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DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
IN This Issue
FROM THE MANAGING
DIRECTOR’S DESK
EDITOR’S NOTE
MILESTONES
TREE TRANSPLANTATION
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
WHY INVESTIGATE
BUILDING FAILURES?
GRANDMA’S CORNER
ADVANCED EXCEL
LESSONS
APPENDIX
Cover page photo: Habitat Illuminar (Tower 10), Bangalore
THE ISSUE OF DIMENSIONS IS FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
We have completed the assessment for the year 2017-18 (based on the
goal sheets) in consultation with
respective PICs and the
management team.
Subsequently we have arrived at the
increments and designation
changes for all the deserving
employees.
The assessment exercise revealed
many interesting facts:
• The organization is top
heavy.
• Has to be pruned to
achieve efficient structure.
• Knowledge possessed by
many engineers is not
commensurate with years of
experience.
• Many young engineers
possess good soft skills and hard skills.
• Engineers with good soft
skills and hard skills must be
recognized and rewarded.
To identify and recognize those who
have acquired or acquire soft skills,
we plan to introduce suitable
amendments to goal sheets to be
able to assess every individual.
I suggest that each one of you surf
the net, to know which are the most
desirable soft skills that are to be
acquired to be a successful
engineer.
One link to know what the desirable
soft skills are:
https://www.pmexamsmartnotes.com/11-essential-soft-skills-required-for-a-project-manager/
You may refer other web sites too to
find all the useful soft skills that can
help you in your career.
All the best.
During last month’s visit to Ramky 1
Galaxia, Hyderabad, when I
handed over to the SIC, KVVS
Ramakrishna, the prize check for the
Best Answer to the question asked in
the previous issue of Dimensions, he
explained the methodology recently
put into action to win the prize.
When all were free from their duties,
they would gather together and
discuss the question asked and one
who seemed to have given the best
answer was asked to send it. This is a
unique method devised by the SIC
and has proved to be successful.
The only drawback is explained in
this proverb: If you want to go fast,
go alone. If you want to go far, go
together. When time is critical, a
different method should be devised.
So, the best advice could be:
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 2
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
MILESTONES
Welcome to New Employees
Vishwanath
joined as Project Engineer at
Himatsingka, Hassan, Karnataka
Yadavalli
Subbarayudu joined as Site
Engineer at Jayabheri – The
Capital, Vijayawada
: Kiran R joined
as Asst. Project Engineer at RVIT,
Bangalore
Bharath Kumar E
joined as Sr. Project Engineer at B
& B Opulent Spire, B’lore
Kishore J joined
as Junior Engineer, Trainee at
ADPL, HO
Balasubramanya B N, rejoined as
Sr. Project Manager at ADPL,
presently posted to a site at Jigani,
Bangalore
Birthdays – November
SURESHA R,
Bangalore HO, 22nd November
PRASAD B R, RVIT,
28th November
New Projects
Science Gallery Project - Bangalore
News from the Sites
Jayabheri – The Capital
Shaik Abid Ali, Safety Officer at
Jayabheri – The Capital, gave a
Tool Box talk which was very
inspiring, the Workers clapping
spontaneously several times
during the speech.
Parsons Nutritionals
’Project Hercules’ the latest
project by ANPCPMC at Parsons
Nutritionals, Harohalli was recently
inaugurated (on the 26th October)
Ravi HS, SIC of ANPCPMC at
Parsons, being commended by
the Client
Certificate of commendation
A Sapling being planted to
commemorate the event
Next project has just commenced
CMR Ekya School
Sreekumar K G, SIC at CMR Ekya
School, expected to be
completed in this year
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 3
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
CMR Hostel
Shivraj H M, SIC of CMR Hostel, the
work to be handed over soon
Airaa School
R Vignesh (second from right), SIC
of Airaa School site interacting
with the PHE Consultant
Celebrations - Nemmadi Team
At the start of Lunch
Uday Prakash invited the
Nemmadi Team for lunch to
celebrate several records for
Home Inspections set in the
month of September 18.
ANP and Vani Prakash joined the
Nemmadi team for Lunch
Great effort in converting the
enquiries, good coordination,
full effort in inspecting; quickly
reviewing and reporting – all
these ensured the success.
4 inspections were
done in a single day,
10 inspections were
done in one week,
35 inspections
completed in one
month
Lunch at completing stages
Accolades
The third place in the BNI Top
Achievers of the Month for Aug
2018 has been bagged by R
Suresha of Nemmmadi.
Travel Experiences of ANP
A N Prakash had the
opportunity of meeting Rahul
Gandhi and Sanjeev Sanyal on the 13th of this month during his
travels.
Sanjeev Sanyal is the author of
the book ‘Land of the Seven
Rivers’. The book is about how
the country’s history was
shaped by its rivers, mountains
and cities.
Autograph by Sanjeev Sanyal
After their conversations during
the flight both Rahul Gandhi
and Sanjeev Sanyal
autographed the book ‘Land
of the Seven Rivers’ for ANP.
Autograph by Rahul Gandhi
Sanjeev Sanyal & his book ‘Land of
the Seven Rivers’
Supervision by Nemmadi
A residential building at
Kadugodi which was inspected periodically by
Nemmadi completed recently.
Residential building at Kadugodi
‘Gruhapravesham’ ceremony of
the residence in progress.
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 4
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
Know Your Colleague - Md. Imran Ahmed
Md. Imran Ahmed
The only son of his parents,
Imran was unlucky to lose his
Father when studying in the 6th
standard. Since then, he was
taken care of by his
grandmother and his younger
sister by other kin staying
nearby.
Relatives being a great source
of support both financially and
emotionally, Imran decided
that he too should do his duty
by studying and working as
hard as he could.
Imran did a course in Civil
Engineering, studying at his
hometown, Mysore. He was
the captain of the college
cricket team, himself being a
fast bowler (he claims that he
was quite slim in those days).
In the early days of his career it
was difficult to make ends
meet but he struggled to meet
his commitments. He worked
for Nityananda Associates -
Mysore for 2 years, M-Far
Constructions for a year,
Intellect PMC for 4 years and
Vasoo Builders for nearly 1
year.
It was at this time that B R
Prasad, Project Manager of
ANPCPMC at RV College site,
seeing his potential for hard
and sincere work (as he
slogged for the Contractor),
recommended him to
ANPCPMC. He was selected
and since then he has
completed two works
successfully at Mysore –
Mercedes Benz Showroom and
Shahi Exports. Imran is now set to start another job at
Srirangapatnam.
Md. Imran Ahmed as SIC today
It took ten years or so of
struggle to reach here during
which period he saw to it that
his sister completed her studies
(B.Ed), got employment and
was married, all the while
taking care of his mother.
Lubna & Imran
It was only then that he turned
attention to himself. Imran’s
wife Lubna Sidikka is a
homemaker, committed to
taking care of their daughter &
Mother-in-law. Lubna has
totally supported Imran, asking
him not to worry about the
home and concentrate on the
work. Imran considers this as a
great consolation without
which he could not have
succeeded in his career.
Lubna in Arabic means storax tree
from which a balsam is obtained,
used in perfumes & medicine.
They have a five year
daughter Iqra (‘Read”) who
was born prematurely and was
in the ICU for a month or so,
making him value her all the
more.
His hobbies are playing cricket,
football and shuttlecock with
family members and a
compulsory visit to the Gym
every day.
Iqra & Imran
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 5
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
TREE TRANSPLANTATION
by Achyutkumar A,
Nemmadi
Do we take a patient directly
from the ICU and send him
home by public transport? No,
that cannot be imagined at all
(unless, of course, the patient is
too poor and cannot afford to
pay, in which case that may
be his or her fate). In the usual
course of things, what is done
is that the person is sent to the
ward where he is given time to
recuperate. A special watch is
kept and all the vital signs are
closely monitored.
If such care is being given to
humans, why should a tree be
considered not worthy of such
treatment? Is it because it is a
dumb being? But, dumb or
not, all creatures have the
same physiological
characteristics and will not
survive a shock / stress it is
subjected to when
transplanted. But if you treat it
as a child that it is really is, then
you can save it while
transplanting. Read below
what you need to keep in
mind while going about the
work and you will have great
satisfaction that you have
saved a life.
Tree transplantation is useful
where construction of large
scale projects is to be done
without cutting of trees. Since
trees have established itself in
the soil for many years, it is not
possible to lift a tree overnight.
The method of transplantation
should be:
Initial Preparation
Root investigation, Diagnosis of
the tree and treating any
infected parts.
Soil Sampling, Testing & Site
Selection
The condition of the soil where
the tree has to be transplanted
is thoroughly checked &
necessary treatments done to
the soil after digging a pit.
There are large differences in
the environmental requirement
for each tree. The light
conditions, moisture, soil pH,
wind exposure & drainage
should be taken into
consideration. All plants
require space for root and
crown development, therefore
adequate distance from other
plants is necessary.
Root pruning and initiating
fresh root growth
It is needed to systematically
prune the roots in phases and
initiate fresh growth of roots
and make the plant adapt
itself gradually into a new routine whereby after cutting
the roots, the cut parts are
treated. It is a gradual process
and it takes about 3-4 months
to actually pack a tree into a
new system of living. Since
roots are cut in a phased
manner, labor is required all
through this period.
Tree packing, feeding and
monitoring for adaptation
This involves packing of trees,
timely feeding of the plant with
soluble fertilizers and watering.
There has to be regular
monitoring regarding fertilizer
schedules and the chemicals
like insecticides and pesticides.
Simultaneously expert staff is needed to sew packing
material properly and tightly
according to the root
requirement.
At IISc – Young tree packed for
moving to a new location
After we have packed the
plant in the same environment
it needs external support to
remain in the same position
without falling down because
of wind pressure. Scaffolding is
required for about one and a
half to three months
depending upon the condition
of the tree, by which time it will
be able to stand by itself.
Lifting of trees
A crane is required to lift the
packed tree and usually a
trolley or truck is used to
transport the tree depending
upon its size. An excavator is
used for digging pits. Pruning
may be required depending
upon the size of the root ball,
the plant canopy, health of
the plant, species transplanted
or because of overhead wires
and spread of the road while
transplantation of the tree.
IISc – Tree being transplanted
Mechanical Support & Pruning
Mechanical support for trees is
necessary when the tree is tall,
slow to recover & heavily
foliaged. The support provided
to a tree should be removed
as soon as the tree can stand
alone. It takes about 30 to 45
days for the transplanted tree
to grow new branches &
foliage.
Post Transplantation Treatments
Insect infested stems or those
infected with disease should be removed during
transplanting and treatment
given. Any broken stems
during transplanting should be
removed cautiously.
Sometimes additional pruning
may be required to balance
the leaf area with the reduced
size of root system.
Thanks to Akthar Saifudeen for
contributing photos of trees being
transplanted at IISc , Bangalore to
make way for the new project (for
which ANPCPMC are the PMC.
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Thejesha MM, HO
In the last issue of Dimensions, the MD
had advised that we should ‘Listen’,
which also means that we should
watch for nonverbal cues that could
indicate what the speaker isn’t saying.
What is not said is often as important as what is.
In the present article this point is
elaborated upon.
Let’s first look at a communication
interaction from the sender’s and
receiver’s perspective.
A Sender's Perspective
Here are some things that get in the
way from a sender’s perspective, and
why it’s so critical to listen for what’s
not being said:
Sometimes, we don’t have the words
or vocabulary, nor the emotional self-
awareness, to express what we’re
feeling and get our needs out there.
Other times, we are afraid to express
our true thoughts or feelings
In both cases, the result is that we
either avoid a topic, or communicate
in vague terms that might seem
irrelevant to a listener and get glossed
over.
A Listener's Perspective
From a listener’s perspective, what
gets in the way?
We talk too much and don’t listen
enough.
We listen to respond instead of
listening to understand.
We’re not listening for word clues or
noticing body language that signify
there’s additional information that is
yet to be uncovered.
How to Listen Better for What's Not
Being Said
What then can one do to better listen
for what’s not being said?
First, be curious & quiet and listen to
understand (don’t think about what
you will say next).
Listen for the underlying issue or
emotion (a fight about dirty clothes
on the floor isn’t about the clothes on
the floor; there’s a larger issue at
play).
Ask clarifying questions to ensure you
understand before moving on from a
topic. Listen and clarify. Repeat, as
needed.
Trust your gut if you’re feeling like
you’re not getting the complete story.
Notice any body language changes
(i.e. change in position, facial
movements), which may be a cue or
clue to ask more questions.
Listen for any emotional clues that
signal there might be more to the
story.
When we communicate effectively,
we understand where another person
is coming from. If you don’t
understand where someone else is
coming from (you don’t need to
agree with them), it means you need
to ask more questions.
Ask yourself in your head during a
pause in the conversation: “What’s
not being said?”
There’s not a formula to learn how
to listen for what’s not being said, and
it will vary based on the person,
relationship, or situation. That said, the
strategies above are worth
considering.
Peter Drucker said, “The most
important thing in communication is
hearing what isn’t said.”
That is a great quote. But exactly
HOW do you listen to what’s not said?
Here are 9 concepts for hearing what
isn’t said:
Avoid Personal Bias – We are all
human we have biases, opinions,
impressions, and judgments. The only
way to avoid personal bias is to first be aware of it. You can’t stop them from
impacting your interpretation if you
don’t know what they are.
Listen with all of your senses – Don’t
merely hear what is being said. Look
at the person’s body language and
notice if there are inconsistencies
between what is said and their non-
verbal messages.
Stop talking. Stop thinking about your
response – Focus on the person. Don’t
try to imagine how you will respond.
Give them your full attention. Don’t
interrupt or finish their sentences for
them. Let them talk at their own pace.
Let them pause and think.
Remove distractions – In order to fully
listen, put away anything that could
distract. Turn off your phone and turn
it over. Don’t doodle. Don’t stare out
the window. These behaviors send the
message that what they are saying is
not important.
Put yourself in their shoes – Try to
understand the situation from their
point of view.
Listen to the volume and tone – The
words may not convey what is most
important, but the volume and tone
could give you important clues to
what the person is reluctant to share.
Listen for the underlying emotion and
values – Deep listening goes past the
facts. Try to imagine what emotion is
beneath. Attempt to see what
personal values are being supported
or violated.
Be curious – Instead of having an
expectation about how the discussion
will go, be curious.
Ask clarifying questions – Once the
person is finished what they are
saying, ask questions to ensure you
understand what they wanted to say.
The questions need to be neutral and without judgment. “You did what????”
is not a good way to keep the
conversation open.
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 7
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
Listen to how something is said. We
frequently concentrate so hard on
what is said that we miss the
importance of the emotional
reactions and attitudes related to
what is said.
Why is communication important?
What if you wanted something (or
someone), but kept denying it when
you were asked? How would you let it
be known that you were omitting
something, and that you really meant
something else? That is the core of the
difficulty of communication.
Most of us have been there at some
point in time, when we say one thing,
but the other party takes it the wrong
way. They missed a clue, or they have
a different sense of humor and missed
the sarcasm. Then there’s everyone’s
favorite answer to the question
“What’s wrong?” If they say
“Nothing,” then you know something
is wrong.
Being able to hear what has not been
said is crucial to understanding what
they mean, even if it’s not what they
said. Communication is the term we
use to describe the action of moving
an idea or an emotion from one
person to another. If you missed part
of it, you don’t have the whole story or
the whole picture.
Where can I apply this in my life?
Think about all the times in your life
when you blew it. Someone said
something and you just didn’t get
what they were trying to
communicate.
Or perhaps you have more
experience at saying the wrong thing,
or otherwise not getting your true
intent communicated despite your
words.
Common Barriers to Listening
There are many things that get in the
way of listening and you should be
aware of these barriers, many of
which are bad habits, in order to
become a more effective
listener. Barriers and bad habits to
effective listening can include:
Trying to listen to more than one
conversation at a time, this includes
having the television or radio on while
attempting to listen to somebody talk;
being on the phone to one person
and talking to another person in the
same room.
You find the communicator
attractive/unattractive and you pay
more attention to how you feel about
the communicator and their physical
appearance than to what they say.
You are not interested in the
topic/issue being discussed and
become bored.
Not focusing and being easily
distracted, fiddling with your hair,
fingers, a pen etc. or gazing out of the
window or focusing on objects other
than the speaker.
Identifying rather than empathizing -
understanding what you are hearing
but not putting yourself in the shoes of
the speaker. Effective listening
involves opening your mind to the
views of others and attempting to feel
empathetic.
Sympathizing rather than
empathizing - sympathy is not the
same as empathy, you sympathize
when you feel sorry for the
experiences of another, to empathize
is to put yourself in the position of the
other person.
You are prejudiced or biased by race,
gender, age, religion, accent, and/or
past experiences.
You have preconceived ideas or
bias - effective listening includes
being open-minded to the ideas and
opinions of others, this does not mean
you have to agree but should listen
and attempt to understand.
Previous experiences – we are all
influenced by previous experiences in
life. We respond to people based on
personal appearances, how initial
introductions or welcomes were
received and/or previous
interpersonal encounters. All of us
carry such baggage which bogs us
down.
Preoccupation - when we have a lot
on our minds we can fail to listen to
what is being said as we're too busy
concentrating on what we're thinking
about. This is particularly true when we
feel stressed or worried about issues.
Having a Closed Mind - we all have
ideals and values that we believe to
be correct and it can be difficult to
listen to the views of others that
contradict our own opinions. The key
to effective listening and interpersonal
skills more generally is the ability to
have a truly open mind - to
understand why others think about
things differently to you and use this
information to gain a better
understanding of the speaker.
Non-Verbal Signs of Ineffective
Listening
Generally, signs of inattention while
listening include:
Lack of eye contact with the speaker – listeners who are engaged
with the speaker tend to give eye
contact. Lack of eye contact can,
however, also be a sign of shyness.
An inappropriate posture - slouched,
leaning back or ‘swinging’ on a chair,
leaning forward onto a desk or table
and/or a constantly shifting
posture. People who are paying
attention tend to lean slightly towards
the speaker.
Being distracted - fidgeting, doodling,
looking at a watch, yawning.
Inappropriate expressions and lack of
head nods - often when a listener is
engaged with a speaker they nod
their head, this is usually an almost
subconscious way of encouraging the
speaker and showing attention. Lack
of head nods can mean the opposite
– listening is not happening. The same
can be true of facial expressions,
attentive listeners use smiles as feedback mechanisms and to show
attention.
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 8
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
WHY INVESTIGATE BUILDING FAILURES?
Suhas NM, Nemmadi, Reference: Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, Vol. 128,
No. 1, February 1, 2002
Gangaram Building Collapse
A building under construction
in Bengaluru belonging to N.
Gangaram, collapsed on 12
September 1983 resulting in 123 dead
and over 120 injured. This building
collapse is considered as one of the
worst tragedies of Bangalore city.
Gangaram Building Collapse
The seven-storey building, which had
been planned to be a hotel and
shopping complex, was located next
to Kapali Cinema theatre on Subedar
Chatram Road, near the Majestic
area. Construction had started in 1981
and on 12 September 1983 at 3.25
pm, it collapsed, killing construction
workers, customers of the nearby
Gangaram bookstore, pedestrians
and two people who were watching
cinema in the adjacent theatre.
Deaths totaled 123 and there were
over 120 injured. The son of N.
Gangaram, the owner of the building,
was among the dead: his body was
not found until the 30th day of rescue
work.
If one tries to find any records of the
causes of the disaster, we draw a
blank. It is possibly available in the
court records because the State
Government ordered a judicial
enquiry and the owner of the building
and three contractors were arrested.
During investigation, one reason for
the collapse was identified as
"structural violations". Charges were
filed against Gangaram and the
Contractor, but all six accused were
acquitted by Karnataka High Court on
22 February 2005. The court observed
that the witnesses were not properly
cross-examined by the prosecution!!!
So, what happened and why? What
are the lessons learnt? How can we
prevent a repeat of such a disaster?
These questions remain unanswered for there is no investigation done into
this or even if it is done, it is not
available to the public.
Why Conduct Disaster and Failure
Studies.
Buildings, bridges, and other man-
made structures are not supposed to
collapse or suffer damages during
construction or while in service. But
sometimes they do, and for different
reasons: fires, earthquakes, high winds
or storm surge, errors in design and
construction, flaws in materials, and
manmade disasters, including terrorist
attacks.
Extreme events such as these test
buildings and infrastructure in ways
and on a scale that cannot easily be
replicated in a laboratory - buildings
and infrastructure are built without
being tested at full scale. The “real
world” is the laboratory for buildings
and infrastructure and disaster and
failure events provide valuable data
on their performance under real world
conditions.
Imagine not utilizing such an
opportunity to study failures for the
purpose of preventing future
disasters!! But that is exactly what
happens if the truth is swept under the
carpet.
The study of disaster and failure events
is essential to improve the
performance of buildings and
infrastructure, the safety of building
occupants, and the associated
evacuation and emergency response
procedures.
The results of disaster and failure
studies also help assess the adequacy
of codes and standards, current
practices, and the state-of-
knowledge in these areas. In addition,
the results of studies help minimize
future risk and increase safety through
improved codes, standards, and
practices.
Efforts to reduce construction failures
by studying their causes has led to a
meaningful reduction in occurrence.
Hence trying to reduce the incidence
of construction failures should be a
continuous process.
Causes of failures fall into five general
areas:
• Design deficiencies
• Construction deficiencies
• Material deficiencies
• Administrative deficiencies
• Maintenance deficiencies.
Six factors that could help prevent
structural accidents:
• Good communications and
organization in the construction
industry
• Inspection of construction by
structural engineers
• Increasing the general quality of
design
• Improving the structural
connection design details and
shop drawings
• Proper selection of architects and
engineers
• Timely dissemination of technical
data.
Main causes of construction failure
are:
• Formwork failures and collapses
• Inadequate temporary bracing
• Overloading and/or impact
during construction
• Failure to have a qualified person
in charge
• Designs not reflecting the actual
construction loads and field
conditions
• Construction sequences not
consistent with design
considerations
• Improper definition of
responsibility
• Financial pressures to complete
the project early • Incomplete connections -
installing a few bolts and
intending to complete the bolting
process later
• Failure to use the materials
specified or prefabricated
elements being damaged during
their handling and erection
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 9
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
• Unauthorized modifications to the
construction specified in the
contract document
• Supporting members damaged
by other contractors as they are
installing their work (e.g., duct
work/plumbing)
• Poor communication, failure to follow design plans, failure to
follow recommended industry
practice, and carelessness
• Inadequacy of the system during
erection
• Lack of common sense, including
intoxicated, drug impaired
workers, or improper safety
equipment
• Poor communication between
the designer and contractor
• No consideration for soil
conditions
• Incorrect crane operations
• Incompetent supervisors
• Nature, gross design error,
terrorism, or contractor
negligence
• Inadequate original design,
which is unknown to the
contractor
• Insufficient or improper checking
of the shop drawings
• Decisions from those with
insufficient knowledge or
education
• Lack of proper inspection
• Unreasonable schedule
• Inadequate training and
education
• Unknown or erroneous
geotechnical information.
Lessons learnt from 9/11 with specific
reference to WTC 7
The office building known as WTC 7
was a more typical New York City
skyscraper compared with the super-
tall twin towers that had been hit by
jets and jet fuel. Building seven stood
for nearly seven more hours after the
nearby north tower collapsed.
Crumbling at 5:20:52 p.m. ET after a
long day of terror, WTC 7 was never attacked, but it, too, collapsed. This
building's collapse was the first known
instance of the total collapse of a tall
building primarily due to fires. In 1945
an Air Force bomber accidentally flew
into the Empire State Building one
foggy morning, and the skyscraper
built in 1931 did not collapse.
The collapse of WTC 7 highlights the
importance of designing fire-resistant
structures for situations where sprinklers
are not present, do not function (e.g.,
due to disconnected or impaired
water supply), or are overwhelmed.
The WTC 7 fell on 9/11 because of "a
fire-induced progressive collapse...the spread of local damage, from an
initiating event...." The building met
the New York City building codes of
1968 — regulations written over thirty
years before 9/11.
The age of a building code should not
matter, however. On the south end of
the World Trade Center site, a 23-story
Gothic skyscraper never collapsed
although it was heavily damaged on
9/11. The steel frame of the 1907
building built at 90 West Street was
reinforced with heat-resistant terra
cotta, tile, and concrete.
Areas of Needed Change –
Recommendations made after a
study of the disaster
• Increase structural integrity to
prevent progressive collapse
• Enhance fire endurance,
including ratings and testing of
spray-applied materials
• Create new methods for fire
resistant design, including burnout
without collapse
• Improve active fire protection
systems such as sprinklers, alarms
• Improve building evacuation and
emergency communication
procedures and design
• Improve emergency response,
including command and control
• Improve procedures and
practices, including code
compliance and documentation
• Education and training ("for fire
protection engineers, structural
engineers, architects, and
building regulatory and fire
service personnel")
After the 9/11 attacks on the World
Trade Center, since a proper and thorough investigation was done into
the causes of failure, it was possible to
make the following changes to the
International Codes:
• Elevators are required in high-rise
buildings more than 120 feet tall
so firefighters can get to, and
fight fires, without walking up from
the ground floor with heavy
equipment;
• An additional stairway for high-
rises that are more than 420 feet
tall;
• In lieu of the additional stairway,
an option to provide enhanced
elevators that can be used by the building occupants for
emergency evacuation without
waiting for assistance from
emergency personnel;
• A higher standard for fire
resistance in high-rise buildings
more than 420 feet tall;
• More robust fire proofing for
buildings more than 75 feet tall.
• Shafts enclosing elevators and
exit stairways that have impact
resistant walls;
• Self-luminous exit pathway
markings in all exit stairways that
provide a lighted pathway when
both the primary and secondary
lighting fails; and
• Radio coverage systems within
the building to allow emergency
personnel to better communicate
within the building and with
emergency staff outside.
WTC Collapse - 9/11
What if all were in denial mode as it
happened during the Gangaram
Building collapse?
None of the changes in the building
codes could have happened and we
would have gained nothing by the
incident. What a loss it would have
been!!
It requires conviction and courage to
look the issue in the eye!
If you want to see how 9/11 building
collapse happened, see it online
at https://www.cs.purdue.edu/cgvlab
/papers/
popescu/popescuWTCVIS07.mov
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 10
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
A Monthly column by Mary A
Guest Writer of the month: A N Prakash
Ginger & Jaggery
Ginger & Jaggery
Ginger
Native to Southeast Asia, ginger is
common in food and medicine
around the world. The ginger plant is
rich in natural chemicals that can
promote your health and wellness.
Benefits
Anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is one of your body’s
natural self-preservation functions.
Germs, chemicals, and poor diet can
cause too much inflammation and
harm your body.
Consuming ginger may help prevent
and heal inflammation. One study
found that ginger could reduce
allergic reactions, in which
inflammation can play a role.
Another study also showed that
people who took daily ginger
supplements had less muscle pain
after working out. Muscle pain can be
caused by inflammation.
Antioxidant
The antioxidant properties of ginger
may help to prevent:
• Heart disease
• Neurodegenerative diseases,
such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and
Huntington’s
• Cancer
• Symptoms of aging
Antioxidants fight reactive oxygen
species (ROS), which cause oxidative
stress and damage your cells. Your
body naturally makes ROS, but some
lifestyle choices, like drinking large
quantities of alcohol, smoking, or
experiencing chronic stress can make
you produce too much ROS. Consuming foods and drinks with
antioxidants, like ginger water, can
help prevent and fight the negative
side effects of ROS.
It was found that ginger could prevent
or slow down kidney failure. Ginger
may also slow the growth of tumors
and may help control some types of
cancer.
Balance blood sugar
Ginger can improve fasting blood
sugar in people with diabetes. These
and other findings show promise that
ginger can help treat health concerns
caused by chronic diabetes.
Cholesterol
A study showed that ginger reduced
heart disease markers like arginase
activity, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and
triglycerides in rats give a high-fat diet.
Weight loss
Ginger water may help promote
weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Hydration
This benefit is mostly because you’re
taking your ginger in water. Staying
hydrated is very important for
supporting every aspect of your
health. Many of us simply don’t drink
enough water each day. Starting your
day with a glass of ginger water, or
finding another regular time to drink
one each day, will help you hydrate.
Jaggery
Jaggery is unrefined sugar derived
from concentrated raw sugarcane
juice. However, it can also be made
using different other sources like nolen
gur or date palm and coconut sap.
Jaggery that is made from the juice of
raw and concentrated sugarcane is
the one that is commonly used.
Jaggery is made by boiling the juice
of sugarcane and then heating it for
producing thick crystals. Jaggery
consists of sugar in the form of sucrose
and is widely used in different food
products in the form of a sweetener. It
is considered healthier in comparison
to refined sugar because there are
different plant minerals and
phytochemicals preserved in jaggery.
Health Benefits of Jaggery
Rich in iron
Jaggery is quite rich in its content of
folate and iron and therefore it helps
in the prevention of anemia. It also
offers instant energy preventing
weakness and fatigue of the human
body
Filled with minerals
Jaggery is packed with minerals and
antioxidants like selenium and zinc
and these help in preventing free-
radical damage. These minerals and
antioxidants also help in boosting the
body’s resistance to different
infections.
Beauty treatment
Jaggery proves to be highly beneficial
when used for beauty treatment. It
comes loaded with several natural
properties ensuring the health of the
skin for a very long span of time. It is
rich in its content of different minerals and vitamins and thus offers proper
nourishment to the skin. Proper
nourishment for the skin means
healthy and glowing skin. Jaggery is
also effective in preventing and
treating different skin problems like
pimples and acne
Digestive process
It is quite effective in maintaining
proper functioning of the digestive
system. Properly functioning digestive
system means proper prevention of
digestive issues and improvement in
digestion at the same time. Jaggery
stimulates the secretion of digestive
enzyme and therefore speeds up the
procedure of digestion. Proper
digestion helps in regulating bowel
movement
Improves metabolism
The high mineral content of jaggery
and high levels of potassium helps in
GRANDMA’S CORNER
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 11
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
the management of weight. This is
done by reducing the retention of
extra water in the human body. The
potassium content of jaggery
maintains electrolyte balance,
improves metabolism and builds
muscles help in weight loss.
Filled with iron
Jaggery is one of the richest sources
of iron and therefore it should be
eaten in combination with foods that
are rich in vitamin C. This helps in the
absorption of iron within the body.
Jaggery is considered one of the best
sources of getting long, smooth,
strong, black and healthy hair.
Water retention
Minor health issues like water
retention, migraine, bloating and
cough and cold that are experienced
by individuals on a regular basis can
easily be dealt with the help of
jaggery. The only thing that needs to
be done is mixing jaggery with warm
water or adding it in tea for reaping
instant benefits.
Released hormones
Women who experience mood swings
prior to having their periods can
greatly benefit from having jaggery.
Mood swings are the cause of
fluctuating hormone levels in the
body. Jaggery helps in the release of
happy hormones called endorphins.
These relax the body making women
feel better.
Improves nervous system
Jaggery also helps in preventing
major issues faced with the nervous
system of the body. It contains several
natural properties which are of good
help in keeping the nervous system
functioning properly. This in turn helps
individuals in staying healthy and
normal.
Prevents respiratory issues
Having jaggery on a regular basis can
help in prevention of different
respiratory issues like bronchitis and
asthma. Experts are of the view that
taking jaggery in the form of a natural
sweetener in perfect combination
with sesame seeds can be highly beneficial for the respiratory system in
human beings. Jaggery contains
properties that help in regulating the
temperature of the body and this is
something that is highly beneficial for
the patients of asthma. It is also worth
noting that jaggery contains anti-
allergy properties as well
Joint relief
For the ones who tend to suffer from
pains and aches in their joints, having
jaggery can offer the much required
relief. If experts are to be believed,
jaggery when taken along with ginger
can work wonders in alleviating joint
pain.
Having a glass of milk along with
jaggery on a regular basis can also
help in strengthening the bones and in
preventing bone and joint problems
like arthritis.
Uses of Jaggery
Jaggery by many people is used as a
lining to coat the walls of earthen
ovens. In many rural parts of India,
jaggery has for decades been used a
toothpaste. Inferior quality jaggery
mixed with a little dust of tobacco
and is used to clean the teeth.
Jaggery is also used in cattle feed
during winters as it helps them keep
warm. It also increases the milk yield.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Jaggery
Consuming high amount of jaggery
for a long time can lead to increase in
weight. If not consumed in
moderation, it may lead to increase in
blood sugar levels. Consuming
jaggery for a long period can result in
intestinal worm infestation.
IMLI SONTH CHUTNEY / TAMARIND
GINGER & JAGGERY CHUTNEY
TAMARIND GINGER & JAGGERY CHUTNEY
A sweet and tangy chutney with a hit
of spice - perfect accompaniment
to samosas, dahi bhalla and
other chaat.
INGREDIENTS
2tsp jeera (cumin seeds); 5-6 whole
black peppercorns; 8-10 cloves; 2-3
large sticks of cinnamon;
100 gms imli (dried tamarind, peeled
but with the seeds); 200 gms jiggery; 1
whole dried red chilli;
½ tsp sonth (dried ginger powder); 1
tsp kala namak (called black salt, but
actually looks pink); ¼ tsp table salt
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Toast jeera, pepper and
cloves in kadhai on medium
heat until fragrant and 2
shades darker, approximately
2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
2. In a saucepan, place the
toasted masalas, whole red
chilli, cinnamon, tamarind,
jaggery and 4 cups of water.
Set this on high heat and
bring to a boil, stirring to
ensure that the jaggery has
melted and the tamarind also
becomes soft and pulpy.
3. Once it comes to a boil,
reduce the heat to medium
and cook for about 10
minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Take it off the heat, allow to
cool slightly and then pass
through a sieve -- pressing the
solids against the sieve to
release as much liquid and
pulp as possible.
5. Discard the solids and set the
liquid back to heat, adding
the salts and ginger powder.
Cook on medium-high heat
until reduced and thickened
to the consistency of warm
honey, approx 8-10 mins.
6. Take off the heat and allow to
cool (at which point it will
thicken more) and transfer to
a clean glass jar for storage.
7. The chutney keeps well for 4-5
weeks in the fridge and is best
served with samosas, dahi
bhalla, papri chaat etc.
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018 12
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
ADVANCED EXCEL LESSONS
By Uday S Prakash
Vlookup (short for 'vertical' lookup) is a built-in Excel function that is designed to work with data that is organized into columns.
For a specified value, the function finds (or 'looks up') the value in one column of data, and returns the corresponding value
from another column.
The Vlookup function can also be used to return a closest match to the lookup value if an exact match is not found.
↓
→ INTERSECTION ROW
COLUMN
COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2 COLUMN 3 COLUMN 4 COLUMN 5TABLE HEADER → Name Age Sex Height Weight
ROW1 ANP 70 M 175 70ROW2 VP 65 F 160 60ROW3 USP 60 M 180 80ROW4 BLS 55 M 180 75ROW5 BRS 50 M 170 85ROW6 BNS 45 M 165 65
When to use VLOOKUPIf we need to find a value related to any data in COLUMN 0, in other COLUMNS for example:What is the height of BRS?; BRS → COLUMN 0, Height →COLUMN 4vlookup takes 4 variables
Value you want to look up, BRSrange where you want to lookup the value, TABLEthe column number in the range containing the return value, COLUMN3Exact Match or Approximate Match EXACT
=VLOOKUP(B48,$B$43:$F$49,4,FALSE) 170
VLOOKUP
DIMENSIONS VOL.10, ISSUE 10, OCT 2018
A Journal of A N Prakash Construction Project Management Consultants Pvt. L td
APPENDIX
Question of the last Month was:
In the Article titled ‘Love Food, Hate
Waste’, Jenny Costa the Founder of
‘Rubies in the Rubble’ is seen
welcoming a dignitary to her facility. Who is this visitor? (The first correct
answer wins the prize but we shall be
publishing in the next issue of the
newsletter the names of all who have
answered correctly.)
Answer to Question of the last month:
Charles, Prince of Wales
There were five correct replies and
they are given below in the order of
their submission. So, the prize goes to
Siva Rama Krishna A of Jayabheri –
The Capital site.
Sl.
No.
Date Time Submitted by
1 1-
Oct
9:41
am
Siva Rama
Krishna A,
Jayabheri - The
Capital,
Vijayawada
2 1-
Oct
9:57
am
Vyas V S, HO
3 1-
Oct
10:05
am
Swastika P, HO
4 1-
Oct
12:34
pm
Mohd. Rizwan R,
HO
5 3-
Oct
1:16
pm
Sangmesh C,
Ramky 1 Galaxia,
Hyderabad
Suhas NM from Nemmadi sent this
Kaizen Story: Tiger in the toilet
Once a stranded tiger entered the
washroom in a corporate office and
hid in a dark corner. Since there were
people outside the washroom through
the day, the tiger was afraid to come
out.
Many people frequented the
washroom, but the frightened tiger
didn’t touch anyone. However, after
four days it couldn’t bear hunger
anymore, so it caught a man who
had come in, and ate him. This man
happened to be an Assistant General
Manager in the organization, but
nobody noticed his disappearance.
Since nothing untoward happened,
the tiger became bolder and after
two days caught another man and
ate him. This man was the General
Manager of the organization. Still,
nobody worried over his
disappearance (Some people were
even happy that he was not seen in
the office).
Next day, the tiger caught the Vice
President who was a terror in the
organization. Again nothing
happened. The tiger was very happy
and decided that this was the perfect
place for him to live. The very next
day the happy tiger caught a man
who had entered the washroom while
balancing a tray of teacups in one
hand.
The frightened man fell unconscious.
Within fifteen minutes a huge hue and
cry ensued, and everyone in the office started looking for the man. The
search team reached the washroom,
flushed out the tiger and saved the
unconscious man. He was the tea
supplier in the office.
Moral of the story:
It is not the position, but our usefulness
to others that makes us lovable
and respected.
Acknowledgement: From the book “Tiger
in the toilet” by K. Ajayakumar
The quote ‘Always be Useful’ is by
Darius Foroux. Darius is inspired by
Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said: “The
purpose of life is not to be happy. It is
to be useful, to be honorable, to be
compassionate, to make some
difference that you have lived and
lived well.”
Because research shows that the
more productive you are, the higher
impact results you achieve, and the
bigger impact you make.
The more impact we make, the
happier we feel, and the more value
we create. You see? It all feeds off
each other—one enhances the other.
Question of this month
Who are the persons in the picture
below and what is being whispered?
Hint: The question is related to one of the
articles of this issue.
The first correct answer will receive the
prize and the names of all those who have
given the correct replies shall be published
in the next issue.
Editorial team
Roy Zacharias, Editor
Editorial Board: R Suresha, Divya K
We welcome your valuable suggestions,
comments and articles. Mail it to:
Publication of comments and articles are
subject to editorial control and discretion.