BEST PAPER

Best Paper Award

To recognize excellence in research and scholarly contribution, SECON'25 will confer the Best Paper Award to the most outstanding paper presented during the conference. The award will be granted based on the originality, technical quality, relevance to the conference theme "Deconstruction: The Key to Unlocking Circular Universe in Civil Engineering", and the quality of presentation.

A dedicated jury comprising members of the Technical Committee and invited experts will evaluate eligible papers. The winner will receive a certificate of merit and a cash prize of ₹5,000. All accepted and presented papers are automatically considered for this award.

Challenges in Developing Digital Leadership Competencies for Entry-Level Positions: The Case of Construction Professionals

The Best Paper Award at SECON’25 was conferred upon Paper ID: 50, titled "Challenges in Developing Digital Leadership Competencies for Entry-Level Positions: The Case of Construction Professionals", authored by Risath Athamlebbe and Dr. Rahimi A. Rahman.

This groundbreaking study explores the critical role of Digital Leadership (DL) in advancing Construction 4.0 and focuses on the challenges of cultivating DL competencies among entry-level professionals (ELPs) in the construction industry. Drawing insights from semi-structured interviews conducted in Malaysia and Sri Lanka, the study categorizes the challenges into Organisational, External, and Individual themes, highlighting both shared and context-specific barriers.

The research presents one of the first comprehensive investigations into this subject and offers valuable recommendations for industry stakeholders to strengthen the digital leadership pipeline from the ground up.

Abu Faiz Memorial Award for Best Paper in Sustainability

To commemorate the life and passion of our beloved student, Late. Abu Faiz (B.Tech Civil Engineering, 2020–2024; M.Tech, 2024–2026), SECON'25 introduces the Abu Faiz Memorial Award for Best Paper in Sustainability. This award is dedicated to recognizing impactful research that contributes meaningfully to the field of sustainable civil engineering.

The award aims to encourage innovation and academic excellence in areas such as green construction, circular economy, low-carbon materials, waste reuse, and sustainable infrastructure systems.

All accepted and presented papers (Exclusively in Offline Mode) with a focus on sustainability will be considered for this award. A panel of subject experts will evaluate the submissions based on technical merit, relevance to sustainability, innovation, and presentation quality.

The recipient will be honored with a certificate of merit and a cash prize of ₹5,000.

Sustainable Practices on Metallic Foam Sandwich Panels in Steel Plate Shear Walls as a Part of Green Building

The Abu Faiz Memorial Award for Best Paper in Sustainability at SECON’25 was awarded to Paper ID: 31, titled "Sustainable Practices on Metallic Foam Sandwich Panels in Steel Plate Shear Walls as a Part of Green Building", authored by Sarath M B and Kiran Babu A R.

This innovative study explores the use of Metallic Foam Sandwich Panels (MFSP) as a sustainable alternative to conventional steel plates in Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSWs). Through advanced numerical modeling using Abaqus, the paper demonstrates that MFSPs not only match but outperform traditional systems in terms of stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption. The research reveals that MFSP-based SPSWs show an approximate 20% increase in ultimate strength and energy dissipation capacity.

Aligning with green building principles, the study highlights the recyclability and eco-friendly production of MFSPs, offering a significant step forward in promoting resilient and sustainable construction practices.