Week 2 (W2) 02.08.06 Discussion

2.08.06 week 2 IN-CLASS NOTES

In class notes (whiteboard), derived from discussions.
(Information not taken from in-class presentations.)

Costa Rica
- budget focused on education instead of military
- highest literacy
- $ 3000 annual income

Type of vehicle:
- low priced 4wd (drive to all four wheels)
- farming (export, agricultural, goods)
- transport (public)
- tourism (Tico/as)
- hazards
- ATV (all terrain vehicle)
- xtreme

Items of concern:
1. ticos have small incomes
2. corporate agriculture
3. charity, NGO’S
4. religion

Group research:
Terrain local, provincial terrain e.g. width of roads (turning circles, parking (urban)) conditions of roads

Terrain:
Volcanoes
Rainfall
Industry
Agriculture
Geography and climate

Regions were national parks are, major cities, major arterial roads (tourist transportation)

Misc:
Bauxite
Walking tractor (smaller footprint)
> http://cellar.org/iotd.php?threadid=1741
> http://www.plustech.fi/Walking1.html

AFTER OUR BREAK

MICHAEL SAID we should design an everybody vehicle
MARIO SAID we can’t!

Transport and technology and car designs
Platform, modularity

BRENDAN SAID some ideas are good
SHAE SAID we can’t have one vehicle to cater for each scenario, it is better to cater for each market/situation and individual and specifically designed vehicle.

Research
Develop Refinements
> FOUR QUESTIONS
Design
Evaluate

IF THE PEOPLE IN THE LOWLANDS STAY IN THE LOWLANDS AND THOSE IN THE HIGHLANDS STAY IN THE HIGHLANDS DO WE NEED AN ATV

DO THIS PEOPLE MOVE AROUND A LOT ? IF SO HOW FAR? FOR AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY OR DOMESTIC? IF NOT, DO THEY EVEN NEED AN EV, RATHER A SYSTEM…

INDUSTRIES SET UP CLOSE TO TRANSPORT_
Those who are in the highlands, isolated are the ones who need the most…

Transporting crops a requirement
Road train concept (lead vehicle is driven)

This week, draw what you think the vehicle should be! Put the ideas out there; get them out of your system.

Four categories of research:

Terrain
- climate, how it effects terrain
- physical conditions
- maps
- regions/provinces
- road conditions, how accessible they are.
- where the people are
- where the roads are
- transport infrastructure
- how and when it changes
- seasonal information
- gridded population

Industry
- is there a bauxite mine
- where is the mine
- agriculture
- what is the major source of revenue
- what industries are there, where?
- How do they transport goods?
- Distribution of goods (import)
- Who owns industries
- how many are employed
- where are those whom are employed situated
- is there a transient workforce, seasonal workers…
- what are they importing and exporting
- if goods are not exported where are they going?
- What’s there capacity to build cars… are there adequate facilities
- How big is the electronic stuff they are building
N.B if you can make cars, you can make tanks
- train, rail networks?
- what are there resources

Tico / Tica
- community
- where do they live
- what is there lifestyles
- percentages of whereabouts’ people live (pie graph)
- how much they travel
- status / socio economic position
- things they do
- cultural calendar (Chinese Calendar)
- what do they do for fun, recreation
- attitude towards technology
- who are the most hated, poorest, who gets the roughest treatment, who is the lowest of low…
- $3000 annual income, where does it go
- crafts
- who makes up the “higher class”
- are they safe drivers

NGO’s
- who is operating in Costa Rica
- what is there charter
- how much money goes in and comes out
- whom are the allied with
- what do people want from there government
- peace core, communities helping other communities
 volunteer
- “Wolfing” work on farm and get provided accommodation and food
- tourism industry
- human rights charter
- what causes the road accidents according to the government, are they educated about driving.
- Are they cynical about there government? Do they support there government.
- DFAT
- Costa Rica trade deals