Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Construction Technology and Management – Cohort 5

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Application Deadline Approaching

Last date to apply: January 7, 2027 · Program starts on January 8, 2027

About Programme

Course – Teaser Video

This course is expected to expose the senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals working in structural design and construction firms to cutting edge construction technology and management practices. India will invest significantly in developing infrastructure and buildings in the years to come and it is important that we build on time, on budget, using new technologies and to the highest standards of quality (construction process, workmanship, finishing, mechanical/durability performance, etc.) possible. This course will address exactly these aspects and provide specific tools and guidelines that will enhance the skills of aspiring or practicing graduate civil/structural engineers, construction technologists and managers.

If you are interested in building a career with a design or construction firm, it is imperative that you understand the latest advances in construction technology and management practices. This course will offer you just that. The course will be tailored for the practicing engineer and will focus on how to get things right in the field. Taught by world renowned professors from IIT Madras and replete with several practical examples, this course is a requirement if you wish to make a mark in the field of construction or infrastructure development.

The course is structured in the following manner:

MODULE-1: Engineering Economics

MODULE-2: Concrete Technology

MODULE-3: Road and Pavement Technology

MODULE-4: Construction Planning and Control

MODULE-5: Construction Processes & Productivity

MODULE-6: Quality

MODULE-7: Durability and Repair

MODULE-8: Safety

MODULE-9: Construction Contracts

MODULE-10: Resource Constrained Schedule Optimisation​​​​

Click on the tab "Module Description" and choose the appropriate module from the dropdown menu to view more information about each modules.

Certification of completion would be awarded to the participants on fulfilling the following criteria 1. Attend all the Live sessions with active participation. 2. Submit assignments and final evaluation of all modules. 3. Submit feedback forms for all modules

Course Start date: Jan 08, 2027

Course End date: Jun 2027

Time: Pre- recorded lectures will be released on Fridays and Online Live session on Saturdays (IST).

Last date of Registration: Jan 07, 2027

Programme Content

MODULE 1: Engineering Economics

Module Duration:

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

Engineering economics allows students to understand how economic and financial decisions are made between project alternatives. Which project do we choose to construct? Which equipment do we choose to rent? What is the return on an infrastructure investment that we plan to make? These and similar questions will be answered in this module. Candidates will be exposed to concepts relating to the time value of money, inflation, comparison of alternatives, internal rate of return, cost-benefit analysis, replacement analysis, break-even analysis and similar topics.

Learning Outcomes:

Candidates will learn how to judiciously select one among many project alternatives from an economic and financial perspective. The candidate will achieve a good degree of proficiency in financial and economic analysis of engineering projects and situations.

Applications of the Module:

This module can be useful at a personal level as a candidate decides what investments to make. At a professional level, this is a critical skill that any design or construction firm requires to select a project to take on, and to decide what kind of return/profit they are likely to make out of this project. Financiers and investors also regularly use the tools taught in this module to make investment decisions in the infrastructure and other sectors.

MODULE 2: Concrete Technology

MODULE 2 : Concrete Technology

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded video and 4 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof. Ravindra Gettu V S Raju Chair Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Prof. Manu Santhanam Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Prof. Keerthana Kirupakaran Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Topics covered:

Concrete is the most widely used construction material, and is progressively changing in components, composition, properties and response. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the scientific fundamentals and the recent developments in the technology, as well as the performance in different scenarios. This module will cover the basics needed to apply concrete appropriately in the field and the various aspects of the behaviour in the fresh and hardened states. Supplementary cementitious materials, special concretes and sustainable practices would also be introduced.

Learning Outcomes:

This module would provide a refresher about the basics of the science and technology of concrete, knowledge about newer components such as super plasticizers and supplementary cementitious materials, understanding of the performance in the fresh and hardened state, and the ability to choose the best concrete for a project. Further, this would also help in troubleshooting problems that are related to concrete usage in a construction site.

Applications of the Module:

This module would be of relevance to all aspects of construction with concrete, including the production of concrete, fabrication of precast elements and in situ construction.

MODULE 3: Road and Pavement Technology

MODULE 3: Road and Pavement Technology

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof. Surender Singh Assistant Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

This particular course will consist of 6 modules covering most of the aspects of both bituminous and concrete pavements. These modules will focus mainly on pavement material characterization, formulation of mixture designs for unbound as well as bound layers, construction, quality control, and repair & rehabilitation of pavements, etc. Also, successful case studies will be discussed

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, the candidates will be able to decide the suitability of various materials as well as pavement types for different highway applications. The candidates will be able to formulate the materials to be used for construction of different layers of the pavements. Construction and quality control techniques are expected to be fully learnt at the end of this course. It is expected that the candidates will be able to identify different structural as well as functional distresses in pavements and will be able to address the same.

Applications of the Module:

The candidates working in industries will be able to use the knowledge learnt for solving various field related issues; also, the knowledge will help them to make cost-effective decisions.

MODULE 4: Construction Planning and Control

MODULE 4: Construction Planning and Control

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof. Sivakumar Palaniappan Associate Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

Project planning, project scheduling and project control are integral components of a construction project. The Government of India plans to invest a substantial amount of the national budget towards construction and infrastructure development. Timely completion of construction projects within the planned budget, while meeting the requirements in terms of quality, safety and sustainability, is important to promote economic growth and prosperity in the country. This module on project planning and control consists of three components:

(i) Introduction: Project management, project planning and scheduling, work breakdown structure, and bar charts.

(ii) Project scheduling: Critical Path Method, Precedence Diagram Method, Floats, and Resource Planning.

(iii) Project control: Earned value analysis and cumulative 'S' curves.

Learning Outcomes:

The course participants will complete the following learning outcomes:

How to prepare work breakdown structure and use this for preparing a construction schedule?
How to use CPM and PDM methods for project scheduling?
How to interpret the concept of floats in a construction schedule?
Demonstrate the application of Resource leveling and Resource constrained planning.
Demonstrate the application of earned value analysis for monitoring the schedule and cost performance of construction projects.

Applications of the Module:

Effective project planning and execution will minimize schedule delays and cost overrun, which are common in the construction industry. This module will be useful for construction managers, planning managers, scheduling professionals and cost managers to promote effective project planning, monitoring and control.

MODULE 5: Construction Processes & Productivity

MODULE 5: Construction Processes & Productivity

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof Koshy Varghese Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Topics covered:

Project vs Process – Concepts and Management Tools
Project / Process / Task Productivity
Factors Influencing Productivity
Productivity Measurement and Improvement
Introduction to Automation
Case-Studies

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the difference between project and process management in the context of a construction project and basic concepts in project production process planning and measurement
Exposure to Tools to plan and monitor project production processes, (Productivity measurement systems, Work Sampling, Collaboration)
Illustrate the application of the tools through case-studies

This module is relevant to practicing engineers and those who want to improve project performance at the site level. The concepts covered in this module can be directly applied to planning and progress monitoring of projects.

MODULE 6: Quality

MODULE 6: Quality

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof. Piyush Chaunsali Assistant Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Prof. Sivakumar Palaniappan Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.

Topics covered:

The materials module will cover the physical and chemical characteristics of basic ingredients of concrete. Testing procedures of ingredients (e.g. cement, mineral admixtures, aggregate, water) and concrete will be examined. Furthermore, important aspects dealing with curing and non-destructive evaluation of concrete will be discussed.

The construction module will cover the basics of quality management, management tools for quality and an overview of BIS standards available for quality management.

Basics of quality management: Definition, eight dimensions of quality, total quality management, quality gurus, quality tools, cost of quality, and quality function deployment.
Management tools for quality: Deming's fourteen points for quality management, Juran's approach to quality (universal breakthrough sequence), and Crosby's fourteen steps for quality improvement.
An overview of BIS standards available for quality management.

Learning Outcomes:

The candidate will be able to understand the role of material selection and various measures in enhancing the quality of concrete. The candidate will be able to understand the concepts of total quality management and the management tools available for quality improvement and apply these concepts in practice. Further, the candidate will be aware of the relevant BIS standards in this area.

Applications of the Module:

This model will help in ensuring construction quality in various projects. Candidates will learn how to control quality during construction from both technical and management perspectives, and also how to observe quality defects during inspections

MODULE 7: Durability and Repair

MODULE 7: Durability and Repair

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof Radhakrishna Pillai Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

This course will provide an introduction to various deterioration mechanisms of concrete and embedded reinforcement and how a structure can be designed for a target corrosion-free service life. The course will provide introduction to the following topics:

Concepts on durability and service life design of concrete structures
Chloride-induced corrosion, carbonation-induced corrosion, sulphate attack
Advantages of using fly ash, slag, corrosion inhibitors, coated rebars, concrete surface coating, cathodic prevention
Service life design tools, Performance parameters, tests, specifications, and acceptance criteria
Surface/Near surface repair, Material properties, Material selection for repair works, Surface preparation techniques
Structural strengthening techniques
Design of durable repairs using cathodic protection techniques
Water-proofing techniques
Introduction
Steel corrosion
Concrete deterioration
Creep and shrinkage
Performance specifications & acceptance criteria
Principles of Lab/Field tests (condition assessment/forensics)
Durability design methods/examples
Approach for selection of repair materials
Surface preparation methods
Electrochemical repair strategies
Waterproofing and grouting techniques
Structural strengthening techniques
Pavements: functional and structural distresses, evaluation of distresses

Learning Outcomes:

Students will learn how to understand how the concrete structures would degrade in various exposure conditions, and how to specify and select materials and design concrete structures to prevent such degradation. They would also learn how to identify critical parameters affecting service life, how to select various construction materials and systems and how to design concrete structures to achieve the target corrosion-free service life. Moreover, they would learn how to define performance specifications and acceptance criteria to control quality and ensure that the design features are actually implemented in the field. They will also learn how to understand the root cause of deterioration, and how to specify and design for a target service life for repairs – thereby avoiding frequent repairs of concrete structures while allowing continued degradation/corrosion.

Applications of the Module:

Today, the cost of corrosion in India is estimated to be about 3 to 5% of GDP. This course will enable the graduates to enhance the service life of the new and existing structures and thereby contribute to reducing the economic burden. The course is very much valuable for the structural engineers and consultants, concrete technologists, decision makers, construction managers, etc.

MODULE 8: Safety

MODULE 8: Safety

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof Nikhil Bugalia Assistant Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

The construction sector continues to be among the poorest performing sectors regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues. The construction sector is complex, where numerous humans, machines, organizational processes, and policies interact together in an often difficult-to-predict manner to affect safety performance. However, conventionally Safety has been seen as a relatively simple problem agnostic of the underlying complexity involved. To address this gap in understanding what "Safety" is, the module will introduce the concepts of Safety Management through a lens of System Thinking. Such a lens will be helpful for the students in developing a comprehensive understanding of the OHS issues in the construction sector.

Learning Outcomes:

The course participants will gather an overview of System-Thinking for Safety Management by recognizing the interactions between various equipment, human, managers, organizational process, and rules and how they affect safety. The participants will then examine the four major types of construction accidents (commonly known as Fatal 4) and their solutions through the lens of system thinking. The participants will also get an overview of Occupational Health issues and how system thinking can help them devise strategies for their organizations.

Applications of the Module:

The module will be helpful for construction professionals to understand why even the most well-thought and well-intentioned safety interventions do not work in reality and what they could do to improve the effectiveness of these interventions.

MODULE 9: Construction Contracts

Module 9: Construction Contracts

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof KN Satyanarayana Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Tirupati

Prof Murali Jagannathan AssistantProfessor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Tirupati

Topics covered:

Law and Construction Industry
Different Types of Contracts and Their Working
Claims and Disputes

Brief contents:

Applicable Laws
Parties Involved and Contract Documents
Liabilities in Construction Process
Contract Commercial Terms
Documents Comprising the Contract
Standard forms of Contracts
Key Contract Clauses
Prime Contracts, Subcontracts, Purchase Orders, Insurance and Surety Bonds

Learning Outcomes:

The student will gain a rudimentary understanding of the following:

Parties involved in a construction contract
Legal framework and what constitutes a contract
Various types of contracts
Rules of interpreting a contract
Commercial terms
Conditions of a contract
Significant contract clauses
Dispute resolutions – litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution techniques

Applications of the Module:

All operations in the construction industry involve agreements between the various parties involved including owners, architects/engineers, constructors, material & equipment suppliers, legal & financial agencies, regulatory agencies etc. It is very important that the participants in the industry are well aware of the contractual framework they operate in.

MODULE 10: Resource Constrained Schedule Optimization

MODULE 10: Resource Constrained Schedule Optimization

Module Duration :

12 hours of recorded videos and 3 live online interactive sessions.

Faculty:

Prof Benny Raphael Professor Dept of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras

Topics covered:

This module covers the fundamentals and applications of schedule optimization subject to resource constraints. Different types of constraints in the planning of construction projects are discussed. Mathematical modeling of the schedule optimization problem and solution techniques are explained. Full-scale case studies are presented to illustrate the practical application. Use of software tools are also covered.

Learning Outcomes:

Understanding of resource constraints

Practical means of solving resource constrained scheduling problems

Applications of the Module:

Project planning and scheduling

Testimonials

"The course is completely designed to give you a bird's eye view of how a construction company operates. Each module focuses on a different department, and the live interactive sessions allowed us to clarify doubts directly with professors. Book recommendations were also helpful to explore topics deeper. I would highly recommend this course to professionals wanting to fine-tune their knowledge in construction technology and management."

Anonymous

"Being a practicing architect involved in teaching, I had the opportunity to design and build on campus. This course gave me practical insights on how to check quality, handle projects, and understand construction processes. At IITM I got introduced to this construction course. It truly bridged the gap between architectural design and site execution. I thank IITM and the faculty for bringing such knowledge to practicing professionals."

Anonymous

"This course introduced me to the evolving technologies in construction. We learned how to manage time, ensure quality, and avoid cost overruns. The faculty was experienced and energetic, and each session was engaging and relevant to my role working in extreme and challenging terrains."

Anonymous

"The course offered deep technical insights and practical applications. As an architect without prior civil engineering background, I now have a better understanding of materials, contracts, grading, curing, and testing. Even topics like non-destructive testing were made simple and practical. This course gave me confidence to perform on-site inspections."

Anonymous

"I come from a senior leadership background in sales and marketing in the construction industry. This course helped me understand the basics of civil engineering, right from materials to project management, safety, and contracts. It gave me the tools to communicate better with both internal and external stakeholders."

Anonymous

"I came to know about tendering, documentation, and how it is done. About IIT Madras professors, I don't have words to express. All the courses, for instance, Introduction to Lean Constructionyou will be surprised to know that even the managers and other staff are not aware of the concept. This is an important topic.The platform provided by IITs is good, and it has to reach the CEOs and managers of companies."

Anonymous

"The course materials were designed in a way to help all managers. Apart from this, we are studying engineering, but after a certain point of time, we have to manage everything. We have to manage human resources, the people, and the site. It is a good combination of all the particles, and you can think all of them came together to create an atom. I'm happy and delighted to be a part of this course, and I also learnt many practical aspects."

Anonymous

"I have enhanced my knowledge without any doubt. But specifically, I have learnt various little things that can create a major impact in the contracts department."

Anonymous

"When you correlate your coursework with your day-to-day work, we get a chance to discuss the problems with faculty. It gives better confidence and how to implement theoretical aspects to practical problems. It adds value to your work."

Anonymous

"The professors are relating everything practically at sight, which is interesting. As a working professional, we might have a fear that we might not complete the course. If you listen to the lectures, it will become an addiction. You just need to enroll and start learning this course."

Anonymous

"There are recorded sessions which make it flexible for working professionals. Daily you have to watch the lectures for at least 45 minutes which can be completed during travel and practice at home. Even the exams are MCQ, making it easy for working professionals to attend."

Anonymous

"The way the professors teach, the methodology they adopt from the feedback - they supplement all these with case studies and examples. This is very useful to those who are in this field. It was organised in a very systematic way."

Anonymous

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Construction Technology and Management – Cohort 5 | IIT Madras