Prof. Damir Brdjanovic
IHE Delft (formerly UNESCO-IHE) Institute for Water Education and Endowed Professor at Delft University of Technology
Abstract
Prof. Brdjanovic will talk about his latest innovation endeavours which will cover both research and education aspects, such as The Shit Killer, eSOS Smart Toilet, MEDiLOO and the Global Sanitation Graduate School.
THE SHIT KILLER
Solutions for effective and sustainable faecal sludge management represent a significant global need. Tremendous amounts of faecal sludge are produced globally on a daily basis from onsite sanitation: 2.7 billion people worldwide are served by onsite sanitation technologies and that number is expected to grow to 5 billion by 2030. FSM presents a global challenge. A new technological concept for sterilization and dehydration of excreta (faeces and urine) has been developed by IHE Delft and Tehnobiro d.o.o. The technology makes use of microwave generators that are part of a specially designed unit that can convert pathogenic human waste into clean water and inert dry fertilizer. The concept has been successfully tested in the Netherlands and Kenya and a pilot demonstration unit will be applied in Jordan.
eSOS SMART TOILET
In disaster areas where many people live together in poor conditions, diseases are lurking. Sanitation plays an important role – a hole in the ground or overflowing emergency toilets are breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses. If the flow of waste is better managed, the risk will be reduced and the quality of life will improve considerably. To address this issue IHE Delft and partners have envisioned an award-winning eSOS Smart Toilet, one that is not only hygienic, safe and affordable, but also serves as a source of information about the situation in the area where it is located. The experimental version of eSOS toilet was successfully tested in the Philippines for functionality and acceptance. This lightweight, easy-to-maintain toilet is equipped with sensors that collect the relevant data using specially designed monitoring software. Based on this information, the operation and maintenance of toilets can be significantly improved making the entire sanitation chain more sustainable. A prototype of the eSOS Smart Toilet has been recently tested in Nairobi, Kenya.
MEDiLOO
MEDiLOO is a revolutionary crossover invention currently under development for early identification and prevention of disease spread, monitoring of public health and detection of epidemic outbreaks, by combining advanced technology and cutting-edge sanitation. MEDiLOO is a valuable addition to existing public health systems which can be adapted to various states of medical development and local circumstances. It is not a replacement for traditional medical diagnostic methods; its main benefits are (i) improving sanitation management, especially under challenging conditions usually prevailing in less developed countries, (ii) continuous non-invasive monitoring of the health of its users, and (iii) early indication of diseases and outbreaks.
GLOBAL SANITATION GRADUATE SCHOOL
The Global Sanitation Graduate School is a platform to facilitate the development and empower the dissemination of knowledge on sanitation through postgraduate (MSc) programs, online (self-study and instructor-led) courses, face-to-face (on-campus) courses and tailor-made training so that the sanitation challenges can be embraced with deeper insight, advanced knowledge, and greater confidence. It also provides an enabling environment with a vibrant community of professionals who have completed one or more educational or training courses offered by members of the School. The School offers a variety of course materials as open courseware.
Biography
Damir Brdjanovic is Professor of Sanitary Engineering at IHE Delft (formerly UNESCO-IHE) Institute for Water Education and Endowed Professor at Delft University of Technology. Areas of his expertise include environmental protection, pro-poor and emergency sanitation, faecal sludge management, urban drainage, and wastewater treatment. He is a pioneer in the practical application of models in wastewater treatment practice in developing countries. He invented the Shit Killer® device for excreta management in emergencies, the award-winning eSOS Smart Toilet® and medical topilet MEDiLOO®, with funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Prof. Brdjanovic obtained major research and education grants of total value in excess to USD 26M. He has initiated the development and implementation of innovative didactic approaches and novel educational products (including e-learning) at IHE Delft. In 2015, together with the BMGF, he founded the Global Sanitation Graduate School and in 2017 Global Partnership of Laboratories for Faecal Sludge Analyses. Currently his chair group consists of ten staff members, two post-doctoral fellows and 15 PhD students. In addition, in excess of 150 MSc students have graduated under his supervision so far. Prof. Brdjanovic has a sound publication record including article in Science, is co-initiator of the IWA Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, and is the initiator, author and editor of six books in the wastewater treatment and sanitation field. In 2015 he became an International Water Association Fellow. In 2018 he received the IWA Publishing Award. Until recently, Prof. Brdjanovic was head of Environmental Engineering and Water Technology department managing 35 staff. He is serving as the first Director of the Global Sanitation Graduate School – a global platform of sharing the knowledge on non-sewered sanitation.
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