Appropriate Technologies Design Team (ATDT)
ATDT is a group of engineering professionals who develop appropriate
and sustainable design solutions for communities. We strive to
empower communities by providing tools that facilitate local
economic development and provide basic needs, local education, and
entrepreneurial opportunities.
ATDT was originally founded to develop appropriate and sustainable design solutions beneficial to EWB-USA projects. We have since extended our services to other organizations working in disadvantaged communities throughout the world with goals similar to those of EWB-USA.
Comprised of engineers interested in design, construction, and implementation of appropriate technologies, we seek out and depend on collaborating organizations, established appropriate technologies, and our own research. We take into consideration individual communities' needs and conditions, such as manufacturing methods and capabilities, locally available materials, and ecological effects
Process
Team members evaluate each project before design work begins. Our evaluation
takes into consideration the overall sustainability, alternative technologies,
and team capacity. We rely on our collaborators to be our eyes and ears in the
field while we research and develop the technology locally.
We prototype. We test. We iterate.
Once the design is fully tested and refined, the technology is implemented
within the community for which it's designed using local manufacturing
techniques and materials.
General Information
First Meeting: November 2005
Number of Active Members: 30-40
Members at Large: Approximately 130
Typical Volunteers:
- Mechanical Engineers
- Product Designers
- Electrical Engineers
- Industrial Designers
Current Number of Projects: 6
Type of work:
- Projects
- Educational Workshops
- Brainstorms for Organizations and Groups