4th Int'l Civil Engineering Congress

Institution of Engineers Pakistan, Karachi Center held its fourth International Civil Engineering Congress on 25 and 26 November 2006. Engr. Kamel Ayadi, President World Federation of Engineering Organization and Safwanullah Khan Marwat were chief guests of the opening and closing sessions.

Theme of 4th ICEC-2006 was: Challenges in civil engineering in developing countries'. Engr. Aftab Islam Agha, FIE ( Pakistan ) and President, IEP Karachi Center delivered the presidential address. 23 papers were read in the congress.

IEP sources said the theme was chose to help civil engineers cope with new challenges in future like growing population, deteriorating infrastructure, preparation for possible natural disasters, updating of transportation systems to meet growing needs and environment friendly sustainable development.

They said civil engineers will have to include many emerging areas like biotechnology, advanced communication and information technology. They will have to be partners with industry and collaborate with disciplines outside engineering domains.

They will have to develop innovative and entrepreneurial skills. To maintain current quality of life and enhance it, civil engineers would need to develop new strategies in order to do more with fewer resources. Papers were read on following topics.

1. Impact of effective river basin management on seepage losses, by Engr. Ghulam Hussain Wagan.

2. Semi Empirical irrigation scheduling model for use at farm level: I-model development by Engr. Aftab H. Azhar, Engr. MN Bhutta, and Engr. BJC Perera.

3. An integrated approach to combat water and environment crisis by Engr. Brig. (R) Khurshid Ghias Ahmad.

4. Operation, maintenance and management issues of the irrigation system by Engr. Prof. Shah Nawaz Chandio, Engr. Prof. Dr. Bazid Khan and Engr. A. Khaliq Kurd.

5. Irrigation scheduling at farm level: II model validation by Engr. Aftab H. Azhar, Engr. M. Rafiq and Engr. BJC Perera.

6. Cement bonded building products developed by using locally available agro wastes by Engr. Abdul Bari Mangi.

7. Thermal insulation of roof using hollow cement blocks by Engr. Abdul Aziz Ansari and Engr. Mahmood Memon.

8. Investigations on construction safety for workers in developing countries: the case of Pakistan by Engr. Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali, Engr. Amjad Pathan and Engr. Sana Azam.

9. Optimization of aerator design for Mangla Dam spillway by Engr. Rafaquat Ali and Engr. Muhammad Rafi.

10. Seismic performance of historic buildings in Asia by Dr. Engr. Javed Yunas Uppal.

11. Requirements of road traffic injury prevention in Karachi by Engr. Prof. Faheem Ahsan.

12. Coastal region of Pakistan vulnerable to Tsunamis by Engr. Prof. Dr. SM Makhdumi, Mr. SAA Kazmi and Ms. Qudsia Saba.

13. Operating speed model on two lane two-way roads (case study of Kotri Thatta section) by Engr. A. Sami Qureshi, Engr. GB Khaskheli and Engr. Rizwan Ali Memon.

14. Support system for a deep excavation in the metropolis of Lahore by Engr. Sohail Kibria, Engr. Junaid Ahmad and Engr. Sadaf Saeed.

15. Kashmir-Hazara earthquake of 8th October 2005: engineering non-engineered structures for post disaster reconstruction by Prof. Siddiq -A- Akbar PhD.

16. Construction project claim management by M. Aslam Mirza.

17. Use of wastes of expanded polystyrene foams as light weight aggregates for making heat insulated bricks, blocks and tiles for roof insulation by Engr. Abdul Bari Mangi.

18. Risk analysis and management in local construction industry by Engr. Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali, Engr. M Soomar Khatri and Engr. Saifullah Qureshi.

19. A culture for academic excellence: implementing the quality principles in higher education by Engr. Dr. SH Lodhi.

20. Identification of aquifer parameters using genetic algorithm an inverse approach by Engr. Ashfaque Ahmed Memon and Engr. MM Babar.

21. Safety through maintenance by CL Nankani.

22. Unstable hydraulic jump formation below Jinnah and Taunsa Bridge and the remedial measures by Engr. Ghulam Qadir and Engr. Rafi Muhammad Asi.

23. Effect of twisted steel twin on shear strength of beams by Engr. Mehmood Memon and Noor Ahmed Memon.