Aleutia Rapid Deployment Solar ICT Container Classroom

I.C.T.
Container Lab
Research - Stage A Design Stage B Design Stage C Additional Drawings E S A L A PrOJects, LearNiNG PlaNet, AleUtia
Stage A - Contents
Introduction Collaborators Ghana
Cultural Summary & Economy Government Initiative 03 04 05 07
Curriculum
Curriculum & Teaching in Ghana
Local Architecture
An Overview Locally Resourced Building Materials Modern Building Materials Local Labours
Climate
09 10 11 11
Climate Profile in Ghana Climatic Data & Analysis
12 13 14 15
Technology Container
Requirements, Dimensions & Usage Stats
Design Strategies Precedents
Passive Cooling Strategies & Hybrid Approach Investigation
16 17 19
Stage A Conclusion
Introduction
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Introduction
The ICT Container Lab is a collaboration between Learning Planet an educational NGO providing infrastructure assistance to remote or disadvantaged communities, Aleutia an innovative low-power computing manufacturer specializing in the developing world, and ESALA a pro bono architecture design team at the University of Edinburgh. The project emerged from an on-going partnership between Aleutia and Learning planet, who recruited Esala to assist with the initial design. The brief is to plan and design a self-powered, mobile, instant ICT classroom prototype, based on 40-foot or 20foot shipping containers. The classroom must function as an affordable, rapid to deploy, flexible & inspiring learning environment for ICT education and other developmental needs. Its aimed at both urban and rural areas where access to such education and infrastructure is poor or non-existent. The initial project is aimed at late primary and early secondary school children (9-16 years of age). The goal is to deliver a prototypical scheme that will be constructed in the grounds of Ghanas House of Parliament as a showcase for decision makers on innovative, rapid deployment, ICT training facilities for Ghanas schools. This working report documents the design teams research, strategies and design developments for the project. The compiled information, investigations and research, highlight issues to be addressed with the deisgn. Strategies and responses are then put forward as solutions to those issues. This report provides fundamental references and backgrounds, alongside the project guidelines to enable the team to progress the developing scheme effectively and efficiently. The report is structured around the context of Ghana - as the first placement for the ICT lab - with potential installations in both rural and urban areas. First, we examine the countrys governmental initiatives in education followed by a look at the current curriculum, teaching methods, class hours and issues. Second, an analysis of local resources and environment is undertaken for the developmnent of passive design strategies. Aleutias suggested technology for the ICT lab is also lited, and any precendents have been compiled for design reference.
Collaborators: Partners in Ghana

ZoomLion and deployment of reliable, low energy, low cost, high performance, self-powered IT, Aleutia hope to to provide technological accessibility to under-privileged children in urban and rural areas, right across the continent. Learning Planet
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Collaborators | Partners in Ghana
ZoomLion are a subsidiary company of the Jospong Group in Ghana and will play a part in helping the manufacture of the ICT prototype to be displayed to members of the government. ZoomLion are predominantly a waste management company, however through close work with the government expanding Ghanas hygiene infrastructure they have started to expand into other areas that help community development in Ghana and parts of western Africa. With a special interest in eco-friendly design, their projects have included organizing a Costal Eco-brigade as well as a National Forest Plantation Development project to control deforestation. One of their strong beliefs is that an important part of developing a strong infrastructure is creating local jobs that contribute to community development. Aleutia
Learning Planet help remote or disadvantaged communities create safe, stimulating, sustainable environments where both children and adults can learn and develop new skills. Working in collaboration, they design, co-finance and construct communal village schools, equip them with clean energy, clean water and IT, provide on-going teachertraining with local partners, and provide engineering and other technical expertise. Learning Planet have successfuly brought remewable energy, the first computers, and high speed internet to around 4000 people in rural Nepal between 2011 - 2013. They are currently building Dhawa.Net - the first rural community owned ISP in Nepal which will bring a further 14 remote schools online, and make wireless internet available in almost every house in the Dhawa district. In 2011, Learning Planet began partnering with Aleutia - a company that shared their goals and vision - to help bring rugged, reliable, super low power IT into some challenging remote environments. The success of this collaboration catalysed the initiation of the ICT Container Lab project.
Aleutia specialises in manufacturing low power computers for use in extreme climates and conditions, with a unique emphasis on design for use in the developing world. They will act as hardware provider for the ICT classroom, which will house a new iteration of their self-contained Solar Classroom in a box. By innovating the development
Cultural Summary and Economy

the forest region in Ghana. The savanna region is regarded as the least economically developed area, however new irrigation such as manmade Lake Volta has opened the land up to use for livestock and farming of cereal crops. According to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) the country is thought to have a stable economy, as the prices of gold and cocoa are relatively high. In addition, Ghana announced the discovery of oil in 2007, which is presenting new challenges to the government despite its obvious economic advantages.
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Ghana | Summary & Governmental Initiative
Health
While Ghana still has major health issues, since independence the government has been able to improve nutrition, maternal health and childcare. Through providing sanitation, medication and education, the government has been able to control endemic diseases such as malaria and pneumonia which previously had high death tolls. However the majority of communities are still without adequate sanitation or water-supply facilities and as a result are unable to improve upon their public health. Literacy in Ghana The majority of the countrys population are Christian (63%) although the country also has a small percentage of Muslim (16%) and indigenous (21%) religions. In total, Ghana has over 50 ethnic groups, all of which maintain important traditions and individual identities which all contribute to Ghanas national culture. Many areas of Ghana are ethnically conscious, in particular northern Ghana where tensions have been known to rise with violent outcomes. In the past, the government has been particularly careful to downplay ethnic differences; this is something that has been aided by the adoption of English as their common language. The Ghanaian government has now taken steps to address these cultural differences in an effort to unify the many ethnic groups in Ghana to strengthen their national identity and enable an environment for national development.
Upper Upper East West Northern
Social Anthropology
Ghana is a sub-Saharan former British colony which gained independence in the late 1950s. With an estimated 25 million citizens the country has a wide variety of backgrounds spread evenly over both rural (48%) and urban areas (52%).
Brong-Ahafo Ashanti Western
Volta
Eastern Greater Accra
Central
Economic
In general Ghana has three major geographic regions; the coast, the forest and the northern savanna although the boundaries of these regions are difficult to define. The majority of the countrys farming and extraction of natural resources comes form
Left: Zoning in map shows illiteracy status for population 11 years and older in Ghana by region and district with the Northern region being most illterate while Greater Accra being the least illiterate. Right: Literacy status for population 11 years and older by region and district 2010. Source: www.statsghana.gov.gh
Upper East Upper West Northern Brong-Ahafo Volta Eastern Ashanti Western Central Greater Accra Literate Non-literate
Government Initiatives
National Commission on Culture
The government in Ghana has set up the National Commission on Culture and hopes to preserve and protect Ghanaian heritage and culture. They hope to ensure that traditional customs and values are adapted and developed in their growing and modernizing society. Through the development of cultural institutions and programs they seek to promote traditional values such as dignity, honesty, peace and attitudes towards nature. In responding to modern developments while maintaining tradition they hope to generate wealth and alleviate poverty. Conclusion Through researching the local governments and their current initiatives, it becomes clear that our learning container can be used to benefit the community as a whole by making wider education available to people of all ages in the communities, particularly in rural areas. The utilization of media such as film has proven effective for governmental initiatives in the past and also demonstrates a desire for new media and entertainment in rural communities. The container could not only be used to inform but also could provide a method of allowing communication between the people and its government, enabling them to become more responsive to the changing needs of their people. The idea of scaling up also becomes a recurrent theme with governmental initiatives. Emphasis has been placed upon the younger generations and providing them with a means of progression and modernization with a view to benefit the future economy and establish a developed technological, educational and economic infrastructure.
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Ghana | Summary & Governmental Initiative
The Ghana Open Government Partnership Initiative

The Ghanaian government recognizes that corruption is one of the countries biggest problems and hopes to address the issue with the utilization of new technologies to empower people and promote transparency in government. The initiative aims to increase access to new technology, providing services such as Internet access and mobile technology, providing an opportunity for information sharing, public participation, and collaboration. In doing this Ghanaian people can be made aware of the roles their government plays and will be better equipped to make informed decisions. This initiative develops secure online spaces and makes technology affordable while also providing support for the citizens of Ghana to use it. While promoting technology, the government also understand that technology is a complement, not a substitute, for clear, useable, and useful information, demonstrating recognition for a greater need for educational material.
Curriculum & Teaching

The use of computer technology for teaching and learning and the benefits that come with it has been of hot topic in Africa in recent years. This has resulted in a nationwide effort to incorporate the subject of Information Communication and Technology into the school curriculum, with many countries reforming, or planning to reform, their national education policies accommodate this. Classroom Congestion One challenge faced by schools in Africa that incorporate ICT into their curriculum is overcrowding and congestion, which can result in overheating and teaching difficulties. This is caused by large class sizes (80 students to 1 teacher is not uncommon) and the high ratio of students per computer. In most cases it is not feasible to provide every student with an electronic device and it is important that the design of an ICT classroom accommodates this. Teachers therefore require a space that is flexible enough to accommodate large numbers of students, that allows for splitting them into groups and that allows for ease of movement between working areas.
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Curriculum | Teaching Methods, Class Hours & Previous Problems
Ghana
Our country of focus, Ghana, has already produced its own ICT in Education Policy, which was implemented in 2007 after a recognition of the subjects ability to support the governments aim to transform the country into an information rich and knowledge based economy and society. The policy states a requirement for ICT to be used to teach and learn at all levels of the education system, leading to its inclusion in the basic school curriculum where ICT is now examinable. Schools that have incorporated ICT into their curriculum have faced and are facing a number of challenges (not without success) along the way and this sections aim is to highlight those that will have significant influence on the design of an ICT classroom.
A New Teaching Environment

The introduction of ICT into the school curriculum follows a governmental desire to provide its people with an education that goes beyond the traditional practice of memory-based learning with one that encourages creative and critical thinking, skills that are believed to be crucial in meeting the challenges of the 21st century world. In order to achieve this ICT classes must go beyond only teaching students how to use the equipment and must focus on providing their students with the ability to use the technology to generate new learning content. Thus, teachers need a space to work in that goes beyond the traditional classroom setup and that allows them to function in a new information environment that is constantly changing and where there are no one time activities. They need open, flexible, authentic and autonomous learning environments to teach in.
Curriculum & Teaching

E-Learning and the Community
The use of computer technology has allowed the emergence of new methods of teaching, one example being Open Educational Resources (OER). OERs are learning and teaching materials (including lesson plans) that are free to download and edit and that allow ever-present access to open content and open courses, providing a cheap solution that is easier to distribute than the traditional textbook. The use of e-learning is justified by its ability to provide education anywhere a learner has an electronic device such as a tablet or a mobile phone. Interestingly, they allow their users to create their own courses using text, graphics, quizzes, audio and video. One challenge faced by African governments is the creation of tight relationships between communities and educational institutions. It is feasible to suggest that allowing community wide access to ICT classrooms and their digital content (e.g. OERs) outside school hours could help encourage a sense of ownership and local maintenance of the classroom. It would also satisfy a common complaint shared by students, which is that they are not offered enough time to use the technology due to short class times and the closing of ICT classrooms in the evenings and weekends. The Ghana Education Service is not prepared to pay overtime allowance to ICT instructors, however if it is possible to have a classroom with a 24 hour wireless server, students and community members could take their own devices to it and download learning content wirelessly, without the classroom having to be open at all.
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Curriculum | Teaching Methods, Class Hours & Previous Problems
Conclusion
A new, self contained ICT classroom, which accommodates active learning environments that communities can care for independently, could not come at a better time. By demonstrating a new way to rapidly and affordably deploy and maintain effective flexible IT learning spaces, The ICT Classroom Project is in line with Ghanas key stated aims for the next 10 years. If the solution can successfully inspire local commercial, governmental and non governmental bodies in Ghana to invest and continue to innovate, the ICT Classroom Project could be a key component of a successful IT training policy for the whole nation.
Local Architecture: An Overview
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Local Architecture | An Overview
Examples of vernacular architecture in Ghana.
Independence Square in Accra, Ghana.
Architecture reflects the people. Hence architecture, especially vernacular architecture in Ghana, is based on a dynamic conception. Every individual had his definite place with the community. Each shared responsibility for all other... Udo Kultermann; New Architecture in Africa. Architecture in Ghana today is in variance on one hand there is the vernacular architecture that is still occupied, while other buildings embrace modern building construction methods. The latter is obvious in the urban regions of Ghana, the capital city of Accra is no less different than other modern cities across the globe.
Local Architecture: Locally Resourced Building Materials

Contrary to buildings in modern towns, the construction of buildings in rural Ghana are very much influenced by the availability of local materials that varies between different areas of the country. Below is a list and summary of these materials categorised through the building components: Foundations : i. Stone: commonly constructed with in South Ghana. ii. Mud: rammed raft foundation, laterite soil with aggregate of gravel or sand are commonly used. iii. Clay. Floor : i. Mud: Often, the foundation of the building is the floor slab itself, though another layer of mud or sand screed are often used as finishes. Sometimes, mud bricks are used. ii. Clay. i. Mud: through the Atakpame construction, sun-dried mud blocks, and used in the wattle and daub construction. Sometimes, old mud walls are recycled, as in the case in Kasuliyili of the Dagomba Village. ii. Timber/Bamboo : used in timber wall frame/structure ( as in the wattle and daub construction.) Split bamboo fronds for a ventilated wall. iii. Palm and coconut trees. Split palm fronds for screen walls. iv. Creepers: to tie horizontal and vertical timber framework together as a joint. v. Plaster, a mixture of cow dung, locust bean pod juices and mud. As the surface dries, it hardens and becomes impervious to water, lending to the smoothness and durability of the wall. i. Mud, used in the construction of flat roofs. ii. Timber/bamboo, to construct roof frame/structures for both gabled and flat roofs. iii. Palm leaves for thatched roofs provide a bigger potential for rainwater harvesting as water runs smoothly off the leaves.
Diagram shows wattle and daub construction.
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Local Architecture | Locally Available Materials & Local Labour
Walls :
A constructed hut finished with palm fronds and roofing from palm leaves.
Diagram briefly showing a typical construction with timber.
Roof :
Photo of a building constructed with the wattle and daub method. Note the finishing effects of an engraved wall.
A building in Ghana constructed with bamboo as a facade screen. Bamboo can be found in abundance in the country and it is an excellent source for construction material.
Local Architecture: Modern Building Materials

About 70% of Ghanas population live in the south, while the remaining 30% live in the more rural north. 50% of the population live in the countrys urban area that are concentrated in the south. As Ghana embraces modernity like any other developing country, conventional building materials for construction are becoming widely available. For example, concrete blocks, insulated concrete formwork (ICF), aluminium window casement, floor tiles and many others.
Local Architecture: Local Labour

The construction of Ghanas vernacular architecture involves both men and women in the labour force. The men will mainly be constructing the structural components of the building the rammed raft foundation (or any specific regional substructure), the superstructure of walls and laying of roofs. Meanwhile, the women tend to the building elements and finishes weaving for walls or thatched roofs, applying the finished surface, etc. Thus, the construction and maintenance of a locally resourced building is self-sustaining and efficient for the community initiative. In modern day Ghana, local skills and resources are required by the industry of such a developing nation. Carpentry in particular is Ghanaians dominant craftsmenship. This is no surprise as timber and bamboo are abundant in this country because of its position in the tropical monsoon region. Other prominent local craftsmenship consists of blacksmithing and pottery. Thus, utilising these available resources is highly ideal for the ICT classroom project.
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Local Resources | Locally Available Materials & Local Labour
Carpentry, Ghanaians craftsmenship.
dominant
A middle class building in Ghana constructed with the conventional (modern) building materials.
Climate: Climate Profile in Ghana

(Harmattan)
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Climate | Climate Profile in Ghana
Wa
Average temperature: 28.7C Total Precipitation: 992 mm
Tamale
Accra
Takoradi
(ITCZ SW)
Ecological Zones of Ghana.
Elevation Profile of Ghana.
Located in West Africa and along the Guinea Coast between latitudes of 4 an 12 N, the climate in Ghana is tropical warm and comparatively dry along the south-east coast, hot and humid in south-west while it is hot and dry in the north. Strongly influenced by the West African Monsoon, the rainfall seasons of Ghana are controlled by the movement of the tropical rain belt a.k.a. the Inter-Tropical Conversion Zone (ITCZ), oscillating between the northern and southern tropics annually. Moist air from the Atlantic is predominantly blown from the south-west, but hot and dusty air
from the Sahara desert (a.k.a. Harmattan) is blown from the north-east of the ITCZ. Thus,
this pattern of two opposing wind directions is known as the West Arica Monsoon. In northern Ghana, a single wet season occurs between May and November while the period between December and March observes a dry season when the Harmattan wind blows north-easterly. Meanwhile, the southern regions of Ghana have two wet seasons one from March to July, and another from September to November.
Climate: Climate Data & Analysis
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Climate | Climatic Data & Analysis
Assesment of Passive Methods
Outside of Comfort Zone (red) Sun Shading of Windows (2) Natural Ventalation (7)
Thermal Massing (3,4)
Climate and Comfort Analysis for Accra, Ghana in School Hours.
In general, climate is hot and humid. Cooling and dehumidification are definitely required throughout the whole year. Adaptive thermal comfort due to natural ventilation will provide a habitable environment. However, if looking into standard thermal comfort with passive design methods, more consideration is demanded for providing dehumidified and cool air into the building. Moreover, solar radiation is abundant and cloud cover reaches 65% annually. Glare issues should be considered, especially for rooms with computers.
Ground Temperature varies from 25 to 27 in a 4 m depth of ground. Research on earth tubes could be conducted since it might be an effective way of providing ventilation, passive cooling and dehumidification. Wind speed is limited - it varies from 2 m/s to 5 m/s throughout the whole year. Overall, even with the application of all passive cooling methods, it may be necessary to apply hybrid mechanical systems.
Technology
Solar Panels
The dimensions of each solar panel is 1632 x 986 mm with a weight of about 19kg. 6 solar panels will be supplied.
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Technology | Requirements, Dimensions & Usage Stats
Batteries
The batteries need to be placed in a well ventilated cool area preferably away from the users as they give off some noxious gases. 5 batteries each weighing 50kg and ~550x200x200mm. Space to adapt must be accommodated for as batteries may change.
22 Inch Aleutia All in One Fanless PC
Router
The wireless router will allow other electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops) in the area to connect both to the internet and to an offline database of information stored in the container. This would mean that even in areas of poor connection a wide variety of information including Wikipedia, videos, and educational material could be available to download and be used by everyone.
Storage space required for the bank of batteries. ~550x200x200mm
Charge Controller
This small device regulates the energy from the solar panels and batteries. Ideally it should be wall mounted somewhere safe near the batteries and where the cables for the solar panels enter the box. All the components of the charge contoller can be mounted in about 1000x500mm of wallspace.
The less enclosed the device is the farther it can transmit a signal so looking into an option of an antenna or tower may be feasible.
Configuration
The classroom can be configured in several different ways. When the classroom is closed , the router and a server could remain operational to allow surrounding buildings to connect to the IT and communications resources. Another possibility is external charging stations which can be accessed even when the building is locked. Full-use of the containers renewable energy resources - which might be sold for low cost as a reliable lighting source to any neighbouring houses, or could provide 24/7 school premised or security lighting - should be investigated for each deployment. To avoid overuse or abuse of the service, such facilities would need monitoring in each case.
Computers
The container must be designed to fit 10 x Aleutia 22 All in one PCs. This means the desk space required for each computer has a minimum width of 540mm and a minimum depth of desk space of about 750mm. The computers are fanless and therefore can be placed anywhere, however they will still emit heat when running and will be stationary.
Container
Specifications The use of a building container as the base and the primary shipping method for the ICT classroom has both advantages and disadvantages all of which must be addressed in the design process. The containers selected for this project are a standard Normal Cap 40 ft container (LxWxH 12.1mx2.4mx2.6m) and a 20ft container (LxWxH 6mx2.4mx2.6m) which will be recycled ex-shipping containers. Structure Structurally the container can be viewed as being composed of many smaller components. Simplified there are two main elements - the frame and the panelling. The frame of the container is a simple 12 edged cuboid with the inclusion of more beams across the ground plane to help bare the load inside the container. The panelling is composed of corrugated steal of varying thickness which is placed in between the frame. The composition of the two elements makes a strong ridged structure in which the external frame carries the load while the panelling provides the lateral and horizontal bracing. This reliance on both components means whenever a section of panelling is removed it must be replaced with further bracing as the individual frame is relatively weak and will buckle under load if bracing is not provided. It is helpful to view the structural composition of the container like an I-Beam; the flanges take the load but without the web would bend and snap and without the flanges the web would struggle to take the load. The roofing panels are capable of bearing around 250kg so it is important to make sure that the roof load is transferred down the corner columns. Also due to the bracing nature of the panels it is not advisable that any cuts are made in the panelling within half a meter of the corners. In the selection of the containers it is important to be wary of any extensive rusting of the steel under the paint especially around the frame as this is a serious structural issue and will likely be why the container was retired from use.
Shipping Container Assembly
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Shipping Container | Specifications & Limitations
Transportation As it was the previous primary function of the container, the transportation abilities of the container are excellent. The ample space means that all the necessary technical equipment, as well as all additional building materials can be delivered on site within the single container. It will be important to account for the length limitations in the design so that all elements of the classroom can be disassembled and fit within the transportation space
Loading Points on a Standard Container
Design Strategies
The design of the ICT classrooms will use the modular steel shape of a shipping container, which will then be clad and reconfigured in order to incorporate passive design strategies of natural ventilation and thermal mass. We feel that the container is an excellent method of reusing an existing structure as well as offering a quick and inexpensive solution to a new building. The structure will operate off-grid and will investigate strategies of an Autonomous House, with the incorporation of photovoltaic panels on the roof. Solar energy reserves will satisfy the needs for lighting and the use of electronic equipment (laptops, tablets) and no energy will be spent for artificial cooling. The final response will be a hybrid structure, combining local materials with the steel frame structure of the container, for the design of a bioclimatic responsive building. The aim of the design is to test concept design using IES simulation technology and investigate the different techniques and methods for achieving thermal comfort within the ICT classroom, located in a tropical climate and without the use of air-condition. The container will have the possibility of travelling to different places in the form of a box and then reconfigured on site using the expertise of the local workmanship. However, when placed at its based location it will become permanent and will initiate a further designing and reconfiguration of its adjacent territory. Furthermore, the design will explore further possibilities of the structure been used throughout the day and present a multi-use function by hosting events or community meetings organized in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the residents. With this in mind, the design will offer the possibility of enlarging the footprint of the building by using temporal or removable devices, like a tent-fabric.
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Design Strategies | Passive Cooling Strategies & Hybrid Approach Investigation
Above: Cross ventilation with manually adjustable louvres
Above: Summer Cooling System
Precedents
Sean Godsell Architects - Future Shack The Future Shack is a mass produced relocatable house for emergency and relief housing. The study looks into the structure of the design, particularly the parasol roof that is initially packed inside the container and the mobility of the scheme as a whole.
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Precedents
Tsai Design Studios - Vissershok Container Classroom The Vissershok Primary School located at Durbanville valley (on the outskirts in Cape Town) is a rural school dedicated to children of farm workers and underprivileged communities living in Du Noon. The 12-meter recycled container is an independent classroom for 25 students aged 5-6. This case study is analysed for the designs effectiveness in being minimal yet robust. The internal classroom space is flexible in capacity desks and chairs are taken out when needed for schooling hours, and they are stored away to create a child-friendly learning corner. Moreover, the connection between the internal space with the external designed spaces is a good example to be taken for the projects space planning. Tsai Design Studios - Piketberg Sports Centre, South Africa This Sports-In-A-Box container scheme is briefly analysed for its recognised sustainability in design, as well as its efficiency as a solution to provide for the demand of a safe and cost effective sports centre. The simplicity of the structure is also noted.
Precedents
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Precedents
Architecture for Humanity - Oguaa Football for Hope Centre, Ghana Similar to the Africa ICT Classroom brief, the Oguaa Football for Hope Centre is a successful design in integrating shipping containers into its scheme. Located in Ghana, the building promotes passive design scheme, cost efficiency and adaptivity of local resources. Two 12-meter long shipping containers were designed to be within an outer shell comprising of scaffolding as the structure for the vertical bamboo screenings. The roof seems to be of a light weight structure scaffolding truss beams, bamboo-strip ceiling, light-weight roofing material and ceiling fans for adequate ventilation. These are some of the aspects analysed for the project and thus the Oguaa Football for Hope Centre is the teams main precedent study.
Research Phase - Conclusion

Thus research summary, and the topics addressed within it, are intended to make clear the major factors that will influence the final outcome of the I.C.T Container Lab Project. On a micro scale, the container classroom should help address the challenges of implementing I.C.T. into the curriculum, by providing teachers and students with a comfortable, affordable, always on, space - designed specifically to enhance their ICT teaching and learning experience. If access to the technology and learning resources can also made available to members of the wider community, outside school hours, then everyone can benefit from the new installation - with the opportunity to learn new skills, communicate or discover new things. The classroom will also bring together communities in both urban and rural areas by making use of local materials and labour in the construction process. On a macro scale, the newly designed I.C.T. classroom could be viewed as a symbol of moving forward, by providing the users with educational tools and skills that will benefit the nations infrastructure and economy as a whole. ESALA Projects is a pro-bono design team, aiming to illustrate through this report the contextual background to Ghana and the resources available for the design of the prototype display classroom. Its planned for the grounds of the Ghanaian House of Parliament in late 2013/early2014. We hope that the success of this venture will enable location-specific versions of the prototype to be distributed across Africa and other countries around the world. We hope that it may help progess infrastructure and in doing so, provide more children and communities access to afforable technology and information, providing a solution for innovative, self powered, rapid to deploy, enjoyable teaching spaces around the world. ESALA Projects Design Team Alia Aida, Timilehin Fagbemi, Jonathan Lynn, Shaun McLeod, Suzanne Priestley, Feng Qui and Tanya Saroglou. Team Co-ordinator: Ola Uduku LEARNING PLANET Justin Wickham: Director, Project Lead Conrad James: Design Lead ALEUTIA Mike Rosenberg - Director, Project lead
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Conclusion - Stage A
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Initial Designs - Stage B
I nitial D esign P roposals
ICT Container Lab Stage B Design Proposals ESALA, Learning Planet, Aleutia
October 2013
Furniture Ideas The design of the classrooms furniture requires the consideration of a few key areas: - - - - Variation in terms of use of the space The different users of the space Potential class sizes & curricular requirements Working environment created
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Furniture Ideas
Learning Planet are looking to achieve of a highly adaptable space that works for multiple classroom set ups, age groups and scenarios. It was felt this could best be achieved with movable and modular furniture. It was decided to also mount the computers on arms for maximum efficiency and flexibility. By mounting the computers to central poles we can allow them to move without risking their security or safety. This concept is also advantageous as it allows the classroom to be safely locked at night. The initial proposed furniture design involves a basic circular configuration, which would be orientated around the central computer poles. Additional desks, which can be stored neatly underneath the main tables could then be freely movable. These additional desks could also be used to adapt the layout of working space, facilitating individual, small group, large group and presentation work. This will also enable all of the furniture and computers to remain safely inside the locked container when the classroom is closed.
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Initial Design Proposals
P roposal
40ft Container
The most prominent feature of the proposal is a folding wall on the front elevation, which once opened out will form the floor plate of the classroom. This will not only increase the floor area but will also provide a base for the rest of the structure. The supporting structure for the roof is metal scaffold or (preferred) treated bamboo, which offer simple assembly and cost effective options for structure. Where possible this structure will also be able to clip onto the container, minimising the need for further foundations. Following the revision of our initial concept we have altered the roof form to improve the maximum yield of the solar panels. We have also adapted the layout to allow for a single security shutter, which will isolate the container safely, making it a secure space at night. Our aim throughout the project is to provide a space which can be cooled using only passive strategies. As cross ventilation has been calculated to be the most effective method, we have been careful to maximise airflow wherever possible. To enable this, the design features a large window in the back wall with operable louvers as well as an open front elevation. The inclusion of a generous overhanging roof on all sides provides solar shading for the windows and openings. This is another popular technique commonly used for passive cooling.
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Roof Panels
Scaffold Structure
40ft Container
Bamboo Cladding
Folding Container Wall
Foundation
Operable Louvers
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SUN STUDY | Summer
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9am NOTE:
12 pm
4pm
During summer sun rays are verticle and the roof overhang, in combination with the application of bamboo on the elevation, is sufficient to successfully shade the container.
SUN STUDY | Winter
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9am NOTE:
12 pm
4pm
During the winter the sun angle is low in the sky, entering the building and increasing the thermal properties of the front of the container.
WEATHER CONDITIONS ANALYSIS | Rain
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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1000
1m ROOF OVERHANG PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR WIND AND RAIN
SHUTTERS FIXED IN THE FRONT ELEVATION CLOSING FOR PLASTIC CURTAIN TO SEAL INTERNAL ELEVATIONS DURING RAIN
MANUALLY MOVABLE BLINDS CAN CLOSE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM WIND AND RAIN
BAMBOO LOGS PROVIDE MODERATE RAIN SHELTER
CONTAINER LIFTED FROM GROUND LEVEL
500
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P roposal
2x20ft Containers
Using a similar concept to our initial proposal, this design features two 20ft containers placed opposite each other, both with a folding front elevation. As is with the proposal for the 40ft container, the additional roof structure can also be assembled on site with the floor plate providing a base. The use of spaced bamboo cladding and large open windows with operable louvers allows cross ventilation to act as the primary cooling method. Rolling shutters attached to each crate will provide the necessary security for each container to be totally isolated when necessary. The roof form is a closer design to the initial concept and includes an opening at the top to allow for any stack ventilation that may occur. The pitch of the roof also offers an optimum angle for the solar panels that would be mounted on top.
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31
Opening in Roof Roof Panels
Scaffold Structure
Operable Bamboo Louvers
20ft Container
Bamboo Cladding
Foundation
32
33
SUN STUDY | Summer
9am
12 pm
4pm
34
SUN STUDY | Winter
9am
12 pm
4pm
35
Stage C
IC T CONTAINER LAB
Stage C Design Proposal Esala, Learning Planet, Aleutia Nov 2013
36
Stage C | Contents
S T A G E C - C ontents
Lighting Consultation Sun Study Site Strategy Page 37 Page 38 Page 40 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49
Proposal 1
Day-time Visualisation Night-time Visualisation Site Plan Layout Diagrams Section on AA Front Elevation Section on BB Assembly Diagram
Proposal 2
Day-time Visualisation Night-time Visualisation Site Plan Layout Diagrams Section on AA Section on BB Assembly Diagram Furniture Examples Technical Information - Additional Design Drawings Credits
Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 67
Lighting Consultation Summary

Following our meeting with lighting specialista from Edinburgh University, we have been able to more fully assess the lighting conditions inside our intended designs. We have concluded that some small alterations to the design must be made to improve our utilisation of daylight while also minimising the solar exposure to the containers. The following adaptations are: - Enlargement of louvres (See fig. 1) By enlarging the louvres and painting them white or cream, they will be able to act as a light shelf, maximising the amount of daylight inside the container. - Alteration to the height of window By extending the window to the top of the container roof we can allow more natural light into the container - Colour of the underside of roof Painting the underside of the roof a light colour such as white or cream will allow day light to be reflected to the inside of the container. Through investigating methods of artificial lighting required for the evening use of the containers we have found that warm LED strip lighting would be the most advantageous solution. We would also like to propose a type of operable casing for the LED lighting which could allow the direction of the light to be adjusted depending on the users needs. For example the light could be used to specifically light the roof or walls to create more ambient lighting within the space, or alternatively it could be directed downwards during times of work or study. We have also considered the possibility of task lighting which could be implemented by the inclusion of smaller LED lights fixed to the desks or poles. This would improve visibility for key boards during times of lower light levels inside the containers. There is also the possibility of incorporating rechargeable battery operated solar lights which could be fully moveable and taken to any part of the container by the user depending on their specific requirements. The University has also recommended some specialist lighting companies who may be able to provide additional information: - Mike Stoane Lighting: http://www.mikestoanelighting.com/ - ACDC Lighting: http://www.acdclighting.co.uk/
Fig. 2 Warm LED strip lighting is recommended as the primary artificial lighting option. Fig. 3 An example of possible LED task Lighting which could be desk and pole mounted. Fig. 1 Diagram showing a comparison between original design and the implementation of louvred light shelves.
37
Lighting Condulation | adjustments made to initial designs
ge C | Contents
Accra, Ghana
Ghana Accra lat. 5.6 degrees
38
Sun Path Study | 40 FOOT CONTAINER
time : 16:00
Insolation: 21st December

time : 09:00 time : 12:00
Insolation: 21st June

time : 09:00 time : 12:00 time : 16:00
Insolation: 21st December

time : 09:00 time : 12:00
39
Sun Path Study | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS
time : 16:00
Insolation: 21st June

time : 09:00
time : 12:00
time : 16:00
The study reveals that 2x20 and 40 feet containers are protected from solar exposure both during winter and summer months. Furthermore, sun rays are almost vertical during the day throughout the year. As a result photovoltaic panels on roof structure will have more or less optimum performance regardless of orientation as long as roof angle does not exceed 10 degrees.
40
Wind Strategy | 40 FOOT & 20 CONTAINERS
North East planting of mixed vegetation to reduce the impact of hot and dusty air from the Sahara. Bamboo when grown sufficiently may be used for replacing damaged bamboo on the structure
Hot & Dusty Air From Sahara
NE
SW
Moist Air from the Atlantic Ocean coming from the South - West will advance natural ventilation strategies within the containers and cool down the interiors. N
Atlantic Ocean Breeze
41
Design Proposal 1
P roposal
40ft Container
42
43
44
Site Plan | 40 FOOT CONTAINER |
SCALE 1:50
Achieving a Flexible Classroom Layout

To achieve a truly flexible layout, the design incorporates a gantry system. The classroom layout avoids the usual ICT classroom pitfalls - where each student is facing the wall, seated around the edge of the classroom, wasting interior space, and making communal interaction difficult. In the Container Lab, the computers are attached to vertical poles, which clip into an overhead gantry, from which they are powered, and inside which they can move. T They can be anchored at any position within the gantry without any wiring complications.
45
Flexible Working
NTS
45
Layout Diagrams | 40 FOOT CONTAINER |
Full Capacity Use

NTS
This inovation allows the classoom to be laid out in a great variety of ways. as is illustrated here.
Community Use
NTS
Section Illustrations
46
Site Section on AA | 40 FOOT CONTAINER |
Cupboard for desk-mounted computers
Storage space for batteries with a perforated back for ventilation
Gantry
Cupboard for pole-mounted computers
SCALE 1:50
Fixed power outlets
Storage space for table legs
Storage for table tops
47
Front Elevation | 40 FOOT CONTAINER |
SCALE 1:50
48
Site Section o BB | 40 FOOT CONTAINER |
SCALE 1:50
Assembly Sequence
49
49
Assembly Sequence | 40 FOOT CONTAINER
1. Container is lifted onto foundations
2. Openings are created, wall folds down to create floor plate
3. Primary structure
4. Bamboo cladding
5. Louvres
6. Roof
50
Design Proposal 2
P roposal
2 x 20ft Containers
51
52
53
Site Plan | 2 X 20 FOOT CONTAINERS |
SCALE 1:50
Achieving a Flexible Classroom Layout

To achieve a truly flexible layout, the design incorporates a gantry system. The classroom layout avoids the usual ICT classroom pitfalls - where each student is facing the wall, seated around the edge of the classroom, wasting interior space, and making communal interaction difficult. The computers are attached to vertical poles, which clip into an overhead gantry, from which they are powered, and inside which they can move. They can be anchored at any position within the gantry without any wiring complications. This inovation allows the classoom to be laid out in a great variety of ways. as is illustrated here.
54
Layout Diagrams | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS
Flexible Working
NTS
Full Capacity Use
NTS
Community Use
NTS
55
Site Section on AA | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS |
SCALE 1:50
56
Site Section on BB | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS |
B B
SCALE 1:50
Assembly Sequence
Similar to the diagrams of the 40ft container, the following images show the sequence of assembly 2x20ft containers While we have focused on these solutions, it is possible that the footprint of the structure could be reduced or extended via a single 20ft container or a 2x40ft option, depending on the needs of the community.
57
Assembly Sequence on AA | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS |
1. Containers are lifted onto foundations
2. Openings are created, wall folds down to create floor plate
3. Primary structure
SCALE 1:50
4. Bamboo cladding
5. Louvres
6. Roof
Furniture Concepts
The main concept for furniture in an ultra flexible layout featuring computers mounted to metal poles, which are attached to an overhead gantry system. The steel gantry is low voltage DC electrified, and is attached to the roof of the container with a supporting framework. the computers are thus free to move on the gantry to anywhere within the framework, without any wiring complications. Line of Movement
58
Furniture | Examples and Concepts
SOME EXAMPLE FURNITURE OPTIONS . Example A - sourced from Rhubarb Solutions Classroom furniture can be made on site by local carpenters to the design specification
Example B - sourced from Sung Jang Laboratory Removable table legs made from maple.
Detailed 40CONTAINER Foot CONTAINER PLAN OFPLAN 40 Feet

scale 1:50
59
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - DETAILED PLAN | 40 FOOT CONTAINER
WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATION WITH MANUALLY MOVABLE LOUVERS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION
5 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN CENTRAL BACK WALL FURNITURE WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDE FOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES
BACK WALL FURNITURE FOR STORING TABLE TOPS AND REMOVABLE TABLE LEGS
12000 10350
LINE OF ROOF EXTENSION
2510
A
COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES
A
COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES. THE POLES ARE ATTACHED ONTO A ROOF GUN RAIL SYSTEM FOR MOVING WITHIN THE SPACE.
2400
10 m. WIDE STANDARD SIZE PERFORATED SHUTTER FIXED IN THE CONTAINER FRONT FOR SECURITY
10000
HORIZONTAL BAMBOO LOGS FIXED ONTO BAMBOO FRAME. BAMBOO APPLICATION IS DENSER ON THE LOWER AND UPPER AREAS OF THE ELEVATIONS FOR ADVANCE PROTECTION FROM WEATHER. IN THE MIDDLE PART THE BAMBOO ARE SPREAD MORE WIDELY ALLOWING FOR MORE NATURAL LIGHT WITHIN THE INTERIOR
40 Foot CONTAINER - Occupation Layout 40 Feet CONTAINER OCCUPATION LAYOUT

Flexible layout
60
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Occupation Layouts | 40 FOOT CONTAIN-
Classroom layout
Community layout
40 CONTAINER - Elevations 40 Foot Feet CONTAINER

scale 1:50
61
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Elevations | 40 FOOT CONTAINER
1700
500
750
700
2800
2133 1000
2133
2133 12000
2133
2133 1000
Front Elevation
Door end of shipping container.
5 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN CENTRAL BACK WALL FURNITURE WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDE FOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES
2800
1650
BACK WALL FURNITURE FOR STORING TABLE TOPS AND REMOVABLE TABLE LEGS 4 No. POWER OUTLETS FOR CONNECTING MOVABLE COMPUTER TABLES AND POLES WITHIN THE INTERIOR
500
750
750
705 1000
1545
3280
700 12000
3280
1545
705 1000
Section A-A
40 Feet Foot CONTAINER CONTAINER

Section B-B with Cross Ventilation Strategies scale 1:25
62
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Section B-B | Ventilation Strategies
6 x PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ANCHORED ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CONTAINER
10 meter WIDE STANDARD SIZE SHUTTER
FIXED IN THE CONTAINER FRONT FOR SECURITY
LOCATION OF GUN RAIL FOR ADJUSTING COMPUTER POLES WITHIN CONTAINER
CUPBOARD FOR STORING MOVABLE METAL POLES COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES
WINDOWS ON BACK ELEVATION WITH MANUALLY MOVABLE BLINDS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION
FURNITURE FOR STORING TABLE TOPS
NEW FLOOR FINISH FOR LEVELING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FLOOR HEIGHT
PLAN OF 2PLAN x 20 Feet DETAILED of 2 CONTAINER x 20 foot CONTAINERS scale 1:50
A
6000 4500
63
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Detailed Plan | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS
COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES
2 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN BACK WALL FURNITURE WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDE FOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES
4500
4.5 m. WIDE SHUTTERS FIXED IN THE FRONT ELEVATION FOR SECURITY
4800
2400
B
3 x BATTERIES LOCATED IN BACK WALL FURNITURE WITH PERFORATED BACK SIDE FOR EXHAUSTION OF FUMES
COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES BACK WALL FURNITURE FOR STORING TABLE TOPS AND REMOVABLE TABLE LEGS. FURNITURE INCORPORATES 2 No. POWER OUTLETS
2400
4500 6000
A
20 Feet foot CONTAINER CONTAINERSOCCUPATION OCCUPATION LAYOUT LAYOUT 2 x 20
64
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Occupation Layout | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINCommunity layout
Flexible layout
Classroom layout
2 x 20 Feet B -B B-B foot CONTAINER CONTAINERSSection - SECTION scale 1:25
65
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Section B-B | 2 x 20 FOOT CONTAINERS
HORIZONTAL BAMBOO LOGS FIXED ONTO BAMBOO FRAME. BAMBOO APPLICATION IS DENSER ON THE LOWER AND UPPER AREAS OF THE ELEVATIONS FOR ADVANCE PROTECTION FROM WEATHER. IN THE MIDDLE PART THE BAMBOO ARE SPREAD MORE WIDELY ALLOWING FOR MORE NATURAL LIGHT WITHIN THE INTERIOR WINDOWS ON SIDE ELEVATION WITH MANUALLY MOVABLE LOUVERS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION SITTING BENCH ON WEST SIDE FOR CASUAL WAITING AND CONVERSATIONS
PREFABRICATED METALLIC STEPS
2 x 20 A A-A - A with cross & and stack ventilation 20 Feet foot CONTAINER CONTAINERSSECTION - SECTION with cross stack ventilation SCALE 1:50
66
TECHNICAL INFORMATION - Section A-A | VENTILATION
10
500
CUPBOARD FOR STORING COMPUTERS
0.5 M. MINIMUM DISTANCE FOR CUTTING AWAY PARTS OF THE CONTAINER 4.5 m. WIDE SHUTTERS FIXED IN THE FRONT ELEVATION FOR SECURITY
1700 2880
COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED AROUND METAL POLES WINDOWS ON SIDE ELEVATION WITH MANUALLY MOVABLE LOUVERS FOR ADVANCING NATURAL VENTILATION COMPUTERS FIXED ONTO MOVABLE ARMS ANCHORED ONTO FREE STANDING TABLES
700
500
NEW FLOOR FINISH FOR LEVELING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR FLOOR HEIGHT
750
2400 1000 9720
2400 1000
2 x 2 FOOT
67
Project Team
LEARNING PLANET Justin Wickham - Director, Project Lead Conrad James - Design Lead ALEUTIA Mike Rosenberg - Director, Project Lead
ESALA Projects Dr Ola Uduku - Design Team Co-ordinator Alia Aida - Design Team Jonathan Lynn - Design team Shaun McLeod - Design team Suzanne Priestley - Design Team Tanya Saroglou - Design Team Feng Qui - Design Team

Aleutia Rapid Deployment Solar ICT Container Classroom

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Aleutia Rapid Deployment Solar ICT Container Classroom

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I.C.T.

Curriculum & Teaching in Ghana

Climate Profile in Ghana Climatic Data & Analysis

Requirements, Dimensions & Usage Stats

Design Strategies Precedents

Passive Cooling Strategies & Hybrid Approach Investigation

Collaborators: Partners in Ghana

Cultural Summary and Economy

Brong-Ahafo Ashanti Western

Eastern Greater Accra

The Ghana Open Government Partnership Initiative

Curriculum & Teaching

A New Teaching Environment

Curriculum & Teaching

Local Architecture: An Overview

Examples of vernacular architecture in Ghana.

Independence Square in Accra, Ghana.

Local Architecture: Locally Resourced Building Materials

Diagram briefly showing a typical construction with timber.

Local Architecture: Modern Building Materials

Local Architecture: Local Labour

Carpentry, Ghanaians craftsmenship.

Climate: Climate Profile in Ghana

Ecological Zones of Ghana.

Elevation Profile of Ghana.

Climate: Climate Data & Analysis

Assesment of Passive Methods

Thermal Massing (3,4)

Climate and Comfort Analysis for Accra, Ghana in School Hours.

22 Inch Aleutia All in One Fanless PC

Loading Points on a Standard Container

Above: Cross ventilation with manually adjustable louvres

Above: Summer Cooling System

Research Phase - Conclusion

I nitial D esign P roposals

Folding Container Wall

SUN STUDY | Summer

SUN STUDY | Winter

WEATHER CONDITIONS ANALYSIS | Rain

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

1m ROOF OVERHANG PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR WIND AND RAIN

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

BAMBOO LOGS PROVIDE MODERATE RAIN SHELTER

CONTAINER LIFTED FROM GROUND LEVEL

Operable Bamboo Louvers

Lighting Consultation Summary

Ghana Accra lat. 5.6 degrees

Insolation: 21st December

Insolation: 21st June

Insolation: 21st December

Insolation: 21st June

Hot & Dusty Air From Sahara

Atlantic Ocean Breeze

Achieving a Flexible Classroom Layout

Full Capacity Use

Cupboard for desk-mounted computers

Storage space for batteries with a perforated back for ventilation

Cupboard for pole-mounted computers

Fixed power outlets

Storage space for table legs

Storage for table tops

1. Container is lifted onto foundations