GIAN STTP ON Design of Confined Masonry Buildings for Earthquake Disaster Risk Mitigation in India
The department of Applied Mechanics of L.D. College of Engineering successfully organized 5-Days (One Week) Online Short Term Training Programme (STTP) On “Design of Confined Masonry Buildings for Earthquake Disaster Risk Mitigation in India” under the aegis of Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) Scheduled from 6th June to 10th June 2022. The training was approved by DTE and Sponsored by GIAN.
Dr Svetlana Brzev, Professor at British Columbia University, Canada delivered Session as an expert foreign faculty besides other speakers. The training first of its kind under the banner of GIAN was well attended by about more than 200 number of participants. The Inaugural session was graced by presence of Principal Madam Dr.Rajul K. Gajjar and Dr.M.C.Chudasama was present in the Inaugural session as the Institute Coordinator for GIAN initiative. The valedictory session was chaired by Dr.B.J.Shah ( Principal, GEC, Modasa). The entire STTP was well coordinated by Prof.Ashwin G.Hansora and Prof.C.D.Patel under the able guidance of the Convener of the STTP Major.Dr.C.S.Sanghvi ( HoD, Applied Mechanics Dept, GEC Modasa).
The Applied Mechanics Department of LD College of Engineering, Ahmedabad organized a 5 day long online short-term training programme (STTP) on “Novel Advances in Ingredients of Sustainable Construction Materials” from 1-5 June, 2021, under the aegis of The Institution of Engineers (India) Student’s Chapter, Ahmedabad. This training programme has been approved by the Directorate of Technical Education & Indian Society for Technical Education and Sponsored by Gujarat Council for Sciences and Technology (GUJCOST) and LDCE Alumni Association (LAA). This STTP was inaugurated by Dr. Soumen Maity - Sr. GM & Asst. VP of Development Alternatives, New Delhi in a well-attended opening inaugural session. This training programme attracted over 130 participants from various regional and national level engineering colleges.
Insightful sessions were delivered by experts from Industry, Academia, Consulting companies, Developmental Institutions and R&D Institutes, covering range of topics within the realm of STTP theme like (1) few related to sustainable materials like AAC Blocks, Green Quaternary Cement, fly-ash based cement and mortar, (2) Few related to use of different types of wastes in concrete, like Plastic, Sandstone, granite & marble cutting waste, and related to recycling of C&D waste (3) Few related to emerging initiatives and practices in construction and cement industry and for mass housing.
The major takeaway from the STTP was The sustainability story and its future in construction sector depends on the evolution in construction techniques and materials acquisition that can reduce waste, energy and various inefficient practices adopted at sites. A green and circular economy approach should be the pivot of sustainability. Researchers, academicians must have eye for such wastes that has potential as replacement to conventional ingredients of concrete however one must not always attempt 100% substitution in the first trial. The yardstick for evaluating the efficacy of the wastes replacing the virgin materials must not restrict only to strength but should include durability, thermal comfort, energy efficiency & cost. The material should qualify all the important tests. The research fraternity has to think out of the box and have to muster courage to explore the new types of wastes with a strong rationale behind proposing the incorporation of the chosen waste into construction material.
The valedictory session was presided over by Dr.M.N.Patel (Pro -Vost, Parul University) as Chief Guest & Shri Atul Shah ( Vice President, L.D.Alumni Association) as Guest of Honour. & The entire STTP was efficiently conceptualized by Prof.Poonam I. Modi and was well co-ordinated by Prof.Deepak Tarachandani, Prof.Ashwin G. Hansora & Prof.Poonam I. Modi under the able leadership of Major.Dr.C.S.Sanghvi. This STTP provided effective platform to various practitioners of Civil Engineering community to share their knowledge and ideas and most important outcome of this STTP was not the knowledge about emerging trend in construction materials but the inculcation of curiosity to delve deeper in this area
The department of Applied Mechanics of L.D. College of Engineering under the aegis of Indian Geotechnical Society, Ahmedabad Chapter and Institution of Engineer (I), organized a Short term training Program in Online mode on Recent Trends in Environmental Geotechnics for Sustainable Development” from 22nd-26th March 2021. This STTP was sponsored by GUJCOST, IGS & IEI and approved by DTE & ISTE. The 5 day long program had an array of eminent speakers from prestigious Academic, Indus trial and government bodies deliberating on crucial issues. The speakers made an invaluable contribution through their insightful lectures on currently relevant topics such as mitigation of environment hazards, solid waste management, waste disposal using nano-technology or innovative lining materials, migration rate of nuclear waste and its safe disposal methods. The Inaugural session of the STTP was presided over by Prof.Dr.D.N. Singh(Institute Chair Professor) from IIT Bombay & Dr.Amit Prashant (Professor & Dean of R&D, IIT Gandhinagar). The major takeaway from the STTP was “waste if treated appropriately can be utilized effectively for sustainable development”. A total of 110 participants inclusive of academicians, research scholars and industry persons took the benefit of enlightening sessions. The STTP opened an entire new avenue of R&D works in areas such as valorization of legacy waste, Industry byproducts, carbon capture utilization and storage, energy geotechnics. The speakers from esteemed bodies such as IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT B huvneshwar, BITS Pilani, NIT Trichi, IIT Guwahati, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Irrigation department (GoG), Macferri India Ltd, IIT Gandhinagar were invited for the online sessions during the training program. The valedictory session was presided over by Prof.Dr.N.M.Samidhya (President, IGS) & Dr.Sachin Parikh ( Joint Director, Directorate of Technical Education, Gandhinagar). The entire STTP was efficiently conceptualized by Dr.M.V.Shah and well co-ordinated by Dr.M.V.Shah & Prof. Alpa J. Shah and co-coordinated by Prof.Shalini Singh under able guidance of Prof.Dr.C.S.Sanghvi.
The department of Applied Mechanics coordinated the Webinar on “Emerging Trends in Geotechnical Testing and Design” on 8th August 2020, jointly collaborated by The Institution of Engineers India) Gujarat State Centre and Indian Geotechnical Society ( IGS), Ahmedabad Chapter. Chief Guest of the webinar was Mr. Navinchandra Vasoya, Guest of Honour were Dr. Amit Prashant & Dr.R.K.Gajjar, Key note speakers were Dr. Jaykumar Shukla, Er. Ravikiran Vaidya & Dr. C.S.Sanghvi & Dr.M.V.Shah were the Moderator & Co-ordinator respectively.
·The department in its consistent efforts to promote Industry-Academia Collaboration had planned and organized an Online Meet with Professionals and Stalwarts of Structural & Geotechnical Engineering. The aim of the Online Professional Meet was to deliberate on all the ongoing the concerns of the Industry and to provide an array of Dissertation topics to the Students pursuing their Masters in Structural & Geo-technical Engineering. The professional meet was attended and leveraged by all the PG students pursuing Structural Engineering & Geotech engineering of Applied Mechanics Department from LDCE as well as GEC,Dahod.
The webinar was rightly entitled as “Meet the Professionals” – Industry Academia Collaborative Talk and organized on 14th August 2020. The expert Panel of speakers from the domain of Structural Engineering comprised of Shri Vijay Shah ( Bhoomi Consultants), Shri Umesh Soni ( Ambuja Cements Ltd), Shri Bhavik Patel ( Blue Skyz Engineers), Shri Jignesh Gandhi ( CASAD Consultants), Shril Shailesh Desai & Shri Rakesh Mehta ( Saunrachana Strucon Pvt. Ltd), Shri Rakesh Shah ( S3M, Consultants), Shri Bhavin Shah ( SQVe Engineers). The panel of experts from Geotechnical Engineering comprised of Shri Arun Dave ( Geotech Soil Testing Lab), Shri Mahendra Bhavsar ( SAI SYSTRA India Consultants), Shri Mihir Vora ( KBM Engineering Research Laboratory), Shri Parag Dave ( M.K.Soil Testing Laboratory), Shri Nitin Desmukh ( Louis Berger India – Metro Rail). The webinar was meticulously planned and organized by Prof. D.R.Tarachandani, Prof. P.J.Mehta, Prof.Dr.M.V.Shah, Prof. C.D.Patel & Prof. Shalini R. Singh under the able guidance of Prof. Dr. C.S.Sanghvi.
The department of Applied Mechanics & Civil Engineering coordinated the Webinar on “Water Resources Management” on 29th August 2020, jointly collaborated by The Institution of Engineers India) Gujarat State Centre, LDCE A’bad and Water Management Forum ( WMF) Ahmedabad. The Key note address was delivered by Shri Vivek Kapadia, Director, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. The session was moderated by Prof. Utkarsh Nigam, Asst.Professor, Civil Engineering department.
The department organized “Teacher’s Day Celebrations” on 5th Sep 2020 in an Online mode amidst the august presence of its Ex-Faculty members such as Dr.H.V.Trivedi, Dr. M.N.Patel and Dr. R.K.Gajjar. The august speakers besides appreciating the efforts of the faculty members, shared their experiences and cited the importance of honing up “Life-enhancing skill set such as Managing anger, stress, time, interpersonal relationships. Dr.C.S.Sanghvi as the HoD applauded the activities carried out by the Department during the Lock down period and also felicitated each faculty with ‘Certificate of Appreciation” for focused working towards seeking the Accreditation of Civil Engineering Course.
Prof. P.J.Mehta and Prof. Kamini A. Parmar had successfully organized and coordinated Webinar on “Career Opportunities ( After Graduation) “ on 5th Sep 2020. The expert speaker for the day was department’s illustrious Alumni “Mr. Vraj Pandya – Currently working as Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, GoG. All the students of Civil Engineering department attended the Online session and found the session to be very useful as it helped them to get conversant with the possible job avenues after completion of their B.E.
The department celebrated the 53rd Engineer’s Day on 15th Sep 2020. The celebration also marked the Online “Inauguration of the prestigious “The Institution of Engineers (India) Students’ Chapter, Department of Civil Engineering. The official opening of the Students’ Chapter was done at the hands of the most illustrious Alumni of our college “Padma Shri Shri.S.S.Rathore MD, Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ex-MD SSNL,Former President IEI). The official opening was followed by a webinar on “Sustainable Development” delivered by yet another remarkable luminary of our Institute “Shri Sameer Sinha”- Founder & Managing Director, SAVVY group, Ahmedabad.
· The Applied Mechanics Department scheduled, organized & successfully conducted the following Webinars during the Lockdown period :