Artificial intelligence- the future of construction

Across the World recent ILO predictions reveal that future of jobs is changing. It has been envisaged that by 2040, 40 percent of the traditional job sectors will become obsolete which will be replaced by technology based jobs. This requires appropriate innovation. Technologies like AI will emerge as one of the potential areas which can transform construction and infrastructure sectors across the World.

Construction industries across the World are on the verge of digitalization, which is disrupting traditional processes and also holds many opportunities. Technologies like Artificial intelligence, Machine learning, drones, robotics and their applications are expected to increase efficiency throughout the entire value chain – from the production of building materials to the design, planning and construction. Designers, engineers and architects regularly spend many hours working on designing the building. AI can be used for ideation, design and planning processes which are critical in a construction project's lifecycle. This will help to finish any project on time with quality and on budget.

An AI based system, with access to database of many plans of buildings is able to develop design alternatives. Designers and engineers can simply input design goals together with parameters such as spatial requirements, performance, materials, cost constraints and many more into the generative design software. Enabled by artificial intelligence, the software then explores all possible permutations of a solution, generating design alternatives that meet all previously specified requirements. The AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry, designers and engineers are currently starting to adopt generative design which can increase creativity and enables the design and planning to be timelier, of higher quality and cheaper.

          The productivity output of the whole construction industry has been improving marginally because of logistical inefficiencies. It can be considered in two ways. First, at construction sites approximately one third of the time is spent on transports, rearrangements, downtimes and the search for materials. Second, construction projects often have to deal with challenges arising from delays in construction. Around 90% of megaprojects are significantly delayed, over budget or display other deviations from planning. All of these issues cause unnecessary costs for the companies involved in the construction process.

     AI can improve construction execution planning, the updating of construction sequences and task management, while keeping all stakeholders always informed. Moreover AI can also increase the productivity within construction execution itself. AI based tools could detect possible clashes, delays and changes within the construction process by comparing the digital twin of the building that is present in the Building Information Modelling (BIM) cloud against the actual physical representation. Robots and drones can already be used for frequent image recording and 360 degree laser scans. Those images and measurements provide the necessary input so that the AI can track the timely progress of the physical building against the plan stored in the BIM cloud.

The advantage of AI over sensors/IoT is that it is much more flexible. Once the cameras are installed, every object can easily be found. Real-life examples indicate the potential for a 40% increase in labour productivity combined with project completion at more than 10% below budget as the time of the construction workers and machinery can be used more efficiently. Another advantage of the AI based solution over sensors/IoT is that it can also be taught to inform staff whenever it detects possible safety hazards.

AI can also support operators of heavy and mobile machinery at the construction sites. A company specializing in the control and automation of machinery claims that the productivity of mobile machinery could be increased by up to 60% using AI. AI enables facility managers to reduce costs by ensuring more efficient facility management. AI can also be an enabler for the next big step in the digitalization of construction material producers and distributors. It would increase efficiency along the value chain in functions like procurement, marketing and sales, manufacturing, logistics, customer service and after sales of building material producers, merchants as well as building companies. Artificial intelligence identifies the best means of transportation and also the best routes based on information on times and dates, addresses, traffic, costs, speed, etc. AI supports and relieves the staff by answering customer inquiries automatically. Start implementing small AI projects and move towards people centred applications. Need of the hour is to accept the change towards technologies, since many people AI are more as a threat than an opportunity. Then try to use AI on a small scale. Rank them according to the main criteria like core vs. non-core business, ease of implementation and scale up further.

Agri Business Management–Better prospects ahead

Agri Business Management–Better prospects ahead
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

In the era of Globalization major structural reforms are taking place in the Agricultural sector. India is on the threshold of Green revolution. Commerciacialisation of Agriculture, Animal husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and allied sectors are taking place at a faster pace in the country. National Agriculture Policy, agricultural reforms like public private partnerships, market lead extension programmes and agricultural technology management programmes envisage market centered production programmes in agriculture and allied sectors to attain sustainability. As a seqele to GATT and ASEAN agreement, in order to exploit the potentials of market access like export, cutting edge technologies in the areas of value addition, food safety, packaging, quality control, HACCP, etc are needed. Moreover food security issues are emerging over the globe. For achieving the above envisaged objectives, technocrats endowed with relevant management skills and experience are essential. This paved the way for starting the programmes like Agri Business Management for Agricultural graduates. Critical management and entrepreneurial competencies enable them to own and manage Agri-business enterprises of global standards.


Agribusiness management is one of the courses having more career potential within the country and abroad. Commercialization of agriculture and allied activities pave way for experts in Agri Business Management to acquire better jobs in this sector. Supply chain management and logistics management are some of career oriented courses. National institute of Extension management, Hyderabad is one of premier institutes offering post graduate programme in Agribusiness management and supply chain management.
Recently Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasized the need for greater attention to local needs by citing an important modern management principle of ‘think global and act local’. Logistics could play a key role in integrating rural and urban divide. A logistics model can provide cost effective access for rural produce to urban markets. Moreover public private partnerships will help to address some of the rural development issues. This further emphasizes the importance of Agri business, supply chain and logistics management.

Agri business management professionals will have very good employment potential in Agribusiness industries like food processing, banking and financial institutions, commodities exchange bureaus, dairy and animal husbandry sector, meat and meat products, agrochemical sectors, organic farms, sugar industry, agri informatics, cattle feed industry, export promotion councils, fruits and vegetable industries, poultry industry, sea food industry , biotech firms, plantation sector, forestry, ayurvedic industry, coir industry, horticulture, floriculture, teaching and research.

MBA in Agri Business Management from Kerala Agricultural University

MBA in Agri Business Management offered by College of Co-operation, Banking and Management of Kerala Agricultural University, Velanikkara, Thrissur is unique with respect to specialization, pedagogy, training, placement, etc with an affordable fee structure; Says Dr.A. Sukumaran, Director of the MBA programme, KAU.A full time placement cell has been constituted to ensure the placement of Agri business management professionals. Major employers in the previous years include Royal Bank of Scotland, Harrison’s Malayalam Limited, Dhanalaxmi Bank, HDFC bank, Reliance Retail Ltd, Sutherland, Pantaloon Retail and Aditya Birla group. All professional graduates of state agricultural universities with an OGPA of 7.5/10 can apply for the programme. Any Agriculture and allied science graduates like veterinary science, fisheries science, dairy science, and forestry can join for the post graduate agribusiness management courses. Selection process is through written test and interview. For more details on application forms and prospectus please logon to www. kaumba.com & www.kau.edu. Last date for receipt of application is 23rd June2010.


Other Agri Business Management institutions in the country
1. MANAGE- National institute of Extension Management, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad
www.manage.gov.in
2. Institute of Agri Business management, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan
www.iabmbikaner.org
3. Indian institute of management, Ahmedabad
www.iimahd.ernet.in
4. Institute of Rural Management, Anand, Gujarat
5. www.xlri.edu
6. www.iimk.ac.in
7. College of Agribusiness management, GB Pant university of Agricultural Technology, Pantnagar
www.cabm.ac.in
8. www.xlri.edu

Potential for Research on GM crops in India

Potential for Research on GM crops in India

Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

Genetically modified technology has always attracted skepticism, resistance and controversy, yet its use continues to grow in many parts of the world. Says US Grains council. Despite pest and pricing worries, many Asian countries have welcomed biotech crops. Be it farmers in India, China, Vietnam or Philippines, it is all over Asia and the Indian subcontinent that farmers are happy with the use of new products on offer in the agriculture marketplace. Public sector institutions presently carry out majority of developments in crop biotechnology. According to the International Service for the Acqisition of agri-biotech applications, the total area of approved GM crops reached 102 million hectares in 2006. Of the 9 million hectares in India about 38 percent was on Bt Cotton in 2006 and the area coverage is expected to increase to 75 percent by 2010. While Governments and environmental groups argue over the safety and morality of GM crops, many farmers in Asia are quietly working with scientists to overcome minor problems they are experiencing with this technology. In India agriculture biotechnology space has grown in the past one decade and has witnessed projects in large number of private and public sector. The investment has also shifted to some extent purely application oriented research to a mix of basic and applied research. Several biotech companies catering specialized research services to seed companies lack in house research facilities, which creates opportunities in agri biotechnology.
India had realized several years back that to increase food, feed and fiber production from the current level, use of biotechnology is imperative. Several institutions under Indian council of Agricultural Research and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research under department of Biotechnology, Government of India are actively applying biotechnological tools to enhance productivity and quality of agricultural crops. Agricultural universities, traditional universities and other R&D institutions are funded by DBT through external grants to support research on transgenic crops. Bio-safety of Biotech crops is one of the growing areas of research in the Biotech sector.

New Generation Courses

New Generation courses
Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan
Sports and Biomedical Science
Sports, exercise and Biomedical Sciences have applications in a wide range of health and performance related disciplines. This course is useful for students, non-standard entrants and fitness professionals and sports coaches, which cover various aspects of biological and biomedical sciences. In each of these areas, courses are offered at postgraduate level, including MSc, MPhil and PhD.
MSc Cryobiology
(Cryopreservation and Conservation)
Cryobiology studies the effects of low temperatures and freezing of cells, tissues and organisms. These effects have great importance in many areas of biology including plant and animal science, entomology, microbiology, medical sciences, veterinary medicine and food science.
This course is designed to provide a sound theoretical and practical education and training in cryobiology. Moreover it will be beneficial to students who are interested to do research in related disciplines. The course curriculum includes theoretical aspects of cryobiology, cryopreservation and conservation, including practical and research methodologies, biomedical applications and conservation of biodiversity.
In UK Students will have access to excellent laboratories, comprehensive learning resources and opportunities to study laboratory-based projects at other organizations. It will help them to develop awareness on ethics and health and safety issues pertaining to cryobiology, its applications in biomedicine and the principles of quality assurance. Moreover students will develop an ability to evaluate the roles, benefits and limitations of cryo-banked materials, potential for genetic resource banks and gain an appreciation of the important role of cryopreservation in assisted reproduction.
On successful completion of the MSc Cryobiology (Cryopreservation and Conservation) students will be equipped to undertake work in areas such as tissue and organ transplants, veterinary science, agriculture and aquaculture, assisted reproduction, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and the conservation of endangered species.

UK judgement

It is a great victory for highly skilled Indian workers of UK

UK Government’s frequent alterations in the terms and conditions pertaining to highly skilled Indian workers in the United Kingdom has temporarily affected thousands of doctors, engineers and technocrats. But the recent high court judgment is really a landmark victory for half a lakh highly skilled Indian workers in UK. High court categorically ruled that it was not open to the government to alter the terms and conditions of highly skilled Indian workers in UK. Judgment added that the old scheme constituted an integrated programme. Recent amendment made by the Government to reappear for the examination under the new scheme stands cancelled.

During the last two years highly skilled Indian workers in UK have been under threat due to frequent changes in the working norms, immigration and visa regulations. It mainly affected doctors and engineers of non-European countries. After the Glasgow incident series of changes have been made even in the student visa itself. Moreover regulation to fill the existing vacancies only after ensuring that Europeans are not available drastically affected technocrats from non-European countries.

Prospects for education and Career abroad

Prospects for Education and Career abroad

Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

Recently spectacular growth has been witnessing in the overseas education sector in the country. In the recently held UK education fair at Kochi, more than 3000 prospective students visited the exhibition for study UK programmes. When compared to previous year the turnover was more than 150 percent. This clearly indicates the interest of students from the state. Global village concept is acquiring momentum in this sector. Overseas education market has changed beyond belief. Large number of universities and schools from different countries are considering India as a potential recruitment center. Apart from UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Switzerland, even countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, China and Italy started recruiting students from the country.
Even though the basic objective of education is to attain knowledge, develop skills and attitudinal changes, the main goal is to acquire a better job. Overseas education has already been considered as the pre requisite for getting better career. Selecting the right place or right country for study abroad is really a difficult task. Some of the key questions like where should I go? Which course is best for me? How do I process every thing? Often confront every aspirant.

Overseas education has got so many advantages. Academic excellence, Global edge in faculty and students, better facilities, resources and faculty, variety of options, flexible curricula, cutting edge technology, hands on training, better support services for international students, financial assistance like scholarship, assistant ship, fellowship, par time jobs, etc, challenging research opportunities and adaptation to different social environment are some of the major advantages.

Good academic merit, individual capabilities including analytical skills, suitability to course and college and proficiency in English language need more consideration before you proceed for overseas education.

In the global education sector, education in United States is rather cheaper when compared United Kingdom. This is the major attraction for US education. United states education foundation in India is promoting US education for Indian students. Students from developing countries find it very difficult to meet the increasing educational expenses in UK. So many UK universities are offering one year condensed postgraduate programmes including one-year MBA programmes.

Realizing the increasing cost of UK education, many UK universities are seriously thinking of implementing more financial aid projects for Indian students. Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University Dr. Alison Richard in her recent visit to India revealed that since major American Universities are providing financial assistance to Students, Cambridge is seriously thinking of more financial aid schemes for students in the coming Eight hundredth anniversary of the University. Cambridge University is planning to implement more fund raising programmes so that more students can be given financial assistance to pursue education in UK.
Australia is emerging as one of the popular destinations for overseas students to pursue their higher studies. Annually more than two lakh international students choose to study in Australian institutions. Recently Australia is attracting more Indian students for their study abroad. Australia one of the largest islands in the world has six states and two territories. New south Wales, Victoria, Queens land, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Cost of living and tuition fee in Australia is comparatively cheaper than in UK or USA. Overseas students can do part time work in Australia. Australian universities select students based on their performance in the qualifying examination.

Engineering and Management courses abroad

Recently in the rapidly changing world, engineering courses are emerging as major areas of technological advancement. In the global education scenario this trend is more pronounced. United states, UK and Canada are the major choices for Indian students to pursue Engineering courses abroad. Being the four-year graduate programme, engineering students can directly apply for postgraduate programmes abroad. Now a days more engineering graduates are interested to join for the management programmes in the business schools abroad.
While searching for engineering courses abroad, identify a research topic, which is most suited to the student. Job opportunities after completing the study programme, chances of getting financial aid/funding have to be assessed. Never believe the promises of overseas education facilitating agencies alone.

Master of Business Administration has acquired the status of one of the world’s most popular postgraduate management programmes. Among international students in order to augment their business and marketing skills, this programme is getting more popularity now a days. UK is the undisputed leader in MBA programme in Europe and the World leader in terms of innovation in MBA provision.

Why more students are interested in taking MBA from UK? The reason is simple. Duration of the course is only one year. More number of accredited schools are in UK. In USA duration of the course is nearly 18 months. So educational cost for MBA programme in UK is much cheaper than USA. UK institutions excel in reputation, best faculty and specialization.
MBA can be classic General MBA or a specialist qualification in the respective field. It can be completed either via full time or distance learning programme. General MBA include specialization in marketing management, financial management, computer management and Human resource management. Some of the specialization programmes include Engineering management, Agri business, Retail management, Supply chain management, Automotive management, Sports management, Production management, Insurance management, Transport management, and Telecommunication management.



Pre-requisites for foreign education

While selecting a course, priority should be given to a course best suited to student’s needs. It should take in to account potential for higher studies and research.
Criteria for selection in foreign universities include Undergraduate institute last studied, Score in the qualifying examinations like GRE, TOEFL/IELTS, GMAT, etc, Overall grade point average-OGPA, Percentage, class/ rank, Work experience, Research aptitude, Skills in programming and project work, Statement of purpose, Letters of recommendation, Extracurricular activities, Communication skills, motivation, sincerity and leadership qualities and integrity are

Statement of purpose is one of the essential components of application procedures for getting admission. It consists of students personal details, professional interest, goals, factors related to the career path and future plans. It must reflect the confidence, motivation and determination of the student. Give more emphasis to your area of interest, aspirations and career goals.
Letters of recommendation is one of the important application components. Based on this overseas universities will assess the credentials of the student. Letters of recommendation must be obtained from a resource person/ faculty members who can positively judge the student and his career plans.

Education abroad need one year planning

Preparation for overseas education needs strategic planning and evaluation. Then only easy access to foreign universities will materialize. Minimum one-year preparatory time is needed for fulfilling the envisaged goals. In European, American and Canadian universities, academic year will start from October onwards. Even though some of the universities admit students for the winter semester during February, Indian students prefer to join during the pleasant spring season.

Calendar of activities-

During September, the student has to decide the area in which he is interested to pursue the higher studies and collect information about the universities. Shortlist his choices. Register and apply for qualifying examination and admission requirements like TOEFL/IELTS, GRE, GMAT, CGFNS, etc. Check the websites of the selected universities and download the application form during October. Collect detailed information including list of relevant dead lines.
During November after carefully reading the instructions, fill up the application form and send it via e-mail to the Professor of the concerned department. Application form must be complete in all aspects. It must be send along with Structured curriculum vitae and Statement of purpose. Contact the universities for ensuring the receipt of the filled in application form during December. Collect details about the financial aids like Scholarships/Fellowships, etc during January and the dead lines are mostly 31st January. During February follow up the application and reply promptly. Never send a reply without considering the envisaged objectives. Some times you will get admission during February itself.
From March to June ensure whether the qualifying examination scores have reached the universities of your choice. Patiently wait for the admission decision from the respective universities. You can contact the Indian students of your university of choice and try to apply for residence near the campus. Admission offer will reach you during June- July months. During that period you can arrange the needed documents for visa interview and travel plans. Complete the visa formalities including interview during August it self. During September you can leave the country for foreign education.

Green signal for foreign universities

American universities are more interested to recruit Indian students for higher education. Study conducted by National Knowledge Commission revealed that among Indians aged 18-24 only 7% enter a university. If it can be doubled, the potential is enormous. Regarding the increased cost of education abroad, US universities are interested to start campuses in India so that Indian students will get foreign degree at lesser cost. Currently more than 1.6 lakh Indian students are studying and spending about 4 Billion US dollars abroad. Among international students in USA, India and china are in the forefront. Instead of starting satellite campuses in India, American universities are more interested to join with the Indian educational institutions. Recently as part of global educational initiative, Government of India has decided to permit foreign accredited educational institutions to start campuses in India. This will be really a boom for poor Indian meritorious students and researchers who cannot study abroad due to unaffordable expenses.
Emerging trends in job market

Impact of Globalization and quantum jump in information and communication technologies (ICT) has paved the way for emerging prospective courses with immense job potential. Recent findings reveal that this trend is gradually replacing the traditional sector. Study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) revealed that information technology (IT), IT enabled sectors (ITeS), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO), Aviation, Hospitality, Retail, Entertainment and Brokerages are some of the prospective areas. Study on ‘job opportunities in the emerging sectors’, named as ASSOCHAM Business Barometer (ABB) revealed that IT and ITeS would be the most potential areas in the years to come. The study predicted that by 2010 IT &ITeS and BPO sectors require 50 lakh and 23 lakh professionals respectively. KPO and LPO are emerging as the most lucrative areas with a predicted career potential of 2.5 lakh and 79000 each by 2010. Indian Aviation industry has recorded an annual growth rate of around 25 percent. By 2010 Aviation and Retail sectors can create around one lakh and 20 lakh job opportunities respectively. The study assessed the potential in animation and entertainment sectors.
The ASSOCHAM study is an eye opener for the students and parents. Considering the importance of prospective areas, institutions have to start courses, which cater the need for potential work force in India. Now a days more professionals are interested to study management courses from reputed business schools abroad. Retail management, transport management, agri-business, Hospitality management, computer management, supply chain management, aviation management, logistics and production management are some of the specialization areas in business schools. Many students are interested to take MBA from UK than USA. In UK they can complete MBA programme in one year. Moreover they can do part time work during their study period. Communication skill and English proficiency are the main criteria for getting better positions in BPO sectors. Technocrats and professionals can work in the KPO sector. LPO is one of the lucrative areas for law graduates.
Recent study conducted by one of the leading HRD advisors in the country Mafoi revealed that during 2008, ten lakh new jobs would be created in the country. It will be in the areas of Hotel and Hospitality management, Health sector educational training and career consultancy. Their estimates revealed that 4.26 lakh jobs would be created in the hotel and hospitality sector in the country. 2.95 lakh and 1.66 lakh jobs will be created in the health and educational training & career consultancy respectively in the country. By 2011 around 40 international hotels will come up in the country.
KPMG studies revealed that KPO i.e., Knowledge process outsourcing in financial services is expected to be worth 5 billion US dollars by 2010. It may be due to the success in off shoring business operations. India is expected to remain a preferred location for KPO activity in future. Lack of talent pool, requirement of high-level control, confidentiality and high-level control and enhanced risk management are some of the limitations in this sector. Process complexities, higher billing rates and skilled resource requirements differentiate KPO from BPO.

Prospects for Conservation research abroad

Prospects for Conservation research abroad

Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan

Biodiversity is the key in maintaining life. Rapidly growing human population place extraordinary pressures on ecosystems like large-scale environmental destruction, habitat conservation, habitat fragmentation and pollution. This lead to emergence of conservation biology, an assemblage of scientific disciplines that are focused on sustaining biodiversity through co-operative synthesis of ideas, information and approaches. Conservation biology is the emerging branch of biology having immense research and career potential in the world. Recently conservation of flora and fauna has been picking up momentum in the country.


Developed countries are giving more importance to research on Conservation biology. There is immense potential for biology students to do conservation research abroad. Postgraduates in Zoology and Botany can do MS and PhD from USA and UK. They can start preparing for overseas education during their postgraduate study period itself. Students are required to complete TOEFL and GRE for getting admission in American universities. They can also join for one year MS programme from UK after completing IELTS with a score of minimum 6.5. ‘Extinction is forever. But for endangered, we can do some thing’ is the motto of some of the American universities having conservation research projects.


The concept of genome resource banks is a not new. Already biomaterials from crops and livestock are stored systematically, a development driven largely by economics and by the desire to ensure secure food sources. Large scale organized repositories of germplasm are more common for plants than for animals, since it is easier to store plant than animal germ plasm. Livestock sector has been benefited from large-scale sperm and embryo cryo preservation for the purpose of improving meat and milk production. Moreover a few programmmes bank biomaterials from animal models used in biomedical research to protect the long-term availability of standard genotypes of mice, rats, hamsters, rabbits, cats and dogs ensuring that researchers are working with uniform animal models which will give repeatable results.

Transgenic technology i.e., the ability to incorporate novel genes in to injected embryos has also resulted in the production of thousands of new animal models in the world. Although this technology has hastened research opportunities, the byproduct is a proliferation of animal colonies that require expensive housing and care. Cryo preservation of sperm and embryos are potentially valuable in the future.

The usefulness of banked germ plasm and embryos from humans, livestock and laboratory animals depends on assisted reproduction procedures like artificial insemination, embryo transfer and invitro fertilization. These procedures are sometimes enhanced by other techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in which an individual sperm cell is microinjected into an oocyte to create an embryo. Because a single semen sample often contains millions of sperm, this sample has almost unlimited fertilization potential.