NEED OF THE HOUR

Four Million Civil Engineers, Architects and Planners By 2020

Built environment, comprising construction and real estate related activities, is one of the major contributors to the Indian economy, accounting for approximately 17 % of GDP. While Real estate sector projects a demand of 95 billion square feet by 2020, shortage of required manpower continues to be the main cause of worry. As on date, Engineering continues to dominate as a preferred discipline with about 3400 engineering colleges in India with a capacity of about 15 Lakh seats across 36 courses approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). As per the recent research study taken up by RICS, the annual average demand of Civil Engineers, Architects and Planners together in the Built Environment during 2010-2020 shall be a staggering four million.  

Though India poses inadequate infrastructure, lack of transparency, lack of Governance as major obstacles, these can be overcome by introducing right policies and right strategies. Mammoth pool of talent that is available at this point in time and the domestic market driven by emerging middle class make India the most preferred and favoured Investment destination for FDI among the developing markets in the world. India now finds itself on an upward trajectory of growth cycle and with its proven resilience to counter economic challenges, sure to surge ahead. As a contrary phenomenon, a simple demand-supply analysis shows that against the demand of 127500 quality Civil engineers per annum, only 26500 competent Civil Engineers are available. Sustained period of shortfall in annual supply, coupled with an increasing year on year demand, could result in a cumulative demand of nearly 45 million core professionals, over 2010-20- as per the report.

Consequently, we also find placements dipping as IT firms shrink their offers and majority graduates turning their attention to Realty and Auto Sectors. It is time for the construction Industry to leverage this situation and channalise the youth power by providing them necessary vocational training and bring them on the main stream. Reports also indicate that India is poised to grow extensively in the fields of Sustainable Engineering.

Ajit Sabnis

Editor-in-Chief.

WORLD'S FIRST 3D-PRINTED BRIDGE OPENS TO CYCLISTS IN NETHERLANDS
-Posted by Ajit Sabnis

            Dutch officials have toasted the opening of what is being called the world’s first 3D-printed concrete bridge, which is primarily meant to be used by cyclists. There was applause as officials wearing hard hats rode over the bridge on their bikes at the inauguration in the southeastern town of Gemert on Tuesday.

            “The bridge is not very big, but it was rolled out by a printer, which makes it unique,” Theo Salet, from the Eindhoven University of Technology, told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Work on printing the bridge, which has some 800 layers, took about three months after starting in June and it is made of reinforced, pre-stressed concrete, according to the university. “One of the advantages of printing a bridge is that much less concrete is needed than in the conventional technique in which a mould is filled,” it said on its website. “A printer deposits the concrete only where it is needed.” The eight-metre (26-ft) bridge spans a water-filled ditch to connect two roads, and in conjunction with the BAM Infra construction company was tested for safety to bear loads of up to two tonnes.

            “We are looking to the future,” said the head of BAM, Marinus Schimmel, adding in a statement that his company was constantly “searching for a newer, smarter approach to addressing infrastructure issues and making a significant contribution to improving the mobility and sustainability of our society”.

            The Netherlands is among countries, with the United States and China, taking a lead in the cutting-edge technology of 3D printing, using computers and robotics to construct objects and structures from scratch. Last year a Dutch architect unveiled a unique 3D printer with which he hopes to construct an “endless loop” building. And a Dutch start-up called MX3D has begun printing a stainless steel bridge, of which a third is already completed. (Source: website of 'theguardian')

AIR POLLUTION-SMOG FREE TOWERS

-Dr. Ajit Sabnis

SMOG FREE TOWERS: These are the towers conceptualized and built by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde and team. It is not a Sci-fi. It is real and working!  They suck the smog, turn it into clean air, and filters out the smog particles so they can be turned into diamonds. The towers they built are used in Rotterdam, Beijing, Tianjin and Dalian, sucking up 30,000 cubic meters of polluted air per hour, cleans it at the Nano level and then releases the clean air back into the city.

 

                These smog free towers are incredibly effective: the air around the tower is 55 to 75 percent cleaner than the rest of the city. Accumulated filtered particles, rich in carbon are collected separately and compressed for 30 minutes and turned into dark, boxy diamonds. The diamonds are then used for rings and cufflinks, each representing 1,000 cubic meters of pollution. According to Daan, these are the ultimate waste-to-wonder conversion: toxic pollution transformed into gemstones.

            After Beijing, Roosegaarde is headed to India next. He plans to build Smog Free Towers across Delhi and other municipalities turn their dirty air into objects to treasure. He’s also partnering with NGOs, governments, students and tech companies to come up with other solutions to help reduce air pollution in our cities. 

            “It’s all about connecting new technology with creative thinking,” says Roosegaarde. “If you start thinking about that, there is so much you can imagine, so much more you can do.” (source: ideas.ted.com)