KIIT School of Civil Engineering in collaboration with Indian Geo Technical Society, Bhubaneswar Chapter organizes two days National Workshop on Geo Technical Investigation and Soil Testing on 27th and 28th January , 2018, the inaugural ceremony of which was held at Seminar Hall-1 of KIIT Campus-6 at morning, today.
Gracing the inaugural session as the Chief Guest, Er. Bijan Kumar Behera, Chief Engineer-in-Charge, P.W.D. Department, Government of Odisha said,
“We the Civil Engineers are ever challenged to build infrastructures which are cost effective without comprising the quality, durability and safety.”
He elaborated, “as soil is very complex in nature, it can be homogeneous, heterogeneous or isotopic. So, it is very difficult to understand the complexity of the soil. In case of the high rise buildings, the same quantity of soil is replaced, corresponding with the weight of that much of structure. Now soil mechanism has been replaced to a great extent. Therefore in case of the high rise structure, its importance is felt by everybody.”
Gracing the occasion as an Honorary Guest and Keynote Speaker, Er. Bharata Chandra Pradhan, Engineer-in-Chief, Rural Development and Rural Works, Government of Odisha said, “Geo Technical Investigation is very much essential for construction of road, building and bridge. Besides, it plays a very important role as far as the stability and safety of the structure is concerned. We have to chalk out, how best we can provide good and sustainable structure for the utility of our future generations.”
Gracing the occasion, Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, KIIT Deemed University said, “such type of workshop is meant to give multidimensional and diversified exposure to the stake holders in the campus. Besides the entrepreneurship activities going on at the campus, certainly would motivate the students and staff members to expand themselves to the outer world.”
At the outset, Dr. Benu Gopal Mohapatra, Dean, KIIT School of Civil Engineering, in placing the welcome address, introduced the guests to the audience and laid focus on the aims and objectives of the two days workshop. Meanwhile, a souvenir based on the workshop was unveiled by the Guests. Among the Dignitaries, Prof S.C. Roy, Chairman, Indian Geo-Technical Society, Bhubaneswar Chapter, Prof Sudarshan Nanda, Professor and Emeritus and Research Chair, KIIT Deemed University were present and spoke on the occasion. Eventually, Er. L.K. Tripathy, Secretary, Indian Geo-Technical Society, Bhubaneswar Chapter proposed Vote of Thanks.
Sessions:
Day 1
The Technical Session 1 started after the inaugural session and was chaired by Er. A.K. Banerjee, Chief Engineer (Designs), Water Resources Department, Govt. of Odisha. The session witnessed deliberations by eminent speakers like Prof. H.N. Ramesh Ex-Vice Chancellor, Bangalore University and Prof. D.K. Baidya, IIT Kharagpur in the pre-lunch session.
The Technical Session 2 commenced post lunch by Prof. C.N.V Satyanarayana Reddy, Andhra University, Vizag. All speakers stressed upon the importance of Geotechnical investigation by presenting different case studies and research outcomes using their rich experience in research. After that the delegates proceeded to Geotechnical Laboratory of School of Civil Engineering for Hands on Training on Soil Testing starting from basic experiments to state-of-the-art experiments.
The training was conducted by Civil Engineering faculty members and technical assistants forming seven numbers of small groups for the better understanding of the delegates. The program was carried out in the form of exhibition as well as hands on experiment under the leadership of Prof. Satyajeet Nanda, Associate Professor, SCE. The hands on training was quite appreciated by all the delegates.
Day 2
A Campus visit was organized by PR department for all the delegates at the morning. After the visit, Technical Session 3 was conducted which was chaired by Er. N.K. Mohapatra, Ex-Chief Engineer, Water Resources Dept. and presently working as senior CPEC/TL (Mega Lift ), WAPCOS Limited, Govt. Of India. In this session, the speakers were Er. J.C. Gogoi, Consultant, Sanjib Services, Guwhati, Assam, Dr. B.G. Mohapatra, Dean, SCE, Er. L.K. Tripathy, Hon. Sec. IGS and by Er. K.C. Gouda, Divisional Engineer, East Coast Railways, Cuttack. All the speakers presented lectures on failures and remedial measures, design consideration and advanced technologies in Geo-technical Engineering.
Post lunch, the Valedictory Ceremony was held in which Er. A.K. Banerjee, Chief Engineer (Water Resources Department, Govt. of Odisha) as Chief Guest and Er. N.K. Mohapatra, Guest of Honour, Prof.A.C.Ray, Chairman IGS Bhubaneswar Chapter, Dr. B.G. Mohapatra, Organizing Secretary and Er. L.K. Tripathy, Organizing Secretary graced the dais.
Er. N.K. Mohapatra praised School of Civil Engineering for their active involvement in consultancy and research activities other than teaching job. He personally praised Dr. B.G. Mohapatra for implementing latest Geotechnical technologies like Gabion Wall and Soil Nailing in few Government projects through consultancy projects.
The Chief Guest of the concluding ceremony expressed that KIIT is the right platform to conduct such type of National Events and success of this National Event has become possible because of the availability of the world class facilities in KIIT Campus. He further expressed that Indian Geotechnical Society would like to conduct many more functions of special importance with the cooperation of KIIT administration in future. He added that the impact of this National level Geotechnical Workshop will be tremendous on the functioning of Civil Engineers of different Government organizations and specially Water Resource Department who take major challenges on Geotechnical Problems.
In a special note, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to KIIT Management and its Founder, Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
Meanwhile, certificates were distributed to those who authored any paper in the souvenir. Certificate of participation as well mementos were distributed to all the active participants. Seven faculty from School of Civil Engineering were felicitated for organizing laboratory hands on training on Soil Testing.
Finally Dr.B.G.Mohapatra Dean,School of Civil Engineering, proposed the Vote of Thanks in which he conveyed his heartfelt thanks to the delegates, guest speakers, Faculty members and students. He also expressed his deep sense of gratitude to Associate Dean of SCE and special thanks to the Administrative Officer of SCE for the meticulous arrangement in the workshop which has been appreciated by one and all.