Interviews
★S. H. C. Reflection
Diane│Sean│Demi│Kevin│Iris│Ian│Gordan│Philip│Ariel│Kathleen
Diane Wang
If possible, I would like to see the application of the JW Eco-Technology in Taiwan, creating more “sponge cities” in the country.
After today’s interview, I think the sponge city is the modern approach to water management. In the past few years, the gradual increase of carbon dioxide emissions is contributing to the increase of global temperature, a problem also referred to as global warming. To reduce global warming, many countries around the world are taking steps to reduce carbon emission; however, their efforts are limited. The JW Eco-Technology offers an alternative solution to carbon reduction. Not only does this eco-technology effectively recycle and reuse water, it can also create cooler summers and warmer winters.
If possible, I would like to see the application of the JW Eco-Technology in Taiwan, creating more “sponge cities” in the country. The “sponge cities,” built with JW Pavement, will help lower rising temperatures as a result of global warming. Furthermore, it can prevent flooding in urban areas and preserve nature. One of the major differences between the JW Pavement and other types of pavement is that it is a low-maintenance technology; thus, it reduces construction costs while creating a healthy ecosystem at the same time.
Through this interview, I learned more about the future of water management in urban areas. I also learned more, with the help of the Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City, about the key to Mr. Jui-Wen Chen’s success – concentration and persistence.
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Sean Lin
The JW Eco-Technology can soak up to 150 mm of water per hour, and it can absorb 70% of the carbon dioxide released into the air.
On October 5th, we visited Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen. He explained to us how global warming is becoming a more serious problem in our world and how it continues to worsen our air quality. He mentioned the JW Eco-Technology as a possible solution to help our environment.
Most pavements today do not have high permeability; normally, they only have an infiltration rate of 20-30% and low carbon-dioxide absorption capabilities. The JW Eco-Technology has the ability to solve these problems. The JW Eco-Technology can soak up to 150 mm of water per hour, and it can absorb 70% of the carbon dioxide released into the air. In addition, it can absorb over 70% of other pollutants in the air, reducing the problem of air pollution.
I learned quite a bit about the JW Eco-Technology through Deputy Mayor Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen. I will never forget this wonderful experience of speaking with him.
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Demi Lin
It is my hope that the JW Pavement would replace all asphalt pavements in Taiwan.
Through the interview process with Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City, I had the opportunity of learning about one of the most alarming issues in Taiwan today – urban flooding. I came to realize the importance of the JW Eco-Technology on managing water disasters, reducing extreme weather conditions, and coping with increased runoff during rainy seasons.
Before coming into contact with this topic, I had no prior knowledge of the JW Eco-Technology. However, through the research process, I began to understand this eco-technology and its positive effects on the environment. This is the reason I want to promote the JW Eco-Technology, so more people can learn of its benefits. It is my hope that the JW Pavement would replace all asphalt pavements in Taiwan; the JW Pavement can prevent drought, lower carbon-footprint, and create a more suitable and safe environment for us.
In Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen’s opinion, Mr. Jui-Wen Chen has many positive personal attributes. For example, he is quite professional with his work. When Mr. Jui-Wen Chen encounters difficulties during his research, he does not lose faith; instead, he carefully goes through reasons he failed and continues to improve until his invention is as perfect as he had hoped.
I truly appreciate the Deputy Mayor’s willingness to set aside personal time to be interviewed and answer our questions. I can now say I clearly understand the features of the JW Eco-Technology and the Deputy Mayor’s opinion of this eco-technology. Thank you once again, Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen.
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Kevin Chang
If we adopt this eco-technology, we can certainly make New Taipei City a more suitable environment for living.
October 5th, 2015 was a typical, busy Monday for most people, but it was not a typical day for the students in the gifted class. At 2 pm in the afternoon, we were on our way to interview the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen, of the New Taipei City.
At the interview, I asked Mr. Chen, “Why do you think the JW Eco-Technology is the modern approach to water management?” Mr. Chen replied, “The JW Eco-Technology can store water and reduce surface temperature, so it can turn New Taipei City into the most comfortable city in the world.” I also asked the Deputy Mayor about the key to Mr. Jui-Wen Chen’s success. To which he responded, “Mr. Jui-Wen Chen is extremely devoted to his work, and he also has a great passion for research. He pays great attention to the details of his work, and he never gives up. In everything he does, he wants to make it perfect. If he encounters difficulties, he will immediately try to improve it to make it more suitable for the current situation.”
If we could really change the road construction, I would hope that we can adopt the ideas of the JW Eco-Technology. The JW Eco-Technology has many advantages, such as lowering temperature, storing water, and reducing the chance of drought. Therefore, if we adopt this eco-technology, we can certainly make New Taipei City a more suitable environment for living.
Before we began our project research, I was completely unfamiliar with the term “JW Eco-Technology,” and I thought the “sponge road” was simply a fancy title without any real useful features. However, after several field observations and interviews, I began to understand the wonders of the JW Eco-Technology.
If there is chance, I will like to see the JW Eco-Technology in use. I hope more and more people can learn of its advantages. I believe people in Taiwan, or even the world, will greatly benefit from the JW Eco-Technology.
At last, I want to thank Deputy Mayor Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen for clearing up the confusion we had. He helped us to understand more about the new approaches to water management and how the JW Eco-Technology could be a potential solution to many of our problems! Thank you!
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Iris Chen
The sponge city rests on the concept of absorbing and storing through a sponge-like road, turning the city into an even larger water-preserving and air-filtering “sponge.”
In the past, flood control facilities focused primarily on discharging water in urban areas as quickly as possible. However, this method actually wastes a lot of water. Unlike this traditional approach, the concept of the sponge city efficiently uses underground space as a mini-reservoir by replacing asphalt pavement with highly-permeable pavement. When it rains, water will seep underground through small cracks; on a sunny day, the water stored underground can evaporate into the air, lowering the city’s overall temperature. The sponge city rests on the concept of absorbing and storing through a sponge-like road, turning the city into an even larger water-preserving and air-filtering “sponge.”
To build a sponge city, we can adopt the paving methods of the JW Eco-Technology. Using an Aqueduct Grate made from recycled plastic, runoff on the surface can be redirected underground and stored in the catchment level of the structure. The JW Eco-Technology has high permeability and, through the chimney effect, the stored water can evaporate into the air as a way to reduce the heat island effect.
Through this interview, Deputy Mayor Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen helped me to understand the details of the JW Eco-Technology. This eco-technology has mostly found its use within cities, for it can reduce problems caused by the accumulation of water during heavy rain and typhoons. Furthermore, it can create a more balanced temperature within the city, providing an adequate supply of water to plants around the city. We should greatly promote the JW Eco-Technology, and use successful cases in Taiwan as a way to inspire the world to protect our environment.
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Ian Chen
From a holistic point of view, the sponge road is more cost-effective and more capable at reducing water disasters.
From our interview with Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen, I learned that the sponge road can absorb water and lower the road surface temperature. In addition, it can preserve a more complete ecosystem underground, making the JW Pavement the new, modern approach to water management. Although the installation of the sponge road costs more than regular roads, it does not require a drainage system. Moreover, it does not require any maintenance within the first 30 years of installation, and it possesses higher drainage capabilities than the regular drainage system we have today. From a holistic point of view, the sponge road is more cost-effective and more capable at reducing water disasters.
Through this visit, I finally understand why building sponge roads are the new way of water management and why sponge roads are so popular.
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Gordan Huang
If the JW pavement is selected as the primary method of road pavement, it can absorb the carbon dioxide released by cars, store and filter water, and create a green environment.
Through the interview with Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen, I finally understood why the sponge city is the modern approach to water management. Currently, the water drained through drainage system cannot save water. We just let go of our nature resource, which is very wasteful. Therefore, we should put the JW Eco-Technology pavement into use to save, clean, and recycle the water for reuse.
If possible, I would hope that the JW Eco-Technology can slowly replace the typical pavements we have today because most pavements today are constructed with asphalt with drainage system on the roadside. If the JW pavement is selected as the primary method of road pavement, it can absorb the carbon dioxide released by cars, store and filter water, and create a green environment. In addition, the JW Eco-Technology can also eliminate many detrimental impacts caused by the greenhouse effect and other pollutants that are harmful to our world.
Through the interview with Mr. Chen, I learned a lot about environmental issues threatening the ecosystem in Taiwan and the JW Eco-Technology. The Deputy Mayor also shared with us his view of Mr. Jui-Wen Chen. I am very thankful to the Deputy Mayor for helping us!
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Philip Huang
The JW Eco-Technology can help maintain a diverse ecosystem, store water, and the list of its benefits goes on.
During our interview with Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen, I asked him, “Why did you bring up the JW Eco-Technology pavement and the way to pave it in your PowerPoint presentation on the modern approaches to water management in urban areas?” From his response, we learned that he knows there are different types of permeable pavement, but he believes the JW Pavement is the best one. According to the Deputy Mayor, the JW Eco-Technology can help maintain a diverse ecosystem, store water, and the list of its benefits goes on; meanwhile, other types of permeable pavement can only redirect runoff into nature.
If possible, I hope that the JW Eco-Technology pavement can replace other types of pavement because the JW Eco-Technology has many advantages that other pavements do not have. For example, it has high load-bearing capacity, it can store water, and it can reduce the heat island effect, etc.
After this visit, I learned more information about the JW Eco-Technology pavement. I appreciate Mr. Shen-Hsien Chen’s willingness to accept our interview. The information we gathered from this visit will help with our project greatly.
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Ariel Tsai
He hopes that, one day, New Taipei City can truly become a sponge city.
This experience of meeting Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen opened my eyes to many things, especially when the Deputy Mayor told us the key to Mr. Jui-Wen Chen’s success is “doing his best, having his own opinion, and knowing how to improve himself.” I think this is the attitude that we should all learn from and follow if we want to travel on the path of success.
Through the Deputy Mayor’s PowerPoint presentation on “New Ways to Water Management,” I realized the true reason behind why building a sponge city is the modern approach to water management in urban areas. The sponge road, also known as the JW Pavement, possesses high water-storing capacities, and it is also excellent for balancing temperature within the city.
During our conversation with Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen, he mentioned that he hopes to introduce the JW Eco-Technology to everyone. However, the JW Pavement construction method has not been accepted by the Taiwanese government, which makes it quite difficult for the Deputy Mayor to move forward with his plan of implementing the JW Eco-Technology in all of New Taipei City. He hopes that, one day, New Taipei City can truly become a sponge city.
I am really thankful to Deputy Mayor Shen-Hsien Chen for his willingness to answer our questions and explain the principle of the JW Eco-Technology to us. We hope the Deputy Mayor’s dream to turn New Taipei City into a sponge city can be a reality someday!
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Kathleen Chien
There are many countries in the world that have already applied the JW Eco-Technology into their road construction practices.
On Monday, we went to interview the Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City. We asked him about Mr. Jui-Wen Chen’s JW Eco-Technology. With the Deputy Mayor’s help, we were able to learn more about Mr. Jui-Wen Chen’s life and how he came to be an inventor – this information was extremely helpful to our research.
Through our conversation with the Deputy Mayor, we came to understand why Mr. Jui-Wen Chen invented the JW Pavement and why the New Taipei City Government has not adopted the idea of the JW Eco-Technology into its road construction practices.
The Deputy Mayor shared with us that, by law, road construction methods cannot be used if they have not yet gone through proper testing and receive certification from the government. However, he also stated that there are many countries in the world that have already applied the JW Eco-Technology into their road construction practices. While that may be true in Taiwan, but would any of those countries really have moved forward and applied the technique if they had not tested the JW Eco-Technology? Our doubt still remains.
After the Deputy Mayor’s explanation, I learned more about the JW Pavement. Now, I understand why this special eco-technology can store water, maintain the ecological water cycle, create healthier soil, and allow us to grow vegetables right on the JW Pavement.