Resources

Engineering development for humanity
Our international project work over the years has resulted in a considerable body of knowledge. In order to get the most good done in the world, we make these documents available to anyone interested in similar development work. Browse our collection of references by topic, or country.

Topics
• Community Analysis [General community assessment, surveying, and community economics]
• Project Design and Management [Water committees, economics, and urban-rural differences]
• Project Evaluation [Public health impacts, effectiveness of training programs]
• Education [Hygiene, project design and management training, and operation and maintenance training]
• Drinking Water [Water catchments, pumps, distribution, spring protection, storage, water system improvements, and water treatment]
• Water Resources
• Sanitation [Wastewater treatment, wastewater reuse, wash areas, soak pits, latrines, on-site wastewater treatment, and solid waste management]
• Engineering and Construction [Bridges, roads, aqueducts, construction materials]
• Indoor Air Quality [Ventilation, cookstoves, exposures]

Browse by Country
Bolivia
• International Senior Design Projects

Cameroon
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.

Dominican Republic
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003;
• Suspension Canyon and Gully Crossings for Small Scale Community Aqueducts: A Design Guide Based on Experiences and Observations from Peace Corps, Dominican Republic, Lyle J. Stone, April 2006.
• International Senior Design Projects

Honduras
• Design of Potable Water Supply Systems in Rural Honduras. Nathan W. Reents, June 2003;
• Technical Capacity Building of Existing Gravity Fed Rural Drinking Water Systems in Honduras, John D. Simpson, December 2003.
• Technical, Organizational, and Social Challenges of Project Development in Rural Latin America: A Honduran Case Study, Doug Messenger, August, 2004.
• Analysis of Constructability Strategies in Project Delivery: Making Infrastructure Construction Sustainable in Copán Ruinas, Honduras

Jamaica
• A Sanitation Plan for a Fishing Village in Jamaica that Incorporates Evapotranspiration Bed Technology; Kelly Stanforth, April, 2005.
• Evaluation of Septic Tank and Subsurface Wetland for Jamaican Public School Wastewater Treatment, Ed Stewart, 2005
• Feasibility and Action Plan for Compost Operation Incorporating Appropriate Technology at Riverton Disposal Site, Kingston, Jamaica; Preston Pendley, 2005

Kenya
• An Analysis of the Relationship Between Water Accessibility, Use and Health in Muthara, Kenya, Paul M. Kennedy, November 2006.

Macedonia
• A Study of the Households’ Willingness to Contribute to an Improved Solid Waste Management Program in Kratovo, Macedonia, Katrina R. Finn

Madagascar
• Assessing Progress of Community Managed Gravity Flow Water Supply Systems Using Rapid Rural Appraisal in the Ikongo District, Madagascar. Jonathan E. Annis, 2006

Mali
• A Water Supply and Sanitation Study of the Village of Gouansolo in MaliI, West Africa; Andrea Telmo, August 2002;
• Water Treatment and Supply in Kayes, Mali, West Africa: Treatment Processes, Operations, and Economics, Chris Vaught, December, 2003.
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.
• Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation Development Projects: An Assessment Tool for Project Managers in Sustainable Development Work, Jennifer R. McConville, July 2006

Mauritania
• The Development of a Project Management Methodology for Peace Corps Mauritania; Brock Adam Emerson, 2006

Panama
• An Analysis of the Use of Desiccant as a Method of Pathogen Removal in Compost Latrines in Rural Panama, Josephine Kaiser, November 2006
• Compost Latrines in Rural Panama: Design, Construction and Evaluation of Pathogen Removal, Daniel Hurtado, March, 2005
• The Effects of Traditional Cooking Technologies and Small Control Interventions on Indoor Air Quality in Cayo Paloma, Panama. Matthew Babcock, 2006.

Vanuatu
• Composting latrine manual

Browse by Topic
Community Analysis
General Community Analysis
• Assessing Progress of Community Managed Gravity Flow Water Supply Systems Using Rapid Rural Appraisal in the Ikongo District, Madagascar. Jonathan E. Annis, 2006
• Technical, Organizational, and Social Challenges of Project Development in Rural Latin America: A Honduran Case Study, Doug Messenger, August, 2004.
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.
• Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation Development Projects: An Assessment Tool for Project Managers in Sustainable Development Work, Jennifer R. McConville, July 2006
Surveys
• An Analysis of the Relationship Between Water Accessibility, Use and Health in Muthara, Kenya, Paul M. Kennedy, November 2006.
• An Analysis of the Use of Desiccant as a Method of Pathogen Removal in Compost Latrines in Rural Panama, Josephine Kaiser, November 2006
• A Water Supply and Sanitation Study of the Village of Gouansolo in Mali, West Africa; Andrea Telmo, August 2002.
• Water Treatment and Supply in Kayes, Mali, West Africa: Treatment Processes, Operations, and Economics, Chris Vaught, December, 2003.
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
• A Study of the Households’ Willingness to Contribute to an Improved Solid Waste Management Program in Kratovo, Macedonia, Katrina R. Finn
Community economics
• A Water Supply and Sanitation Study of the Village of Gouansolo in Mali, West Africa; Andrea Telmo, August 2002.
• Water Treatment and Supply in Kayes, Mali, West Africa: Treatment Processes, Operations, and Economics, Chris Vaught, December, 2003.

Project Design and Management
Water committees
• Assessing Progress of Community Managed Gravity Flow Water Supply Systems Using Rapid Rural Appraisal in the Ikongo District, Madagascar. Jonathan E. Annis, 2006
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003;
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
Construction Management
• An Analysis of Constructability Strategies in Project Delivery: Making Infrastructure Construction Sustainable in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, Kraig Lothe, June 2006.
Economics
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003
Project management
• The Development of a Project Management Methodology for Peace Corps Mauritania; Brock Adam Emerson, 2006
Sustainable Project Design
• Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation Development Projects: An Assessment Tool for Project Managers in Sustainable Development Work, Jennifer R. McConville, July 2006
Urban-Rural differences
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, , Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.

Project Evaluation
Evaluation
• Assessing Progress of Community Managed Gravity Flow Water Supply Systems Using Rapid Rural Appraisal in the Ikongo District, Madagascar. Jonathan E. Annis, 2006
Sustainability
• Applying Life Cycle Thinking to International Water and Sanitation Development Projects: An Assessment Tool for Project Managers in Sustainable Development Work, Jennifer R. McConville, July 2006
Public health
• An Analysis of the Relationship Between Water Accessibility, Use and Health in Muthara, Kenya, Paul M. Kennedy, November 2006.
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
Effectiveness of training
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.

Education
Engineering Education
• International Senior Design Projects
Hygiene Education:
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, , Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
• Practice and importance of combining health/hygiene and environmental education with water sanitation for sustainable health benefits in rural areas
• How to Promote the Use of Latrines in Developing Countries
Project Design and Management Training:
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
Operation and Maintenance education:
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003

Water Supply and Drinking Water
Water catchments
• Earthen Dams for Small Catchments: A Compilation of Design, Analysis, and Construction Techniques Suitable for the Developing World
Pumps
• How to Select the Proper Human-Powered Pump for Potable Water
Gravity fed systems
• Design of Potable Water Supply Systems in Rural Honduras, Nathan W. Reents, June 2003;
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003;
• Visualizing Construction of a Gravity-Fed Water Supply System
Springbox
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003;
• Spring Improvement as a Tool for Prevention of Water-Related Illness in Four Villages of the Center Province of Cameroon, Lauren Fry, August, 2004.
• Protective Structures For Springs: Spring Box Design, Construction and Maintenance
• A Technical Brief for Springbox Construction
Storage
• The Design, Construction, and Maintenance of a Gravity-fed Water System in the Dominican Republic; Matthew A. Niskanen, June 2003
Improving existing water systems
• Technical Capacity Building of Existing Gravity Fed Rural Drinking Water Systems in Honduras, John D. Simpson, December 2003.
Urban systems
• Privatization of Urban Water and Sanitation Systems in Developing Countries
Water treatment
• Water Treatment and Supply in Kayes, Mali, West Africa: Treatment Processes, Operations, and Economics, Chris Vaught, December, 2003.
• An Overview of Sustainable Drinking Water Disinfection for Small Communities in the Developing World
• Privatization of Urban Water and Sanitation Systems in Developing Countries
• The Turbidity Tube: Simple and Accurate Measurement of Turbidity in the Field

Water Resources
• Measuring River Discharge (Dr. John Gierke, 2002)
• Use of Manning Equations for Measuring River Velocity (Dr. John Gierke, 2002)
• Rain Garden Design and Construction Guidelines: Rooftop runoff capture for homeowners in suburban, urban, and rural areas

Sanitation
Wastewater treatment
• Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Areas of the Developing World
• Privatization of Urban Water and Sanitation Systems in Developing Countries
Wastewater reuse
• Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Areas of the Developing World
Wash areas
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, , Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.
Soak pits
• A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali, , Brooke T. Ahrens, February, 2005.
Latrines
• An Analysis of the Use of Desiccant as a Method of Pathogen Removal in Compost Latrines in Rural Panama, Josephine Kaiser, November 2006
• Compost Latrines in Rural Panama: Design, Construction and Evaluation of Pathogen Removal, Daniel Hurtado, March, 2005
• A Sanitation Plan for a Fishing Village in Jamaica that Incorporates Evapotranspiration Bed Technology; Kelly Stanforth, April, 2005.
• Composting latrine manual
• How to Promote the Use of Latrines in Developing Countries
On-site wastewater treatment
• A Sanitation Plan for a Fishing Village in Jamaica that Incorporates Evapotranspiration Bed Technology; Kelly Stanforth, April, 2005.
• Evaluation of Septic Tank and Subsurface Wetland for Jamaican Public School Wastewater Treatment, Ed Stewart, 2005
Solid waste management
• Urban Solid Waste Management: Waste Reduction in Developing Nations
• Feasibility and Action Plan for Compost Operation Incorporating Appropriate Technology at Riverton Disposal Site, Kingston, Jamaica; Preston Pendley, 2005
• A Study of the Households’ Willingness to Contribute to an Improved Solid Waste Management Program in Kratovo, Macedonia, Katrina R. Finn

Engineering and Construction
• Suspension Canyon and Gully Crossings for Small Scale Community Aqueducts: A Design Guide Based on Experiences and Observations from Peace Corps, Dominican Republic, Lyle J. Stone, April 2006.
• International Senior Design Projects

Indoor Air Quality
• The Effects of Traditional Cooking Technologies and Small Control Interventions on Indoor Air Quality in Cayo Paloma, Panama. Matthew Babcock, 2006.
 Technical Briefs
Composting latrine manual (1 Mb PDF file) 
Measuring River Discharge (Dr. John Gierke, 2002) (133 KB PDF File) 
Use of Manning Equations for Measuring River Velocity (Dr. John Gierke, 2002)(89 KB PDF File) 
Practice and importance of combining health/hygiene and environmental education with water sanitation for sustainable health benefits in rural areas (179 KB PDF File)  
How to Promote the Use of Latrines in Developing Countries (269 KB PDF File)  
Earthen Dams for Small Catchments: A Compilation of Design, Analysis, and Construction Techniques Suitable for the Developing World (668 KB PDF File)  
Protective Structures For Springs: Spring Box Design, Construction and Maintenance (1,310 KB PDF File)   
A Technical Brief for Springbox Construction (775 KB PDF File)
Visualizing Construction of a Gravity-Fed Water Supply System (2,064 KB PDF File)  
How to Select the Proper Human-Powered Pump for Potable Water (275 KB PDF file)  
An Overview of Sustainable Drinking Water Disinfection for Small Communities in the Developing World (322 KB PDF File)  
Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Areas of the Developing World (310 KB PDF File) 
Privatization of Urban Water and Sanitation Systems in Developing Countries (310 KB PDF File)  
Sustaining Rural Transportation in Developing Countries (299 KB PDF File)  
Urban Solid Waste Management: Waste Reduction in Developing Nations (314 KB PDF File)

 News Stories and Articles
Read about what engineers do in the developing world while serving as Peace Corps volunteers.
Core Values with Corps Program; Michigan Tech Alumnus, August 2002, (http://www.mtu.edu/alumni)  (123 kb PDF File)
Students raise funds for constructing latrines in Cameroon Story from Keweenaw Now Click here for photo of "Fundraisers on the can."

Publications and Presentations Visit the Publications and Presentations page to view our contributions to the field of sustainable engineering for international development.