Senior Project Team 08 - Grand Valley State University
2025 Engineering Design Conference
Project: Smart Composter
Team Members
Jason Kondrat
Jonathan Osburn
Kamana Pokhrel
Samuel Riggs
Thomas Zoldowski
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Chris Pung
Shiva Sundaram
Sponsor Advisor
Dr. Catherine Molloseau
Isak Davis
Abstract
The team's project is to create a smart composter for the Sustainable Agricultural Project (SAP) in Allendale. The composter will monitor the compost's temperature, humidity, and oxygen and keep it within the ideal threshold for the aerobic composting process. A sprinkler and aeration system will maintain the internal climate within the composter. This will allow the SAP to produce food-grade compost at the farm and no longer purchase it from a local vendor.
The Sustainable Agriculture Project is a physical place, and a scientific station, where students can go to research plants, the environment, human-environmental interaction, systems thinking, and community. It is also a laboratory in that it is a space where students can get their hands dirty while learning quantitative and critical thinking skills relating to soil, water, plant life, climate change, and the environment. It is also a working studio space and gallery for artists, a field site with a ready-made community of people on a small working farm perfect for sociological study. It is also a business that produces and sells food to support the activities of the SAP.
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Text "8" to 217-860-6964 or at digitaljoyengage.com, event code 53367.
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