www.sefindia.org

[abhy_vivek]

Dear Young Civil Engineering Students,


         Today I am going to share a few of my experiences and views about the Post Graduate projects in Civil / Structural Engineering. I have already shared my views about this on sefi and couple of other forums; here is a summary of all those. Many of you are always keen to know 'What Topic Should You select as a Post Graduate Thesis ?', and often start worrying about it as soon as the second semester exams of PG course gets completed.


         Further 'Tension' builds up when the college and the guide starts lingering due to other works pending on their desks (like papers setting / checking, paper publications, book writing, regular lectures-tutorials, extra curricular activities, private classes, summer vacations, new year admission etc. etc.) !



        But don't worry, if you follow step-step approach from the day-one, you get admission to PG, you will not face such last minute haste.


1) After Taking admission to PG, start regularly visiting to 'Library' and 'Computer Lab' in your college. Get confirm idea about the books, magazines and software available there.


2) Also visit the 'Material Testing Labs' to know what equipment does your college has (viz. CTM, UTM, Wind Tunnel Lab, Experimental stress analysis lab, heavy engineering lab, shake table etc.). Talk to the lab assistants about the past and on-going research projects in your college / department. Talk to your seniors and their experience about project work.


3) Prepare a list of the Project topics completed in your college in past five years. Brows through these thesis and comments offered by the external examiner on each of these projects.


4) To complete first three steps, you will take 5 to 6 months (i.e. about first semester), by investing one hour every day. Now start talking to your subject teachers (guides with in college) about what best topic can he / she offer to you. At the same time recheck the marks secured by you in various subjects in B.E / B.Tech. This will give an idea about 'which subjects you like vs. which subjects you are good at and can score'.


5) Completion of above five steps will, itself give you a fair idea about 'In which area you should select the final topic'. While going through above five steps, keep attending various seminar / lectures / workshops conducted by professional organisations like ICI, ISSE, INSDAG, ACI, IABSE, IaStructE, SERC etc. Keep reading professionals magazines and journals in both the semesters of PG (in addition to regular studies and submissions in college). After attending workshop, try to meet the speakers, ask them specific questions about the topic which he presented (and NOT about your project).


6) After completion of these five steps, you yourself will finalise the topic for PG-Thesis (of course in consultation with the Guide). Some times, a few colleges depute 'External Guides' for PG projects. In such situations be in constant contact with the external guide. Be punctual, humble, responsible and quick (enthusiastic). . .


'Use' Google search engine for getting more and more information about the project topic which you intend to finalise, and not just for searching 'wasteful' contents !!


. . . I am Sure if you religiously follow above steps then 'Project Thesis' will become a 'Life companion'. Doing PG is not just an academic course of two years. . . but it's a 'search' of 'Engineer' hidden within yourself. 'Two' years of PG is like a foundation for entire future career of forty / fifty years . . . so do not waste it in browsing FB, Linked-in or Flipkart or Amazon or other social media websites !!


Be the Architect and Engineer of your own career !


Warm Wishes to all the young Civil / Structural Engineers
Vivek Abhyankar
Mumbai

[Dr. N. Subramanian]

I appreciate Er Vivek for posting this for the benefit of students selecting their projects.

I always have said that the students should select the topic based on three criteria: their guide at the college, facilities available at the college, and their own interest( e.g. steel, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, multi storied building, bridges, composite construction, wood, masonry, earthquake resistant design, liquid retaining structures,  space frames, green building design, pavements, fly ash or other waste materials in concrete, experimental work or computer oriented research). Any one of these fields can be chosen.


Best wishes
NS

[abhy_vivek]

Hope my following post was useful to freshers to find the relevant topics

[abhy_vivek]

In past four four years couple of Institutions contacted me saying - that they do the projects on behalf of students (right from selection of topic / writing literature review and thesis book etc.); they claim that students have to only appear in final viva-voce... I am personally not convinced such offer - I am also not clear as how do they arrange for test results ?

Yet another practices started by many colleges in past a few years is - 'doing a full time long duration internship in companies in lieu of thesis'

I personally do not support both these !

Regards
Vivek Abhyankar
www.sgawings.com
Mumbai

[vikram.jeet]

This was / is very good topic started by Er Abhyankar Vivek saheb.
He is Brand Ambassador for guiding Budding Engineers,, being himself a great Structural / Civil Engineer practising in Mumbai.

As regards practical training on design / construction :-
My personal viewpoint is -
Practical training in Consultancy offices, Govt departments,, Pvt builders is very useful and it gives insight to practices adopted in the design work / construction work / PMC work keeping view on Quality assurance.
Practical training also provides real on the job feeling to young, would be engineers, to choose their careers, later depending of exposure.

In our times in mid seventies in DCE,, Practical training during FIVE YEARS COURSE was there as under -

I) About one and half month training during Summer vacation between second and third year .

ii) A  Survey Camp at Mussourie, / any hill station ,, 15 days duration. ( During 2nd yr - between 3rd and 4 th semester)

iii) A full 6 months Fourth year Semester was dedicated to Training in Govt Deptts,, ( Railways, CDO CPWD, NBCC, snd other, ) ,, Ovt Reputed consultancies,  Pvt Construction Agencies / Builders .

iv) Bharat Darshan Educational Trip of 15  - 20 days through dedicated Railway bogie alloted to college,to see major Structures ( Dams, Buildings , Bridges, and other structure s)  ,, this educational trip was conducted during vacations at end of 4 th year.

Whereas  (I) , (ii) and (iv) were during Vacations between Semesters,,  the 6 month Practical training (iii) , was A dedicated semester to PRACTICAL TRAINING , which was highly helpful / useful in the future  .

Survey Camp, and Educational Trip was full Civil Engg Class group ,, but 6 month training - group of 3 students / 2 students sent to various organisations.


As regards myself, the training was as under -

To be continued

[vikram.jeet]

Contd. - -

As regards myself, the training was as under -

I) one month Training In DDA 1975 ( Emergency period) - Govt
wanted to develop colonies on outskirts of delhi to remove jhuggis  and provide shelter thereof . we group of two students worked with DDA Engineers on Theodolite survey,, Preparation of contour plan s,, Design of storm water drains based on rainfall etc.  A report was prepared by us for presenting to College. Marking was there on report.

(ii) Survey Camp at Mehrauli, Delhi near Qutab Minar,, the
aravalli hills there provide ample landscape for levelling using theodolite,  Also Emergency period - Hence Camp was in Delhi and not in Mussoorie  ( usually) . Students were divided into group of 4 each for tasks. Forenoon busy with Survey and afternoons were in Qutub Minar.

(iii) 6 Months Training - we ( group of three) opted for training in Northern Railways whose CE office was in front of our college at Kashmere gate .
The 6 months training was distributed by CE office as under
-
One month in Design Office at CE office  Learnt about Ultimate load Theory for design of beams / columns regarding Construction of Multistoried Officers - Guest House Building at NDLS.

One month  at Construction of Railway Quarters at Puchkuian Road ( Construction of  2 stories in mostly load bearing brick masonry)

One month at Construction of Multistoried type IV / V Officers accommodation at Pachkuian road.  This was 12 soried RCC building and good exposure on RCC construction.

One Month training at Construction of ROB over Railway line at Chanakyapuri near Rail Museum. This gave us some practical outlook in bridge construction during those times.

15 Days Training at Foublung of Railway Line at Samaipur Badli Railway station.

15 Days training in Under reamed  Piling Work being conducted at Railway Siding for New Subzi Mandi Azadpur.


All above exposures helped during career when it was manual design work.

Just remembered and shared,,