One day Seminar on "Nano Materials in Construction: The Future of Smart and Sustainable Buildings", KPR Institute Engineering and Technology, Autonomous Engineering Institution, Coimbatore, India

Day 1 : 22.04.2026 - Forenoon Session:

Inaugural Session & Keynote Address:

The programme commenced with the inaugural function, where Dr S. Shanmugam, Past Chairman, IEI

Coimbatore Local Centre, delivered the welcome and presidential address. This was followed by the

felicitation address by Dr R. Devi Priya, Principal, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology. An

overview of the seminar was presented by Dr K. S. Elango, Professor and Head, Department of Civil

Engineering. The chief guest was introduced by Dr V. Rajeshkumar, Associate Professor. The Chief

Guest, Dr T. Sakthivel, Manager – Technical Services, L&T Construction, delivered the inaugural

address emphasizing the importance of life cycle assessment and sustainable practices in construction.

The session concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Ms S. Bharani, Assistant Professor,

Department of Civil Engineering.

Invited Lecture - 1

The first invited lecture was delivered by Dr T. Sakthivel, Manager – Technical Services, L&T

Construction, on the topic “Integrating Life Cycle Assessment into Construction Decision-Making”.

He elaborated on the significance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in evaluating the environmental

impacts of construction materials and processes. He emphasized the need for integrating sustainability

metrics in project decision-making to achieve eco-friendly infrastructure. He also discussed aspects such

as carbon footprint analysis, resource optimization, and energy efficiency in construction practices.

Further, he highlighted real-time industry case studies demonstrating the practical application of LCA

tools in improving sustainability and long-term performance of infrastructure projects.

Invited Lecture - 2

The second invited lecture was delivered by Dr M. Ananthkumar, Assistant Professor, Department of

Civil Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, on the topic “Nano Materials as Enabling

Tools for Next Generation Civil Infrastructure”. He discussed the role of nanomaterials in enhancing

the strength, durability, and performance of construction materials. The session covered applications

such as nano-silica, nano-coatings, and smart materials in modern infrastructure. He further explained

the improvements in microstructure, bonding characteristics, and long-term durability achieved using

nanotechnology. The speaker also highlighted recent advancements, practical challenges, and the

potential of nanomaterials in developing sustainable and high-performance infrastructure systems.

Afternoon Session:

Technical Paper Presentation Session

The afternoon session featured technical paper presentations by students on innovative and application-

oriented topics. The following papers were presented:

1. “Solar-Powered Smart Irrigation System Using Soil Moisture Sensors” by Mohana Priya,

Aswath, and Sreenivas.

2. “Smart Parking System with Real-Time Slot Detection” by Kanishka, Kirubavathi, and Jagan.

3. “Real-Time Structural Health Monitoring Using IoT Sensors” by Bhavya, Kirubashreevardhini,

and Gokul Sanjay.

4. “Smart Waste Segregation and Monitoring System Using Sensors” by Kavya, Nethra, and

Abinaya.

The presentations highlighted the application of modern technologies such as IoT, sensors, and

automation in civil engineering domains. The session encouraged innovative thinking, practical problem-

solving, and interdisciplinary learning among the participants.

The program ended with a valedictory session and distribution of certificates to the participants.