EDITORIAL

Technology meets Psychology

My recent trip to Delhi was indeed a thought provoking one for a change!

My forty winks siesta was well intrigued by an interesting conversation between two smartly dressed, sophisticated young professionals, one desi and one firangi with their mini computers open on their laps. Later, I came to know that they were Civil Engineers interning with one of the reputed research Institutes in India in the field of psychology. Their conversation touched upon psychology related issues ranging from employee efficiency to inefficient behaviour to subordinate motivation using communication skills to ergonomics. Ergonomics, as we understand, which I understood after doing some research subsequently, refers to three groups of human characteristics- physical, physiological, and psychological or behavioral and addresses the human-machine-system interface. The guiding concept of ergonomics is that the human is an integral element of the system, and not merely a user or an operator to be considered after the system is developed.

Though Ergonomics considerations in Civil engineering areas have been limited, there are some areas in structural engineering, transportation engineering and town planning, where these are applied successfully. For example, an architect can design a better facility in a city if he identifies himself with the collective response of human beings living in a society. A structural engineer can take into account occupant‘s comfort during wind-induced vibrations in a tall building motion and so on.

There are several categories of experimental psychology that would be of interest to civil engineers and architects and can be successfully integrated to produce maximum benefits. If some of these are to be listed, Cognitive psychology - human thought processes, including awareness, perception, reasoning, judgment, and decision making; Industrial/organizational psychology-workplace behavior to increase productivity, efficiency, and safety ; Educational psychology- the processes of learning, remembering, and thinking in order to design, develop, and evaluate materials and procedures for education and training; Environmental psychology- how cognitive and psychological processes affect the design of environments ; Social psychology- how a person’s thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are affected by the presence of other people; and so on.

Should we Civil Engineers and Architects be concerned with human behaviour, attitudinal development, environment and economics? Should we have technical and societal knowledge at our command? Whether the collaboration between psychologists and civil engineers in the pursuit of excellence benefit? – Issues to be addressed at all levels on a continuous basis.

This issue of Built Expressions on Steel Structures is an extension of its previous issue on Pre Engineered Metal Buildings and is based on the proceedings of STEELCON, a national Seminar held at Mysore. With other regular key topics featured, Built Expressions will continue to enthrall its readers as ever.

With Best Wishes,

Ajit Sabnis