The Department recently hosted the highly successful Sixth International Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management (SECON’25), held from June 4 to June 6, 2025. This flagship event, conducted in a hybrid mode to ensure greater accessibility and global engagement, served as a crucial platform for innovative research, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among civil engineering professionals, academics, and students worldwide.
At the heart of SECON’25 was its forward-thinking theme: “Deconstruction: The Key to Unlocking Circular Universe in Civil Engineering”. This theme underscored the vital role of deconstruction - the careful disassembly and reuse of building components - in achieving a circular economy within the built environment. The "Civil Engineering’s Circular Universe" paradigm aims to design out waste, keep materials in use, and regenerate natural systems, moving away from traditional linear practices to conserve resources, reduce carbon emissions, and minimise environmental impact.
A major highlight of SECON’25 was the commitment to knowledge dissemination, with selected high-quality papers set for publication in two volumes of the Scopus-indexed Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering series by Springer Nature. Springer Nature generously covered all publication-related expenses, ensuring free and wide access to impactful research outputs.
The inauguration of SECON’25 was held with great solemnity and enthusiasm at the MBA Seminar Hall, FISAT, commencing at 9:30 AM. The ceremony began with a serene prayer led by student volunteers. Dr. Kavitha P. E., Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at FISAT, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the department's commitment to academic excellence. This was followed by the presidential address from Mr. Shimith P. R., Chairman of the Governing Body, FISAT, who commended the department for hosting international conferences of high academic calibre. Dr. Jacob Thomas V, Principal of FISAT, then gave the principal's address, praising the meticulous efforts of the organising team. Dr. Jiji Antony, the General Convenor, provided an insightful briefing on the evolution of the conference, detailing its origins and growing global footprint. The central theme of SECON’25, “Deconstruction: The Key to Unlocking Circular Universe in Civil Engineering,” was introduced by Mr. Sreerath S, Convenor, who elaborated on its rationale and connection to circular economy principles. A ceremonial lighting of the lamp symbolised knowledge and enlightenment, preceding the inaugural address. The highly anticipated inaugural address was delivered by Dr. Rahimi A. Rahman, Deputy Director of the Innovation and Commercialization Management Center and Associate Professor of Construction Project Management at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, who set the intellectual tone by contextualising the importance of the conference's theme on deconstruction and the circular economy. Dr. K. S. Anandh, Assistant Professor (Senior Grade) from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, delivered a guest address, reflecting on contemporary trends in structural engineering. Felicitations were offered by key management committee members and academic leadership, reaffirming institutional support and appreciation. The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Preethi M, Convenor of SECON’25, and the national anthem, before a tea break at 10:10 AM.Keynote sessions during the main conference delivered strategic insights into:
- "Leveraging BIM and Digital Twins for Deconstruction: Strategies for Preparation and Optimization" by Dr. Rahimi A. Rahman.
- "Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Hydrological Extremes" by Dr. Chithra N. R..
- "Subsurface Surprises Through Integrated Investigation for Structural Design" by Prof. P. Anbazhagan.
The conference proudly recognised outstanding contributions with two prestigious awards. The Abu Faiz Memorial Award for Best Paper in Sustainability was presented to Sarath M B and Kiran Babu A R for their paper, “Sustainable Practices on Metallic Foam Sandwich Panels in Steel Plate Shear Walls as a Part of Green Building”. Additionally, the Best Paper Award was given to Risath Athamlebbe and Dr. Rahimi A. Rahman for their pioneering research titled, “Challenges in Developing Digital Leadership Competencies for Entry-Level Positions: The Case of Construction Professionals”. The rigorous double-blind peer-review process ensured the highest academic standards, with 120 papers selected for presentation from 345 abstracts received globally.The conference also featured impactful pre-conference events, including the Website Spotlight (#SECON25JigSaw1.0) and a technical talk on "Engineering Seismology and Learning from Past Earthquakes" by AICTE Distinguished Professional Dr. Katta Venkataramana.
SECON’25 successfully fostered interdisciplinary engagement and advanced discussions on sustainability, digital innovation, and lifecycle optimisation in the built environment. As the Department of Civil Engineering at FISAT continues to build on this momentum, we look forward to nurturing future-ready civil engineers equipped to lead in a circular, sustainable world.
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Sreerath S, AP CE
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