Student Union Elections!

Elections always bring great energy and a healthy competitive spirit to the campus. As per the university directions, this year's elections were held in parliamentary mode on October 16, 2026.

Just like previous years, student representatives were elected in their classrooms during the morning session, followed by the executive committee elections in the afternoon.

Congratulations to Ashwin Radhakrishnan (S7 CSE), our newly elected Chairman, and the complete executive committee:

General Secretary: Adil Suhail (S5 CSE)

Arts Club Secretary: Shan Ahmed Shamseer (S7 CE)

Magazine Editor: Roshit R Nath (S5 ME)

UUC: Adwaith Mohan (S5 ME) & Krishnadev L (S5 CSE)

Women Representatives: Anjima K Baiju (S5 EIE) & Acty Theres Pauly (S7 CSD)

UG Degree Representative (Civil): Gautham Shankar N V (S5 CE)

UG Degree Representative (EIE): Muhammed Razal (S3 EIE)

PG Degree Representative (CE - SECM): Arjun Ramesh (S1 SECM)

PG Degree Representative (CS - AIDS): Akhil R Krishnan (S1 AIDS)

PG Degree Representative (MCA): Ananda Krishna K V (S1 MCA)

PG Degree Representative (IMCA): Sara Boban (S1 IMCA)

PG Degree Representative (MBA): Archana Siby (S1 MBA)

A special congratulations goes to Shan from our  department on being elected as the Arts Club Secretary.

Wishing the new team a successful year ahead!

Prarambh’26

Our Department celebrated Prarambh’26, the investiture ceremony marking the induction of office bearers of various professional society student chapters on 15th October 2026. 

The event symbolised a new beginning, celebrating leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and the spirit of student engagement. The student chapter of Indian Geotechnical Society was inaugurated on the day by Dr. Jimmy Thomas, Design Consultant, Titan Environmental Containment, Canada and Vice Chairman, IGS Kochi Chapter. The event was also graced by the presence of Dr. A V S Chakravarti, Chief Engineering Manager, M/S CECON Pvt. Ltd. and Honorable Secretary, IGS Kerala Chapter.

The ceremony formally recognised the newly appointed office bearers, who will lead the activities of their respective professional societies and encourage technical learning, professional development, and collaboration among students during the academic year  2026-2027. Prizes were also distributed to the winners of the competitions hosted by the student chapters during this academic year. 

Following the investiture ceremony, the programme transformed into a lively celebration of student talent. Students showcased their talents through a variety of performances, filling the atmosphere with enthusiasm, creativity, and excitement. 

The event concluded with a vibrant DJ session, providing students with an opportunity to unwind, connect, and celebrate together.

Prarambh’26 was more than an investiture ceremony; it was a celebration of leadership, talent, and togetherness. The event marked the beginning of a promising new chapter for the professional society student chapters and strengthened the sense of unity and belonging within the Civil Engineering department.

With new leaders ready to take charge and students united in their enthusiasm, Prarambh’26 set the stage for a year filled with meaningful initiatives, memorable experiences, and collective achievements.

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Rinu J Achison, AP CE

Talk on Real-Time Visualisation Using VR

Gone are the days when civil engineering was limited to two-dimensional blueprints and traditional site visits. Today, technology allows us to walk through a building before the foundation is even laid. On October 7, 2026, our department students' association Association of Civil Engineering (ACE) and the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) jointly hosted an engaging tech talk titled "Local & Global Projects with Real-Time Visualisation Using Virtual Reality". 

Led by Design Engineer Rohith Pai and BIM Engineer Abhishek P S from SolidCAD, the afternoon session at DB308 offered students a firsthand look at the digital tools transforming modern infrastructure. Throughout the session, the speakers guided the students through the real-world journey of a construction project, from initial planning and project scheduling to final site execution. They broke down the practicalities of local Municipal Building Rules and offered a fascinating comparison between managing local projects and navigating the vast scale of international ones. A major focus of the afternoon was the growing scope of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Rather than viewing it as just another piece of software, students learned how BIM brings every phase of civil engineering together, helping engineers spot design clashes early, manage timelines efficiently, and open doors to global career opportunities.   

The true highlight of the talk was seeing Virtual Reality (VR) in action through a live demonstration. Watching how real-time visualization turns complex engineering models into immersive, walkable spaces sparked a lot of curiosity across the room. The session was a great reminder of how fast the construction industry is evolving and why staying updated with these technological advancements is essential as we prepare to step into the field as future civil engineers.

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Sreerath S, AP CE

Balloon Tower Competition

The BAI student chapter of our department hosted an exciting balloon tower building competition on 12th October 2026. The goal of the event was simple: build the tallest tower possible using only inflated balloons.

The event saw great participation from the students. A total of 22 teams entered the challenge, with four members in each team. Every team received exactly 40 balloons to construct their design.

The rules for the competition were simple. The team with the highest tower would win. If two towers had the exact same height, the tie-breaker rule came into play. In that case, the team that used fewer balloons would take the prize.

All the groups showed excellent teamwork and building skills. In the end, a team from S3 Mech won first place. They successfully built a tower that measured a very impressive 267 centimetres tall.

The event was a great success. Congratulations to the S3 Mech team and to everyone who participated!

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Dr. Unnikrishnan S, AP CE

Visit to Peechi Dam

Our department arranged a one day visit to Peechi Dam, Thrissur for the fifth semester B.Tech students on 14 Sep 2026. The visit was arranged to give them a practical exposure to the concepts they learnt as a part of the course "Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering" . 

The visit was highly informative with two overseers explaining the details of the dam. While we were there, the students got an opportunity to see an Ogee spillway and one shutter was open as the water level in the reservoir was higher than the Full supply level of 77m. The arrangements on the downstream for safe passage of water was also explained.

Student also got the opportunity to enter the infiltration gallery where sensors were installed to monitor the discharge, expansion of joints and uplift pressure. The walk through the gallery was an experience in itself with the water seeping in from the walls and a brief stint with the bats living in it.

Overall it was a great experience for the students and the faculty members to understand the working of the dam and the protocols followed to ensure its strength, stability and safety providing an opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world engineering practices.

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Rinu J Achison, AP CE

What’s Wrong with This Building ? Challenge

The Indian Concrete Institute (ICI) Student Chapter of our department conducted “What’s Wrong with This Building? - A Construction Defect Spotting Challenge” on 7 October 2026. The activity aimed to enhance students’ practical understanding of construction defects, their causes, and preventive measures.

The challenge encouraged students to look beyond the appearance of buildings and think critically about the problems that affect their safety, durability, and serviceability. Participants were presented with real-life photographs of construction defects, including cracks, concrete deterioration, dampness, and plaster damage.

Teams were required to identify the defects, analyse their possible causes, and suggest appropriate preventive measures. They then presented their observations in short presentations, demonstrating their technical knowledge, analytical skills, and ability to propose practical engineering solutions.

Allen D Paliakkara and Anna Tomy of S3 CEA emerged as the winners of the competition. Their achievement reflects their keen observation skills, understanding of construction defects, and ability to apply civil engineering concepts to real-world situations.

The event provided an engaging learning experience by connecting classroom knowledge with practical construction scenarios. It also highlighted the importance of quality control, proper construction practices, regular inspection, and timely maintenance in ensuring the safety and longevity of buildings.

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Rinu J Achison, AP, CE

Latex or Word?

MS Word or LaTeX?

This is probably one question every faculty project coordinator faces before finalizing the report template for final-year seminars and projects. And, we all know how the discussion goes!

There are two schools of thought. One strongly supports MS Word for its simplicity and ease of use. The other stands firmly with LaTeX for its professional formatting and ability to handle technical documents. Both sides have their arguments, and neither is easily convinced!

So, this time, we decided to try something different. Instead of choosing one over the other, we decided to introduce our students to both. We are organised hands-on sessions to help them understand how each tool works and what it offers.

And here comes the interesting part! For A Batch, it's MS Word. For B Batch, it's LaTeX!

Will the students prefer the familiarity of Word or the structured approach of LaTeX? Will one batch find report preparation easier than the other? Or will both discover that every tool has its own strengths?

After all, it's not about proving which tool is better. It's about helping students explore, learn, and make informed choices.

And perhaps, along the way, we faculty members might learn something too!

Let the Word vs LaTeX experiment begin!

Volleyball titles!

Thrilling news from the Volley ball courts! 

Our college Volleyball teams delivered spectacular performances at the KTU D-Zone Volleyball matches yesterday 12 October 2026. The Men’s Volleyball team clinched the First Position, claiming the championship title and the Women’s Volleyball team secured the Runner-Up position. 

The department is proud of our student representation on both of these teams. These are our department star players:

Men’s Team (Champions): Ajul Aji (S3), Ashmith V (S3), Agnivesh (S3) & Ashwin Joseph (S3)

Women’s Team (Runners-Up): Meenakshi Theertha (S3), Sangeetha K S (S3) & Adheena Vinod (S1)

Kudos to both teams for bringing home the glory!

IWWA Kochi Centre Inauguration

Dr. Megha, Faculty member and a few students from our department attended the Inauguration of Indian Water Works Association (IWWA), Kochi Centre which was held on 10 October 2026 at Aban Hall, IEI Bhavan, Kochi. 

The Indian Water Works Association is a voluntary, non-profit professional organisation founded in 1968 and headquartered in Mumbai that promotes the advancement of science, technology, and management in the water supply and wastewater treatment sectors across India. 

The programme marked an important milestone in bringing together water professionals, academicians, engineers and researchers to promote knowledge sharing, technological innovation and sustainable water management. The inaugural session was graced by Er. Basanta Kumar Parida, Hon. General Secretary of IWWA, as the Chief Guest, with Prof. (Dr.) E. J. James, former Vice Chancellor of Karunya University and former Executive Director of CWRDM, and Prof. (Dr.) Ratish Menon, Member Secretary of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, as Guests of Honour. 

The programme featured discussions on challenges in urban water supply systems in India and contemporary issues concerning surface water quality. Dignitaries representing various IWWA centres, including Kozhikode and Indore, along with other professional bodies, attended the event, highlighting the association’s commitment to collaboration and sustainable development in the water sector. 

The release of the inaugural newsletter of IWWA Kochi Centre further established a platform for sharing technical insights, research contributions and professional experiences. The participation provided students with a valuable opportunity to gain insights into current water management challenges, interact with professionals and appreciate the importance of sustainable water supply and sanitation practices.

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Dr. Megha Mohan, AP CE

Thank you Neena!

The Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS) Student Chapter of our Department hosted  

Dr. Neena M. Gopi, proud FISAT alumna from the 2014-18 B.Tech batch on 8 October 2026.

Dr. Neena gave an insightful talk session on “Soil Degradation: A Slow-Onset Disaster.” Dr. Neena specializes in geospatial analysis, optical and microwave remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and satellite-based assessment of natural resources. 

Through her expertise, the session explored the causes and consequences of soil degradation and the role of modern Earth observation technologies in monitoring soil health and addressing environmental challenges.

According to her, soil degradation is a major environmental concern that affects agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and the sustainable use of natural resources. It can occur through physical processes such as soil erosion and compaction, as well as chemical processes such as soil salinity and contamination. Remote sensing technologies provide valuable tools for identifying and monitoring these changes over large geographical areas.

The session highlighted the importance of satellite-based observations and field measurements in environmental studies. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, such as Sentinel-1, and hyperspectral satellites, such as PRISMA, provide different types of information that help researchers understand environmental conditions. Field measurements are equally important because they help validate satellite-based observations and improve the reliability of remote sensing studies.

The talk offered valuable insights into how geospatial technologies can support soil assessment, environmental monitoring, and sustainable resource management. It also emphasised the importance of research and technological innovation in tackling the growing challenge of soil degradation. Overall, the session was an informative learning experience for students, encouraging them to understand the importance of soil conservation and explore the applications of remote sensing in civil and environmental engineering.

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Tharuni Paul Malayil, S5 CEB

P V Mathew Scholarship

Congratulations to Nandana Sunil, S7 CE for being selected for the P V Mathew Memorial Scholarship for this year from our department. 

Nanda received the award from Mr. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, MLA, Muvattupuzha Constituency who was the guest of honour for the Institution Day Celebrations held on Friday 25 Sep 2026.

 

Pre-INQUA 2027

National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) organised a workshop on “Quaternary Earth System Processes and Geohazards in Southern India” titled Pre-INQUA 2027 during 28–29 September 2026.

The workshop brought together researchers, academicians and professionals working in the areas of Quaternary earth processes, geohazards and related earth science disciplines. The programme provided an excellent platform for sharing recent research findings and facilitating academic interactions among researchers from different institutions.

Ms. Panjami K, Assistant Professor, from our department participated in the workshop through an oral presentation on soil piping, focusing on its geophysical characterisation and assessment using machine learning and risk assessment approaches. 

Participation in such research-oriented workshops provides valuable opportunities for faculty members to exchange ideas, receive expert feedback and explore possibilities for future academic and research collaborations.

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Panjami K, AP CE