JUIT Conducts Three-Day Advanced STAAD.Pro Training for HPPWD Engineers

Waknaghat, Aug 02, 2026: The Department of Civil Engineering at Jaypee University of Information Technology (JUIT), Waknaghat, successfully organised a three-day training programme on “Design Optimization of RCC Structures and Shear Walls using STAAD.Pro” for 23 engineers from the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) from July 28 to 30.

The programme was inaugurated in the presence of JUIT Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Sharma, Registrar Brig. R.K. Sharma, the Dean (Research & Innovation), Dean (Accreditation), faculty members, students and participating HPPWD engineers.

Welcoming the participants, Training Coordinator Dr. Tanmay Gupta highlighted the significance of advanced structural design training in Himachal Pradesh, where seismic vulnerability, challenging terrain and diverse building configurations demand robust engineering solutions. He explained that optimized structural design and effective shear wall placement can enhance structural performance, reduce unnecessary use of concrete and steel, minimise design errors and improve project efficiency.

In his inaugural address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.K. Sharma emphasised the need to develop indigenous engineering tools for structural applications and encouraged the integration of Machine Learning and other emerging digital technologies into civil engineering projects to address future infrastructure challenges.

The intensive training programme covered advanced STAAD.Pro modelling and analysis of RCC buildings, structural optimisation, seismic analysis, Physical Modeller applications, shear wall and shear core modelling, torsional behaviour, drift control, ductile detailing, model verification, troubleshooting and interpretation of design outputs.

Participants also undertook practical exercises comparing different structural configurations, including models with and without shear walls and releases, enabling them to better understand their impact on structural performance, safety and cost efficiency.

Expert sessions were conducted by Prof. Himanshu Chawla from Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, and Mr. Anukool Kumar, Assistant Manager at Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Pvt. Ltd., providing participants with valuable academic and industry perspectives.

The programme concluded with a valedictory session and certificate distribution. Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Prof. Ashish Kumar, thanked the participating engineers and HPPWD for their continued collaboration with JUIT. He appreciated the participants’ enthusiastic involvement and expressed hope for future training programmes in emerging areas of civil engineering.

The initiative strengthened the technical capabilities of HPPWD engineers in delivering safer, more economical and performance-oriented RCC designs while reinforcing the long-standing academia-industry partnership between JUIT and HPPWD.