Boulder Fence Model Design Competition Background Boulder fall is one of the natural hazards in Hong Kong. Boulder fences are sometimes constructed to stop falling boulders from reaching downhill facilities. This competition is part of the Government s campaign to promote the public awareness of boulder falls and other landslide hazards. It is co-organised by the following organisations: - Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), - Education Bureau (EDB), - Hong Kong Science Museum, and - Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Objective The competition aims to draw public attention to the natural hazards arising from Hong Kong s hilly terrain, such as boulder falls, landslides, etc. Students participating in the competition will design and build miniature boulder fence models for resisting simulated boulder falls. They will be able to apply their theoretical knowledge gained in classrooms and acquire new practical one in a fun environment. Eligibility The competition has two Categories, namely Junior Secondary (S1 to S3) and Senior Secondary (S4 to S6). All secondary schools in Hong Kong are welcome to nominate their students to participate. Each school may nominate at maximum four teams. Each team shall contain at minimum one and at maximum five students. All students in a team should fall in the same Category.
2 Competition Entry and Available Resources for Use Each participating team will receive two sets of Competition Kits from the Organisers. Each set contains the following items: - 500 grams of newspaper, - 2 pieces of cardboards, - 10 pieces of bamboo sticks, - 50 pieces of rubber bands, and - 1 roll of authorised sticky tapes. The participants shall assemble their competition entries, i.e. boulder fence models, with the items contained in the Competition Kits and subject to the following requirements: - Each model shall be made of the items in ONE set of Competition Kit only; - The model shall not contain other materials, including but not limited to unauthorised sticky tapes, adhesives or staples; and - Each participating team can present at maximum two models to the competition. Simulated Boulder Fall Test On the date of competition, all boulder fence models will be tested at the competition venue for verifying their ability to resist the prescribed simulated boulder falls. Each model shall first take a Basic Test which consists of a simultaneous fall of 6 simulated boulders along the sloping channel of the competition fixture (Figure 1). Each boulder will be a C-sized dry battery. In a test, each model will be impacted twice by the boulder fall generated by the competition fixture. After the first impact, the fixture, the simulated boulders and the model will be restored to their original positions, and the impact will be repeated. The model will successfully pass the test if it meets the following criteria in at least one of the two impacts: - The model shall be placed completely within the Designated Zone before it is impacted by the boulder fall; - The model and all simulated boulders shall completely remain within the Designated Zone after the impact; and - The simulated boulders shall not be retained on the aluminium channel after the impact.
3 Figure 1 Arrangement of Competition Fixture (Not to Scale) simulated boulders Designated Zone (see Detail A) 1800 mm 35 Boulder Fence Model 500 mm 100 mm aluminum channel 100 mm (W) x 50 mm (H) 100 mm x 100 mm opening for fitting of aluminum channel 200 mm 100 mm 500 mm 500 mm x 500 mm Designated Zone paved with grit 320 sandpaper 500 mm Detail A Arrangement of Designated Zone (Not to Scale)
4 The Most Effective Design Award Effectiveness is a key objective in boulder fence design. Engineers aim to build a functional boulder fence with the least materials. To win this award, the participating team has to use the least materials to assemble a boulder fence model which can resist the Basic Test with a fall of 6 simulated boulders. Each model will be weighed to the nearest gram at the competition venue before the Basic Test starts. Among the models successfully passing the Basic Test, the one with the least weight in each Category will be awarded as the Champion of The Most Effective Design Award. The models with the second and the third least weights in each Category will be awarded as the First Runner-up and the Second Runner-up respectively. The Most Innovative and Aesthetic Design Award Innovation and aesthetics are also key considerations in boulder fence design. Engineers aim to design innovative and aesthetically-pleasing boulder fences, yet without compromising the functions. To win this award, participants have to assemble the most innovative and aesthetically-pleasing boulder fence model, which still has to successfully pass the Basic Test. The Panel of Adjudicators will select in each Category among all models passing the Basic Test to win The Most Innovative and Aesthetic Design Award based on the following criteria: 1. Creativity (50%) 2. Aesthetics (50%) The Most Robust Design Award This award aims to pose a challenge to all boulder fence models beyond the Basic Test limit! Each model successfully passing the Basic Test with the fall of 6 simulated boulders can then be impacted by a series of tests, with each subsequent test consisting of one more simulated boulder, until the model fails the test. The model which can successfully pass the most number of tests in each Category will be awarded as The Most Robust Design Award. If there are more than one model successfully passing the same maximum number of tests, the lightest one will win.
5 Prizes Each of the Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Categories will have the following awards: The Most Effective Design Awards Champion First Runner-up Second Runner-up The Most Innovative and Aesthetic Design The Most Robust Design Merit Prize (each model passing the basic test of 6 boulders) Prizes and HK$3,000 book coupons and HK$2,000 book coupons and HK$1,000 book coupons and HK$2,000 book coupons and HK$1,000 book coupons a certificate of merit and a souvenir The prize presentation ceremony will be held at the competition venue immediately after the competition. Panel of Adjudicators Chairman: Mr Y S Au Yeung, Deputy Head of Geotechnical Engineering Office (Island), CEDD Members: Ms Becky L S Lui, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, CEDD Ms Connie S T Wu, Curriculum Development Officer, EDB Mr Y W Wong, Assistant Curator, Hong Kong Science Museum Mr Terence C F Chan, Deputy Chairman of Geotechnical Division, HKIE
6 Rules 1. All competition entries must be the original work of the participants with no infringement of copyright. 2. Copyrights of all competition entries belong to the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the CEDD. 3. The GEO of the CEDD has full right to use any part of or revise the participants design for use in research, learning or other purposes after the competition. Application Interested school shall submit an application form to Mr M L HO of CEDD via email or fax (email address: mlho@cedd.gov.hk and fax: 2762 2389) by 19 April 2013 (Friday). Programme Dates Venues Events Contents 11 May 2013 (Saturday) afternoon Late June 2013 7 July 2013 (Sunday) HK Science Museum HK Science Museum HK Science Museum Briefing Session Trial Tests Competition Each participating team shall assign at least one team member to attend the briefing session, in which the attendees will be briefed on the competition requirements and distributed with Competition Kits. The competition fixture will be set up. Participants may bring along their preliminary boulder fence models to the venue for trial testing. Participants shall bring along their finalised boulder fence models to the venue for final testing. Enquiry For enquiries, please contact Mr M L HO of CEDD (tel.: 2762 5286; e-mail: mlho@cedd.gov.hk).