Raise the Roof! Engineering Leakproof Roofs
Copyright Kristy Geiger, Jenn Stormer, Victoria Jacobs, Rae Ober
Students create and design leakproof, sustainable roofs inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students use the engineering design process to create roof models with recyclable materials that withstand simulated rainfall, targeting SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities). This project-based activity includes research on Ghana’s environmental challenges and promotes teamwork, design iteration, and global problem-solving through real-world engineering applications.
As an architectural engineer, you can design functional and aesthetic lighting solutions, create buildings prepared to withstand earthquakes and other natural disasters, or invent affordable green technology to heat, cool, and power buildings with energy from the sun.
Structural engineers must be familiar with the geology of the area in which they are working. They must also take into consideration the type, size, and porosity of the rocks and presence of groundwater. Soil erosion and depositions by surface water are integral for soil conservation and sustainability.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify sustainability issues in Ghana with regard to recycling and repurposing available resources and materials.
- Explain the materials available to the people of Ghana, and how they can be used.
- Use the engineering design process to construct a roof to fit a premade structure that keeps water from entering the dwelling.