Wooohoooo! Tomorrow is FLL...
Good luck ya'll and remember, it's not about winning, it's about having fun!
Hey other SAP teams
Hey guys, we would have loved to make it to Nelspruit, but none of us have the time right now. Thanks again for the offer!
The 'Hidden Information' on the mat...
After a bit of Google'ing, we have found what we think may be the one solution to the 35% on the mat. Have a look at http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=78910. Something about the Siachen Glaciers in India melting due to military activity. The Glaciers have reduced their volume by 35% in the last 20 years
Desert Encroachment
Our team, ZapIT, has decided to focus on desert encroachment.
What is desert encroachment?
Desert encroachment is when deserts increase territory at an abnormal speed. The speed at which deserts are encroaching at present is between five and seven kilometres a year.
How does it affect us?
Because of the encroachment of the desert, more and more potential farming land is lost, thus resulting in food shortage and poverty which has been growing at an alarming rate over the past decades. This is becoming a major problem and is affecting our future on Earth.
How can we prevent it?
We can change these desolate areas into excellent farming land if we just make an effort. Firstly, water will need to be brought in. Water is precious, and there is so little of it that can be used, so we must make use of water purifiers. These machines take sea water and clean it so that it can be used for drinking water or crops.
Once cleaned, the water will be transported to its designated areas by underground pipelines.
The water must then be used in connection with ground fertilizing, tree planting and monitoring the ground with probes.
Fertilized ground can save up to 50% of water use, which would be the way to go in deserts where it is nearly impossible to get enough water. The most efficient one we could find through our studies is TerraCottem; this particular fertilizer is applied in over 50 countries throughout the world.
A recent survey has showed that by planting trees in the farmers’ lands the crop production is better and rainfall is increased. Thus planting trees is a great step in fighting desert encroachment.
The ground must also be monitored by probes to make sure that none of the water used is wasted by over irrigation or to stop the plants from dying thirst.
By doing this and planting farms, we can also solve the worldwide food crisis.
What is desert encroachment?
Desert encroachment is when deserts increase territory at an abnormal speed. The speed at which deserts are encroaching at present is between five and seven kilometres a year.
How does it affect us?
Because of the encroachment of the desert, more and more potential farming land is lost, thus resulting in food shortage and poverty which has been growing at an alarming rate over the past decades. This is becoming a major problem and is affecting our future on Earth.
How can we prevent it?
We can change these desolate areas into excellent farming land if we just make an effort. Firstly, water will need to be brought in. Water is precious, and there is so little of it that can be used, so we must make use of water purifiers. These machines take sea water and clean it so that it can be used for drinking water or crops.
Once cleaned, the water will be transported to its designated areas by underground pipelines.
The water must then be used in connection with ground fertilizing, tree planting and monitoring the ground with probes.
Fertilized ground can save up to 50% of water use, which would be the way to go in deserts where it is nearly impossible to get enough water. The most efficient one we could find through our studies is TerraCottem; this particular fertilizer is applied in over 50 countries throughout the world.
A recent survey has showed that by planting trees in the farmers’ lands the crop production is better and rainfall is increased. Thus planting trees is a great step in fighting desert encroachment.
The ground must also be monitored by probes to make sure that none of the water used is wasted by over irrigation or to stop the plants from dying thirst.
By doing this and planting farms, we can also solve the worldwide food crisis.
Research Links
http://worldlywise.blogspot.com/2007/09/desertification-in-sahel.html
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://heatisland.lbl.gov/Vegetation/Evapotranspiration.html
http://www.precisiontillage.com
http://www.answers.com
http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/Transpiration.html
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/transpir.html
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=78910
http://www.wikipedia.org
http://heatisland.lbl.gov/Vegetation/Evapotranspiration.html
http://www.precisiontillage.com
http://www.answers.com
http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/Transpiration.html
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/botany/transpir.html
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=78910
Who Does What?
Jon Petterson
Programming, Research, Presentation
Jessica Pickworth
Research, Team Coordinator, Presentation Song/Play, Pit area
Simeon Petterson
Building, Robot Care
Andrew Pickworth
Media, Probe Display
Joshua Petterson
Logistical Coordinator
Programming, Research, Presentation
Jessica Pickworth
Research, Team Coordinator, Presentation Song/Play, Pit area
Simeon Petterson
Building, Robot Care
Andrew Pickworth
Media, Probe Display
Joshua Petterson
Logistical Coordinator
Team List
Mentors
Carel Petterson
Benjan Petterson
Arthur Pickworth
Team Members
Jon Petterson
Jessica Pickworth
Simeon Petterson
Andrew Pickworth
Joshua Petterson
Carel Petterson
Benjan Petterson
Arthur Pickworth
Team Members
Jon Petterson
Jessica Pickworth
Simeon Petterson
Andrew Pickworth
Joshua Petterson
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