www.sefindia.org

[k.gangadharan]

A structural engineer’s  work, responsibility & role are very different from that of a civil engineer. Civil engineer is a generic term   and is applicable to a highway engineer, irrigation engineer , watersupply and sanitary engineer , a construction engineer  , a building supervising engineer etc.   This generic term 'civil engineer' and his duties are entirely different from that of a structural engineer who gets advanced training in design of  all types of structures  like  buildings ,bridges industrial structures   and other special structures & prepares structural design & drawings for execution at site and issues stability cerficates for getting permission for the work, and also issues guidances  and solutions when a problem arises at site during the construction process..He must have a thorough knowledge of the construction technology , construction practices ,foundation engineering  and a thorough understanding of the architectural drawings and architect’s concept  & ideas about  the  buildings  for which he prepares structural design and also coordination with other services.
The structural safety and stability is also his responsibility and also solutions to rectification of   construction defects.
Now, everybody is clamouring for the passing of engineer’s bill by the parliament , including the association of structural engineers like IA struct E & ISSE.
If the engineer’s bill is passed ; in what way it will help the structural engineers' professional problems. and plight, I don’t know ;because their problems are different from that of a civil engineer; unless there is specific provision in the bill to safe guard the different problems   & issues  encountered by the structural engineers in professional practice. & professional life, how it will help the present day to day issues of the structural engineer  like design fees , responsibility issues, and the problems resulting from  failure of structures, and also the legal issues resulting therefrom and fixing of responsibility of failures etc.  
In my opinion   a body like the Instituition of structural engineers , London, or the Stuctural Engineering institute (SEI) working as a separate wing under American society of engineers   (ASCE)  only can solve the problems facing the structural engineering profession. These two organisations have formulated , a code of conduct and ethics and working principles for the functioning of structural engineering community; they have prescribed design fees chargeable for the professional work.
They have also prepared very useful design guides and charts for design problems and detailing manuals for the 
use of structural engineers .They have also separate journals dealing with current topics and recent research findings and recommendations. They conduct seminars  refresher courses for the benifit of their members. These seminars and special courses will help to update the knowledge and knowhow of its members.


In this context I have to stress one important aspect of this econference.
A lot of deliberations  have gone thru' , since the announcement of this econference  initiated by madam Alpa Seth . The deliberations shall not remain as mere deliberations only .Some follow up actions shall be taken based on the several points raised by eminent practising engineers regarding the problems and issues facing our structural engineering community.
I have a suggestion to make ; based on the deliberations of this econference some concrete action may be initiated to effectively redress the important issues faced by the structural engineering community in India.What effective measures can be successfully taken and implemented may be thought of by a working group of SEFI. There are very competent and experienced members in this forum and they must think of  a future coarse of action  based on this econference deliberations.
In my humble opinion at least a code of coduct and ethical guidelines shall be prepared and distributed for the benifit of structural engineers as there exists many unethical practices among practising structural engineers.
What other useful and benificial things can be done may be seriously thought of. Other experts can suggest their 
recommendations in this matter.


K. Gangadharan
structural consultant












 
 
 
 
 
                                

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[Maggie Fox]

The Greek engineering, Archimedes contemplated geometry broadly in his journey for building better structures and machines. Geometry had a vast impact in Archimedes' examinations.