TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a smart toilet in an emergency camp
AU - Zakaria, Fiona
AU - Ćurko, Josip
AU - Muratbegovic, Ahmed
AU - Garcia, Hector A.
AU - Hooijmans, Christine Maria
AU - Brdjanovic, Damir
PY - 2018/3/1
Y1 - 2018/3/1
N2 - An experimental prototype of the eSOS (emergency Sanitation Operation System) Smart Toilet® was evaluated in an emergency settlement in the Philippines. The toilet was equipped with sensors and information communication technologies (ICT) for an efficient operation in an emergency setting. The field testing aimed at evaluating the toilet's service capacity related to the user frequency/intensity obtaining insight on the usage patterns in an actual post emergency situation. In addition, the novel features and functionality of the toilet were assessed. Operational performance of the toilet was assessed based on data collected from nearly 700 users within a 7-weeks period. The eSOS Smart Toilet has been properly operating during the evaluation period. A methodology to distinguish defecation and urination activities was developed based on determining discharges to faeces and urine tank. The toilet achieved up to 97% savings on water consumption compared to conventional toilets. The application of sensors and ICT features, combined with manually obtained data informed comprehensive usages data e.g. 62% of identified users were female users, 40% children, and 60% of the visits were for urination and 40% and for defecation. The accumulation of urine, faeces and grey water was measured to allow for a responsive maintenance resulting in optimized operation and increased interest to use the toilet. The field evaluation generated ideas for further improvements in terms of cost savings, services, and an overall vision for sustainability.
AB - An experimental prototype of the eSOS (emergency Sanitation Operation System) Smart Toilet® was evaluated in an emergency settlement in the Philippines. The toilet was equipped with sensors and information communication technologies (ICT) for an efficient operation in an emergency setting. The field testing aimed at evaluating the toilet's service capacity related to the user frequency/intensity obtaining insight on the usage patterns in an actual post emergency situation. In addition, the novel features and functionality of the toilet were assessed. Operational performance of the toilet was assessed based on data collected from nearly 700 users within a 7-weeks period. The eSOS Smart Toilet has been properly operating during the evaluation period. A methodology to distinguish defecation and urination activities was developed based on determining discharges to faeces and urine tank. The toilet achieved up to 97% savings on water consumption compared to conventional toilets. The application of sensors and ICT features, combined with manually obtained data informed comprehensive usages data e.g. 62% of identified users were female users, 40% children, and 60% of the visits were for urination and 40% and for defecation. The accumulation of urine, faeces and grey water was measured to allow for a responsive maintenance resulting in optimized operation and increased interest to use the toilet. The field evaluation generated ideas for further improvements in terms of cost savings, services, and an overall vision for sustainability.
KW - Emergency
KW - eSOS Smart Toilet
KW - Field-test
KW - Operation
KW - Usage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037040934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.11.015
DO - 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.11.015
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85037040934
SN - 2212-4209
VL - 27
SP - 512
EP - 523
JO - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
JF - International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
ER -