At IDIN, we’re all about learning, especially when it’s hands-on. Here we’ve compiled some of our favorite resources, many of which are used at our trainings and summits around the world.
Resource Library
Performance Evaluation of a Two-Row Groundnut Planter
- Student Papers
This disseratation by KNUST student Priscilla Ama Dede Narh evaluates the performance of a manual two-row groundnut planter developed in a Creative Capacity Training in New Longoro, Ghana. The planter was evaluated on the parameters of seed damage, number of seeds discharged, seeding rate, planting depth, inter-row and intra-row spacing, effective field capacity and effective field effiiciency.
National Technology Business Centre Aluminum Project Report
- Student Papers
This report is based on an assessment study aimed at determining the unexploited capabilities and opportunities in the recycling aluminum value chain. The reports finds four main business opportunities in the value chain including collection, sorting and cleaning, refining and processing, and marketing.
PET Bottle Strip Cutter
- Student Papers
Trash is a big problem in Sao Paulo, Brazil. UC Davis students Ryan Pang and Daniel Quinn from D-Lab have worked to design and prototype a PET Bottle Strip Cutter for Miguel Chavez in the Innovation Center-Vila Nova Esperanca. The problem with the existing bottle strip cutter currently used by the center is that the design will not allow for adjustments to be made in the size of the plastic string created and is not set up for different sized plastic bottles. Cutting bottles into strands of plastic is important because the string can then be woven to make items such as chairs, green houses, fencing, and more. These products can generate income to improve the lives of people living in poverty. Additionally, in improving this design we can decrease the amount of plastic trash accumulation by repurposing it to create desirable goods.
Performance Evaluation of Both Hand and Foot Operated Rice Threshers
- Student Papers
This dissertation by KNUST student Dickson Duah evaluated the performance of two rice threshers originally produced in a Creative Capacity Building training in Konongo, Ghana. The threshers were evaluated on the parameters of speed of threshing drum, rate of threshing, capacity, efficiency, losses and drudgery. The foot-operated thresher was found to outperform the hand-operated thresher on all parameters. The student also made recommendations to improve the design of the thresher for better performance.
Essential Oil Distillation for Boa Vista do Acará
- Student Papers
A team of students from UC Davis D-Lab partnered with the Association of Organic Farmers of Boa Vista do Acará (APOBV) to build an oil distillation device as a follow-up to IDDS Amazon in 2016. They designed an oil distiller that can be built with local tools and materials, operate in humid conditions with fire as the primary energy source and produce oil at high quality in a high quantity to sell to tourists in local markets. This report chronicles the development and testing of this device.
Tetra Pak Challenge Project Report
- Student Papers
This report explores the viability of recycling Tetra Pak, a common packaging material found through Zambia, for waste management and sustainability purposes.
Zasaka: Impact Evaluation Research Design Recommendations
- Student Papers
This report was prepared by students in the Fall 2015 D-Lab: Field Research class to provide Zasaka with research design recommendations for their impact evaluation research.
Assessment of Quantity of Coconut Waste Generated and Management in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana
- Student Papers
This KNUST student thesis determined the quantity of coconut waste generated and assessed coconut waste usage and management in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Performance Evaluation of a Mixed Mode Solar Dryer Incorporating a Backup Heater for Drying Cocoyam Slices
- Student Papers
This dissertation by KNUST student Benjamin Donkor evaluates the performance of a mixed mode solar dryer with a backup heater. The dryer was evaluated on the parameters of drying rate, efficiency, and drying time with and without the backup heater.
An Analysis of Zambian Cast-Aluminum Pots
- Student Papers
Aluminum pots cast by small Zambian business often fail under normal use scenarios. This report explores why these pots fail and how local practices can be improved to prevent common use failures.