January Luncheon Meeting
Topic: EWB Update - Flood mitigation project in the Esfuerzo de Paraiso, Dominican Republic
(Online registration and payment available, see bottom of page.)
This presentation will be on the Central Ohio Professional chapter of Engineers Without Borders USA. The guiding principles of EWB are based upon sustainability and community ownership and involvement. The implementation of these philosophies will be reviewed through a case study of two projects undertaken by the Central Ohio chapter of EWB. The first project is a municipal roadway project in the Las Pilitas neighborhood of San Pedro Puxtla, El Salvador. The project constructed a 400 foot long street and drainage system for an isolated residential area at the edge of the village of San Pedro Puxtla. The street, which is now complete, connects the Las Pilitas neighborhood to the rest of the town, eliminates unhealthful exposure to contaminated drainage, and allows safer access to the residences in the rainy season. The project was named the 2014 project of the year by EWB-USA. The second project is a flood mitigation project in the Esfuerzo de Paraiso neighborhood of Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic. The Esfuerzo de Paraiso neighborhood, located within a floodplain, bounded by the Yaguaza river to the west and an agricultural canal to the east, experiences frequent and severe flooding. The residents experience near weekly flooding during the rainy season (April through October) with flood water reaching as high as 10+ feet during hurricane level events. The floodwaters also carry contaminants from nearby trash dumping piles and restrict access from the neighborhood to the surrounding city. The Central Ohio Professionals chapter is currently teamed with the OSU student chapter in the assessment phase of this project.
Speaker:
Robert Ferguson, PE is a project manager at EMH&T. Rob works primarily on the design of public roadway and utility improvement projects, with a particular focus on urban redevelopment projects. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a BS in Civil Engineering and of Ohio State University with a MS in Civil Engineering. Rob is currently president of the Central Ohio Professionals Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and is a mentor for the Ohio State University Chapter’s floodwater mitigation project in Santo Domingo Norte, Dominican Republic. He was also heavily involved in the municipal services project in San Pedro Puxtla, El Salvador, which finished construction in 2012. Rob has accompanied the Central Ohio Professional chapter and the OSU chapter on several assessment and implementation trips over the past several years.
Time:
11:30 AM – Registration
12:00 PM – Lunch
Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Columbus North
6500 Doubletree Avenue, Columbus, OH 43229
Menu: Chicken Roulade or Chef's Choice Vegetarian meal, Traditional Salad, Chef's choice of seasonal fresh vegetable, Chef's choice of potato, Assorted rolls, Caramel apple pie, Coffee, Tea, Iced tea.
CPD Hours: A certificate for one (1) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour will be issued at the conclusion of the program.
Cost:
$20 – ASCE Members and Guests
$15 – ASCE Life Members
$10 – Students
Reservations: Please register and pay online with a credit card or RSVP to Carlos Vazquez at register@centralohioasce.com or 614.634.7132. If you have any questions, please contact Carlos. Checks should be made payable to “Central Ohio ASCE.”
Registration is due by 5 PM on Friday, January 16, 2015.
Please note: Late registrations and walk-ins may not be accepted. Registration fees may still be required for no-shows.