Information Technology Applications
	It is well known that effective/efficient use of Information Technology(IT) in civil/structural engineering would save time and cost of construction and maintenance of structures/facilities by the AEC industry.  Development and use of integrated computer and IT applications is the present trend world wide. Vigorous efforts are being made to develop methodologies and solutions for integration making use of latest  developments in computer and information technologies. A survey was conducted to assess the use of computers and IT by the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry in India during 2002-2003. The assessment gives an idea of the overall status  based on which suggestions are made on the directions for improvement. Present trend is to develop  environments for integrated  use of computers and IT to improve the productivity of  the  AEC  industry.  Information and communication technologies play a major role in these  developments. Object-oriented modeling, data exchange standards, 3D/4D modeling/visualization of structures/facilities, virtual construction  are some of the important  topics of   research and development.