Design and Engineering for Low Resource Settings

A Practical Guide

Author: Santosh Jagtap

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Book Series : SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology

Part of: Springer Professional "Business + Economics & Engineering + Technology" , Springer Professional "Engineering + Technology" , Springer Professional "Business + Economics"

Table of Contents

About this book

This book provides an integrated and practical methodology aimed at designing, developing, and implementing holistic solutions for the betterment of people living in low resource settings within developing nations. These people confront a multitude of challenges at individual, institutional, economic, and technological levels. Consequently, integrated solutions are necessary to satisfy their unmet or underserved needs effectively. Using a comprehensive approach, this book offers a systematic methodology for designing such integrated solutions, supplemented by case studies and actionable guidelines.

Outstanding features of the book include:

An integrated methodology and guidelines for designing, developing, and implementing holistic solutions to support development of resource-constrained societies. The guidelines cover phases in the design process such as understanding context and needs, concept exploration and detailing, and implementation. Case studies illustrate each guideline. Visual illustrations for easy understanding of the guidelines. Actionable methods and strategies for applying the integrated methodology and guidelines in projects.

Practitioners, students, and researchers, interested in the sustainable development of low resource settings, will find this book motivating and practical.

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Design and Engineering for Low Resource Settings: An Integrated Methodology

Abstract

Design plays a crucial role in satisfying unmet or underserved needs of resource-constrained individuals and societies. This chapter presents an overview of various design and engineering approaches, such as appropriate technology, design for the real world, base of the pyramid, frugal innovation, and social innovation, aimed at designing and developing appropriate solutions adapted to specific conditions and deprivations encountered by resource-constrained population. It highlights the critical need of designing and developing integrated solutions that address multidimensional challenges such as weak infrastructure, limited resources, and poor literacy levels, while taking into account strengths of these resource-constrained societies. The chapter then outlines ten guidelines for devising such integrated solutions and presents an integrated methodology by mapping these guidelines over a design process.

Santosh Jagtap

Chapter 2. Context: Holistic Understanding and Adaptation

Abstract

This chapter presents details of three key guidelines that can potentially support the process of designing, developing, and implementing effective solutions for the betterment of resource-constrained population. Firstly, it presents detailed information on the guideline about developing holistic understanding of the local context. Secondly, the chapter highlights the importance of the guideline about adapting solutions to the specific circumstances and conditions in the local context. Finally, it presents details of the guideline about building on strengths within the local context, suggesting that leveraging socio-cultural assets and employing existing resources in resource-constrained communities can lead to more impactful solutions. For each of these three guidelines, the chapter presents a case study, while offering recommendations on how the guidelines can be implemented in a project.

Santosh Jagtap

Chapter 3. Codesign in Low Resource Settings

Abstract

This chapter explores the importance of codesigning with people living in resource-limited areas. It outlines several advantages of codesign with these people, focusing on improvements to the design process and enhancement of social and human development of these communities. Based on findings gleaned from extant studies, the chapter offers recommendations for how organisations can codesign with these communities, including allocating resources, choosing appropriate codesign methods, and identifying and addressing barriers that may hinder codesign activities. By presenting these findings, the chapter can support organisations with strategies to ensure inclusive and effective codesign with resource-poor populations.

Santosh Jagtap

Chapter 4. Design Strategies for Training, Awareness, and Income Generation

Abstract

This chapter discusses three key guidelines to support the integrated process of designing, developing, and implementing inclusive solutions tailored to resource-constrained communities. Firstly, the chapter presents details of the guideline for designing context-specific training programmes to address knowledge and skill gaps of various stakeholders, including resource-constrained individuals and communities. Secondly, it discusses the guideline about designing contextualised awareness programmes to serve specific conditions and literacy levels of resource-constrained individuals, ensuring successful acceptance and continued usage of solutions. Lastly, the chapter presents the specifics of the guideline about the generation of income opportunities in alleviating several challenges faced by resource-constrained communities. For each of these three guidelines, the chapter includes a case example, while offering recommendation on how the guidelines can be implemented in a project.

Santosh Jagtap

Chapter 5. Lifecycle Engineering and Intersectoral Collaboration

Abstract

This chapter explores the following three key guidelines for designing, developing, and implementing integrated solutions for supporting social and human development of resource-limited societies. First, it highlights the critical guideline of identifying and implementing life cycle requirements in various phases of the design and development process. Secondly, it provides details of the guideline about collaborative design, highlighting the crucial role of partnerships between NGOs, local governments, and for-profit entities in addressing complex constraints and facilitating design of effective solutions. Finally, the chapter discusses the guideline about the importance of adapting project management to the specificities of local contexts, emphasising the crucial role of avoiding assumptions and biases in the process of designing appropriate solutions for resource-constrained societies. For each of these three guidelines, the chapter provides an illustrative example, while offering recommendations on how the guidelines can be implemented.

Santosh Jagtap

Title: Design and Engineering for Low Resource Settings
Author: Santosh Jagtap
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-031-66156-3
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-66155-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66156-3