Solar Design Competition 2012 Rules
Eligibility – All students of the Catholic University of America are eligible to participate in this competition, provided they are registered as a full-time or part-time student, during the Spring 2012 academic semester. All participants must remain as students “in good standing” for the duration of the competition.
Teams – Students must participate as members of a multidisciplinary team of at least three students but not more than seven students. Teams must include at least one engineering student and one architecture student. A team roster must be submitted and approved by March 2, 2012.
Deliverables – All teams must submit design drawings, detailing the construction and assembly of the design, in both paper and electronic format (PDF file). Teams are encouraged to submit 3-dimensional computer models or drawings. Teams are encouraged to include cost estimates, wiring diagrams, performance specifications, and any other documentation providing details of the design. All teams must submit a 1/10 scale (approximate) prototype, constructed from readily available materials (wood, cardboard, sheet metal, etc.). A 36” x 48” (approximate) poster, outlining the design and highlighting any unique features, must accompany the scale model. All teams must give a verbal presentation to the judges and the public on Odyssey Day, April 13, 2012. Students are encouraged to have all or most of the team members participate in the final presentation.
Judges – All official judges will be appointed by the competition organizers. All judges will be either: 1) University employees, including professors, with expertise in related fields, or 2) professionals, not associated with the University, with expertise in related fields, that have volunteered to serve as judges.
Judging – Judging will be based on five categories, each equally weighted. Each design/team will be evaluated in each of the five categories and awarded up to 20 points in each category, for a total of 100 possible points. In each category, the scores of all the participating judges will be averaged. Judges may choose not to participate in judging a particular category. The judging categories are:
· Architecture and Aesthetics
o Was the team effective in its use of architectural elements including, but not limited to: scale and proportion, composition, aesthetic or artistic elements, and integration into the surrounding environment?
o Will the design offer a sense of “inspiration and delight” to users and visitors?
· Marketability
o Are the Construction Documents of sufficient quality and detail to enable a contractor to construct the structure as the design team intended?
o Are the cost estimates reasonable? Is the design efficient in terms of minimizing the cost of materials and construction?
o Is the design likely to achieve a degree of commercial success?
· Functionality and Innovation
o Will the system actually function as desired? Is the design likely to achieve the predicted performance specifications?
o Does the system provide power for adequate lighting?
o Were any unique approaches used to solve design challenges?
o How long is the system likely to operate without significant failure? How much maintenance will likely be required to keep the system working?
o Is the system “robust” in terms of withstanding the elements and potential misuse or abuse?
· Safety
o Is the system safe from a structural point of view?
o Will the system remain safe during inclement weather?
o Is the system electrically safe?
o Does the system include “fail-safe” mechanisms, fuses, or other protection devices?
o Can the system be removed or reconfigured for moving to another location?
· Teamwork
o Does the team appear to have worked-well together?
o Did all team members participate in the design?
o Did most team members participate in the presentation?
o Was the “division of labor” appropriate?
o Was the team diverse (in terms of the disciplines of the various teammates)? Were many Departments represented by the team?
Advisors – A group of experts, consisting of professors and professionals, will be made available to all teams throughout the competition. Advisors will not be assigned to particular teams. Although the advisors have volunteered to work with the various design teams, they are under no obligation to help any given team at any given time: advisors will work with the teams as time permits. Judges will be eligible to serve as advisors.
Intellectual Property – All submitted designs become property of The Catholic University of America.
Fabrication – Over the summer break, CUA Facilities may fabricate the winning design; however, the university is under no obligation to fabricate any of the designs.
For more information, please contact Brian Alexander at alexandb@cua.edu
