ABOUT
IEEE SIGHT ISLAMABAD aims to provide technology based solutions to solve Local Community Problems and empower local community. “Local” is defined by the fact that key leaders of the project are citizens and/or permanent residents of the geographical area in which the project is to take place.
Vision
Underserved communities around the world are able to benefit from technology as they seek sustainable solutions to development challenges.
Mission
The Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT) program is a network of IEEE volunteers around the globe that partner with underserved communities and local organizations to leverage technology for sustainable development.
Values
- SIGHT focuses on sustainable solutions that make a long-term difference in the lives of people.
- SIGHT operates through local volunteers and partners working with local communities.
- For SIGHT, success is only achieved through partnerships, starting with the community and extending to government organizations, NGOs, schools, hospitals, companies, and others.
- For SIGHT and its volunteers to be both effective and sustainable, continuous training and education is essential.
EXECUTIVES
| Name | Position | Email Address |
|---|---|---|
| Ahsan Raja | Chairperson | mianjunaidmanzoor@gmail.com |
| Moiz Chaudhary | Vice Chairperson | moizchaudhary@ieee.org |
| Haris Zaman Chaudhary | Secretary/Treasurer | harisuzaman@ieee.org |
| Syeda Hifza Marij | Program Officer | hifza.marijs@gmail.com |
KEY ELEMENTS OF SIGHT GROUPS
SIGHT Projects
SIGHT groups partner with local entities that positively and sustainably contribute to their community. Most SIGHT groups co-create a project with a local entity, but it is also acceptable to make a significant contribution to an existing humanitarian/development project.
Humanitarian Training & Professional Development
IEEE SIGHT has determined key subject areas of training and professional development that are important for SIGHT group volunteers in order to implement sustainable and impactful humanitarian projects within their local community.
SIGHT Group Capacity Building
In order to implement sustainable and impactful projects in local communities, groups need to build various capacities including, but not limited to, building community partnerships, recruiting and engaging volunteers, and securing funding.
IEEE SIGHT Annual Meeting 2018
IEEE SIGHT Islamabad successfully their annual AGM on 31 DEC 2018 at Islamabad. We invited team 2018 and Team 2019-20. The event in summary constitutes of the following:
– Announcement of New SIGHT Team 2019-2020
– Acknowledgement and Farewell to Team 2018
– Acknowledgement of Collaborating Universities throughout year 2018
– General Discussion, Review 2018-2019 and Planning for year 2019
IEEE SIGHT Islamabad ExCom 2019-20
Chairperson: Haris Zaman
Vice Chairperson (Programs): Shangol Haider
Vice Chairperson (Projects): Muneeb Malik
IEEE SIGHT Idea Competition
IEEE SIGHT Islamabad organized an Idea Competition to motivate and encourage students and professionals to work on local community problems and come up with sustainable low-cost solution. Event was held in conjunction with IEEE PSYWC at PIEAS Islamabad and people from across Pakistan joined the competition. Out of shortlisted 5 projects were taken by SIGHT Islamabad to incubate and take to SIGHT Steering Committee. Finalists and Winners were also given waiver on IEEE Membership
IEEE SIGHT Islamabad CEW: A Community Meetup Over Climate Action and Environmental Changes in Pakistan
A round table conference was held between community Leaders from several localities in Islamabad & Rawalpindi along with IEEE SIGHT Delegates and Met Dept Representatives. Problems as well as opportunities were discussed to propose different strategies and solution to combat climate change and take action as soon as possible. Further collaboration opportunities were discussed with the Municipal Corporation Representatives too.
"LET'S BREATH CLEAN TOGETHER" PROJECT
About
Let`s breathe clean together (LBCT) is the flagship project of IEEE SIGHT Islamabad based on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action. This project aims to develop a sustainable system to monitor and improve air quality of twin cities. Pollution is now a common place term that our ears are attuned to. We hear about the various forms of pollution and read about it through the mass media. Air pollution is one such form that refers to the contamination of the air, irrespective of indoors or outside. A physical, biological or chemical alteration to the air in the atmosphere can be termed as pollution. It occurs when any harmful gases, dust, smoke enters into the atmosphere and makes it difficult for plants, animals and humans to survive as the air becomes dirty.
This project intends to provide a database that will contribute towards the effective monitoring of meteorological conditions, and particulate matter concentrations, providing a clear image of the state of the atmosphere and the degree to which the urban heat island effect is present in the city of Islamabad. Furthermore, this project will, in fact, provide a precedent for future studies that can be designed on the same lines, contributing effectively in research.
Moreover, the information collected through this project, and the results generated, can be used to make future policies concerning air quality, saving the community from the impending threat to their health and well-being, by worsening air quality. If this information is actually utilized in a proper manner and the project continues, people can be made aware of the quality of air they breathe every instant. Especially, an air quality catalogue will be made for the city of Islamabad that will comprise the information:
- What times it will be safe for them to spend outside
- Which places in the city are having healthy ambient conditions.
- Which time of the day is suitable to which park for exercise and outdoor activities.
An air quality management system can be devised, including an air quality index that specifies the degree to which the air polluted, and is an effective tool for communicating air quality information and raise the awareness among the masses.
Objectives
The objectives are to
- To develop low-cost sensor network for air quality monitoring
- To identify urban heat island effect under current and changing local climate scenarios.
- Characterize the spatial resolution of local air pollutants
- Determine concentration gradients
- Identify source signatures from various land use practices
- Validating satellite observations with monitoring data
- Provide information to the Environment Protection Department and community groups to better address exposure and risk issues related to air pollutants
- Assist in the identification of health risk reduction and air pollution mitigation strategies.
What have we done so far?
This study will serve as a pilot project and provide valuable information that can be applied to other communities and cities not only nationwide but also around the region as well.
Till now, the project is in technical development phase and Four Remote Sensing Kits have been installed at different locations in Islamabad.
IEEE SIGHT Islamabad has raised 4200 US$ so far in fundraising from IEEE SIGHT Steering Committee, IEEE Islamabad Section and Local groups.
IEEE SIGHT EVENTS
SIGHT Group has partnered with a number of Institutes in Islamabad Section to provide opportunities to students of graduate and undergraduate programs at different universities for their Final Year Projects.
One such event was held at IEEE ICSEC’17 at Capital University of Science & Technology Islamabad where John Benedict was being invited on behalf of SIGHT Group to present benefits of AIYEHUM. All IEEE Young Engineers’ Humanitarian Challenge (AIYEHUM), organized by the IEEE Region 10 (Asia-Pacific), is a project competition where young scientists and engineers identify a community problem, develop technological solutions to address them and eventually implement it with the support provided by the IEEE R10.
The principal objective of AIYEHUM is to inspire young professionals/engineers to become socially responsible and be engaged in developing technological solutions which are cost effective and sustainable; improve living conditions and livelihood of people thus making a difference in peoples’ lives.
Apart from that, SIGHT Group shared the different funding opportunities at key events of IEEE Islamabad Section including IEEE Islamabad Congress [PIEAS], IEEE Ethics Competition [SEECS NUST] & IEEE Islamabad SB Quarterly Meeting [CUST].