E-maps

E-maps is a GPS-map system which allows people to access the closest e-waste factory and deliver their waste through a courier system

The foundation of the project is a GPS system including the addresses of 109 main enterprises working on e-waste in Beijing and Mumbai. We will build a courier system that allows people to order the delivery of their e-waste. Because most e-waste factories are in the suburbs, the ordering time will be limited to 2 days within a week to make the whole delivery more convenient. The success of the system will need a fundamental GPS system with the location of e-waste factories inside, a courier system built on the system, which we can imitate the system of  “Elema”, a food delivery system in China; “Swiggy” which is a food delivering system In Mumbai. In addition, the project will also have the function of introducing the process of e-waste to the public audience to raise awareness of e-waste sorting and recycling.

We are trying to solve the underlying problem of e-waste in our respective communities. The general audience is impacted by the problem of e-waste as e-waste contains toxic and harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and many more toxic elements. When ewaste contacts with heat, the toxic chemicals get released into the air which negatively impacts the atmosphere. Not only that, but when e-waste is not disposed of in a correct manner, it can actually lead to soil and water contamination which leads to even further problems in the future. Globally, only 40-50% of e-waste is recycled and most countries don’t even have a proper system or solution to properly deal with this problem. E-waste is not a problem that only impacts a set group of people, it impacts the general population and environment. The main communities we are planning to help are small areas and districts in both of our hometowns; Mumbai and Beijing. According to the CPBC (a board which overlooks pollution) The e-waste in Mumbai is increasing at a dangerously high rate which makes Mumbai “top in order to generate e-waste in the country”. In Beijing, E-waste is also a big problem. Some of the things China is known for is its Industries and Technology, with expanding economic development and more demand for technology has exponentially increased the amount of e-waste in China.

The solution serves the general public in a broader picture, but more directly, it will serve people who are Internet users and willing to try out our website or H5 interface. By using our website or application, people will not only have a better awareness of sorting e-waste by ordering the delivery service but also know where to deliver their e-waste. Therefore, e-waste that is normally packed in the corner of their house can be recycled and reused in an environmentally friendly way, making less air pollution and water pollution.

The following is the basic research on the field of e-waste we have done and the basic plan for our project.

https://docs.google.com/presen...

We are doing a survey both in the cities we are living in, where we survey people’s basic knowledge about e-waste sorting and their current sorting situation. Jia (Hellen) Han has reached out to the existing organization Tsinghua University who have already done great work regarding the e-waste problem in Beijing and China. She has also got to know about the e-waste problem and plans to go field study to several enterprises to know more about the e-waste problem. Additionally, she has also reached out for potential platforms and is learning how to design H5 intersections. Preet has designed and made the layout for the prototype and has searched for some potential applications for the prototype to be launched with some plans for the prototype and design of the app.

We have done profound research and surveys on the topic; “the cause of the e-waste”, the effect, the policies that have already been taken on shown by the presentation in the link. We are now designing our program by learning the basic skills and technologies while doing even deeper research and taking our understanding and research to the next level.

Our Solution is mainly Technology-based, it is a digital software where there is a built-in GPS map system that informs people about nearby e-waste factories so they could go and deliver their waste through a courier system by themselves. To build this software, we need to have access to proper resources and applications; an app/software needs a lot of coding and programming. 

Additionally, we also hope to add a time-slot system where someone from the factories themselves comes to a community to pick up the e-waste at a scheduled time on a regular week/month interval.

We are currently communicating with 109 e-waste enterprises in China, achieving their location and doing surveys about their current situations and policies. We are currently coding the application which is quite difficult. We plan to make our app with the first version this year and testify with people living in Beijing next year.

Goal #1: To create a Prototype of our Idea

Goal #2: To get Feedback + Improvements on our Prototype

Goal #3: Implement those Improvements + Adjustments to our prototype to further enhance it

Goal #4: Get support from organizations and start with marketing for our product

Goal #5: Release it and collect data on; the amount of users and how it helps people

Our project is interlinked with the UN sustainability goal of “sustainable cities and communities” . Our project hopes to make cities-in particular, more sustainable. We are measuring our progress through how much content we have covered in - terms of research, understanding and creating the basis of our product.  In terms of future progress, we are going to measure our progress through the amount of people the prototype product has helped and how much of the prototype has been completed

Barrier #1: Technological difficulties with making the app. Since the members within our group are not majoring or intend to major in computer science, we only own basic knowledge on c language. 

Barrier #2: The diverse need. We found diverse needs for factories and companies, with some having problems with collecting e-waste, some having problems with people's awareness, some having problems with technology.

The solution to Barrier #2 was partly to encounter the easiest and most common one. The result of our survey now shows that companies have difficulties finding the source of e-waste, but we will need further investigation.

Preet is interested in science, digital design, and environmental problems. For school Projects and Tasks Preet has done thorough research on Environmental Problems such as E-waste and has created websites, animations, conducted case studies, and made many designs. Preet has done a few small-scale service projects in her community but wants to expand her horizons a bit more and put her skills to use in a bigger project which would ultimately be beneficial to more people. Throughout those small-scale services, she has understood the underlying problems in her community and is hoping to solve them one problem at a time.

Jia (Hellen) Han has a huge interest in the intersection of environmental policy and sociology. Her essay regarding the accumulation of nanosilver has won the world's top #10 and International Silver in competitions. Her essay on carbon neutrality also got into the finalist nationwide and is still competing with high-level competitors around. As the president of the Student Union in her school, she has a great ability to provoke people's interest and collaborate efficiently. She is also interested in art, publishing papers in CPCI, and videoing documentaries regarding Chinese handscroll. Her communication skills and media skills are also quite good as she is a host and reporter at Radio Beijing. Therefore, she could help our group on working deeper in environmental issues, advertising, and designing websites.

But Preet and Jia Han have done extensive research and are ready to help put their ideas into motion. By observing the environment around them from learning about it in school and understanding how life is for people who indirectly suffer from these problems, we have created a solution to improve our community.

We are not currently partnering with organizations but have plans on this.

It can help us with the funding to improve our prototype and test it out

No.