As a civil engineer with over 40 years of professional experience in various facets of the housing and urban development sector, Vasudevan Suresh has long been associated with galvanizing initiative and action for its growth, both within the country and abroad. In an illustrious career, he has headed several prestigious organizations like the Indian Buildings Congress and National Real Estate Development Council as President and All India Housing Development Association and Construction Industry Development Council as Vice-President. It was in his tenure as CMD of HUDCO, that it registered an all-around growth in the formulation and implementation of housing, infrastructure development and appropriate technology applications. Having lent his expertise to bodies like the UNDP, SAARC and UNCHS amongst others, V. Suresh is presently a Consultant to National and International agencies in Sustainable Human Settlements Development, and is working closely with Good Urban Governance initiatives. Commenting on the prevalent scope and phenomenal potential of the A/E/C (Architecture/ Engineering/ Construction) industry in India, he stresses on the need of the hour in a significant dialogue with Sarita Vijayan Editorial & Brand Director AecworldXP.

AEC: Given the growth that it has seen, how do you outline the importance of the role of the Indian AEC industry?

VS: Housing and building construction account for a major component of India's economy with investments of the order of Rs.1,50,000 crores coming into this sector. Housing alone has clearly shown phenomenal growth in the last five years; the housing financial institutions' contributions having grown from Rs.5000 crores in 1998 to around Rs.75,000 crores in 2004, showing a 35% comported growth. Building construction, other than residential, like the institutional sector also account for an equal amount of investment in this area. Building materials and technologies constitute 65% of this contribution while labor and construction processes make up the balance.

With such mammoth investments occurring in this sector, it is absolutely essential that we have optimum, effective, efficient and economical use of all building materials & technologies on one side. On the other side, with the availability of natural resources being limited, the development of appropriate technologies using innovative and alternative building materials which are eco-friendly and energy saving. We have to keep all of this in mind along with the speed of construction. We cannot afford to build the way we built in the last fifty years for a building of the next fifty years. Therefore, the techniques of construction as against the conventional systems, especially in the urban areas, are also significantly paramount and need to undergo a very major change. It is in this context that, I think, the AEC WORLD EXPO & CONFERENCES will be of major impact.

AEC: In terms of global context, how significant is the emergence of this phenomenal growth of the AEC industry in India?

VS: Very significant. The way in which substantial amount of international collaboration is taking place as a part of the larger globalization activity in all economic sectors, building construction activity has comparatively happened only lately. Financial development, now, has also opened into housing and infrastructure development where three issues are of importance: latest technologies, the resources required for construction (financial and managerial) and efficient process of construction and technologies. So when you are looking at the global applications of initiatives, we are talking in terms of resource technology and management coming in a large way. Many Indian companies are tying up with international companies - not only at the professional level meaning architectural, engineering and design groups but also at the construction level. There are also many Indian companies having appropriate joint ventures with companies in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Middle East and Canada. Similarly, Indian companies are working closely on international projects. So there is a major two-way flow of information and also process exchange taking place. Thus, India has benefited a lot learning about the latest trends in building processes abroad along with direct implementation processes. India cannot be lagging behind in these construction process and technologies while, at the same time, drawing from its own 5000 year old strength of traditional techniques of different geographical regions.

AEC: How do you see the AEC World Expo & Conferences make a difference in this industry scene?

VS: Whenever changes do take place, it is absolutely essential that the largest amount of participatory involvement is there from all concerned in the entire chain process. Three major elements come into place namely to create awareness. Firstly, information about all new emerging options; secondly, the appreciation level that these emerging options are as good or even better or why it is needed to be put into place. Thirdly the application: having known that a certain option is good, how does one apply it into the building construction process whether for corporate or residential or a township project.

I, very warmly welcome the initiative taken by Indian Architect & Builder. It is one of the leading media groups representing the window of opportunities that is continuously projected through their magazine essaying the good initiatives taken by architects, engineers and builders. This idea to organize such a major program of this nature which covers: a) an exhibition providing opportunities of showcasing many emerging technologies, b) organizing conferences and conventions on various themes so that all concerned stakeholders can discuss those options etc. which is very important. I am very happy that this is being provided and more so, because of the cross section of visiting professionals e.g. architects, engineers, builders, scientists, technologists, students and emerging professions as this cuts through the large gap of stakeholders.

AEC: The conference tracks at the AEC World Expo & Conferences are under the aegis of 'Evolving India In The Built Environment'. How relevant do you think this is in the present scenario?

VS: The very purpose of a theme like 'Evolving India In The Built Environment' is indicative of the rapid changes taking place in the built environment especially in the urbanization scene of India. The way in which the escalating population and demography of India, growing to another 32 crores by the next 20 years, will be a considerable add-on to both the rural and urban scheme. And the major portion will be on the urban area, which hopefully would be urbanized to about 140% from the present 28%. This means that the whole built environment for housing and all other building construction will have to take care of this new emerging population. Thus, in this particular context, it is absolutely essential that the planning for these two decades, i.e. 20012021, takes into account not only the pace at which the growth is taking place but also as to how we will be able to respond to the needs of this particular development which will have substantial environment impact. How we deal with that issue is something of crucial significance since we are five years down the new millennium. 

The next fifteen years will see a growth of an emergence of new materials, technologies and processes that, considering have to take care of the housing and other building construction activities, will play a very major role in the face of various types of constraints for resources, be it natural or man-made. Given the major crisis of a dearth of natural materials like earth and timber, it is imperative to use alternate materials made from industrial and agricultural waste, be it fly ash for building materials or a large number of timber substitutes. Plus other options, which are energy saving and eco-friendly including the major area of composite building elements that will essentially provide the new building blocks for taking care of the built environment over the next emerging years. This will be varying from the technologies and processes done so far and therefore, the programs of the various conference tracks will thus help to provide a clear focus on the new directions under which the Indian Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry and Professionals can gear up to the challenges and developments in the environment.