Digital Tools and Simulations: Enhancing Learning in M Tech in Civil Engineering

The 21st century saw the advent of several Engineering Institutions in the Higher Education sector as the Government was eager to increase the Gross Enrollment ratio as it was hovering around an abysmally low figure of around 20%. The only way to do that was to open the Higher Educational Sector to the Private players. A change in the policy was needed to align with the industry requirements, and there was also a need to modify the curriculum and incorporate topics like Digital tools and simulation in the syllabus of the postgraduate programmes offered by Universities and Colleges. 

The NorthCap University was quick to realise this and with inputs from the industry, included Simulation and Digital tools as part of the learning process. The University lost no time in making these tools available to the Civil Engineering Department. This programme is offered by the Civil Engineering Department which is a part of the Multidisciplinary Department at NCU. To support engineering education, various commercial simulation software tools, simulators such as mathematical application packages, electronic CAD tools, Learning Management Systems, and multimedia tools are also all available.    

It soon became popular and found much application in various fields after the success of the simulation techniques. NCU, Integration of digital tools and simulation stands out in the field of  M Tech Civil Engineering. Civil Engineering students, with the help of these tools, can replicate real-world scenarios in a controlled environment. Students engage in virtual experiments giving them hands-on experience and a deep understanding of theoretical concepts and problem-solving skills.

Why Simulation as part of Syllabus Is Important 

Simulation is a crucial tool in civil engineering because it allows engineers to test and validate products, buildings, and systems early in the development process. Simulation models can help engineers make informed decisions and gain a deeper understanding of how a building will perform and how design changes will impact it. Simulation can help identify potential failures before construction, detect failures early, and ensure that a structure won’t require costly maintenance.

Recent development of construction activities in India gives a boost to the civil engineering education throughout the country. Various mega projects are coming such as metros in major cities across India, expressways and lane expansion of existing highways in many states and new proposed smart cities which generate demand for expert civil engineers. The World Bank, foreign banks and Indian banks are funding these projects in association with central and state governments. Governments are interested to speed up these projects and wind it up as quickly as possible. To speed up these simulation tools are needed which result it to be essentially included in undergraduate and postgraduate (specialisation in civil engineering related fields) curriculum of civil engineering education in India.

Today civil engineers are experiencing a new level of expectation from their clients and investors in the design, build and management process which has to be satisfied comprehensively. Simulation helps to understand the implications of designs and ideas before the construction takes place alongside with the structural design meeting the required codes and materials. Simulation helps to gain insight during planning, design and construction stages and predict the structural behaviour to optimise design in early design stages and engineering processes.  So learning this at the Higher education level not only increases your skill set but also puts you ahead of the learning curve in your career. 

Digital Tools as Inseparable Part of Civil Engineering Syllabus 

Digital tools with the help of software have made civil engineering work light and time-saving. Formerly we used to design a new concept then to know its result we have to test on an actual model in the real world and accordingly, we revise and analyse our design and test it again. Tests done were destructive. But now we simulate our design on the software and alteration and transformation are done with ease. There are many digital tools such as STAAD Pro, used for structural analysis design, MATLAB used for numerical computations and data analysis, and ANSYS for finite element analysis for structural analysis and fluid dynamics which help in digitising engineering works. Various simulation works in civil engineering with the help of digital prototyping are as follows : 

• For making the drawing of our structure with exact dimensions and elevation of the parts of the structure along with positions of doors, windows, ducts and other openings.
• It helps us to work according to the bye laws. 
• It easily helps us to know the length, breadth and area of the structure and simply alter the drawing to get our required dimension and objective.
• Previously we had to do it manually several times to get our desired results and a lot of calculation and drawing work had to be done which made it very hectic and time-consuming. Software used – Auto Cad                                                                                           

Today visualisation and graphics have made a huge impact on clients and customers so to have photorealistic 3D visualisation and animation of inside and outside of the structure we use simulation software. It helps us a lot in interior design with all the small details such as tables, chairs, sofas, carpets, wardrobes, television sets, etc. A prototype with the help of a simulation tool is shown to the client for understanding and helps the Engineer build his reputation and career. Software used- Primavera

Conclusion 

Due to rapid development in infrastructure in Road and Rail buildings, huge sporting complexes, and construction activities especially in a place like Gurgaon, the Civil Engineering Program at the postgraduate level has become extremely demanding. To cater to this demand and give working individuals opportunities without losing their jobs, The NorthCap University, Gurgaon offers a postgraduate degree in Civil Engineering. The Department uses the simulative ( open source and licence ) in different labs. With the help of these tools, analysis work has gotten better and easier. NCU has embraced these tools to provide a wholesome and enriching learning experience to the students and make them successful in their careers.