Use of Agri-Waste in Production of Sustainable Construction Materials

 India generates 500 million tonnes of crop residue annually, according to

 the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Crop residue is typically used as fodder

 and fuel for domestic and industrial purposes. A surplus of 140 million tonnes, however,

 reportedly remains unattended, out of which 92 million tonnes is burnt each year

Burning crop residue causes severe environmental hazards such as

 greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, increased

 particulate matter and smog that lead to health hazards and loss of biodiversity.

Thus far, most government interventions have mainly focused on energy production 

out of crop residue, particularly biogas production. 

But development of bio-composites using agricultural residues such as 

rice husks, stalks of most cereal crops, and coconut fibers is also gaining attention.

CSIR-Advanced materials and processes research institute (AMPRI), Bhopal, 

has developed a technology for large-scale recycling of 

parali (paddy straw / stubble) and wheat straw for manufacturing 

hybrid green composite particle / fibreboards on a pilot scale

Indian architect Shriti Pandey recently used agro-waste to construct two COVID-19 care facilities in Bihar and Punjab. The facilities were  built of stubble (or leftover pieces of harvested grain) and are fire-proof, solar-powered  and “inherently thermally insulated. ” What’s more, zero water was used during the construction process — 60 percent  of which took place off-site. Pandey’s efforts reinforce the multifaceted benefit of  agro-waste construction; the project was cost-effective,  non-environmentally intrusive and stable in terms of its physical durability and longevity  — not to mention it aided areas with a rising demand for  hospital beds amidst the pandemic. In this case, a positive change  was made for constructors, environmentalists and community members alike . This has to be done by empowered government agencies

DRONE TECHNOLOGY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

 

Emerging digital technologies seem to enhance productivity while also decreasing the overall duration and expense of construction projects.  Drones have just lately been integrated into the construction industry, despite their extensive application in other sectors such as agriculture, public safety, military operations, scientific research, security surveillance, and mining.  Aerial vehicles have been employed in the construction sector for numerous functions, such as inspecting highways, bridges, roads, cell towers, high mast lighting, wind turbines, power transmission lines, building façades and roofs, surveying and mapping, construction oversight, wetland and environmental assessments, drainage and erosion analysis, traffic monitoring, and emergency services.   serve as a few examples.  Operators can disseminate photos to on-site personnel, internal business staff, and remote subcontractors   UAVs provide critical support and cost efficiency through comprehensive surveillance of remote and difficult-to-access locations.  From this viewpoint, UAVs provide optimal access, while 360° panoramas depict a real-time environment   This comparison can be expanded to include real-time recording, reporting, billing, verification, and planning, alongside construction scheduling and cost estimation  UAVs presently offer a significant degree of automation, enabling access to previously inaccessible areas while collecting vast amounts of data in a brief period.  This, however, is not their exclusive application.   Commercial drones are commonly utilized in the construction industry.  A vast array of drones is available on the market.  Drones can be classified into various categories, such as photography drones, aerial mapping drones, military drones, and surveillance drones, among others.  The optimal classification of drones, conversely, may be established according to aerial platforms.  There are four principal groups of drones classified by the type of aerial platform: fixed-wing drones, multi-rotor drones, single-rotor drones, and fixed-wing hybrid VTOL drones.