THREE students of Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Raipur successfully presented research papers in Indian Building Congress Mid Term Session and National Seminar on ‘Innovations in Built Environment’ held at Hyderabad. The research papers were presented under the guidance of Professor Dr Debashis Sanyal. Simran Shaikh, a tenth-semester student of B Arch at the Department of Architecture and Planning presented her research titled ‘Deployable Shelters as a Scalable Solution for Post-Disaster Mass Housing’.

 

Her study addresses the growing need for sustainable, dignified and quickly deployable housing in the wake of natural disasters. Highlighting the limitations of conventional relief shelters, she proposed the use of deployable shelters like lightweight, modular structures that can be compactly transported and rapidly assembled. Simran’s prototype integrates origami-inspired accordion folding mechanism making them expandable, structurally sound, and ideal for mass deployment. Similarly, Sristi Tokdar also student of B.Arch 10th semester, presented her research on ‘Mass housing Re-imagined: Harnessing Technology for Efficient Solutions’.

 

Her study explores the use of cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotic construction and 3D Printing to revolutionise mass housing. She highlighted how AI tools can optimise design and reduce construction errors, while robotics can automate building processes, ensuring speed and safety. 3D Printing, she noted, enables the creation of cost-effective, customisable homes with minimal material waste. She also emphasised the role of BIM, prefabrication, and IoT-based energy systems in creating smart, sustainable, and scalable housing models for the future. Alankar Jharia, a PhD scholar presented his research on ‘Cultural Sustainability in Built Environment: Lessons from Gond Houses in Mandla (MP)’. He is presently researching on role of building envelope on thermal comfort of traditional and contemporary Gond houses. His research highlights climate-responsive materials like mud and bamboo, passive cooling techniques and hybrid designs merging traditional Gond architecture with modern sustainability for eco-friendly, culturally rooted housing solutions.