I planned, designed, and led a community build. I modeled the rainwater collection platforms in CAD, sourced the lumber and hardware, and ran build days with more than 25 volunteers. We then installed the platforms and a set of marker posts on site.
The site needed level, sturdy bases for rain barrels on uneven ground, plus marker posts to help people find their way. Before buying anything, I modeled the platform frames in CAD so I could size the lumber, check how the barrels fit, and create a cut list. This kept costs within the $2,100+ budget.
A full water barrel is heavy, so the platforms needed short spans, closely spaced deck boards, and a frame built to stay level as the ground settled.
I split the work into stations so volunteers of different ages and skill levels could work safely at the same time. Frames were pre-assembled in a workshop, then carried to the site to be leveled and installed. I handled purchasing, scheduling, tool safety briefings, and quality checks, including checking level on every platform before it was finished.
This project taught me that engineering is also logistics: turning a CAD model into a cut list and a materials order, then into a schedule that a group of volunteers can actually follow.