hardly reach to the poor, where it is needed. Most of us believe in just resting and blaming the government for not implementing plans properly. There are very less people who actually believe in acting bust most of the times they are not able to get a proper platform. To protract this knowledge to the grassroots, we present DHITI (Sanskrit for 'An Idea'). Dhiti is a platform for students, professors and passionate individuals who aspire technology to reach the grassroots. To participate in Dhiti you have to design effective, efficient, feasible and economical modules to curb the potential problems of India. Participants will be provided with certain broad areas and a gist on each of them. Their solutions or models should be targeted at solving the problems faced in those areas.

The Structure

Dhiti will be conducted in four phases:

PHASE I:

Teams of maximum 4 students can participate in this event. We will be uploading a pool of problem statements regarding some specific areas, like- agriculture, energy conservation, education, resource optimization, health, etc. we will start uploading these problem statements from 1st December.
Participants can either: 'Work on a problem identified by them in any given specific area and present a solution with full technical and financial details'

Or

'Suggest a solution to any one of the sample problems given under different specific areas with complete technical and financial details.'Participants will be required to mail abstracts regarding their respective projects by 31st January. This abstract must contain basic idea of their project along with some technical details regarding its implementation. These abstracts will be evaluated by the faculty of BITS. Out of all the abstracts received best 25 will be selected. The selected participants will be notified in Feburary.

PHASE II:

Mentorship phase will start off as soon as the Abstract phase (Phase 1) ends. Mentorship is essential for the participants to give them an insight of the situation and the exact problems that are faced at the grass roots and constraints in applying the solutions to these problems. Mentorship will be given in two following forms:

  1. Technical assistance to the participants from the faculty of BITS.
  2. Assistance from NGO's in getting a clearer idea regarding the problem statement which will help the participants to frame a more meaningful and feasible solution to the problem. Evaluation during Mentorship phase:
    • Participants will be evaluated continuously during the mentorship phase.
    • They are expected to send a mid-report and a final report showing their progress in the project. The entire report must not exceed six A4 pages on MS-Word.
    • At the end of this phase, there will be a call conference with the short-listed participants.They will be interviewed by a judge panel consisting of 1 professor and 1 student.
    • The results of the participants selected for the final round will be declared on the basis of the weekly reports, feedback and the interview. The decision of the judges will be final and binding on all. After this round 10 best teams will be selected for the final round in which will take place during the main APOGEE.

PHASE III:

  1. The selected teams have to submit a hard copy of their report as well as a final presentation on their solutions in front of our Judges Panel during our event in APOGEE-2012, here at B.I.T.S PILANI
  2. The participants would be provided 10 minutes maximum time for their respective presentations followed by a 5-min round of cross-questioning by our Judge Panel.
  3. The presentation should cover all the details of the solution, namely, the idea, the methodology, cost-effectiveness, process of implementation, total cost which would be incurred for implementing the project, its feasibility and sustainability.
  4. Along with the report and presentation, you may come up with a working solution / model which explain your concept with clarity. (The best you make use of this, the more credit you shall be awarded).
  5. Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.

    PHASE IV:

    It will involve the implementation some selected projects at the ground level with help from the NGOs in as many ways as possible.

    Abstract Submission

    The abstract should be mailed to "dhiti@bits-apogee.org" with the subject "Dhiti: Abstract (Title of project)"
    The abstracts should contain:-

    1. Name of the college
    2. Name of the team leader and team members
    3. Contact number and mail id of the team leader
    4. Area of the project (from the list mentioned)
    5. Title of the project
    6. Problem Statement: State the problem existing in the society which is targeted in the project.
    7. Objective
    8. Short description about the project (Not more than 100 words)
    9. Productive value addition: Explain what productive value addition is going to take place due to the project
    10. Cost effectiveness and feasibility of solution.

    Teams must follow the following specifications while submitting their abstracts:

    1. The abstract must be submitted in pdf format only
    2. The abstract must not exceed 6 pages in length
    3. Font: Verdana
    4. Size: 11
    5. Spacing between two lines: 0.6 inch
    6. Spacing between two paragraphs: 1 inch
      7. Download Abstract Format

    Problem Statements

    • #1 NON CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY- EFFICIENT STORAGE TOOLS

      Renewable resources of energy are not available 24X7. More effective ways of using this energy are needed. You need to find efficient storage tools to store this energy and the power generated by it. These tools should not be already in use and should be feasible and cost-efficient.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 1

    • #2 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

      Rain water harvesting has emerged an alternative source of water for drinking and for livestock. Suggest some new methods for conserving water in rural areas such as rain water harvesting, which are more cost-efficient and effective. Develop a complete method and also find the financial details involved.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 2

    • #3 CONSTRUCTION – LOW COST HOUSES FOR SLUM-DWELLERS

      Due to large size of the slums removing poor people from the slums and demolishing them is not a solution. The main problem faced is the amounts of money spend by the government in making a single house. Try to suggest methods to build pucca houses or apartments for the slum dwellers at the lowest cost.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 3

    • #4 TRANSPORTATION – PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS DURING FOG

      Due to the enormous amount of fog present on the road, a lot of accidents happen in many parts of the country during winters. You have to design a device/accessory which could be installed in a car to detect the path during fog and guide the driver in driving the car. It should also detect any obstacle present in the way of the car and inform the driver well ahead.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 4

    • #5 DRYERS IN PLACE OF GREENHOUSE TENTS

      Solar energy can be used in drying the crops faster. But the cost of the machine and power required for agriculture is very high so it cannot be used at household level very efficiently. You are required to design a solar dryer which is more efficient and cheaper than the methods which are currently in use.
      You are required to design a solar dryer which is more efficient and cheaper than the methods which are currently in use.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 5

    • #6 ECO FRIENDLY AND COST EFFECTIVE CLASSROOMS

      Eco Classroom is a new concept in construction to build sustainable and environmental-friendly classroom spaces at affordable prices in less time. You are required to design such a classroom which is cost effective, child friendly, reusable and have spaces which nurse relationships between teaching and learning.
      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 6

    • #7 WATER LEVEL MONITORING

      With increasing population water level is continuously decreasing. So it has become very important to regularly monitor water level in various water sources, like- ground water, wells, ponds, etc. You are required to design an economical device for the measurement of the water level in such tanks which will automatically measure the current water level and give a digital output of the same.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 7

    • #8 USE OF SMART CARD FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

      Provide a feasible plan to revamp and implement PDS through the efficient use of technology like smart card, etc. to end the corruption involved at different levels. The main objective is to think of ways that are easily implementable, cost effective, and innovative and most importantly can check corruption.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 8

    • #9 EFFECTIVE USE OF BIOMASS AS A FUEL

      Suggest methods for effectively using biomass products which are more cost-effective than conventional fuel sources such as coal and firewood, reduce waste disposal problems and are environmental friendly.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 9

    • #10 HARNESSING ENERGY THROUGH HUMAN BODY

      You are required to design a cost efficient system that stores power generated by the human efforts just as a battery does and later on can use that power in varied fields like pumping water from nursery, reading in the night, running appliances, tribal herbal processing and other various household devices and also find out the efficiency and the input required.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 10

    • #11 EFFICIENT LOAD CARRIER

      You are required to develop some ways which can assist the collies and load bearers in lifting heavy weights without much difficulty. These should be light weight, cost effective, user friendly, eco-friendly and durable.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 11

    • #12 A REFRIGERATOR THAT KEEPS FOOD WARM

      Design a cost – effective food warmer, which can use the heat radiated by a refrigerator for keeping food warm. It should be cost-effective, small in size, must have a good heat retaining capacity to keep the food warm for longer periods and should be energy efficient.

      For detailed problem statement download the following file:

      Problem Statement 12

    Abstract Submission

    The abstract should be mailed to "dhiti@bits-apogee.org" with the subject "Dhiti: Abstract (Title of project)"
    The abstracts should contain:-

    1. Name of the college
    2. Name of the team leader and team members
    3. Contact number and mail id of the team leader
    4. Area of the project (from the list mentioned)
    5. Title of the project
    6. Problem Statement: State the problem existing in the society which is targeted in the project.
    7. Objective
    8. Short description about the project (Not more than 100 words)
    9. Productive value addition: Explain what productive value addition is going to take place due to the project
    10. Cost effectiveness and feasibility of solution.

    Teams must follow the following specifications while submitting their abstracts:

    1. The abstract must be submitted in pdf format only
    2. The abstract must not exceed 6 pages in length
    3. Font: Verdana
    4. Size: 11
    5. Spacing between two lines: 0.6 inch
    6. Spacing between two paragraphs: 1 inch
      7. Download Abstract Format

    Judging Criteria

    1. The solutions provided should be innovative. They can be a modification of an already existing solution but should not be an exact replica of it.
    2. The solutions should be effective enough. They should provide better results than those which are already being used
    3. The solutions should be cost efficient. Since our target area is the rural population, therefore it is very important to keep the cost as low as possible. For this the materials being used should be easily available and cheap.
    4. The solutions provided should be feasible keeping in mind the target population/region. It can be determined by the ease of installation and the easy availability of the resources required.
    5. The solutions should be sustainable. The solutions should be designed in such a way that they can be easily modified in future to adapt to the need and conditions of that time.
    6. The solutions should have a large social impact. It should affect the living conditions of large number of people rather than a few one.
    7. The solutions should be easily replicable so that they can be implemented over different regions rather than addressing a problem at a particular area only.
    8. The solutions should not hinder economic progress but contribute to it.
    9. The solutions should be socially acceptable and environmentally benign.

    FAQs

    1. How do I register for the event?

      Registrations for Apogee and for Dhiti will start off from 20th December, 2011.The participant will have to first register for Apogee 2012 (visit http://www.bits-apogee.org/2012/) and then register for Dhiti.

    2. Who can participate?

      Any student, irrespective of his/her course or stream, who has registered for Apogee 2012 can participate in the event.

    3. I am already working on a project that has the potential to reach the desired crowd. But my project is not a solution to any of the mentioned problem statements. Can I still participate?

      Sure. As already mentioned in the structure, participants can work on a problem statement identified by them. The participant has to mail the problem statement to dhiti2k12@gmail.com by 10th January.

    4. I am unclear about the mentorship PHASE II. What am I supposed to do during mentorship?

      Mentorship will be given to the participants who clear Phase I of the competition. Mentorship will be given in two forms: During the mentorship phase, the selected participants are expected to contact the concerned NGOs for in-depth knowledge about the problems faced by them. Similarly, for any technical guidance, they may contact their mentor (from BITS faculty). Participants can also contact through mails or direct visits to the NGOs. The contacts will be provided after the participants clear Phase I.

    5. I am not an engineering student, can I still participate in the event ?

      Yes. Dhiti is meant for students of all disciplines, pursuing any degree. Graduates, Post-graduates, Diploma students, PhD holders etc.

    6. Is there any registration fee for the event ?

      No. Registration fees will be charged for Apogee only. There will not be separate registration fee for Dhiti

    7. I have already presented this solution in another competition/ research paper, can I still present it here ?

      Yes. As long as there is no compulsion or binding on part of the participant from the concerned competition, the solution may be presented for Dhiti.

    8. Do my project have to belong to categories mentioned, or they can be related to any field?

      Your project can belong to any field. You just need to be sure about its feasibility and applicability.

    9. Is taking part in phase 4 necessary?

      It is not compulsory for the winners (or any other participant with a good idea) to participate in Phase-4 (i.e. go to some place and get the idea implemented by yourself). The NGOs that are willing to implement the idea will do it themselves if you can't participate. But of course, your participation in Phase-4 is most welcome.

    10. Do I need to include the way of implementation of the project in my report?

      No, this competition requires you to just give a feasible technical solution to the problem statements. Its way of implementation will be finalized with the help of the NGO's in phase 4.

    Dhiti 2011

    NGO involvement (formulation of problem statements):

    Problem statements were received from the following NGOs based on their working areas:

    1. Tiny tech plants
    2. Eklavya
    3. Engineers without border
    4. Pratham
    5. Saarthi
    6. Shrikshetra Dharmasthala rural development

    Involvement of these NGOs ensured that the problem statements are relevant to the present scenario. Also the work areas of these NGOs were completely different hence problem statements covered huge variety of problems in various fields.

    Judges

    'Dhiti' comprised of innovations and solutions to the problems relating to the grassroots. The problem statements and the abstracts that came in were varied in terms of their technical streams. The judging panel comprised of our guest speakers Mr. Sanjay Gadhalay and Mr. Gyanesh Pandey and one amongst the team of Bits professors who judged the projects according their research interests. This team comprised of

    • Prof. P Srinivasan (Mechanical)
    • Prof. Rajiv Gupta(Civil)
    • Prof. Vimal Bhanot(Electrical)
    • Prof. B.V. Babu etc.

    The evaluation team for selection and shortlisting of Phase I participants constituted of

    • Prof. K.S Sangwan.
    • Dr. Srikant Routroy.
    • Dr Hari Om Bansal.
    • Dr. H D Mathur.
    • Prof. Raghunathan.
    • Dr. Kumar Neeraj Sachdev.
    • Surekha Bhanot.

    and, two scientists from CEERI:

    • Mr. Shashikant Sadistap.
    • Mr. Himanshu Dutt Sharma.

    Speakers:

    Mr. SANJAY GADHALAY

    Mr. Sanjay Gadhalay is a graduate in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi and a Post Graduate in Management Education from IIM Bangalore. He is specializes in value chain re-engineering and design of operations using the TOC( Theory of Constraints). He is the Founding CEO of the Team of CCCEA (Center for Climate Change and Environment Advisory), set up under the aegis of MCRHRD (AP) for the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh.

    GYANESH PANDEY

    Gyanesh Pandey, is the CEO and Co-founder of Husk Power Systems He did his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University and M.S. in Electric Power and Power Electronics Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He established Husk Power Systems (HPS), which uses nice husk to generate electricity, with Manoj Sinha and Ratnesh Yadav. Voted youth icon by India Today, his company's mission is to make villages in India livable.

    Contact

    Discussion Forum:

    Dhiti-APOGEE BITS-Pilani

    For Details Contact:

    Shrirang Deshpande
    +91 8233620717
    shrirangd0@gmail.com

    Aniket Parganokar
    +91 7737382556
    aniketpargaonkar@gmail.com

    Mail us at:

    dhiti@bits-apogee.org

    Meet the Team

    Designer

    Nishant Dania

    Developer

    Akshay Aurora