THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Centurion University on Thursday concluded the four-day International Conference on Sustainability and Cultural Heritage in Digital Construction (SuCHID 2026), bringing together more than 250 academicians, researchers, architects and policymakers from India and abroad to explore how emerging technologies can help preserve cultural heritage while advancing sustainable development.

Organised by the Department of Civil Engineering of Centurion University in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, NIT Karnataka Surathkal, the University of Western Australia and Griffith University, the conference was held from September 28 to October 1 under the theme "Reviving the past, Reimagining our future".

Participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Singapore and different parts of India discussed ways to reconcile rapid urbanisation and technological development with the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The conference placed particular emphasis on emerging digital technologies such as Digital Twins, Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), high-resolution digital archives, 3D laser scanning, artificial intelligence and building information modelling, highlighting their potential to document, monitor and preserve heritage structures while creating immersive digital experiences.

Chief Guest Sundara Madhaba Padhi, Chief Operating Officer of the Odisha Maritime Board and General Manager of OTDC, Government of Odisha, said India's rich cultural heritage, rooted in ancient traditions, architecture and diverse artistic expressions, needed to be preserved alongside rapid industrialisation and urban development.

"India has a vibrant cultural heritage rooted in ancient traditions, magnificent architecture, and diverse artistic expressions. In the era of rapid industrialisation and urban development, we need to balance it with preservation of our past by using modern technologies and integration of advanced digital tools ranging from high-resolution 3D laser scanning and BIM to Artificial Intelligence," Padhi said.

He expressed confidence that the deliberations at the conference would contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations and the formulation of robust policy frameworks for integrating technology with heritage preservation.

Centurion University Vice Chancellor Prof. Supriya Pattanayak said the rapidly changing global landscape required interdisciplinary thinking, research-driven solutions and a strong commitment to innovation, sustainable development and skill integration.

"I am confident that SuCHID-2026 will facilitate stimulating intellectual exchanges, encourage participants to explore new perspectives, and contribute to the advancement of education, research, innovation, and society," she said.

The technical sessions, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, covered a wide range of research areas at the intersection of civil engineering, sustainability, digital technologies and heritage conservation. Discussions included UAV-based photogrammetry and BIM applications for underground and rural infrastructure, advanced 3D-printed concrete technologies, geopolymers, low-carbon concrete and nanomechanical characterisation of cement-based materials.

The conference also examined the growing role of artificial intelligence in developing Digital Twins for civil infrastructure, along with smart structural health monitoring systems based on advanced sensor technologies. Climate and disaster resilience featured prominently, with experts discussing safety strategies for disaster-resilient infrastructure, engineering approaches to drought and measures for improving water sustainability.

The event was led by Centurion University's President Professor Mukti Kanta Mishra, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Dr Ajay Kumar Nayak, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof Biswajit Mishra, Director, IIC & AEI, Dr Sujata Chakravarty, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering Dr Jyoti Prakash Giri, Prof K V L Subramaniam of IIT Hyderabad and Er Bijoy Chandra Tripathy, former EIC (Buildings), IBC Odisha State Centre.

A large number of faculty members and staff also participated in the conference.

The organisers said SuCHID 2026 provided a platform for researchers, institutions and industry stakeholders to explore joint research initiatives and funded projects, with an emphasis on ensuring that technological and scientific advancement remains closely connected to social responsibility, sustainability and cultural preservation.

The conference underscored the growing scope for combining India's rich architectural and cultural legacy with cutting-edge digital construction technologies, opening avenues for collaborative research and innovative approaches to safeguarding heritage for future generations.