Rainwater platforms & wayfinding markers

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.

• Materials: pressure-treated lumber, bought and transported in batches
• Workshop: frames laid out and assembled in parallel
• On site: ground prepared, frames leveled, decks and railings attached
• Markers: stenciled posts with solar caps, set in the ground at each location

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.