Took a road trip to see a couple sites on sunday, shown in some of the pics. I was also invite to join the St. John's basketball team, but sadly had to turn them down.
Monday, August 25, 2008
A few last pics
Here are a couple more pics from the week and weekend. Work has gone well and I'm now getting ready to come home!
Took a road trip to see a couple sites on sunday, shown in some of the pics. I was also invite to join the St. John's basketball team, but sadly had to turn them down.
Took a road trip to see a couple sites on sunday, shown in some of the pics. I was also invite to join the St. John's basketball team, but sadly had to turn them down.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Rise of the Machines
The following is the script from the movie "Terminator 4: Rise of the Machines...Again!" It is the true story of my past few days... Names were not changed to protect identity.
Machines - 0 Adam and Arun - 0
After a couple weeks in Bangalore setting up our monitoring equipment, things had been going pretty well. As noted earlier all four stations were established and tested and worked out well. The one thing we hadn't done is tested to see if the laptop Arun was borrowing would work with the equipment (foreshadowing), but why shouldn't it... its a relatively new Compaq and even if it didn't, he had a desktop that was nearly brand new. It should be fine.
Machines - 1 Adam and Arun - 0
We have tried to download the data but the adapter cord isn't working. The computer cord that came with the monitor has a 9-pin serial connection, which is obsolete in new computers, but I've brought with a USB adapter, which requires a driver that Arun doesn't have. No big deal, he can go and download the driver.
Machines - 2 Adam and Arun - 0
The power has just gone out and the laptop is out of battery. No problem we can get it tomorrow.
Machines - 4 Adam and Arun - 0
Real trouble. With the driver downloaded, the computer is recognizing the monitor but is experiencing "Handshaking Error". Handshaking??!! Sounds like such a civil problem for such a cold and manipulative machine. Two points because both the laptop and desktop are experiencing it. The process still works fine on my computer, but mine is leaving in a couple days with me. Project in trouble.
Machines - 4 Adam and Arun - 1
No problem. It seems the handshaking error can sometimes be overcome with a new cord or adapter. So, oddly enough, the adapter that was difficult to find stateside, happen to be in stock at the tiny stationary booth accross the street.
Machines - 5 Adam and Arun - 1
New adapter cord doesn't work. The monitor manufacturer (TSI) says its a problem with the computer and we need to find a new computer or one with a 9-pin serial port.
Machines - 5 Adam and Arun - 3
After wandering the electronics 'market' for the better part of an hour going from tiny stall to tiny stall, we encouter Nagpal Electronics, a 4ft wide hole in the wall that we are told has everything. Unfortunately the owner is a grumpy old Indian man that doesn't like me because of the confusion we had last time I bought an extension cord. He's like the soup-nazi, but for Indian electronics. He has a serial port card that we can install on Arun's motherboard that may solve the problem and win the war. However, he says, and I quote, "We are both educated people, but you ask such uninformed questions that I know doubt waht you are using this for. So I suppose I'll still sell it, BUT WITH NO GUARANTEE!" said emphatically. We buy it and it seems as though tides may have turned.
Machines - 6 Adam and Arun - 3
The machines know they are in trouble. So they get desperate and truly vindictive. As we turn and leave Nagpal, Arun says, my backpack is very hot! Worried about his roommates laptop, he opens his back but finds its the nephelopmeter (the monitor) that is scorching hot. He pulls it out and opens the battery compartment to the sound of hissing and spitting. The battery pack falls out completely warped and to hot to hold! Could this be the end of our $4000 monitor, essential to the project. Luckily Arun thought quickly and pulled the battery pack out and we popped out the cells, no kidding, while ducking as battery acid shoots from the splitting batteries. Arun looks at me and says in his Karala accent "We have not had a good day."
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 3
After installing the serial port, the drivers fail to load. There is still no communication between the monitor and computer.
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 7
We couldn't install the driver, they foiled our play. So we did what they least expected... the exact thing we just tried without success! We tried loading the drivers again, and the installed! We tried the equipment and it worked perfectly. We won the battle, but what about the war?!
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 8
After checking the wounded monitor, it read error, service 7 when we turned it on. Error 7 is either equipment shuts down because of high temperature, or laser failure. Fingers crossed we hope it was just the heat and we let it cool for 10 min. Turning it on after ten minutes, it works perfectly! It appears we have won another battle and potentialy the war! So the monitors have been reinstalled and data is coming. It was hard enough to defeat these little machines, I can't imagine a real Terminator... I now have a new respect for Sarah and John Conner.
Machines - 0 Adam and Arun - 0
After a couple weeks in Bangalore setting up our monitoring equipment, things had been going pretty well. As noted earlier all four stations were established and tested and worked out well. The one thing we hadn't done is tested to see if the laptop Arun was borrowing would work with the equipment (foreshadowing), but why shouldn't it... its a relatively new Compaq and even if it didn't, he had a desktop that was nearly brand new. It should be fine.
Machines - 1 Adam and Arun - 0
We have tried to download the data but the adapter cord isn't working. The computer cord that came with the monitor has a 9-pin serial connection, which is obsolete in new computers, but I've brought with a USB adapter, which requires a driver that Arun doesn't have. No big deal, he can go and download the driver.
Machines - 2 Adam and Arun - 0
The power has just gone out and the laptop is out of battery. No problem we can get it tomorrow.
Machines - 4 Adam and Arun - 0
Real trouble. With the driver downloaded, the computer is recognizing the monitor but is experiencing "Handshaking Error". Handshaking??!! Sounds like such a civil problem for such a cold and manipulative machine. Two points because both the laptop and desktop are experiencing it. The process still works fine on my computer, but mine is leaving in a couple days with me. Project in trouble.
Machines - 4 Adam and Arun - 1
No problem. It seems the handshaking error can sometimes be overcome with a new cord or adapter. So, oddly enough, the adapter that was difficult to find stateside, happen to be in stock at the tiny stationary booth accross the street.
Machines - 5 Adam and Arun - 1
New adapter cord doesn't work. The monitor manufacturer (TSI) says its a problem with the computer and we need to find a new computer or one with a 9-pin serial port.
Machines - 5 Adam and Arun - 3
After wandering the electronics 'market' for the better part of an hour going from tiny stall to tiny stall, we encouter Nagpal Electronics, a 4ft wide hole in the wall that we are told has everything. Unfortunately the owner is a grumpy old Indian man that doesn't like me because of the confusion we had last time I bought an extension cord. He's like the soup-nazi, but for Indian electronics. He has a serial port card that we can install on Arun's motherboard that may solve the problem and win the war. However, he says, and I quote, "We are both educated people, but you ask such uninformed questions that I know doubt waht you are using this for. So I suppose I'll still sell it, BUT WITH NO GUARANTEE!" said emphatically. We buy it and it seems as though tides may have turned.
Machines - 6 Adam and Arun - 3
The machines know they are in trouble. So they get desperate and truly vindictive. As we turn and leave Nagpal, Arun says, my backpack is very hot! Worried about his roommates laptop, he opens his back but finds its the nephelopmeter (the monitor) that is scorching hot. He pulls it out and opens the battery compartment to the sound of hissing and spitting. The battery pack falls out completely warped and to hot to hold! Could this be the end of our $4000 monitor, essential to the project. Luckily Arun thought quickly and pulled the battery pack out and we popped out the cells, no kidding, while ducking as battery acid shoots from the splitting batteries. Arun looks at me and says in his Karala accent "We have not had a good day."
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 3
After installing the serial port, the drivers fail to load. There is still no communication between the monitor and computer.
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 7
We couldn't install the driver, they foiled our play. So we did what they least expected... the exact thing we just tried without success! We tried loading the drivers again, and the installed! We tried the equipment and it worked perfectly. We won the battle, but what about the war?!
Machines - 7 Adam and Arun - 8
After checking the wounded monitor, it read error, service 7 when we turned it on. Error 7 is either equipment shuts down because of high temperature, or laser failure. Fingers crossed we hope it was just the heat and we let it cool for 10 min. Turning it on after ten minutes, it works perfectly! It appears we have won another battle and potentialy the war! So the monitors have been reinstalled and data is coming. It was hard enough to defeat these little machines, I can't imagine a real Terminator... I now have a new respect for Sarah and John Conner.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Fingers Crossed
So the past few days we have spent securing and setting up our monitoring locations in the slum. I'm realizing slum isn't necessarily what I've always thought. Part of the area, is certainly the like the slums you see in the "save the children" ads, but there is also so areas of development. The government has been assisting a good amount of building in the main area and there are lots of 2-3 story buildings and concrete or asphalt roads. In fact, I really enjoy my time in these areas. The streets are alive! There kids all over, playing cricket, jacks or having there hair brushed. There are people cooking, selling vegetables, doing laundry, cleaning the houses. There's quite a bit of construction and lots of people sweeping their area of street, which keeps it fairly clean. Though it has its difficulties, there is solid sense of community. Our host in the slum is a man named Jaikumar, a local community leader and a custodian at the college we were invited by. And as we walk around we are constantly greated and he explains how he knows everyone.
We got both stations set up and running and will go back today to check them, download the data and move to our mid-income sites. As we finished setting up, the skies opened up and poured! The past week, I've come to respect the monsoon season, and have been thoroughly soaked more than a couple of times- like as we were leaving the slum. But I try not to let it sour me... there are few locations where is fun to be soaked from head to toe. We'll set up the monitors today at he mid-income housing and then pretty much be set. From that point on, Arun will be checking and downloading the data everyweek and changing locations every two weeks. Lets hope the autorickshaw drivers don't continue there strick, which has forced us into a lot of walking!
We got both stations set up and running and will go back today to check them, download the data and move to our mid-income sites. As we finished setting up, the skies opened up and poured! The past week, I've come to respect the monsoon season, and have been thoroughly soaked more than a couple of times- like as we were leaving the slum. But I try not to let it sour me... there are few locations where is fun to be soaked from head to toe. We'll set up the monitors today at he mid-income housing and then pretty much be set. From that point on, Arun will be checking and downloading the data everyweek and changing locations every two weeks. Lets hope the autorickshaw drivers don't continue there strick, which has forced us into a lot of walking!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Setting Up
Here are some pics from around our work. We've set up two of the monitoring locations, as seen in some of the photos below, and should have the final two set up early next week. Also take a look at the secturity box... we were first imagining a type of cage, but the metal shop we had build it created this 40 lb bomb-proof container. Arun, our assistant, shown in some of the pics said, "from carrying this back and forth, I'll soon be very strong". It's a beast
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Moving Along
We've started to ramp up our work the past few days. Our focus right now is to establish out sites and get the monitoring operational. There are frequent power outages here and one of our main concerns was having an uniterupted power source for the equipment. The task yesterday was to find such a solution. Arun, an assistant we hired from the India Institute of Science, and I set out to the market area of Bangalore. It was a bit tricky with two non-Hindi speakers (Arun is from Karala and speaks a different language) but we managed to find a near exact replica of the external battery packs available with the equipment. Well, we actaully had to have them made, but that is the great thing about much of the developing world... as long as you find the right people, you can pretty much have anything fabricated that you desire. So we took a 6V battery from one shop and had another shop sodder it in parallel with the existing battery pack, then connect it with the equipment and viola... we tripled our battery life. Its still a bit suspect, but testing the next few days should work out the bugs.
We had a very similar experience with the metal fabricators who built our security box for the monitor. We went in, described what we wanted, waited a day and hoped the understood what we asked for. To our surprise, the box is nearly exactly what we wanted.
These are two issues Julian and I were worried would consume much of our time here and it appears we pending solutions to both. Next step is setting up the sites and getting some real time data.
We had a very similar experience with the metal fabricators who built our security box for the monitor. We went in, described what we wanted, waited a day and hoped the understood what we asked for. To our surprise, the box is nearly exactly what we wanted.
These are two issues Julian and I were worried would consume much of our time here and it appears we pending solutions to both. Next step is setting up the sites and getting some real time data.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Pics from Around Bangalore
Here are some pictures from the first few days in India. They are from around Bangalore and Mysore, which we visited this weekend. So many colors, smells, Hindu temples, and coffee stands.
Posting some Pictures....
Friday, August 8, 2008
Landing... and standing
Well, I made it to Bangalore without any complications... I'm staying at a guesthouse of the hosting institution, St. John's Medical College and met up with my PI, Julian, yesterday morning. Not much jet lag, but am still a bit mixed up. I have these crashes every few hours where it takes all my energy to not fall asleep.
Yesteday we met up with a med student who will be assisting us named Shilpa. We fired up the PM monitor and took it for a test drive while visiting potential monitoring sites in a middle-income area and also a slum area. We have a few good ideas but securing the monitors will be the most difficult part, so the second part of the day was spent with a local machinist designing a lock box for the monitor. These monitors will basically be on a rooftop from August unitl I return in December and need to be discrete and weatherproof. We'll be inspecting out prototype later today. Julian and i are still working through our monitoring protocol so that we can get at our research from all angles. In the next couple days we should have a basic gameplan and begin with some monitoring.
So far, so good. The project has gotten of to a good start and we are finding we have plenty of support. I'm loving the food, though every meal is a bit of surprise since I never know what I am ordering. It may be a bit tricky getting some pictures up, but I'll see what i can do.
Yesteday we met up with a med student who will be assisting us named Shilpa. We fired up the PM monitor and took it for a test drive while visiting potential monitoring sites in a middle-income area and also a slum area. We have a few good ideas but securing the monitors will be the most difficult part, so the second part of the day was spent with a local machinist designing a lock box for the monitor. These monitors will basically be on a rooftop from August unitl I return in December and need to be discrete and weatherproof. We'll be inspecting out prototype later today. Julian and i are still working through our monitoring protocol so that we can get at our research from all angles. In the next couple days we should have a basic gameplan and begin with some monitoring.
So far, so good. The project has gotten of to a good start and we are finding we have plenty of support. I'm loving the food, though every meal is a bit of surprise since I never know what I am ordering. It may be a bit tricky getting some pictures up, but I'll see what i can do.
Monday, August 4, 2008
First and Foremost
Last Friday, August 1st 2008, I began a new chapter in life and began my graduate studies at the University of Minnesota. I am pursuing my Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering with a focus in Drinking Water / Wastewater Treatment and Air Quality. How I ended up at the University of Minnesota is related to the second half of my focus (Air Quality).
Without any true intention of attending UMN, this past spring Professor Julian Marshall approached me with a research opportunity to study Environmental and Public Health in the developing world. After considering my options (or more honestly... my option), I jumped at the chance and am currently enrolled at UMN as a half-time student and half-time research assistant.
This blog will be a location to keep anyone who is interested, up to date with my work, my research, and life in general. I've lately been trying to think a lot about the way in which I see the world... the lenses through I percieve things. Not just my bias but also how I think and process, and how I interact. This is no doubt the result of the training we seek out, or don't seek out, but also the result of the people, the culture and ideas in which we choose to surround ourselves with. Though a bit more abstract, this second source still has the hint of our responsibility while often being infiltrated with moments of dumb luck or possibly fate. It is for these moments that I am thankful. If you are reading this, you've most likely had some effect on me, how I think, how I interact... many of you profound, others not as much. Your love, support, prayer, encouragement, criticism and training have shaped and is shaping how I see the world, and for that I am thankful. Particularly because, like a kid avoiding cough syrup, much my efforts seem to have been in avoiding the things I needed. For this reason, Providence has become one of my favorite words....
With that said... I leave tomorrow for Bangalore, India to begin field work for my research. Myself and Professor Marshall will be measuring particulate matter in air at multiple locations measuring environmental health, its relation to public health and its dependency on multiple variables such as transportation, industry and socio-economic classification. There is still a lot of uncertainly with how the research will proceed, but that's why we are headed over there. I'll let you know as I find out...
Without any true intention of attending UMN, this past spring Professor Julian Marshall approached me with a research opportunity to study Environmental and Public Health in the developing world. After considering my options (or more honestly... my option), I jumped at the chance and am currently enrolled at UMN as a half-time student and half-time research assistant.
This blog will be a location to keep anyone who is interested, up to date with my work, my research, and life in general. I've lately been trying to think a lot about the way in which I see the world... the lenses through I percieve things. Not just my bias but also how I think and process, and how I interact. This is no doubt the result of the training we seek out, or don't seek out, but also the result of the people, the culture and ideas in which we choose to surround ourselves with. Though a bit more abstract, this second source still has the hint of our responsibility while often being infiltrated with moments of dumb luck or possibly fate. It is for these moments that I am thankful. If you are reading this, you've most likely had some effect on me, how I think, how I interact... many of you profound, others not as much. Your love, support, prayer, encouragement, criticism and training have shaped and is shaping how I see the world, and for that I am thankful. Particularly because, like a kid avoiding cough syrup, much my efforts seem to have been in avoiding the things I needed. For this reason, Providence has become one of my favorite words....
With that said... I leave tomorrow for Bangalore, India to begin field work for my research. Myself and Professor Marshall will be measuring particulate matter in air at multiple locations measuring environmental health, its relation to public health and its dependency on multiple variables such as transportation, industry and socio-economic classification. There is still a lot of uncertainly with how the research will proceed, but that's why we are headed over there. I'll let you know as I find out...
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