Support in stressed environments: transportable infrastructures for development and emergency support

The TIDES (Transportable Infrastructures for Development and Emergency Support) project aims to encourage information sharing and develop communities of interest in stressed environments. TIDES is part of the STAR (Sustainable Technologies, Accelerated Research) international research programme, which promotes affordable, sustainable support to stressed populations in post-disaster or post-war situations.

STAR-TIDES focuses on seven infrastructures, including water and sanitation. In the water sector it is focussing on the following technologies:

• Q-Drum, a low-cost rollable water container
• Aquatabs water purification tablets
• Water purifying products OneDrop and Bacsan

As yet, there are no technologies listed in the sanitation sector. The project is currently planning activities in the following four areas:

• Sub-Saharan Africa (household-level in hot, dry areas)
• Central America (camp-level in wet tropical areas)
• Afghanistan
• USA

In Afghanistan, the emphasis is on current activities in Nangarhar Province, information sharing, and links to the Visualisaton Laboratory at San Diego State University and the FabLab in Jalalabad.

Web site: http://www.star-tides.net

Keywords

• Information and communication
• Water quality
• Water supply - Water collection
• Water supply - Water treatment