Banedanmark Aims to Deliver Denmark’s First High-Speed Line On-time and On-budget Using Smart Technology

The Danish Parliament passed an act approving the construction of a new dual track, electrified railway running from Copenhagen to Ringsted via Køge, Denmark. Capable of handling passenger train speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, the new line will be Denmark’s first high speed railway, and its largest rail project for many years. Responsibility for establishing the 60-kilometer line, which will include four tunnels, 88 bridges, and require the expropriation of around 290 hectares of land, fell to Banedanmark, Denmark’s national rail owner-operator. Its stated aim was to construct the line on time and within budget, setting a best-in-class example for all European rail projects, in a competitive market, using state-of-the-art technology. Construction of the new line commenced back in 2012 with completion scheduled for late 2018.

The Banedanmark team used an extensive list of Bentley software on the project including:

Ø  ProjectWise, which helped ensure data could be shared between all parties involved across 20 different contracts on the project. The connected data environment provided by ProjectWise was split into pre-tender, post-tender, and as-built information, ensuring that only the right users had access to information relevant to their organization, contract, and role. This well-coordinated process resulted in contract costs that were 9.3 percent lower than estimated, and an overall budget saving for Banedanmark of 10 to 15 percent.

Ø  MicroStation, chosen to ensure that all project information could be visualized within a comprehensive modeling environment. The flexibility offered by the DGN format and tools within MicroStation made it possible for the team to combine data generated using Bentley applications and third-party software for tasks including consistency and clash control, creation of multi-discipline sections or hypermodels, quantity takeoffs, quality checks, and high resolution visualizations and animations.

Ø  Bentley Rail Track, used to create 3D models of the minimum infrastructure gauge. Built-in Danish design standards and validation enabled Banedanmark to create models and animations approximately 10 times faster than using other techniques.

Ø  PowerCivil for Sweden, which enable the team to easily extract earthworks volumes. The 3D models were then used by the contractors for machine control, increasing the accuracy and speed of works. Finally, mapping functionality within PowerCivil for Sweden made it possible to exchange data with ArcGIS, Banedanmark’s GIS in operations and maintenance.

As a result of its achievements on the Copenhagen – Ringsted project, Banedanmark implemented a strategic project called The Digital Railway of Future. The project’s mission is to look at implementing the same methods and requirements on all construction projects in the future, and to explore the potential for using models and intelligent data generated during design and construction within asset management, implementing a whole lifecycle approach to BIM.

Gita Mohshizadeh, CAD manager, Banedanmark, said, “Bentley’s commitment to providing the tools necessary to support the whole lifecycle of assets and interoperability with other design and construction software means that Banedanmark’s project information is usable, well-coordinated, and well-documented.”

Air India to Buy Six Boeing 787 Dreamliners By Raising $740 Million

The government may be looking at disinvesting Air India, but the flag carrier is going ahead with its fleet expansion plans and looking for interim financing worth $740 million (around Rs 4,720 crore) for buying six 787 Dreamliners.

The airline has invited offers from from banks and financial institutions to arrange bridge financing for the amount for 15 months to buy these Boeing planes. This could mean that a single plane could cost $123.3 million.

Earlier in March, Air India had sought $470 million or around Rs 3,100 crore from banks and financial institutions to buy four Dreamliners from Boeing. Of the six, three aircraft have been delivered, while the rest would be delivered by October. No government guarantee was given for the three aircraft which were delivered already.

The government has now indicated that they would issue guarantee for all the six aircraft and Air India is looking at refinancing the bridge loan for the three delivered planes, and interim bridge financing for the rest for a period of 15 months.

Loan requirement

“In addition to the government guarantee, Air India will offer the aircraft as security. The facility should be a direct loan without the requirement for formation of a special purpose vehicle structure, which requires title transfer,” the tender document, issued last Friday, said.

“Air India would prefer to have a bullet repayment for this facility or a suitable moratorium period for payment of principal amount under this facility. The bidder with the lower all in costs would be selected,” it said.

As part of fleet expansion plan, in 2006, Air India had placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft -- 27 Dreamliners, 15 777-300ERs, eight 777-200LRs and 18 737-800s.

Winners of the IET South Asia ‘Present Around the World’ (PATW) Competition Announced

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) announced Shubham Saraff, 3rd year student of Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai as the winner of the IET South Asia 'Present round the World (PATW) 2017 finals in a ceremony that took place at My Fortune Hotel, Bangalore. PATW is a global presentation competition for students, graduates and young professionals aged 18-30 years and aims to provide a platform to showcase and explore their talent and innovative thinking.

Shubham Saraff’s winning presentation focused on the topic “Neuron that shape our Civilization”.

He was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 40,000 (£ 400) and will now compete in the global finals to be held in London during November  this year for a cash prize of Rs. £1,000 (approx. Rs. 100,000/-). Kshipra Rajhans, 4^th year student from K K Wagh Institute of Engineering Education & Research, Nashik was declared runner up for her presentation on the topic “Smart City” and was awarded with the cash prize of Rs. 30,000 (£300).

The competition aims to instill a sense of culture of application for engineers, where they use their technical knowledge to solve a social problem and develop their communication skills in the process. As part of the competition, the individual competitors give a presentation for 10 minutes on a subject related to engineering and technology.

The IET, having taken the initiative to conduct SA PATW, short lists candidates and trains them to get ready for the competition. The competition gives engineering aspirants an exposure and recognition at a global level and the IET supports and mentors the shortlisted candidates throughout.

This year, the competition witnessed participation from engineers across India and Sri Lanka vying for the top honors. The jury included Gangaraj H S Deputy Chief Engineer BMRC, Chinari Badrinath Prusty, Director Risk and Finance IT, Credit Suisse, G Uday Shankar, CEO of Brand Equity and Vivek Saxena, MD Career Modifiers.

On the side lines of the event, Shekhar Sanyal, Country Head and Director, IET India said “With the curriculum changes being made, Universities and Education bodies are focusing on skill development programmes for students. With the focus largely being on technical skills, soft-skills is taking a back seat. It is important for students to enhance their communication skills in order to apply the theoretical knowledge they have gained into practical solutions. Being a go-to source for engineering institutions, the IET conducts competitions like PATW which helps provide a unique platform for students and young professionals to showcase their presentation skills and in turn contribute to their holistic development. We are really happy about the response we have received for this competition over the years.”

Free Seminar for Multiple Sclerosis by Vikram Hospital and Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI)

Vikram Hospital, Bengaluru’s trusted quaternary care and multi-specialty health   facility in association with Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) is organising a Free Seminar & Consultation Camp for patients with multiple sclerosis. 

The camp will include interactive session on Mechanism of MS diseases, Advances in treatment of MS, Memory & Cognitive issues in MS.

Yoga, meditation & physiotherapy for MS patients will be demonstrated by experts during the workshop.

For free registration and camp related queries please call 8884416662 @ Vikram Hospital or 9945012626@ MSSI

The camp will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - 9:00am to 11am. The entry is free and will be held at the Vikram Hospital, Millers Road, Opp St Anne’s College, Bengaluru.

Home Healthcare Services a Viable Solution to Fight Shortage of Beds this Dengue Season

The much-awaited monsoon rains, while bringing immense relief from the oppressive summer heat, also heralds dreaded cases of diseases like dengue, chikungunya, typhoid and malaria. Until May 31 2017, even before the onset of monsoon, a total of 11,402 cases of dengue and 11 deaths due to the virus have been reported throughout the country. Kerala with 4,735 cases, recorded 41.5% of the total dengue cases. In the capital Delhi, while the numbers haven't gone up as much, they are certainly on the rise. The latest data released by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) mentions a total of 61 dengue and 131 chikungunya cases in the city and neighboring areas right from January onwards, which is usually considered to be a non-transmission period. On a worrying note, there were 21 cases of dengue and 35 of chikungunya in just one week in June.

As was witnessed in the last few years, the pressure on the resources of hospitals, both private and public, is enormous during this season. The Delhi government has already issued a circular directing hospitals to increase their approved bed strength by 10–20% for a period of six months. Along with existing wards, these extra beds are to be accommodated in corridors and waiting areas as well. News about makeshift beds built using stretchers, sticks and duct tapes isn't uncommon during this period. Such is the toll the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya can take. This is when alternative health delivery services like homecare proves to be most efficient in tackling the emergency.

Dr.GauravThukral, Senior Vice -PresidentandBusinessUnitDirector,HCAH said, “By providing requisite medical services within the patient’s home, homecare provides a viable solution for both hospitals and patients. While the former can widen their reach by freeing beds for new patients during demanding times like the upsurge in dengue cases, the latter does not have to worry about not finding adequate care, as all necessary medical set-up will be made available at their own place of residence. Homecare services cover around 70% of all healthcare requirements of a patient. This includes pathology tests, medical equipment rentals and purchases and medicine delivery. Thus, patients affected with dengue can be effectively treated within the confines of their homes where they can receive personalized care and undergo treatment and recovery in an environment they are most comfortable in”.

Dengue is caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the Aedesaegypti species. The mosquito gets infected with the dengue virus when it feeds on an infected person’s blood. Symptoms of denguestart manifesting about four to six days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. A drop in the platelet count is a major characteristic symptom of dengue fever. The other most common symptoms are high body temperature, headache, pain behind the eyes, joints and muscles pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes and low blood pressure. In some cases, the disease can develop into a more serious form called Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). 

Although the vaccination for dengue fever was approved for use in dengue endemic areas in April 2016, it is yet to be adopted for use. A suspected dengue patient should undergo a few essential lab-tests in order to confirm the disease and subsequently administer appropriate course of treatment. These tests include Dengue Serology test, Dengue NS1 Antigen test and a complete blood (platelet) count test. With home based medical services, patientsnow have the option of getting these tests done in their respective homes. Home healthcare providers like HealthCare atHOME (HCAH) offers lab sample collection facility at home for dengue patients as well as for other diseases. This facility has made it convenient for patients who are already suffering from fever or other illnesses to get the blood tests done within their comfort zone.  This is done by the team of highly trained DMLT certified phlebotomists and NABL accredited labs.

He further added, “In addition to the growing line of patients, the risks of hospital-acquired infections can further affect dengue patients while aggravating the already encumbered hospital infrastructure. Even with the very best of precautions, it isn't possible to eliminate the risk of infection. Especially during an emergency like dengue outbreaks, this can be hard to avoid when many patients are suffering from weak immunity. While dengue itself is a non-communicable disease, there are chances of contracting several other infections. Those with existing medical conditions like diabetes and very young and very old patients face highest risks. The repercussions of hospital-acquired infections are many. While causing added illness, they can result in longer recovery time and longer stay in hospitals. This can be strenuous to both the patients and the hospitals. However, with home based medical care, the risks of such infections are removed since treatment is done within the patient’s home. Therefore, homecare isn't just a convenient healthcare service for patients but is also an extension of the services provided by regular hospitals. By vacating beds, widening the reach of doctors and reducing chances of infections, homecare not only proves to be invaluable but also indispensable for the efficient treatment of dengue and chikungunya”.

Home based healthcare operates in a simple but well-regulated manner. Consulting doctors and physicians advise treatments for patients, which the professionally trained homecare health providers implement accordingly. With the help of advanced communication technology, doctors are kept in the loop about the patient’s condition all the time and real-time data can be shared with them. This allows the doctors to intervene at any point of time, giving them complete control over their patients and making the care dynamic.

Preparations and precautions for the outbreak of dengue andchikungunya need to be carried out well in advance. While the government and the hospitals are doing their part in increasing bed numbers and ensuring medical resources are up to date, homecare can be a part of this preparatory measures by being an extension of the hospital services and work as a distributed hospital itself within the precinct of the patient’s home.

De Beers Donates Rs 1 Crore for Education & Empowering Girl Child and Supporting the Needy Children at GJEPC’s CSR Initiative

Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), in association with De Beers, presented the third edition of the ‘Jewellers for Hope’ gala charity dinner with an aim to collaboratively contribute for the upliftment of downtrodden and support the needy on the evening of July 27 (inaugural day of IIJS 2017).  Banker& Philanthropist Amruta Devendra Fadnavis and Actor Arjun Kapoor graced the occasion. This year the proceeds shall go to Girl Rising, Nanhi Kali NGOs working for the empowerment of Girl Child and Make a Wish Foundation, an NGO playing an integral role by granting the most cherished wish of Children living with life threatening illnesses hailing from socio economically backward society.

Cheques amounting to Rs. 1 crore were presented to three NGOs - with Rs. 33 lakhs each to Girl Rising and Make a Wish and Rs. 35 lakhs to Nanhi Kali Foundation. Noted singer Rekha Bhardwaj regaled audiences with a soul-stirring live performance. The event was hosted by the inimitable Mandira Bedi.  

Praveenshankar Pandya (Chairman, GJEPC), Russell Mehta (Vice Chairman, GJEPC) and Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, Global Sightholder Sales, De Beers Group, hosted several jewellers, celebrities and prominent personalities expressed their views on aiding & empowering girl child during the black tie sit-down dinner. Manoj Dwivedi, Joint Secretary, Dept. of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India and many other prominent personalities from the gems & jewellery sector attended the event.

Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC, says, “CSR is the fabric of the gems & jewellery industry to help those in need and share happiness and we want to take it one step further to focus on collaborative social responsibility. The gem & jewellery industry has been involved in large-scale philanthropic and charitable activities particularly in the field of education and health long before CSR became mandatory. This year, our industry has collectively come together through Jewellers for Hope in association with De Beers to fund three leading NGOs – Nanhi Kali and Girl Rising devoted to empowerment of the girl child; and Make a Wish dedicated to granting the most cherished wish of children between 5-15 years. Giving Back to the Society will make a big difference and transform the lives of many. I am overwhelmed by the contribution by the industry donors and convey gratitude to De Beers, whose support made this event successful.”    

Paul Rowley, Executive Vice President, Global Sightholder Sales, De Beers Group, said, “At De Beers and Forevermark, we have a strong focus on the upliftment of women as we know how important they are to all aspects of our business – as employees, as government partners, as consumers, as community stakeholders, as ambassadors and as inspirations. They are a huge part – in fact by far the largest part – of our future success and we see it as a clear priority to improve the prospects of women and girls around the world.”

Russell Mehta, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, said, “Purchasing Jewellery is a joyous occasion in itself and the gem & jewellery industry serves joy and happiness with every purchase. CSR is a step further in spreading happiness in the lives of people but more importantly through Jewellers for Hope, we focus on Collaborative Social Responsibility rather than corporate social responsibility. Consolidated efforts will give an impetus to the magnification of the impact of each one who takes up the challenge of making a difference. Jewellery industry has a heart and we are here to spread happiness.”

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) was set up by the Ministry of Commerce and industry, Government of India (GoI) in 1966. It was one of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) launched by the Indian Government, to boost the country’s export thrust, when India’s post-Independence economy began making forays in the international markets. Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status. The GJEPC is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today it represents over 6,000 exporters in the sector. 

With headquarters in Mumbai, the GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur, all of which are major centres for the industry. It thus has a wide reach and is able to have a closer interaction with members to serve them in a direct and more meaningful manner. Over the past decades, the GJEPC has emerged as one of the most active EPCs, and has continuously strived to both expand its reach and depth in its promotional activities as well as widen and increase services to its members.

Robots Will Now Assist Surgeons in Hair Transplant at Hairline International

Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic has launched a novel means of  Hair Transplant at their clinic. Known as the Human Assisted Rapid Robotic Hair Transplant (HARRTS), now a Robot will maximize hair transplant results manifold when compared to conventional methods of FUT, FUE and the combination technique. It also reduces the time frame in which a transplant takes place.

Explaining the functioning of the Robotic Hair Transplant system, ‘Dr. Dinesh G Gowda, Dermatosurgeon, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic says, “While the dermatosurgeon is the one who inputs required fields in terms of depth for extraction and implantation, number of follicles to be extracted as well as the area of implantation, it is the robot that accurately carries out the entire procedure’.

“The Robot It consists of a hand piece that is uniquely designed for speed, safety and accuracy. Placed close to the hand piece is the Cold Bio-Fluid Storage canister which ensures that the grafts have good survival rate in the cold storage safety punch. Each of the punches are uniquely designed for accurate depth control and the silicone covering over the step prevents rotational skin abrasion that is common. The implanter is the first of its kind in the world that implants grafts with and without a slit creation thereby avoiding any unnecessary incisions into the skin, oozing or the flooding of grafts, pop outs etc ensuring that the implantation time is reduced by half when compared to other methods of transplant”, adds Dr. Gowda.

Speaking on introducing Robotic Hair Transplant at Hairline International, Bani Anand, Founder and Managing Director, Hairline International Hair and Skin Clinic says, “We have seen that patients want procedures that are quick, minimally painful and non invasive which yield the best results. Robotic Hair Transplant ensures high levels of accuracy and results. In fact, considering the reduced number of personnel required to complete the procedure, the patient is much more at ease as well. The system also comes with an integrated cloud data management system which makes programing of depth for extraction and implantation easy and accurate”.

Robotic Hair Transplant ensures that the infection rate and bleeding is minimal as the procedure is extremely accurate in terms of depth and breadth of extraction or implantation of the hair. In fact, depth control can be pre-fixed using a calibrated computerized approach. The procedure ensures that there is minimal exposure of hair follicles to an external environment reducing dessication and depth the follicles and thus enhancing the results of a hair transplant.