ACTA CONFERENCE 2014

Event Report

The International Conference on Advanced Concrete Technology and Applications (ACTA) was held on 30th September, 2014 and was funded by National University of Sciences and Technology, NUST, Islamabad. Professionals and Researchers from all over the world were invited to present their findings in this conference. The seminar consisted of three technical sessions of interactive nature and the foreign speakers expressed complete satisfaction with the overall environment. The conference was modelled to highlight the contemporary concrete technology and its applications in Pakistan. The main objective was to raise awareness among young civil engineers regarding green concrete. The event was very well organized. Each speaker delivered impressive presentations which were followed by informative question and answer sessions. The NUST ICE (NISC) Student body was the primary student community responsible for organizing the conference. Many renowned NUST professors actively participated in organizing the event and ensured its smooth implementation. Moreover, many engineers from different firms attended the conference. NISC also aims to cause awareness among young students and motivate the entire civil engineering community in Pakistan through similar events. NISC aspires to train young engineers to think on the lines of sustainable growth and development of Civil Structures.

Usman Mahmood
Director Publications
(NISC)

WHO ARE WE?

We civil engineers plan, design and build houses, roads, drains, water treatment plants, airports, dams, bridges and what not! Engineers not only establish the basis of city infrastructure but also provide systems to improve performance of various community systems. Civil engineers are basic figures when it comes to community development. Well...let’s not beat around the bush; without us civil engineers, our society could simply not work!

Now what is it that ICE student chapter at NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE) aims to achieve? It values ability of us civil engineers to think out-of-the-box and streamlines this creative sense with technical competence to yield highly productive results. It has established various training courses to enhance our knowledge and polish our personalities as civil engineers. Also it aspires to improve our communication and managerial skills through various constructive activities and events that it conducts on regular basis.

So engineers what’s the delay? Join hands today!

Let’s all work together; climb up

Through the right way!


Usman Mahmood
Director Publications 
(NISC)

Civil Engineering- From Medieval To Modern Era !

Civil engineering has come a long way since its evolution. Starting from the simple structures to the skyscrapers today, the world has witnessed immense advancement in the engineering knowledge. It has been practised by the primitive human race in all ages. It is the oldest discipline of engineering after military engineering. Over the course of time this term has undergone a change in its meaning. This term was first introduced to include all engineering fields that did not fall in sphere of military engineering. Later on this term was used to include fields related to construction of infrastructure facilities that serve general public. Until the recent times terms architecture and civil engineering were used alternatively. Now according to American society for civil engineers “Civil engineering is the design and maintenance of public works such as roads, bridges, water and energy systems as well as public facilities like ports, railways and airports”
Civil engineering is a vast subject with fields to suit ones aptitude. So whether you like working in an office or you want to manage a project there is always a field for you. So what are these fields? Civil engineers can choose to be structural engineers who design infrastructure projects before they are constructed; construction engineers get the designs by structure engineers implemented on ground. Water resource engineers design and construct hydraulic structures such as dams while transport engineers design and construct structures such as roads, bridges which ensure the smooth flow of traffic. In general civil engineers construct all infrastructure facilities such as roads, railway ,water supply networks which have paramount importance in our lives and without which cycle of our lives is likely to be disrupted.
Over the years civil engineers have significantly improved our standards of living. Roads, railways, metros facilitate us in getting from one place to another faster. As a result Journeys which once took days can now be completed in a few hours. Dams and water supply networks are solving problems related to polluted drinking water and are helping ensure a continuous supply of clean drinking water. High rise apartment buildings accommodate more people and are making accommodations more affordable.

Civil engineer build worlds infrastructure. In doing so, they change the history of nations around the globe. For most people it is hard to imagine life without the contribution in public health, safety and standards of living. Only by analysing the effect civil engineering has had on shaping the world we can creatively envision our progress of tomorrows.


Faizan Elahi
Executive Publications