Description of Project

As part of the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) program sponsored by WPI, these students are integrating technology with social issues found within Monwabisi Park- an informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. This team has specifically researched and identified the most important issues related to stormwater on the main road found within C-Section. With assistance from the Violence Protection Through urban Upgrading Program (VPUU), a city funded organization working on aspects of urban upgrading, co-researchers from Monwabisi Park and Dr. Kevin Winter, a professor at the University of Cape Town, this team has identified four problem areas along the road (hot spots). They have researched how to successfully incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) methods into the informal settlement, while taking into consideration local solutions that have worked effectively over time. By taking precise measurements of road and analyzing different social conditions, the team has assessed the feasibility of implementing an effective stormwater management system in the roads. By preparing this guidebook, the team hopes to create a plan for future implementation of various methods it has researched to help prevent damages and other issues in these areas that are commonly caused by excessive stormwater runoff and flooding.