PENANG, 15 November 2016 - Two entries from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) won Gold and Silver awards at the 5th International Innovation, Invention and Design (INDES 2016) Competition, which was held from 9th-10th November 2016 at UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak.

According to the USM School of Housing, Building and Planning (HBP) lecturer, Dr. Ariza Sharikin Abu Bakar, INDES 2016 has brought together more than 150 participants comprising representatives from various backgrounds, professionals, students and those from the industry. Students and researchers from local and international universities have also participated in the competition under various categories and fields.

A group of lecturers from HBP led by Dr. Naziah Muhamad Saleh, Sr. Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim, Dr. Siti Salwa Mohd Ishak and Dr. Ariza Sharikin Abu Bakar has won a Gold award (Professional) under the Innovation category from the Green and Sustainability field.

The project entitled ‘Indoor Air Bio-Filter’ is a conceptual design and the same team led by Sr. Nuzaihan Aras Agus Salim has also won a Silver award (Professional) under the Innovation category and the Green and Sustainability field.

The innovation has been found to reduce heat and to function together as a self-cleaning air filter for the HBP school and some plant species have been identified as being able to absorb and decrease the heat in the building.

This concept is used for the purpose of developing a ‘curtain’ to a wall and is supported by a rain-water harvesting system, water filter ponds and solar panels. It is believed that it could serve as a tangible example of green technology and to function as a type of vertical landscaping for a building.

Original text & Photo: Dr. Ariza Sharikin Abu Bakar (School of HBP)