CEST Club of NIT Rourkela

Introduction Many earthquakes in the past have left many lessons to be learned which are very essential to plan infrastructure and even to mitigate such calamities in the future. The hazards associated with earthquakes are referred to as seismic hazards. The practise of earthquake engineering involves the identification and mitigation of seismic hazards. Microzonation has generally been recognized as the most accepted tool in seismic hazard assessment and risk evaluation. It is defined as the zonation concerning ground-motion characteristics taking into account source and site conditions. Making improvements on the conventional macrozonation maps and regional hazard maps, the micro zonation of the ar region generates detailed maps that predict the hazard at much smaller scales. Seismic microzonation is the generic name for subdividing a region into individual areas having different potentials hazardous earthquake effects, defining their specific seismic behaviour for engineering design...

    Introduction ITS is an emerging transportation system which is comprised of an advanced information and telecommunications network for users, roads and vehicles. ITS is the integrated application of advanced Technologies using electronics, computers, communications, and advanced sensors. These applications provide travellers with important information while improving the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. Intelligent Transportation Technologies Wireless Communications: Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC): It offers communication between the vehicle and the roadside in specific locations (ex- toll plazas). Continuous Air interface Long and Medium range: CALM provides continuous communications between a vehicle and the roadside using a variety of communication media, including cellular and infra-red links. Intelligent Transportation Applications (1) Electronic Toll Collection: Today, most toll roads are equipped with an electronic toll-collecti...

Need for Cranes and the Risks Involved  Cranes have become an essential part of equipment for the construction of buildings and structures, especially as the height increases. The huge loads required to be lifted, and the heights that they have to be carried to often makes such operations fraught with risk. This risk increases when the operators also have to contend with extreme wind and weather conditions that can increase the stresses on the cranes. Quite often, the crane operations are very much part of the critical path activities on project sites. Thus, accidents can cause serious loss of productivity and affect project schedules to a great extent. Because of the heights and sizes of such construction cranes, areas around the construction site can also be at risk, especially in populated areas. It is quite a standard practice for cranes to be designed and built for a particular project so that any peculiarities regarding area to be covered, heights, materials to be lifted and ...

Introduction Modular construction is a broad category including several techniques, each with distinct characteristics and applications. Among these is volumetric modular construction. Volumetric Modular Construction is defined as the stacking and joining of factory finished modules to create a substantially complete building. The modules are fitted with windows, doors, electrical and plumbing conduits in the factory. All five sides are cast during a single pour creating a single room or multiple rooms in one go. Modular buildings are built with the same materials used in traditional construction. The structures are 60% to 90% complete prior to transportation and assembly at the final building site. It is used primarily in developed countries like US, UK, Japan, European countries and Australia for its benefits.   History The Crystal Palace, which was built for Britain's Great exhibition of 1951, remains one of the most famous examples of early modular construction. Designed in les...