The silt of the reservoir has been transformed into the promised land of Taiwan! From wall cancer-proof building materials to flower ware tea trays, emitting a simple fashion style.

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The water storage capacity of 96 reservoirs across the country is 2.84 billion tons, 1/3 of which are actually filled with sand and gravel, and the siltation capacity is increased by one reservoir a year. The silt that has been cleared has nowhere to go. Taiwan's largest silt storage site, which has 3 million tons in the Shimen Reservoir, is already in a state of full load. as soon as the heavy rain comes, the silt will flow back to the river, seriously affecting the water storage function of the reservoir.

In fact, the seemingly useless silt has great potential. The team of Chenggong University innovates and uses the silt to develop innovative building materials that can prevent wall cancer and waterproofing, and can also be used in life decorations such as planting flowers and tea trays. This innovation has been patented and named "promised Land", successfully transforming the fate of "wasteland".

The ink flower ware made from the promised land as the raw material by the happy land partner runs a production workshop in the shared space from time to time to provide learning and exchange for paradise lovers. _ _ mud wood design studio

Reservoir crisis has become the origin of patent research and development.

The geology of Taiwan is young, the mountains are high and the water is urgent, the slopes of the rivers are steep, and the rainfall is three times that of the world average, but there is not much water retained. Torrential rains washing away a lot of sand and gravel has become a nightmare for water conservancy units.

When Typhoon Eli hit northern Taiwan in 2004, soil and rock erosion caused the Shimen Reservoir turbidity to increase and the water purification plant could not operate. Taoyuan was forced to stop water for 18 days, and people were holding basin buckets to pick up water everywhere. The massive water stoppage disgraced the water conservancy units, seriously damaged the myth of water control, and a large amount of silt even affected the life of the reservoir.

In 2009, Typhoon Morakot brought nearly 100 million tons of silt, leaving only 40% of the water storage capacity of the largest Zengwen reservoir in the south. The sand and stone dug out by dredging in the reservoir belong to valuable materials and are quickly carried away. However, priceless materials such as silt and hydrous clay are difficult to transport, so they can only be piled in the open air around the reservoir and have nowhere to go. As soon as the heavy rain came, the mud followed the current back to the reservoir.

Reservoir desilting is regarded as a headache by water conservancy units, with an annual deposition of 18 million tons, which is equivalent to the water storage capacity of a reservoir. _ from the electronic newspaper of the Ministry of Economic Affairs

Reservoir sludge is modified to produce nano-waterproof effect and win the national patent.

After the water shutdown in Taoyuan, all units tried to remove the silt from the reservoir. At that time, the Commission for Economic Development (now the National Development Commission) commissioned Professor Huang Zhongxin of the Department of Civil Engineering to conduct a "reservoir silt application study" to develop the feasibility of desilting reservoir silt and create utilization value to desilt.

The R & D team found that the general river silt impurities are difficult to deal with, and the reservoir silt is relatively clean and easy to deal with, so it has application potential. The silt is derived from shale which has been scoured by rivers for thousands of years, and the fine viscosity of the particles is high. after a special procedure to change the physical properties, it can produce a waterproof effect similar to that of nanometer. Compared with the high price of traditional nano materials, the modified sludge can greatly reduce the material cost and produce commercial application value.

How does the sludge with "high viscosity and small particles" become "nano-like"? Huang Zhongxin, for example, slips easily after absorbing water, because the water runs into the cracks in the particles, and after special chemical treatment, the water is separated from sliding.

This silt modification technology has successfully obtained a national patent. Huang Zhongxin says that it is a local building material that integrates local natural conditions and reverses the plight of water conservancy, and is worthy of the pride of the Chinese people.

The modification of silt can make the wall look like human skin, breathable and waterproof. Photo taken from the quarterly journal of industry-university cooperation

From wasteland to promised land, and consumers develop the market.

Guo Wenyi, a student of Huang Zhongxin, participated in the whole process from the research and development of sludge quality improvement to technology transfer. In order to make the sludge produce the application value of the industry, Guo Wenyi established "Chengda Chang Hong" through the authorization of the Technology transfer Center of Chengkung University. This is Chengda's first "derivative company", which specializes in promoting the application of sludge quality, from production, brand to market development.

Guo Wenyi knows very well that it is difficult for new technologies to break into the top of the construction industry of large groups. In the past, it is not that there is no improved material to enter the market, but the existing technology model and interest structure are difficult to change, so it is necessary to find another way. He chose a difficult but longer-term way to enter the market from consumers at the bottom of the pyramid.

"large enterprises are United fleets, and they can be closed and ignore the changes outside. We are not the first to reuse silt, and the engineering and construction industry is not easy to innovate, and the larger the group system is, the more difficult it is to change, so we have to develop the market on our own. "Guo Wen-Yi believes that if the network provides a new path, it will break through from the consumers at the bottom and open up a market gap.

Flower decoration made by Guo Wenyi and modified mud. Photo taken by Lin Jiyang

When silt becomes a life proposal

Guo Wenyi's entrepreneurial team gave the modified mud a playful name, "Happy Land", hoping that the application of the new material would create fun in life. In order to collect users' opinions, Guo Wenyi's team went from blogging to developing a Facebook community, exchanging wall cancer and life application experiences, creating a discussion community, shooting their own Youtube teaching short films, and setting up communication channels.

"it just so happens that modern people like DIY and start their own lives, so we will provide this material for consumers to share all kinds of application experiences and open up a community model for common learning."

Guo Wenyi developed a series of paradise waterproof materials and decorative coatings (Photography / Lin Jiyang)

Guo Wenyi believes that the market model of the Internet era must answer the fundamental question: "how to provide proposals to build life?" In the past, the technology was complex, so it relied on professionals, such as masons, to provide information symmetry through the Internet, online shopping materials, the technology can be simplified to the average person to start easily. Guo funny shows their Slogan: "No special shifts, just step by step." from solving wall cancer, indoor waterproof painting to making flower ware, anyone can easily use it.

"We don't want to focus on environmental protection or 'waste reuse' to win sympathy. When the new material becomes a life proposal, it will be sustainable for the market to really accept it." Guo Wenyi said.

A wall made of Happy Earth (Photo courtesy / Guo Wenyi)

Interior designer: muddy building materials are simple and low-key, distinctive and suitable for Taiwan.

Chang Chin-chi, an interior designer who specializes in the reconstruction of old houses, often encounters the problem of wall cancer leakage, especially the northeast monsoon plus long winter rain, moisture is difficult to eliminate, prone to wall cancer seepage, and is a worry for families in the north. Chang Chin-chi found that "Happy Land", a local paint in Taiwan, has a cold color and strong adhesion, while a thin layer has a sense of compactness and smoothness, which can be used in both decorative paint and the renovation of old houses.

Zhang Jinqi said that the "promised Land" material is unique and can also adapt to Taiwan's hot and humid climate, and the paint itself has the color of plaster, which is naturally favored by many customers.

"Modern people are eager to return to nature and are tired of the white or fancy decorations of modern life. after work, most people just want a simple and quiet living space, which can make people feel relaxed and refreshing." He said.

Zhang Jinqi believes that the characteristics of the promised land can show simplicity, which is just in line with his design style, so he falls in love with the material of the promised land. Courtesy of Zhang Jinqi

The ultimate goal of paradise: to find a way out for Taiwan and to create a paradise for the earth.

Guo Wenyi believes that Chinese people advocate imported materials, such as Japanese diatomite is popular, but they do not know that Taiwan also has media to be proud of. Therefore, he hopes that the local materials will be recognized by the world, and that this cultural attitude of "made in Taiwan" is the ambition of the "promised land."

At present, the raw materials of the "promised land" come from the silt of the Agongdian reservoir, and upstream is the chalk of the moon world. In the past, it was a symbol of barren, but now it is the hope of innovation. Guo Wen-Yi says, "never underestimate yourself. Don't blindly believe that the moon in foreign countries is relatively round. I hope everyone believes that this is possible.

"A simple piece of soil contains an infinite variety of possibilities." Guo Wenyi believes that the value of the Internet era lies in "sharing" rather than "monopoly". "just like the future of young people, although housing prices are very high and people cannot afford it, they have evolved the trend of renovating old houses and creating a cultural atmosphere of old and new. People who want to return to simplicity can be applied to this paradise. It's small and rustic, but it's very functional. "

A tea tray made of promised land (photo courtesy of mud wood)