Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The challenges to building remote relocatable temporary camps (RTC) are as diverse as the environments they go into. RTC systems historically have not functioned in a holistic way; they are separate parts acting beside each other to make a functioning camp. . RTC's are an entire system that provide accommodation and facilities in remote or emergency situations, and thus must be able to provide energy and water redundancies to allow for reliability and stability in these situations and under harsh environmental conditions. These camps are energy intensive: diesel fuel and water are delivered, available water must be treated or potable water is trucked in, and then there are solid waste and wastewater disposal challenges The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Green Building Technologies (GBT) applied research group is collaborating with the Circular City Consortium who are successful recipients of three Department of National Defense (DND) Pop-Up city competition awards, and are headed to Round 4. To bring the best possible solution to the competition while moving their solution along the commercialization pathway, the consortium seeks to build a field prototype of their self-sufficient energy and reusable water (circular) RTC. The consortium is represented by three partners, with four technologies. The project seeks to integrate a waste management system, an islanded microgrid energy system, and a water reuse system, all scalable dependent on camp size and modular within 20-foot ISO shipping container. When successfully integrated they must adhere to stringent reduction metrics without adding operational complexity that would negate the intended benefits. The pilot camp will be functioning during the monitoring phase in order to conduct real-time analysis. The aim of this prototype is to improve the functionality of the integrated systems and to reduce inputs and outputs to the facility.