As part of their studies, engineering students from Griffith University have been helping rebuild a cyclone-devastated area of Vanuatu.
The fourth-year civil engineering students, who are completing their final year in an Industry Affiliates Program, recently travelled to an area devastated by Cyclone Pam in 2015.
This is part of Griffith University's Climate Change Response Program, where the University is working with Vanuatu's Tafea Provincial Government to rebuild Tanna Island. The program aims to not just rebuild the community, but to do so in ways that help them be resilient in the face of ongoing and future extreme weather events.
When Cyclone Pam hit in 2015, the Enkatalie area of Tanna was one of the hardest hit, with homes, community buildings, businesses, infrastructure and vegetation destroyed, along with a tragic loss of life.
The revitalisation project involves constructing community buildings in 15 villages. Each building must be designed to withstand Category 5 cyclones, and equipped with a solar energy mini power system.
The buildings would act as safe houses during cyclones, while at other times serving as health clinics, classrooms and fulfilling other community purposes.
Beyond Griffith University, Queensland businesses and industries are also involved in the program. Brisbane-based Nev House is designing and constructing the buildings, while Gold Coast firm Green NRG Co, a subsidiary of LEDTek Global, is the inventor of the mini power system.
Griffith University has been given a 3-year research contract to undertake independent monitoring and evaluation of the buildings and the mini power systems. It is under this program that the students found themselves on Vanuatu, evaluating the smart off-grid renewable energy and storage power solution, as well as the cyclone-proof housing solution.
The Griffith team will provide independent monitoring and evaluation of the project over the next three years, with a particular focus on how the energy is being used and the social impacts of these new facilities.
The students were able to extend their learning outside of the classroom, immersing themselves in the remote environment in which engineering was applied while completing their hands-on engineering tasks.
Industry Affiliates Program project supervisor Professor Rodney Stewart said the students got industry experience by working with professional engineers, and were also exposed to local indigenous cultures, languages and ways of life and focussed on Griffith’s commitment to social justice and sustainability.
"Helping vulnerable Pacific Island communities while providing that real training to engineering students is rewarding for everyone involved," he said.