Conference Agenda

Climate change has a profound and varied impact on natural and human systems throughout the planet. There are undeniable effects such as variations in rainfall patterns, greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, alterations to the conditions and quality of life of people and the consolidation of their territories. In this project we analyzed the social and territorial conditions in the Vereda Tres Portones, in the municipality of El Playón, in the department of Santander, recognizing the territory from its affectation by environmental risks, the development of its productive activities, the consolidation of its ecosystems and the well-being of the present community. To this end, we worked from a descriptive qualitative approach, to have a vision of the current scenario of the territory and was complemented with a participatory technical formulation process, in which from the guidelines of adaptation and mitigation of the territorial entities and authorities specialized in climate change, we worked with the communities to identify action scenarios and propose strategies to help strengthen and improve the response conditions. The study concluded by proposing five strategic intervention programs: resilient agriculture, risk management, biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness and community strengthening, in order to provide comprehensive support for the sensitive aspects of the territory, based on the relationship between traditional and scientific knowledge, promote environmental education and foster community cooperation to effectively address the challenges of climate change in the territory

The urban expansion of metropolitan Lima has led to the settlement of poor populations in the premontane zones and Andean desert foothills of its eastern periphery, in addition to the appearance of formal and informal solid waste disposal sites, where the occasional rains generated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation trigger debris flows, landslides, river overflows and floods, in addition to the appearance of infectious and contagious diseases in their inhabitants, so it is necessary know the climatic and environmental conditions that cause these outbreaks, for a better management of these cases. To this end, the relationship between climate variability, natural hazards and the increase in cases of cholera and dengue in the district of Lurigancho between 1997 and 2024 was analyzed. For this purpose, data from hydrometeorological stations, ENSO indices, natural hazard reports and disease incidence records were systematized. As result, a strong relationship was found between rainfall in the Ñaña zone and the incidence of disease, which may be related to the inadequate disposal of solid waste and the precarious conditions in which many of its inhabitants live, aggravated by the lack of governmental management of the territory, hazard prevention and health care. In conclusion, the incidence of arboviral diseases in this case is not significantly correlated with the occurrence of hazards, but rather with favorable atmospheric conditions of higher minimum temperatures and rainfall, such as those generated by an ENSO event, combined with deficiencies in final disposal of solid waste and lack of basic services for the population.

Abstract – In recent decades, Lake Titicaca has been affected by various types of pollution, one of the most notable being solid waste pollution, much of which originates in the city of Juliaca and surrounding communities. This pollution causes the spread of disease, a decline in flora and fauna, and landscape destruction.
The solution involves the implementation of a 3-meter-long unmanned catamaran capable of extracting solid waste from the lake's surface and storing it on its deck. This ensures mobility and continuous remote work, generating positive environmental and social impacts aligned with Puno's development plans and the 2030 Agenda. CAD software will be used to achieve a realistic approach and functional detailing of the proposed design, in addition to achieving constant improvement to achieve the most efficient and optimal design.
Keywords: Lake Titicaca, Remotely Operated Catamaran, Floating Solid Waste, Monitoring, Extraction.

This project is part of the efforts of UNITEC's Water Observatory, an academic and scientific initiative integrated into the ONE HEALTH Institute, whose objective is to monitor, analyze and disseminate key information on the quality, availability and management of water resources in Honduras. In line with its comprehensive vision of human, animal and environmental health, the Observatory seeks to generate scientific evidence to support public policies, promote environmental education and strengthen community resilience in the face of climate change and water insecurity. In this context, a proposal was developed to address the problem of drinking water scarcity in the community of Barrio Canahuati, located in the municipality of Choloma. This community faces critical deficiencies in its supply system, caused by failures in the pipeline, an obsolete distribution network and the insufficient capacity of its storage tank. As a result, the population does not receive the minimum supply necessary to cover their basic needs. The proposed solution contemplates the geometric and structural design of a new potable water distribution network, supported by a topographic survey that identified the elevation ranges in the community: 70.54 meters above sea level in the highest areas, 21.73 meters above sea level in the lowest areas, and 140.86 meters above sea level at the location of the main tank. Through simulation with EPANET software, pressures were identified.

In the face of Chile’s growing water scarcity—where over two million people lack guaranteed access to potable water—Ingeniería Sin Fronteras Chile (ISF Chile) and the University of Chile launched AQUA365, a humanitarian engineering program empowering university students to co-design scalable water solutions with vulnerable communities. Initially launched as a national hackathon in 2021, the program evolved into an annual, multidisciplinary platform that brings together students from diverse institutions and fields to work on real-world water-related challenges.

AQUA365 is built upon a robust methodology in which each student team tackles a specific, community-defined challenge, ensuring both direct local impact and a strong sense of ownership over the proposed solution. Throughout the program, participants receive training on socio-environmental issues and humanitarian engineering, while also benefiting from mentorship by experts across technical and social disciplines.

This paper presents the evolution of the program and explores a case study in the mountain community of El Alfalfal, where students co-developed a slow sand filter adapted to local conditions. The experience illustrates how interdisciplinary collaboration and community participation enhance both the technical robustness and social acceptance of engineering solutions.