Ms Shalaka Hire

I undertake research on the adoption of BIM specifically for site safety with international applicability. This research is a collaboration between Symbiosis Institute of Technology, India, and Loughborough University, UK.

As a part of my research, I have conducted institute-level webinars and sessions on BIM for the construction industry in India. My research aims to see the paradigm shift in construction safety practices. The majority of the construction activities are digitised now. Digitization in the construction industry gives efficient and effective ways to manage several construction aspects leading to improved productivity. Along with these aspects, safety management also needs special attention in terms of digitalization, for a safer, more efficient, and productive work environment on construction sites. My research interest deals with the automation of construction site safety practices. Considering the current rate of accidents, conventional practices are not enough. The focus of my research is on developing an automated model to optimise construction site safety using BIM. This research involves site safety throughout the life cycle of the project involving the key areas such as hazard identification, safety checking and mitigation, information management, and many others.

Summary of expertise

Building Information Modeling (BIM), Construction Safety, Automation, Integrative approach

Current research activity

• Development of a model for construction site safety using BIM
• Research publication in CIB W78 Information Technology for Construction 39th Conference 2022, Melbourne, and paper in the journal of international standing
• Software training at Loughborough and its implementation in the case study
• Site visit on UK construction site to assimilate the site processes of international level construction project
• Session delivery on “Introduction to BIM” at Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune, India. 

Recently completed research projects

• Artificial Intelligence for safety checking on construction ladders
• Comparative analysis of bim based tools for optimizing construction safety
• Advance concrete composites for improved performance

• Sandbhor, Sayali, Ruikar Kirti, and Hire Shalaka (2022). "Paradigm Shift in Construction Processes with Industry 4.0." In Ketan Kotecha, Satish Kumar, Arunkumar Bongale, R. Suresh (editors), Industry 4.0 in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), 1^st edition, pp. 33-52. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003200857
• Hire S., Ranjan A., Ruikar K., and Sandbhor S. “AI-driven Safety Checks for Ladders used on Construction Sites”. CIB W78 Information Technology for Construction 39th Conference, RMIT university, Melbourne. Accepted 
• Hire, S., Sandbhor, S. & Ruikar, K. Bibliometric Survey for Adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Construction Industry– A Safety Perspective. Arch Computat Methods Eng 29, 679–693 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-021-09584-9
• Hire, S., Sandbhor, S., Ruikar, K. et al. BIM usage benefits and challenges for site safety application in Indian construction sector. Asian J Civ Eng 22, 1249–1267 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-021-00379-8

I contribute to learning and teaching activities including project supervision across the Schools programmes including: 

Undergraduate

• Course delivery for Third year Btech (civil engineering) students on “Quantity Surveying and Valuation” at Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International University, Pune, India. (QS world university ranking between 501-550 in the World, 11th in India). https://www.sitpune.edu.in/
• Assistant professor in “S.M.E.S. Sanghavi College of Engineering” (Institute under Pune University), Nashik, India.http://www.scenashik.org/
• Lecturer in Joshi’s Classes (It has been the best institute for engineering courses in Nashik for the last 20 years). https://joshisclasses.com/

Current projects 

• Building Information Modeling for Construction Safety
• Artificial Intelligence for safety checking on construction ladders

After my master's, I worked as an Assistant professor at the Institute under Pune University and taught different subjects like System approach, Quality management, Structural Analysis, and Environmental Engineering. Being a civil engineer, I am attracted to innovation and research in civil engineering.

Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. from “The Symbiosis Institute of Technology” in Pune, India. The aim of my research is to develop an automated model for construction site safety using BIM. While doing my research, I have also supervised graduate-level projects in the construction domain. My research is in collaboration with Loughborough University and is jointly supervised by Dr. Sayali Sandbhor and Dr. Kirti Ruikar. I have published research papers in conferences and journals of international standing.

In 2022, I was awarded a prestigious Commonwealth Split Site Scholarship, funded by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), that allowed me to conduct my research at Loughborough University, in the UK for one year. As my research has a globally applicable industrial background, I look forward to implementing it. I am also keen to learn new approaches from industries and academics that would help me to contribute to the development of the construction industry.

Professional affiliations

• Senior Research Fellow at Symbiosis International University, India
• Member of American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE)
• Autodesk Certified

Awards

• Commonwealth Split-site scholarship by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).