ASME: Engineering Students Collaborate on Water Purification System

June 19, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

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In May, the group completed a prototype of a portable system that can deliver clean water to regions of the developing world, as well as locations impacted by natural disasters.

Going forward, the students will return to a virtual environment to test and refine their system, collecting input and suggestions from partners and collaborators from around the world.

Earlier this year, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) selected the five students to lead an open-source project, and established the Internet-based virtual design community in which other students, as well as engineering professionals, could be participants in the design of the water purifier.

The students view the water purification system as a symbol of humanitarian goodwill, and in the coming weeks will build a second prototype that could be the precursor to a practical and marketable product.

The five students are also at the center of what many engineering leaders see as a shift in the profession to more holistic, collaborative work environments made possible by powerful computer tools and virtual communities.

About 60 participants collaborated on the open-source project from January to mid-May, according to David Soukup, a managing director at ASME. The collaborators provided input on filtration, maintenance and other aspects of the water purification system.

"Each participant brought different skills and interests to the project," said Soukup. "The collaborative effort produced a strong dynamic and general agreement on the design methodologies."

Soukup said the open-source project aims to raise awareness in the use of project-based engineering education to prepare future engineers.

Source: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).