PROJECT REDUCE MOISTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

According to USGS.com, landslides are defined as the movement of a

mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of “mass

wasting”, which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the

direct influence of gravity.

There are two main causes of landslides said on the website which are:

natural and human caused. Sometimes, the effect could be worsen if two were

combined.

According Lynn M. Highland, United States Geological Survey, And

Peter Bobrowsky, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural occurrences has three

paths that may take, water, seismic or volcanic.

Also, according to her, this three can all occur at the same time, making

landslides a more prominent natural issue.

In the Philippines, landslides are one of the most common natural

issues. The country is full of abundant in mountain ranges being a tropical

country. But with its beauty comes a lot of natural disasters if not preserved

effectively.

Just last November 8 this year. A report by Frank Cimatu on

Rappler.com states the death of three Apayao Resident including Board

Member Tolentino “Butz” Matanglao after being smothered with a landslide

across Baranggay Dibagat, Kabugao, Apayao.

The death toll with landslide incidents are rising alarmingly, with more

news stating more deaths each month.

With these, landslides are truly proven as one of the most underrated

yet devastating natural hazards our world faces today, so an in-depth solution

would be handy in today’s society.

 SUMMARY

Landslides are one of the most common natural hazard in the

Philippines, especially in provinces surrounded by mountainous areas such

as Catanduanes.

Many casualties have been reported due to this natural phenomenon

and we aim to reduce those numbers with our project.

Project Reduce Moisture is a solution for the ever increasing need of

mechanism to reduce landslides in the area. It uses this joint system

surrounding a focal mechanism naming Evaporation-Driven Engine

originally conceptualized by Ozgur Sahin which is now also being studied

further by more scientist up to this day.

This Evaporation-Driven Engine is connected in a junction of pipes,

creating this grid system inside the ground enclosed by a polycarbonate box

to reduce percentage of it being destroyed. This will suck the moisture from

the ground and rotating it, heating up the bacterium found on the water

particles, creating kinetic energy that produces electricity.

The system will be controlled by a panel and will be ‘boost’ by solar

panels to help the machine start.

 Cost will not be an issue, since it can be locally produce. Most of the

materials needed for the project is available in the locality, supporting Filipino

Craftsmanship.
 SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

 METHODS

On an article by James Temple, last 2017 at TechnologyReview.com. He

stated that Evaporation-Driven Engines generate power from the motion of

bacterial spores that expands and contracts as they absorb air moisture

through evaporation. This was the world’s first evaporation engine, but also

making it the world’s most flexible one, since according to Ozgur Sahin (One

of the pioneers that discovered this type of engine) himself, this engine can be

used on a number of Global Issues such as landslides.

This is the Original Model of the Evaporated-Driven Engines made by Ozgur

Sahin and some students from Columbia University.
(TechnologyReview.Com)

Figure 1. Model of EDE

 This Engine will be the focal point of the project, but just one of the

many components this system called Reduce Moisture.

Evaporated-Based Engines

Copper Piping

Control Panel Hydro-Based Generator

Figure 2. Flow Panel of the Reduce Moisture System

The graphics above shows how the system work. The moisture from the

mountain itself will be brought to the Evaporated-Driven Engines, this

engines will generate the electricity, and also reducing the moisture from the

soil decreasing the possibility of landslides in the area. The series of pipes will

also be a key component in the system. If ever the engines’ capacity will

increase above its intended handling, the pipes will serve as the “catching

system” to the excess water, storing it in an area, which also will be

transformed into electricity by the engines itself, creating this endless system

of electricity-producing and landslide decreasing knot.

 The electricity gathered from the system will be used in construction,

decreasing cost of the construction project itself and also helping the

environment since without the usage of heavy-duty generators, less emission

will take place.

Talking about going green, Tress will also be used as the long-term and

environmentally safe solution. But why do we have to install the system in

the first place? Natural Disasters could be extremely unpredicted, trees do

take time to grow, so during construction, trees could not be planted

immediately, and if so, the chance of it growing in a heavy duty environment

is thin.

Lastly, it will be covered by a Polycarbonate sheets making it hazard

resistant and ensuring its’ lifespan. This sheets will be provided by local

companies such as other of the materials needed for the project.

This mechanism will When a certain project is

During a project on a prevent adding moisture over, and the planted
Alongside, trees will be
mountainous area, the to the soil and helps tress are in right shape,
planted to serve as the
contractor would install produces electricity that they could easily remove
long-term solution
this mechanism the construction would the mechanism and reuse
need it on other areas.

Figure 3. Process of usage of the system

 COST OF PRODUCTION

The initial cost of the engine itself is already very cheap, as production

costs only Php250.00 or USD5.00. Adding import cost, the average engine

would cost around Php280.00, this may not look much but even greater deals
may be put out if the government would use the Philippine Market as source

of materials needed; the cost would be down by estimated 35%, on our initial

calculation. This would not only support local products but also lessen

Shipping-based Emission.
 REFERENCES

What is a landslide and what causes one?. (n.d.) Retrieved from

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-landslide-and-what-causes-one?#qt-

news_science_products=0#qt-news_sience_products

Lynn M., Peter B., (n.d.) The landslide handbook a guide to understanding

landslides. Retrieved from

https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1325/

Asean Briefing.(2017).Import and Export procedures in the Philippines best

Practices. Retrieved from

https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/2017/06/23/import-and-export-

procedures-in-the-philippines-best-practices.html

James T.(n.d.) Evaporation Engines could Produce More power than Coal

with a Huge Caveat. Retrieved from:

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608949/evaporation-engines-could-

produce-more-power-than-coal-with-a-huge-caveat/

Frank C., (November,2019) Apayao board member,2 others died in landslide.

Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/24445-apayao-board-

member-others-die-landslide-novemeber-2019