Mysore/Mysuru: Dr. N. Suresh, Director of Fire Safety Research Foundation, Mysuru, has said that civil engineers hold more responsibility in the society than doctors.

Dr. Suresh, who is also a Civil Engineer and former Principal of National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru, spoke during a Technical Seminar on the topic ‘Engineering a Resilient Future: Building Stronger, Smarter, Safer’, organised as part of 56th Engineers’ Day celebration on account of Sir  M. Visvesvaraya’s birth anniversary, by The Institution of Engineers (IE-India), Mysore Local Centre, at its premises on JLB road in the city on Thursday.

Dr. Suresh said “If a doctor errs in his job, only a patient dies, with his or her mistake buried under the ground, but if a civil engineer commits any blunder, the possibilities of death and injuries are more and the mistake will remain as a grim reminder of the folly. Earlier, while constructing a building, more priority was given for strengthening the structure. Now, apart from the strength, more focus is on its longevity too. The people also desire to own a building, which can withstand any natural calamity and also man-made disasters.”

Nowadays, sensor is being used in construction industry, using the technology of which we can assess the strength and threat to the building, even after 20 to 30 years. Hence, the features like strength, durability and their capacity to withstand any disasters, have come to forefront in the construction industry, said Dr. Suresh.

Hundreds of disasters damage the buildings, with fire mishaps, earthquake, tsunami, explosion of volcano and flood being significant among them, added Dr. Suresh.

IEI Chairman B. S. Prabhakara, Convenor A.S. Satish, Co-Convenor K.B. Bhaskar and Honorary Secretary H.S. Suresh Babu were present.