15

jbrenner assigns HOMEwork - Planning Atlantis

Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 9 months ago to The Gulch: General
504 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

An assignment I give my students in almost every course I teach is what I call a questions and issues sheet. Students are asked to come up with a list of at least 25 questions and issues on a process design, product design, or failure analysis of my choosing. Students start by brainstorming either by themselves or in groups for 0.5 to 1 hour, and then categorize their questions and issues into the following categories: technical/engineering, economic, legal, regulatory, quality, environmental, safety, health, logistical, project management, and social impact. It is better for the questions and issues to be in the form of a question such that the question can be answered with a yes/no or a number. In that way, the exercise serves as a checklist to keep the project on track. Points are given for the number of questions, category coverage, identification of all of the key issues, depth of insight, creativity, and for thoroughness of the list. A critical issue not considered is often the project killer. Your assignment is to participate in this exercise for the development of a physical Atlantis.


All Comments


Previous comments...   You are currently on page 6.
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I like your thinking. However, there are many here who buy-in wholeheartedly to the need to destroy the existing in order to rebuild it. I'm not one of them, being more in your camp to turn the ship, slowly at first, but with increasing pressure.

    I, for one, believe that aiding the collapse will only usher in a period (I believe to be measured in centuries not mere years or even decades) of collectivist oppression. Similar to the dark ages after the Mongols defeated the Romans. Unfortunately, the current version of mongols have much better tools and means to enforce the oppression.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It is nearly impossible for any enclave to be totally self-sufficient. You want power (ostensibly to run electric lights and other appliances at least, and computers and other tools as well is my guess). These other items cannot be produced without materials that are not found in sufficient quantities in any single area. You might need silver, iron, copper, and rare earth metals for those electrical devices, which are unlikely to be found in any enclave the size of Atlantis. Thus, external trade will be a de facto requirement.

    I agree that it should not be dependent upon the outside world for survival, but it would likely do so merely to maintain convenience/productivity items.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by TexanSolar 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    A Bradford Collector uses 75% of available solar energy to produce both electricity and steam. The steam is used to desalinate seawater. My designs will economically provide for all of the energy and water needs of a self reliant co-operative community. I intend to never tie-in to the Grid with my systems.
    A perfect distribution of solar energy has already been accomplished by God. Why is the solar energy industry so focused on feeding into the Grid. The Grid under government control will be a tool of oppression of the populace. Your electricity rates will "skyrocket", as promised by Barak.
    My designs will be most economical in regions which are not served by the Grid and do not have adequate drinking water.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Very wealthy, difficult to emigrate to and nearly impossible to obtain citizenship - so they can get by with it. Also, the general culture is not accommodating to foreigners. Went skiing there back in the early '80's when I was still a cadet. The Swiss have a real cold shoulder, even if you're there spending money in their economy.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Switzerland has many characteristics of a Gulch, but it has a fairly liberal government. Its natural defenses are quite useful.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I promise not to compete with your desalination unit if you promise not to compete with my waste-to-energy, fuel, and chemicals plant. We likely will have to work together often, TexanSolar.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I do not remember this perfectly. I think that evidence was found that there may have once been water there, but no longer.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by jpellone 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That's great!!! Thank your Goddaughter for her service from all of us. You are welcome. Carriers pitch and roll so slow. We went to the north Atlantic in September once and it was so rough that we had green water coming over the bow. Never got sick (only once) on the fast Frigate. It pitches and rolls fast and you get slammed against the bulkheads. I really enjoyed the Frigate because you got to know everyone on the ship.
    I once went fishing in Lake Erie on a 20 footer and before we left the captain gave me some nasty jerky. Not long before I was chumming myself. LOL But I caught almost all of the fish(Perch)!!!
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It would be nice to get one which has not been demilled. Application of a little under the table grease?
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Agreed. The percentage of required replenishment will dictate how great a source is needed. Any replenishment for Mars will require very long lead times, even supposing near sources as asteroids and Saturnian moons/rings could be accessed, they aren't that near. Water replenishment from Terran sources would be hostage to political winds on Earth. The easiest resource would be Martian sources. Have I read of finding water in the form of ice at the Martian poles or was I doing some wishful thinking?
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by TexanSolar 10 years, 9 months ago
    A primary requirement for Atlantis is that it must not be tied to the Grid. Atlantis must have its own independent power and water supply.
    I have designed a solar collector that produces both electricity and steam. I have also designed a Multiple Effect Desalination Unit that uses the steam output to desalinate seawater or brackish groundwater.
    A solar farm of Bradford Collectors will economically provide for all of the energy and water requirements of an Off-Grid Community.
    including water for agriculture.
    Atlantis must be self sustaining in every way.
    The manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance of Bradford Collectors and associated systems can provide many jobs for the citizens of Atlantis.
    The city of Independence, Texas as proposed by Glenn Beck provides many ideas on the organization of a community like Atlantis.

    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No system, even a "closed system" is 100% efficient, so there always needs to be some replenishment source.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Reclaimed waste and water sent for agronomic use could be utilized. As a closed system, every thing could be recycled, even human remains (when the occasion arises).
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The problem of logistics applies here. A doubling or tripling of effort to satisfy this activity would necessarily detract from the primary effort of colonizing.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There truly is no place to hide, even in plain sight. The best possibilities are locations which are physically separated from any other entity but not so separate as to be vulnerable and indefensible.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hiding in plain sight is more problematic all the time. Property taxes cause any entity to be visible to governments. There are places where such does not yet exist, but they are diminishing. Likewise, increasing global mapping would uncover any enclave, unless it were camouflaged - and even that is problematic as drug eradication efforts employ IR analysis and it's damn difficult to hide a heat signature of any size.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Comment hidden due to member score or comment score too low. View Comment
  • Posted by Hiraghm 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There are icy asteroids and lots of ice in the rings of Saturn and Uranus.

    What Mars needs most is another, bigger moon.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ johnrobert2 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Clandestine access to the Internet does not solve the problem of inimical interests in/about the New Utopia site unless you are wishing to access satellite imagery to monitor surface traffic in the area. Even then, an overwhelming quick reaction force would be an absolute to maintain existence.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ 10 years, 9 months ago in reply to this comment.
    An absolute must for Atlantis if it were on an island would be the ability to covertly access the Internet.
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo