Engineering in Emergencies is a hugely successful practical handbook for all relief workers involved in giving humanitarian assistance. It provides the information needed to implement an effective engineering response in the aftermath of an emergency. The second edition of Engineering in Emergencies maintains the practical content of the first edition but has been revised and updated to reflect developments in humanitarian relief in recent years. The combination of 'hard' topics, such as water and sanitation, and 'soft' topics, such as managerial skills and personal effectiveness, has been retained from the original edition and the book expanded to include two new chapters on security and telecommunications. The new second edition will be available both as a book and as a handy CD-ROM, especially designed to be light and easily portable for relief workers in the field. Engineering in Emergencies is developed in collaboration with the agency RedR - Engineers for Disaster Relief, based in Westminster.
The Bible for operational aid workers. I've had my copy for 20 years, and I always lug it with me when I'm deployed to a disaster, natural or man-made, including population movements. It explains systematically and clearly how to do all the things operational aid workers need to be able to do in the field - build various types of latrine, set up water purification and distribution systems, etc. etc. Basic engineering for people who aren't engineers. Thanks to the once great organisation RedR for bringing together engineers and aid workers to come up with a solid database of practical knowledge that is indispensable in the field.