THE LATEST HAPPENINGS IN CTM

INSTITUTION :  NIRMA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

4.0 OBJECTIVES AND SELF-APPRAISAL

(a) What are the principal long range / short range goals of your Department? To what extent are they being achieved? What are the major constraints experienced?

4.1 Following are the Long Range goals :

Major Areas of Specialisation

Civil Engineering, as a discipline, comprises many areas of specialisation, e.g. Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydraulic Structures, Surveying, Construction Technology, Transportation Engineering etc. Due to advances in technology, each of these areas has now achieved the status of a discipline by itself and, therefore, if a high level of expertise and competency is required, a faculty member has to concentrate only on any one such area together with requisite knowledge in certain core subjects related to civil engineering.

Advisory Groups

For proper development of each area of specialisation, it is necessary to adopt one integrated approach which includes :

· Curriculum development, updating infrastructure facilities and methods of pedagogy, close interaction with industries and professional experts, and continuing education programmes. For effective implementation of this approach, associating professional experts with faculty on a continuing basis, is very necessary.

· It is contemplated, therefore, to form advisory groups for each area of specialisation. Each group will consists of faculty members opting for the particular specialty and a few professional experts. An advisory committee for the civil engineering department as the whole is also planned to coordinate the activities of all groups.


Post Graduate Courses

The existing norms of AICTE do not permit P.G. courses in institutions which 
have not completed ten years. The Nirma Institute of Technology was established in 1995. It is hoped that AICTE would relax its provisions for well developed institutions like Nirma Institute of Technology. The first priority of the advisory groups will, therefore, be to identify specialities for P.G. Courses and prepare a plan for infrastructure development and faculty training required for such courses.

We propose to offer the following P.G. level courses:

· M.E Course in Computer Aided Structural Analysis and Design.
· M.E Course in Geotechnical Engineering.
· M.E Course in Environmental Engineering.
· M.E Course in Construction & Project Management.
· P.G Diploma Course in Advanced Construction & Project Management.
· P.G Diploma Course in Building Services.

It is planned to enroll a few more students for Ph.D in Structural Engineering.

Centre for Advanced Studies

P.G courses, by themselves, are not enough for full development of any specialty. A strong complement of research and consultancy is of equal, if not greater, importance. To make a beginning in this direction, the department plans to establish a centre for advanced studies in Environmental Engineering.

Also, it is proposed to have Structural Engineering software application centre wherein research or industry problems can be addressed.

Pedagogic Activities

These activities are equally important for long range as well as short range goals. In the long term perspective, the department plans to focus attention on faculty training and upgrading faculty expertise. The emphasis would be on intensive focused training in following selected areas in institutions like IITs or in professional/research organisations of repute.

· Dynamics of Structures in Structural Engineering.
· Geo Synthetics in Geotechnical Engineering.
· Watershed Management in Irrigation Engineering.
· Geographic Information System in Surveying.
· Air Pollution in Environmental Engineering.

4.2 Following are the short range goals:

4.2.1 Laboratories

4.2.1.1 Construction Technology Laboratory.

The department is offering a course in Construction Technology and Management. In order to help the various activities pertaining to this course, it is planned to establish this laboratory which will include the following sections. We estimate the amount of expenditure around Rs ten lacs.

(a) Construction techniques 
Students will be given hands on experience in construction practices. For special techniques, suppliers will be requested to give demonstrations.

(b) Materials
This section will display latest construction materials. A reference library will contain details of properties and uses of such materials.

(c) Case Studies
This section will consist of a video library and exhaustive reference material containing case studies of important constructions, structural failures, rehabilitation of structures etc.

4.2.1.2 Environmental Engineering Laboratory 

It is proposed to upgrade this laboratory by adding the following sections:

(a) Air Pollution Analysis.
(b) Solid Waste Detection. 
(c) Complete Wastewater Analysis

4.2.1.3 Strain Measurement and Dynamics Laboratories

It is proposed to make a beginning by installing equipment for simple experiments in electronic strain measurements and vibration problems.

4.2.2 Pedagogy

A sustained effort is in progress to integrate classroom and laboratory teaching. Laboratory manuals are being upgraded to conform to latest ISI standards. Association of experts from the field for special lectures and field visits by students will be stepped up.
Similar efforts are being made to make classroom teaching more effective by greater use of teaching aids, self learning packages and related softwares.

Short term training programmes for faculty members are being planned for the next two years in thrust areas like Dynamics of Structures, Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, Watershed Management, Environment Pollution etc.

It is proposed, subject to ISTE approval where necessary, to offer following summer/winter schools in the next two years:

· 'Evaluation, Repair and Rehabilitation of Distressed Structures' in November - December 2001 (Approved by ISTE)
· 'Mechanisation for Construction Projects' in December 2001 (Approved by ISTE).
· 'Parallel Processing' in May 2002.
· 'Project Management in Civil Engineering' in June 2002.
· 'Proportioning of Concrete Mixes' in December 2002.

In addition to the professional skills imparted through the curriculum, efforts are being made to expose students to areas of other life skills such as communication, time management, spiritual training, yoga etc.

4.3 Achievement of the goal:

All items mentioned in the short term goals are under various stages of planning and implementation. The various training programmes are a part of our ongoing efforts; the major items of laboratory development will be completed within two years.

4.4 Constraints :

There are no major constraints as such for any developmental initiative in this institute. The affiliation with the university requires academic approval to all our schemes but the university and other affiliated colleges respond positively to all suggestions. 

AICTE has laid down certain norms for permitting P.G courses in colleges which have completed ten years. We are planning to overcome this handicap by establishing centres of higher studies, which can later take care of P.G courses.

Shortage of skilled and experienced faculty is felt by all institutions. Fortunately, the city of Ahmedabad has many institutions and professional/corporate bodies of repute and experts from these sources extend their willing support to help us overcome this shortage.

4.5 Please summarise major developments and progress achieved during the last 5 years.

4.5.1 The department considers the introduction of a degree level course in Construction Technology and Management a major achievement. Two important factors distinguish this course from the traditional Civil Engineering course.

(a) Project management techniques are an integral part of the course. The curriculum includes subjects like computer and software applications, construction management, projects management, maintenance and rehabilitation of structures besides the traditional core subjects such as hydraulics, surveying, transportation, concrete technology, geotechnical engineering etc.

The course is conducted by maintaining a close liaison with construction industry at every stage. A tangible outcome of our efforts is the campus interviews conducted by companies such as M/s Backbone Projects Ltd., Ahmedabad, Nila Bauart Constructions, Baroda even in the current recession in the civil engineering industry.

(b) One full semester (VIII semester) project training is included in the curriculum besides a three weeks pilot site training after semester V. 

The full semester training is introduced to develop an insight and feel of the actual construction activities, which include planning and monitoring of projects. This has helped in improvement of skills, confidence and courage of the students. 

Students are placed at different project sites all over the country after careful evaluation and advance preparation.

(c) The seminar is incorporated as part of syllabus in each semester from Semesters III to VII. It helps them to use library, to enhance their reading habits, to improve their writing communication and presentation skills, to encourage them to meet experts and professionals in the field and to allow them to use internet. Students are supposed to present it before the jury and other students. Seminars also give an opportunity to study a particular topic in detail.

(d) Communication skill is emphasised to improve overall development of the student which enables them to improve their thought process, writing skills, level of confidence and interpersonal relationship. This is achieved through group discussions, workshops, seminars and expert lectures.


4.5.2 Material testing and non destructive tests on concrete structures are undertaken from the beginning of the department. A committee of Govt. of Gujarat has inspected our facilities and its approval to our department as a centre for such tests is shortly expected.

4.5.3 Consultancy in Civil Engineering. 

Soil investigations and distress evaluation of structures through non- destructive testing have also been undertaken. This activity is now picking up momentum. Some important investigations are shown in Appendix - E 

4.5.4 Continuing Education Programme is an ongoing process in the department. The department has satisfactorily completed two programmes vis (i) Self financed Intensive Course on 'Design of High Rise Buildings and (ii) 'Services in Modern Buildings' sponsored by ISTE. The department has also arranged a week long course on AUTOCAD for faculty at our institute. At present, the department is offering an intensive course on use of STAAD/Pro for Analysis and Design of Structures to students on holidays, as a value added programme. The department is now planning to offer such programmes on the following thrust areas:

· Proportioning Concrete.
· Non Destructive Evaluation.
· Geographic Information System & Remote Sensing.
· Project Management.
· Construction Failures.
· Construction Plant & Equipments.

4.6 Please indicate any significant projects under consideration for future development of teaching and research programmes.

· The department has applied to start the P.G. Programmes in Computer Aided Structural Analysis and Design and Environment Engineering and the sanction is awaited from AICTE. Necessary infrastructure required is ready.

· Creation of Advisory Groups for projects development.

· A lot of work, under consultancy and testing, has been completed in a record time, and many projects are still under progress. The industry is continuously approached to have closer interaction and to explore the possibilities of cooperative programmes in future.








4.7 Please indicate adequacy of qualified faculty and trained supporting technical and non-teaching staff

Sufficient senior qualified faculty are available and wherever there is a shortfall, expert visiting faculty from different industries are invited. The supporting technical and non-teaching staff is also provided.


4.8 What are the principal strengths of your Department?

· Qualified and devoted faculty.
· Well-equipped laboratories.
· Comprehensive library facilities.
· Curriculum providing for full semester training of students in industries.
· Students' orientation for building up their skills and values for the overall development and flexibility for conducting programme for value addition and quality.
· Considerable support from industry.
· Full flexibility in purchase of equipment, books.
· Encouragement and support from the Management for imparting quality education.


4.9 What are the principal weaknesses of your Department?

4.9.1 Inspite of having sufficient potential in terms of infrastructure and qualified faculty, we have not been able to start certain academic programmes at the higher level including P.G. because of certain eligibility criteria.

4.9.2 It is possible to bring more effectiveness in academic schedule, conduct of examination, curriculum development, methods of assessment etc., if autonomy had been available. 

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