Projects

DELTAP is a multidisciplinary project that aims to create positive impact through different research areas. Listed here you can find the four main sub-projects.

1. Mobile crowd participation as innovative methodology for water research

Access to mobile services in the developing world has outpaced the rate at which much of the population is gaining access to basic services such as electricity, sanitation, and banking (GSMA development, 2013). However, there is a knowledge gap regarding representation of the target crowd and specific boundary conditions for participation. The success of interventions to improve WASH practices ultimately rests on the ability to foster and maintain behaviour change, and existing frameworks suffer from a lack of focus on the contextual, psychosocial, and technology dimensions of WASH practices (Dreibelbis et al., 2013).

Aim: Develop and apply MCP as an integrated research tool for water supply in the local context through behavioural adaptation and end-user participation.

FUNDED BY: NWO

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2. Prediction and visualization of arsenic-free aquifers in deltaic systems

Research on geogenic arsenic contamination focusses on the inventory of its worldwide occurrence in Holocene fluvio-deltaic deposits at shallow depth (e.g., Chakraborti et al., 2003; Shah, 2008, 2010), and on the geochemical processes of arsenic desorption from its solid state (Dhar et al., 2014; Ghosh et al., 2015). To date, a holistic approach is lacking to link occurrence and spatial variability of arsenic-contaminated water in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta to geological conditioning (Donselaar, 2014). The work hypothesis proposed here is that arsenic release occurs in organic matter- rich clay that fills abandoned river bends (so-called clay plugs) and then propagates to, and gets stratigraphically trapped in adjacent permeable fluvial point-bar sand.

Aim: Develop new knowledge for prediction and visualization of arsenic-free aquifers in deltaic systems for smart selection of arsenic-free aquifers in deltaic systems, with geo-hydrological models and MCP. 

(Co-)promotors: Prof. Dr. Pacelli Zitha and Dr. Rick Donselaar

FUNDED BY: NWO

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3. Blueprinting the FIETS dynamics of small-scale piped water supply for ensuring safe water quality in urbanizing settlements

Drinking water interventions have so far predominantly focussed on treatment, whereas SPWS combines source selection, abstraction, treatment and distribution (full water supply chain: from source-to-mouth; Mara and Alabaster, 2008; Melo, 2005). For instance, once water is abstracted and treated, the water is repeatedly exposed to microbial re-contamination hazards, particularly through pipelines leakages and unregulated (in-house) storage to overcome intermittent water supply periods (Akinpelu et al., 2001; Ainsworth, 2004; Lee and Schwab, 2005; Trevett and Carter, 2008; Labite et al., 2010). Microbial water quality changes caused by temperature shifts, flooding events and unhygienic practices are frequently reported by end-users, but has as yet not resulted in smarter SPWS designs. Locally available materials (link to SP4) could contribute to water safety for their disinfecting properties (e.g., metallic surfaces; Wilks, 2005; van der Laan et al., 2014).

Aim: To develop a series of blueprints for SPWS of the future for dynamic urbanizing settlements, where the microbial water quality is maintained from source to the consumer’s mouth.

(Co-)promotors: Prof. Dr. ir. Luuk Rietveld and Dr. ir. Doris van Halem

FUNDED BY: NWO

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4. DIY-Material practices for water and hygiene related product-systems in Deltas 

The democratization of personal fabrication technologies in parallel to the rising desire of individuals for personalizing their products offers great opportunities to experiment distributed and shared production processes and valorise locally produced (recycle) materials. This new approach grounds on making, crafting and personal fabrication (Gershenfeld, 2005; Kuznetsov, Paulos, 2010; Tanenbaum et al. 2013) and highlights the renaissance of craftsmanship (Sennett, 2008; Bean, Rosner, 2012; Bardzell, Rosner, Bardzell, 2012; Bettiol, Micelli, 2013) merging design and self-production. These Do It Yourself practices are characterized primarily by reduced economical investments in R&D and technology (which often are low-cost) and secondly for the on-demand and on-site production of small amounts of material (Tanenbaum et al. 2013), reducing economic risks for self-producers (Rognoli et al., 2015). Nevertheless, the seamless integration of such DIY practices in deltas requires thorough understanding of social and cultural dynamics in acceptance, appreciation, deployment and use of local materials; which has not been explored to date.

Aim: Using local resources and making practices for DIY-Material making + empowering locals to create and repair their own water related product (systems)

FUNDED BY: NWO

RESEARCHERS: Federico Trevia [INDUSTRIAL DESIGN ENGINEERING - TUDELFT]

PROJECT LEADERS: Elvin Karana, Jan Carel Diehl [INDUSTRIAL DESIGN ENGINEERING - TUDELFT]