Puerto Rico Re_Start Prep Directors
Prof. Martha Kohen Prof. Anna Georas
University of Puerto Rico + University of Florida Collaborative Efforts October 2017 – March 2018
Puerto Rico Re_Start Workshop Directors Prof. Martha Kohen Prof. Anna Georas
Puerto Rico Re_Start Prep
Puerto Rico Re_Start Data Bank
Dr. Laurie Ortiz – Mendeley System Maria E. Barrios – Google Drive
Student Contributions to the Workshop
University of Florida students University of Puerto Rico students
Patricia del Moral
Rafael Lloveras
Luis Rodriguez
Ivexis Castro
Brayan Hernandez
San Juan
Ponce
Loiza - Vieques
Salinas
Arecibo
Hilyarit Santiago
Paola Santiago
College of Design, Construction, and Planning.
Alec Kostecki + Caio Thome Marinho
Alternative Water Management Techniques in PR Dams in Puerto Rico
https://yale.databasin.org/maps/new#datasets=7522c53308f942ceb202ab298f801a1a
Guajataca dam in Puerto Rico.
Environmental Engineering , College of Engineering/ARC 4390/UF
A map of major dams in Puerto Rico.
Monica Camacho
Guajataca Dam
Dam failure threat endangers 70,000 inhabitants Post Hurricane Maria • After Hurricane, water began escaping through a breach in an emergency spillway, flooding small villages in valley downstream. • All 38 dams in Puerto Rico is rated by the Army Corps of Engineers as having a “high hazard potential” because a lack of upkeep. • Dams are not a long-term solution: they weaken over time and are never certain to withstand the powerful force of mother nature. Monica Camacho, Environmental Engineering , College of Engineering/ARC 4390/UF
Crack in Guajataca forces evacuation for 70,000 people.
Water Collection and Storage Alternative Terracing, Reforestation, RWH 1.
Terracing
Terracing the steep slopes of the mountains • slows water run-off down, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil, reduces soil erosion Images: https://www.hunker.com/12236495/4-types-of-soil-conservation
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/42763731_fig1_Fig-1-Maps-of-Puerto-Rico-showing-a-the-900-barrios-classified-bypopulation-density
More protected forests are needed.
3. Household rainwater harvesting
2. Reforesting the land • slows water run-off down, maintaining moisture on land and in soil, reduces erosion [1]
• Low cost, low maintenance, safer than large reservoirs • reliable supply of water for non-potable uses or for emergencies
Monica Camacho, Environmental Engineering , College of Engineering/ARC 4390/UF
RWH
Issues Prior to Maria • Territory in debt of $70 billion • Government freeze on spending causing lack of attention on island • High cost of power due to expensive oil and natural gas sources
Megan Larsen
Why Go Off the Grid? • Severe storms damage transmission lines • Self-sustainable • Reduce air pollution • Free power resources and potential buy-back opportunities • 2010 legislature required PREPA to obtain 12% of electricity from renewable resources by 2015. • 15% by 2020 • 20% by 2035
Cistern Sizing • Based on an average household size of 3 • Each person using 50 gallons per day • Based on a 1,600 SF roof surface area • Overall cost including: • • • •
Cistern Additional gutters, filters, etc. Labor Annual maintenance
Cistern Sizing
PV Sizing • Based on same 1,600 square foot roof area home • Based on 3 person household • Each person uses 5,310 kWh annually
• Average Household uses 15,930 kWh • 15,930 x 0.19 cents per kWh = $3,026 on electricity every year
PV Sizing
• Step 1: Determine best case solar radiation available • 6.1 kWh/m²/day
PV Sizing
• Step 2: Find average highest temperature in the warmest month • August: 88º
PV Sizing • Step 3: Determine panel energy output • Panel energy output = 30Wh/ft²
Step 4: Determine Daily Demand (Assume 20% efficient panel) (30Wh x 2.0) = 60 Wh/day (43,764)/(60Wh/day) = 730 Square feet of required PV panels
Step 5: Determine the number of panels required (730)/(2*4 panels) = 92 panels
PV Sizing
Sustainable Future? • According to the life cycle cost analysis for cisterns, the amount of rainfall and roof area are not enough to capture the necessary amounts of water for a household for the year. • However, the photovoltaic panel system proves to be a very affordable option for Puerto Ricans to collect their own power. • I think electricity is the main issue that the island is suffering without after a natural disaster and being independent from the grid would prove to be positive for residents.
Puerto Rico Restart Fearless Ideas!!!
College of Design, Construction, and Planning. University of Florida
Joseph Olopade
Gift-Sun (5.53 Sun-Hours) • Potential: Electricity and Water resiliency • Concerns: Wind Uplift
• Solution: Proper cost efficient Engineering design (Cheap ballasted design is a proven design) • Estimated cost: $0.30/W (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
• Economic advantage: Puerto Rico has the potential to attract manufactures and research into solar and green power production which according to stocks around the world is on the rise. • The lack of mechanical parts in these systems also make them a cost efficient system as lack of moving parts means low maintenance and a longer life span. • These systems can be placed on buildings, parking lots and other structures as retrofits or add-in devises.
• Summary: Puerto Rico has a lot of Sun hours which makes it a vital location of harnessing energy. This energy can be used to produce power to facilitate pumps that can distribute water and facilitate businesses during the day time. Using a Utility tied in system would help reduce the cost of electricity on the island and help facilitate system resiliency.
Disaster mitigation • Forensic engineering would have to be conducted to understand why the solar field in Puerto Rico was destroyed. This could have been caused by improper installation. • Using Bernoulli's principles and calculating the uplift force created by a 185mph wind during an hurricane, a ballasting system can be easily designed to withstand expected forces. • Elon Musk also just finished installing a small solar field for an hospital in Puerto Rico. Study on how he ballasted his systems should be observed. • Solar fields in the Midwest which are prone to Tornedo wind speeds in excess of 185 mph should also be observed.
Anchoring Solar Farms through Effective Engineering
Destroyed Solar farm in Puerto Rico
Solar farm in Midwest susceptible to Tornado
Solar Information for San Juan, PR
Solar Irradiation availability (Sun hours) second to only the deserts.
Example in Gainesville, FL. (Hurricane Prone)
Utilized by the VA hospital and the Continuum apartment in Gainesville for parking lot shading and Energy Production
Low Head Hydro • Use of kinetic energy from rivers and streams to produce energy. • Unlike the traditional dam system, they do not require damming or a river. • Minimal effect on the surrounding ecosystem. • Sizes of systems vary from utility sizes to personal size. • Concept of system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3jApDTus6c
Puerto Rico Restart Building Resiliency
College of Design, Construction, and Planning. University of Florida
Joseph Olopade
Building Resiliency • Roof Reinforcement: Use of Hurricane clips at rafters to wall and beam support
• Hurricane straps to strengthen connections • Continuous roof sheathing for better uplift resistant
• Use of Ring-Shank nails (ASTM F1667) • See folder for specifications
Life and Property Safety • Use of FEMA safe rooms • Can be made from multiple building materials • 8’ x 8’ to 14’ x 14’ • Can be retrofitted to existing buildings • See attached documents for plans and specifications
Examples of Safe Room retrofits after a Tornado in the Midwest
Marcela Leite
Puerto Rico Pre-start Workshop Nov 1st 2017
Underutilized and Empty Buildings
Underutilized and Empty Buildings
Old San Juan
San Juan
- Puerto Rico has a lot of constructions in unsafe areas - The orange shades are some examples of areas that suffered with floodings during the hurricane, and where the houses were destroyed. - There is a estimated number of 40.000 construction in safe areas that are empty or underutilized.
Underutilized and Empty Buildings – In Brazil
- In Brazil, there is a survey of every empty building in downtown. This work has been done in order to use this buildings as social housing. - Some positive points from this initiative: . Create houses in an infrastructure area; . Recovery of historic buildings; . Refresh areas of the city that were forgotten
Underutilized and Empty Buildings – In Brazil NUMBERS:
- 81 Buildings are in process to be turned in to 1.065 units of social housing. - The plans for the future are to develop
around 21.784 units of social housing in underutilized areas
New social housing in Rio de Janeiro downtown
Example of building during the refurbishment
Underutilized and Empty Buildings Plans for the future in Puerto Rico:
- Identify underutilized and empty buildings
- Suggest projects of new housing the specific areas
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Silvia Aloisio
Puerto Rico Re_Start Prep Thank You! All rights reserved. © Copyright. University of Florida + University of Puerto Rico