Day: December 19, 2022

Summary: To move towards sustainable future the construction industries can contribute in a major way. Green and sustainable technologies are being adopted by civil engineers for infrastructure development to reduce waste generation, carbon emission and to utilize resources efficiently. This blog is highlighting some of the recent developments in the fields of civil engineering for having a sustainable tomorrow.

Increased population growth, rapid industrialization and lack of awareness about sustainability of environment are some of the key reasons for augmented levels of carbon emissions, which is major concern of the world today. For Greenhouse Gas emissions, infrastructure projects like – buildings, power plants and transportation facilities are highly contributing. Ever increasing need of Infrastructure projects to meet the demands of growing population is further making the scenario worse day by day. To combat such issues with a view of achieving net zero targets, some significant improvements or modifications are being adopted in Infrastructure projects since past few years. The objective of such recent developments are aiming towards a sustainable future through implementation of sustainable thinking in construction industry, ensuring suitable planning in infrastructure projects, following optimum and effective resource utilization, using energy from recycled or renewable sources. The ways to follow for achieving net zero goals in infrastructure projects are as follows –

Optimum and effective resource utilization:

Suitable design of any infrastructure is very important in terms of sustainability rather than adding some “Green” features after its construction. Proper planning includes effective and optimum use of resources by civil engineers to reduce the use of non-renewable resources as per applicability. Uncontrolled use of resources in infrastructure projects may lead to unsustainable conditions and unwanted pollution scenario for the globe. Resource optimization can be done in many ways by civil engineers involved in design and project management sectors. Use of modern project management related civil engineering softwares and tools can be helpful for such cases. BIM technology (Building Information Modelling) is another way used by civil engineers to meet the needs for infrastructure construction with reduction in waste by using materials and resources wisely and at the same time the cost and time can also be reduced with proper planning. Being a holistic approach for a built asset, BIM enables the engineers to understand the optimum quantity of resource requirement and to assess the lifecycle of the projects. Optimization of resource utilization will surely lead to reduce or eliminate waste management hazards in construction sites and will also guide us with a view of energy and resource conservation. Green building concepts are getting very popular in recent times where the structures are built using techniques that are eco-friendly and resource-efficient throughout the life-cycle of the building. For green building construction, both source optimization and planned use of resources are the keys in all the stages of construction from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. Moreover, the overall efficiency of resource utilization in construction works can be greatly enhanced through the use of such modern and innovative tools.

Renewable or recycled resource usage:

To attain sustainable construction approach, Civil engineers should think in a way where recycled materials can be used as resources or the resources used are renewable in nature. Following this path, in many civil engineering projects substitutes are used in place of cement for making concrete to reduce carbon intensity. Various recycled materials can be adopted as usable tools in construction works for reduction of waste volume in environment. For production of cement different wastes are getting utilized to reduce raw material consumption. Speedy development of newer construction techniques like use of prefabricated structures, offsite and modular construction works is a sign for advancement of infrastructure development process at present. Such methods possess higher efficiencies, enhanced performance, with reduced cost, waste and carbon emissions from the construction sites. At the same time, carbon capturing methods can also be adopted for moving forward with sustainability. For this, Carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods are being adopted during infrastructure building processes, using tools and information for making sustainable conclusions. CCS refers to a variety of technologies that can be used for capturing Carbon dioxide emissions and then for storing them permanently so that they can be prevented to enter the atmosphere. Use of renewable energy sources (like solar energy) in infrastructure projects is proven to be green solutions for a sustainable future. Recent development in wind energy and solar energy generation can also make the way wider towards a sustainable future.

Being ready for changing climate:

For building sustainable infrastructure civil engineers must consider the changing climatic conditions in the globe. The structures need to be designed and constructed in such a way that it can sustain in extreme weather conditions. The structures should be durable enough to make it sustainable for human beings and it should not affect the ecosystem in the changing climate. Modern softwares and specialised equipment are being used for construction which will serve the purpose to make the structure durable to withstand such extreme climate conditions. Design of structures is done considering the effects for high winds, cyclones and seismic effects, which can surely enhance the design life of the structures.

Setting a long term plan:

For maintaining sustainability in terms of society, economy and environment, proper planning is to be done in infrastructure design and construction for making a better, transformed and greener tomorrow.

Now, for directly moving to discuss about some important developments in civil engineering fields, I need to throw some light on the recent techniques used for infrastructure construction with sustainable approaches.

• Green building or sustainable buildings are constructed with a view to use resources efficiently and to make the steps involved in construction environmentally responsible.
• Use of solar power in buildings can reduce the dependency on gas or electricity generated from non-renewable sources.
• Using biodegradable materials like timber, bamboo can reduce the waste generation due to the use of traditional construction materials.
• For insulation purposes in the buildings, recycled materials are getting used nowadays.
• Installing smart, energy-saving and efficient appliances in buildings can help to achieve the concept of zero-energy homes.
• Cool roofs are helping in temperature control of buildings by reflecting sunlight away.
• Low energy buildings are constructed to cut the requirement of electricity in buildings through strategic placement of windows and by using solar energy for lighting and water heating.
• Adopting Prefabricated construction or Modular construction can lead to a reduced amount waste generation.
• Modern construction techniques are modified to reduce carbon emission from the working site with suitable planning and execution of the projects.
• Various water conserving technologies are being adopted in buildings to save water and to use water efficiently. Dual plumbing, reuse of waste water, rain water harvesting are some among such technologies.

So, extensive varieties of recent development are going on in the fields of civil engineering which is creating wide job opportunity available in sustainable infrastructure development industries. By adopting such technologies we can move towards a sustainable future.

Summary: Problem stated during the starting of Pandemic Situation due to Outburst of Novel Corona Virus in the Civil Engineering and Construction (CE & C) sectors. Then this situation gets resolved and afterward challenges and opportunities in the CE & C domain.

Overview:

Novel Corona Virus or COVID-19, reported in India on January 30^th, 2020 in Kerala and since then the planet is still experiencing a pandemic circumstances due to Outburst of this virus. Civil and Infrastructure sectors are mostly affected due to this pandemic. Cyclical recessions are quite natural happenings in Civil Engineering and construction (CE & C) companies, but the pace and force with which COVID-19 has smacked is quite exceptional. Ongoing projects are being delayed or abolished, supply chains are under risk. Health issue for the employee and subcontractor manual labour is a common concern during this period, and there are practical challenges around social distancing on construction sites. Companies that have had to furlough workers might find the future availability and skills of those workers uncertain. And because many construction and contracting companies operate without substantial capital reserves, the impact of the lockdowns could force some to restructure debt, seek new sources of capital or risk insolvency.

It could get worse before it gets better. Latest COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey found that 81% of CFOs are considering cost reductions in response to the crisis, and 60% say they are planning to defer or cancel investments, particularly in areas such as facilities and capex, operations, and workforce.

It is an extraordinarily difficult time, but swift yet thoughtful action can help CE & C leadership teams manage the immediate crisis, stabilise supply chains and reinforce their companies’ financial position to emerge from the crisis with a more solid foundation.

Manage the Immediate Crisis:

For most CE & C companies, financial stability is the top priority. Achieving or maintaining stability amid so much uncertainty clearly requires reviewing capital and corporate cost budgets as well as options for raising funds, including government stabilisation or stimulus packages. 

Yet the lack of clarity regarding the CE & C marketplace, supply chains and the wider economy makes any cost-containment or other finance decision extremely challenging. There’s no perfect answer to this uncertainty, but a robust scenario analysis — using models that estimate financial needs and opportunities, based on a wide range of scenarios for COVID-19’s duration and impact — can help companies navigate it. 

These models require the most accurate data available, typically detailed at a project level due to the bespoke nature of and contractual arrangements for each project. Many CE & C companies that haven’t already started using advanced data analytics may therefore want to consider doing so. These tools will prove their worth in helping navigate this crisis — and will continue to create value after it’s over, by supporting better-informed decision-making.

By keeping workforce safe, engaged and skilled is another challenge. CE & C company may face limits on how many employees can work from home: many workers simply must be on the job site. Beyond providing them with appropriate protective gear, you can take additional steps to help them stay safe, such as staggering shifts, mandating safe distances between workers, and banning visitors.

Stabilize Supply Chain:

COVID-19 has had profound economic consequences, and some of the vendors and subcontractors may not survive. Others may not be able to fulfil contracts right now. Overseas suppliers may be especially prone to delays. For many CE & C companies, it is an extraordinary challenge to obtain visibility into and manage the behaviours of their disparate supply chains at site level.

To find vulnerabilities in the supply chain and choose how to respond, you need to maximise visibility. Reach out to the suppliers, gather data and build a dashboard that continues to update and refine over time. Based on what the dashboard reveals, consider the legal and financial implications, as well as their impact on margins, cash flow, loan repayments and terms. Make sure that project controls, risk management and governance processes can handle all the supply chain changes as per under consideration.

For critical suppliers whose long-term prospects are sound, offering contractual flexibility and technical support, including help in tapping government funding as part of recovery and stimulus programmes all over the world. Yet owners also must be ready to pivot to new suppliers as needed.

Reinforce the Company’s Financial Position:

Many CE & C companies are facing a financial shock, with an especially significant impact on their cash flow. In the short term, they should conduct an extensive project-by-project forecast and source government financial support. In addition, management teams should consider contractual terms, the recoverability of receivables in a site shutdown, and the inevitable inefficiencies created by remote working and on-site distancing restrictions. In the medium term, many organisations will need to renegotiate lending arrangements and raise new equity. 

To develop and execute a financial strategy that will help a company be among that elite group, it is definite that finance team has information and forecasts that are as accurate as possible, supported by top-notch analytics.

Looking Ahead:

When the pandemic ends, CE & C companies will face a new world. The marketplace will change, as some national governments will be eager to invest in infrastructure to jump-start their recovery, and others may face new resource limitations. Portfolios will also change, with both public- and private-sector project owners placing a new emphasis on sustainability and resilience. 

Cities will need to serve more residents who work from home — likely leading to greater investments in telecom and smart city initiatives. Among the many potential private-sector shifts on the horizon, commercial real estate may undergo a prolonged downturn, while the growth of data centres may accelerate further. The competitive landscape will change too, as stronger players acquire weaker ones, and still others emerge from bankruptcy with clean balance sheets and a ravenous appetite for projects.

It is a formula for continued uncertainty: any company’s client base, competitors and project book may differ dramatically from their pre-COVID reality, but it is impossible to foresee exactly how. Yet companies that emerge from this crisis with solid finances, a resilient supply chain, skilled workers and the capacity to gather and analyse the data that decision-makers need, will be well-placed to pivot and seize new opportunities. Those organisations will be market leaders no matter how the post-COVID world evolves.

Summary: Problem stated during the starting of Pandemic Situation due to Outburst of Novel Corona Virus in the Civil Engineering and Construction (CE & C) sectors. Then this situation gets resolved and afterward challenges and opportunities in the CE & C domain.

Overview:

Novel Corona Virus or COVID-19, reported in India on January 30^th, 2020 in Kerala and since then the planet is still experiencing a pandemic circumstances due to Outburst of this virus. Civil and Infrastructure sectors are mostly affected due to this pandemic. Cyclical recessions are quite natural happenings in Civil Engineering and construction (CE & C) companies, but the pace and force with which COVID-19 has smacked is quite exceptional. Ongoing projects are being delayed or abolished, supply chains are under risk. Health issue for the employee and subcontractor manual labour is a common concern during this period, and there are practical challenges around social distancing on construction sites. Companies that have had to furlough workers might find the future availability and skills of those workers uncertain. And because many construction and contracting companies operate without substantial capital reserves, the impact of the lockdowns could force some to restructure debt, seek new sources of capital or risk insolvency.

It could get worse before it gets better. Latest COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey found that 81% of CFOs are considering cost reductions in response to the crisis, and 60% say they are planning to defer or cancel investments, particularly in areas such as facilities and capex, operations, and workforce.

It is an extraordinarily difficult time, but swift yet thoughtful action can help CE & C leadership teams manage the immediate crisis, stabilise supply chains and reinforce their companies’ financial position to emerge from the crisis with a more solid foundation.

Manage the Immediate Crisis:

For most CE & C companies, financial stability is the top priority. Achieving or maintaining stability amid so much uncertainty clearly requires reviewing capital and corporate cost budgets as well as options for raising funds, including government stabilisation or stimulus packages. 

Yet the lack of clarity regarding the CE & C marketplace, supply chains and the wider economy makes any cost-containment or other finance decision extremely challenging. There’s no perfect answer to this uncertainty, but a robust scenario analysis — using models that estimate financial needs and opportunities, based on a wide range of scenarios for COVID-19’s duration and impact — can help companies navigate it. 

These models require the most accurate data available, typically detailed at a project level due to the bespoke nature of and contractual arrangements for each project. Many CE & C companies that haven’t already started using advanced data analytics may therefore want to consider doing so. These tools will prove their worth in helping navigate this crisis — and will continue to create value after it’s over, by supporting better-informed decision-making.

By keeping workforce safe, engaged and skilled is another challenge. CE & C company may face limits on how many employees can work from home: many workers simply must be on the job site. Beyond providing them with appropriate protective gear, you can take additional steps to help them stay safe, such as staggering shifts, mandating safe distances between workers, and banning visitors.

Stabilize Supply Chain:

COVID-19 has had profound economic consequences, and some of the vendors and subcontractors may not survive. Others may not be able to fulfil contracts right now. Overseas suppliers may be especially prone to delays. For many CE & C companies, it is an extraordinary challenge to obtain visibility into and manage the behaviours of their disparate supply chains at site level.

To find vulnerabilities in the supply chain and choose how to respond, you need to maximise visibility. Reach out to the suppliers, gather data and build a dashboard that continues to update and refine over time. Based on what the dashboard reveals, consider the legal and financial implications, as well as their impact on margins, cash flow, loan repayments and terms. Make sure that project controls, risk management and governance processes can handle all the supply chain changes as per under consideration.

For critical suppliers whose long-term prospects are sound, offering contractual flexibility and technical support, including help in tapping government funding as part of recovery and stimulus programmes all over the world. Yet owners also must be ready to pivot to new suppliers as needed.

Reinforce the Company’s Financial Position:

Many CE & C companies are facing a financial shock, with an especially significant impact on their cash flow. In the short term, they should conduct an extensive project-by-project forecast and source government financial support. In addition, management teams should consider contractual terms, the recoverability of receivables in a site shutdown, and the inevitable inefficiencies created by remote working and on-site distancing restrictions. In the medium term, many organisations will need to renegotiate lending arrangements and raise new equity. 

To develop and execute a financial strategy that will help a company be among that elite group, it is definite that finance team has information and forecasts that are as accurate as possible, supported by top-notch analytics.

Looking Ahead:

When the pandemic ends, CE & C companies will face a new world. The marketplace will change, as some national governments will be eager to invest in infrastructure to jump-start their recovery, and others may face new resource limitations. Portfolios will also change, with both public- and private-sector project owners placing a new emphasis on sustainability and resilience. 

Cities will need to serve more residents who work from home — likely leading to greater investments in telecom and smart city initiatives. Among the many potential private-sector shifts on the horizon, commercial real estate may undergo a prolonged downturn, while the growth of data centres may accelerate further. The competitive landscape will change too, as stronger players acquire weaker ones, and still others emerge from bankruptcy with clean balance sheets and a ravenous appetite for projects.

It is a formula for continued uncertainty: any company’s client base, competitors and project book may differ dramatically from their pre-COVID reality, but it is impossible to foresee exactly how. Yet companies that emerge from this crisis with solid finances, a resilient supply chain, skilled workers and the capacity to gather and analyse the data that decision-makers need, will be well-placed to pivot and seize new opportunities. Those organisations will be market leaders no matter how the post-COVID world evolves.

Technological developments in recent years have led to decrease in OPEX cost of renewable energy although their CAPEX cost is higher in comparison to conventional power plants. Renewable energy plants such as solar, wind, geothermal, etc. are being set up rapidly across the globe as per techno-commercial feasibility. A new paradigm of distributed power generation that is less dependent on fossil-fuel resources must be expanded, in order to save the planet.

Why should we study Electrical Engineering?

Given the increasing use of sustainable energy solutions, the demand for sustainable energy engineers will increase in the coming years. In order to understand the theories behind this technology and be market ready students will have to be graduate in Electrical Engineering. This graduate program will equip students with skills and insights in technology, leadership, industrial challenges, innovation and entrepreneurship in the energy field.

Various research and development institutes are working hard towards obtaining better and improved ways to obtain, store and use electrical energy. There have been various advances in this field of engineering. Some of the trendiest developing areas has been mentioned below:

Sustainable Energy

Conventional sources of energy such as coal, oil, natural gas are used as fuel for last few centuries. Fossil fuels comprises of natural matter, such as dead animals and plants and takes millions of years to be produced under different phenomenon.

Technological developments in recent years have led to decrease in operational cost of renewable energy. Renewable energy plants such as solar, wind, geothermal, etc. are being set up rapidly across the globe to overcome many disadvantages of using fossil fuel like global warming, pollution. A new paradigm of distributed power generation that is less dependent on fossil-fuel resources must be expanded, in order to save the planet.

As per the data of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India is now globally 5^th in overall installed renewable energy capacity. The government is aiming to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. India has achieved a cumulative installed renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) of 92.54 GW.

India has one of the highest rates of growth for renewable energy in the world. As per Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2020 report, during the period 2014-2019, renewable energy programs in India attracted an investment of US$ 64.2 billion (Rs 4.7 lakh crore).

Energy storage system

Renewable energy like wind, tidal and solar power are excellent sources of sustainable energy. But, they are not constant source. Therefore, we have to do our best to save energy from the wind, the sun, or any other renewable sources for later use. Energy storage systems provide a wide area of technological approaches for managing our power supply in order to create a more resilient energy infrastructure and bring cost savings to utilities and consumers.

To meet this demand, electrical engineers all around the world are working towards better batteries and energy storage. Companies like Tesla, Eos and Vivint Solar are some to keep an eye on for the latest innovations.

Wireless Power Transfer

Wireless power transfer (WPT), in its general term, has been around us for decades in applications. Most of these applications transfer low amounts of power, in the range of microwatts to milliwatts, for data transfer.

For higher-power applications, from few watts to several kilowatts, over moderate distances, the WPT has recently been the focus of the industrial developments. The most common method of high power WPT is through inductive coupling that was invented by Nikola Tesla more than a century ago. The recent developments in semiconductor industry for high frequency and high-power applications have paved the path for high-power inductive WPT improvements. Inductive WPT offers several benefits over the wired connection and is applied in numerous applications such as automotive industry, biomedical science, wearable technology etc.

Wireless Wearable Tech

At an Apple event, Tim Cook shared a couple of videos he had received from several apple watch users. These customers appreciated how the apple watch saved their lives by detecting their health conditions and encouraged them to visit a doctor. 

Electrical-shock is an ever-present risk that comes with the job of an electrical engineer. There are devices out there that can reduce this risk. For example, one wearable device has been developed to help prevent electrical contact injuries. It consists of two electrical bracelets that the electrician wears and detects energized equipment that alerts the user of the danger. The bracelets identify information which the mobile app collects for the user to review.

Another example of wearable technology is Solar Power smart boots, which work to improve efficiency and safety for the user. The boots have sensors that measure user fatigue, provide alerts of unsafe environmental conditions, and can increase workflow transparency. These wearable devices are changing the safety and access to information in the electrical industry and creating better working environments. Wearable devices are just a small portion of tools out there that can assist you during your next job.

Electric Vehicle

An electric vehicle (EV) operates on an electric motor, instead of internal-combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of fuel and gases. Therefore, such as vehicle is seen as a possible replacement for current-generation automobile, in order to address the issue of rising pollution, global warming, depleting natural resources, etc.

Fuelling with electricity offers many advantages which are not available in conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.

• Because electric motors react quickly, EVs are very responsive and have very good torque.
• Recharging an electric car is much more affordable in the long run as compared to refuelling a car.
• Electric vehicle requires less maintenance as compared to a fuelled car as IC engines comprises of various moving parts which requires frequent maintenance.

Along with so many advantages, electric vehicle also possesses many disadvantages. The disadvantages are listed below:

• If you are driving for a long distance, then finding a charging station may become a problem.
• Recharging an electric vehicle takes much longer time, especially if the battery is fully depleted whereas adding fuel to a fuel tank doesn’t take much longer than five minutes.
• The driving range of an electric car ranges from 100 miles to 400 depending on the type of car, which is much less compared to fuelled vehicle.

In 2010, the world was a different place: The global population had only recently surpassed 7 billion (it is now 7.7), Lance Armstrong was still pure, and Game of Thrones hadn’t even debuted on HBO. We saw the world differently back then because our lives were viewed through different lenses. How have those glasses changed decade later? What has changed in cybersecurity? Here are really a some of the shifts which have had a significant impact on the how we surf the web — and share (or just don’t share) our data.

• Personal information seems to have become ubiquitous as a result of social media. In 2010, Facebook was expanding, and Instagram was just getting started. Since then, social media has grown from occupying a small portion of our time to occupying the extra portion. Reports in 2010 measured the average user’s time on social media in hours per month; now, we measure in hours per day (2 hours and 16 minutes on average, to be exact). This widespread use has resulted in more than just likes and follows; it has made user information the most precious product on the current market. This vast amount of information has reshaped the way hacktivists operate: whereas in the earlier days, attackers could have attacked network infrastructure and developed ways to get around firewalls, they have noticed that most people are far more obvious targets. Because personally identifiable information (PII) is freely available on the web, data skimming leads to increasingly successful phishing strategies. A few persons take measures to protect their data, while others do not, but nearly everyone has accepted the fact that if you really want to participate in society these days, you will more or less certainly be on social media. Thus, your personal information is publicly available.
• The Snowden Effect altered our perception of data. The Guardian revealed in 2013 that the NSA was conducting surveillance on millions of Americans. Edward Snowden was subsequently identified as the story’s whistle-blower, and whether you regard him a role model or an antagonist, the impact of his actions on American culture was profound. Many people realised, for the first time, how easily personal data can be shared and spread without their consent. People understood how priceless can ‘metadata’ become.
• The first ransomware was released in 2017. The ransomware WannaCry infected over 200,000 computers in 150 countries, holding computers hostage and demanding Bitcoin payments to return them to their owners. It was the first instance of that type of virus, as well as the biggest and most wide – ranging ransomware attack ever. This pushed people to confront the fact of the threats they were experiencing. Data breaches were no longer restricted to large corporations; this was an invasion that also damaged personal computers. WannaCry ushers in a new age of data risk, forcing users to sit up and take notice more than ever before.
• Multi-factor authentication has become extremely prevalent. Technically, ‘Multi Factor Authentication’ (MFA) has existed for centuries – it is simply requiring multiple verified points of identity to allow access towards something. Multi Factor Authentication’s web use existed prior to 2010, but it was not until the last decade or so, following the numerous massive data breaches, that professionals started calling for further widespread use. If users log in via a new device, Google will now need a minimum 2FA, and many other websites are heading the same way. This is in part considering the sheer amount of information we have online, but it is also due to the number of high-profile cyberattacks and breaches that have begun to put the threat into perception for several account holders. MFA makes data protection much more beneficial, and it is now almost mandatory for everyone who are serious about maintaining their information confidential.
• The internet raised a generation. Youngsters currently have all been born after the 2000s, with the new generation practically coming of age with smartphones in their hands. They have just never recognised a world without the world wide web; this is as much a part of the daily routine as bikes, TV, automobiles, if not more so. Many individuals accept that the younger generation is at significant risk as a result of this; they grew up in the digital age and, as a result, have a far too trusting perspective. Because their data has been accessible online, they may not have considered how to safeguard it. Recent studies, however, show that teens today are far more aware of their internet privacy than previous generations. In comparison, only 32.5 percent of those around 65 years of age have reviewed or adjusted their internet privacy configurations. Yes, such teenagers have grown up in the digital age, but it is precisely why they are more conscious of the risks. If kids are the future, our coming years may be safer and more protected than we thought.

With cybersecurity, the last decade has seen a sea change. So much information is available on the internet, more data is vulnerable, and more data is safeguarded by evolving security measures. We’re learning on the job, and in the information age, we’re learning how to secure sensitive information that so many actors (both good & evil) would like to reach. Will we be able to look back in 2030 and see more of the same? Is there new regulations? New kinds of vulnerabilities, and new social networking sites? Probably. And yet, if indeed the youth of today is any obvious sign, we’ll be ready to confront each one.