6. Survival Kit on IBU

8 September 2010.

Salam everyone. With Hari Raya Aidilfitri just around the corner, sebagaimana lazimnya, saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada Cik Wan, all members of the RUS 101 family and all my friends. Ampun maaf atas segala kesilapan yang zahir dan tersembunyi.

It was a bliss when Cik Wan announced that there wouldn't be Studio on Friday, 3 September. There was a lot of commotion in the class that day. Everybody was so happy at the prospect of going home early for the Raya. And I for sure, have already packed my things and ready to get my car zooming southbound the highway. Home sweet home!

But the happiness was short-lived... Cik Wan posted a new assignment di RUS101 website http://www.hbp.usm.my/1b/101/harirayatask.htm. And the best thing about it, it is due on D-Raya-Day itself. Arrggh!

Anyway, secara positifnya, pada hemat saya, Cik Wan cuma tak mau students melupakan terus pelajaran dalam kesibukan menyambut Raya. Seriously, itulah yang saya rasa.

Dalam tugasan ini students diminta untuk memberi tumpuan kepada persediaan pra-bencana dengan mereka bentuk survival kit berteraskan hasil penyelidikan yang telah dijalankan oleh pakar-pakar USM sendiri, untuk dibawa kepada IBU (Inter-PONDOK Bastionary Unit). If we can still remember, in Project 1B, PONDOK is the acronym for PolarShift and Other Natural Disaster Organization Kit.

Gotta run some errands, will continue later.

12 September 2010.

My assignment is well overdue for submission, but I thought it's better late than never. Tambahan pula kat kampung ni Internet broadband line pun terlalu erratic.

Ini adalah bentuk survival kit yang saya cadangkan untuk disediakan di IBU. Ia merupakan a multi compartment kit boleh laras, mengandungi medical kit (from first aid kits to more specialized prescription drugs), food kit (basically food supplements/gantian makanan kerana perishable foods tidak praktik), personal supplies kit (spt. toilettries, sanitary napkins, baby disposable napkins, disposables under garments, special lightweight no-wash clothing which adjusts well to body temperature etc), emergency supplies, tools/repair kit, survival kits (fishing rods, knives, ropes, torchlights, dry cells, wistles etc). We go for the very basic items and the bare necessities sebab di waktu disaster, we simply cannot rely on sophisticated technologies. What power supply that we may have adalah limited. So, think simple and apa yang terjangkau oleh common sense. At this point of time it is all that we may need.

Kit ini berwarna kuning dan fluorescent di dalam gelap supaya mudah kelihatan. Survival kit ini boleh menampung keperluan warga PONDOK untuk tempoh 40 hari 40 malam.

Saya juga memilih hasil penyelidikan yang telah dijalankan oleh Dr. Chow Wen Shyang of School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, USM, iaitu Hand - Lay Up Epoxy Hybrid Nanocomposite, dalam usaha menghasilkan lantai IBU dan PONDOK. Ini kerana menurut kajian, "nanocomposites are a new class materials that exhibit ultra fine phase dimension.... lead to new and improved properties such as increased stiffness, strength and heat resistance, and decreased moisture absorption, flammibility, permeability, when compared to their micro- and macro-composite counterparts...", whilst epoxy nanocomposites have superior dimensional and thermal stability, and have a lower hygroscopic property.".

Selain daripada itu, saya juga memilih satu lagi hasil kajian yang ada kaitan dengan pilihan pertama saya iaitu A New Adhesive from Waste Polystrene oleh Dr. Issam Ahmed Mohammed dan sekutunya. Selain merupakan suatu kaedah pelupusan yang mesra alam, mempunyai excellent adhesion, quick drying and good heat and moisture resistance sebagaimana contoh berikut yang telah pun berada di pasaran :

Other research that can be exploited to good use are those pertaining to water purification, medical remedies and food substitutes. I personally feel that a good collection of dried seeds dan apa juga benih pokok makanan (food crops) dan perubatan boleh dipertimbangkan dalam survival kit ini. Mungkin jaring berupa pukat boleh diletakkan di bawah setiap pondok to create a natural fish farm

And lastly, food for thoughts...

"When Noah was 600 years old, the flood came, and that same day, Noah, his family and the beasts went into the ark, and God shut him in. (Gen. 7:6–16.) The rains fell 40 days and 40 nights, the waters swelled 15 cubits above the highest mountains, and all flesh with the merest breath of life died, except for Noah and those with him on the ark."

Wallahua'lam...