Srinagar, June 19: Two faculty members from the Civil Engineering Department at NIT Srinagar, Dr. Vivek and Dr. Sandeep Samantaray, have co-edited a reputed research book titled “Waste Utilization in Geotechnical Practice”. Wiley, a leading international academic publisher, has published the book.
It focuses on using different types of waste materials in geotechnical engineering work, such as improving soil, building embankments, and supporting foundations. The book highlights how waste can be safely and effectively used in construction, offering both environmental and economic benefits.
Dr. Vivek said the book was completed after several years of hard work and multiple revisions. “It is a proud moment for us. This book is the result of long efforts, and it reflects our goal of promoting sustainable and practical solutions in civil engineering,” he said. “We hope this book will serve as a useful reference for engineers and researchers who are working to reduce environmental damage while building strong and durable infrastructure. It’s a small step toward greener engineering practices,” Dr Vivek added. Dr. Sandeep Samantaray said the motivation behind the book was to address two major challenges: waste disposal and the need for sustainable construction.
“Across the world, engineers are looking for safe ways to use waste instead of sending it to landfills. In this book, we have shown how materials like fly ash, slag, construction debris, and other types of waste can be reused in geotechnical projects without compromising safety or strength,” he said.
Dr Sandeep said their focus was not just on the science, but also on practicality. This book talks about real-world applications, how to test waste materials, understand their behaviour, and use them responsibly in different construction settings,” he said. “Jammu and Kashmir is a region with challenging terrain and environmental concerns. We believe the knowledge shared in this book will help in designing infrastructure that is both strong and environmentally friendly,” Dr Sandeep added.
Both faculty members expressed their gratitude to the NIT Srinagar administration, including the Director and the Registrar, for their continuous encouragement, institutional support, and research-friendly environment, which made this publication possible. The book explains the properties of various waste materials, how to test and use them in construction, and what environmental impacts they may have. It also looks at the cost benefits and rules related to using waste in building projects. The authors believe this book can help address the growing problem of waste disposal while supporting safer and more eco-friendly development. Improper waste disposal can pollute underground water and take up large areas of land. The book shows how some of this waste can be used as an alternative to traditional building materials, which can help reduce environmental harm and cut construction costs.
Dr. Vivek has eight international and national patents granted in transportation engineering and has published more than 19 research papers. His research focuses on pavement materials, road design, and the use of geotextiles. Dr. Sandeep has taken part in over 50 international conferences and published 40 journal papers. He also holds 11 patents. His main research interests are in watershed management, waste materials, and sustainable environmental planning. Apart from Dr. S. Samantaray and Dr. Vivek from NIT Srinagar, this book has been edited by Dr. S. Samantasinghar, Dr. A. S. Sahoo, and Dr. D. P. Satapathy from Bhubaneswar, and Dr. S. K. Mohanty from SM Consultants, Bhubaneswar, respectively. The book is now available through Wiley’s global publishing platform and is expected to help students, engineers, researchers, and professionals working in the field of civil and environmental engineering
