Alon Alex Gross’s fog and dew collectors provide a low-tech way for people in arid, developing regions to collect drinking water. Gross uses design to show users how individuals can come up with their own answers to ecological and technical problems. His method fuses the ancient methods of fog harvesting and dew collection with modern improvements such as super light materials and internet connectivity.
The fog collector uses a screen to catch fog droplets in the air and turn them into drinking water. The 2 meter mesh surface can collect up to 10 liters of water in 24 hours. It can be used during day or night, and is most efficient when faced against the wind in high ground.
The dew collector is made of a special laminate foil that attracts dew drops. Despite only collecting water at night, the dew collector is very effective. It weighs just 400 grams, yet can collect up to 1.5 liters of clean water per night. It is most efficient when positioned on the ground in conditions of 50% humidity or more.
As extreme conditions can sometimes harm the laminate foil that collects the dew, Gross has developed a technologically advanced solution that detects atmospheric changes and uses sensors to open and close when conditions are right. To be as accessible as possible, it’s designed to be compatible with a large number of common internet programs, such as Internet Explorer and Flash.
The project was shown at Tuttobene this year in Milan, and forms parts of Gross’s work for the MA Critical Practice program at Goldsmiths College, London, known for its forward-thinking eco-design work. Here’s hoping he’ll take the project much further after he finishes.
