# Tblproject

protitle:
Solar Powered Torrefaction-Energy Recovery from Solid Waste and Biomass

prointro:
Municipal solid waste is very complex in constitute and non-uniform in nature. Suitable technology adoption is key challenge. As per our earlier experience, waste management is not only science but it’s an art. The Key challenge to treat this complex waste is separation technique, which is done by waste separator developed by us. By this effort we can totally convert our waste in resources implementing concept of 4R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Remove). Torrefaction is a mild pyrolysis, which has been explored for the pretreatment of biomass to increase the heating value and hydrophobicity. Its potential applications includes making torrefied pellets which, can be used as a high quality feed stock in gasification for high quality syngas production, substitute for coal in thermal power plants and metallurgical processes. Torrefaction pertains to a thermal pretreatment of biomass where raw biomass is heated in an inert atmosphere at temperatures of 200–300 0C for the purpose of upgrading solid biomass fuel [4]. Nitrogen is used as acarrier gas to provide a non-oxidizing atmosphere. Since torrefaction is conducted at conditions similar to those of pyrolysis which usually takes place between 350-650 0C [5], torrefaction has also been called mild pyrolysis. Raw biomass is characterized by its high moisture content, low calorific value, hygroscopic nature, and larger volume or low bulk density. However, after undergoing torrefaction the properties of biomass are improved to a great extent [6, 7]. The benefits accomplished by torrefaction include (1) higher heating value or energy density; (2) lower atomic O/C and H/C ratios and moisture content; (3) higher hydrophobicity or water-resistivity; (4) improved grindability and reactivity; and (5) more uniform properties of biomass.

proobj:
1.	Segregation of waste by machine using balancing and equilibrium of forces
2.	Composting from organics 
3.	Fiber recovery from valuable fiber containing waste like coconut, textiles etc.
4.	Pyrolysis of polymeric waste material like plastics to recover energy material in form of liquid, solid and gas
5.	Torrefaction using solar heater 
6.	Use of Nitrogen as a carrier gas to provide a non-oxidizing atmosphere to increase the heating value and hydrophobicity
7. Establishment of other recycling route for treatment of different kind waste stream

prometho:
1. Modelling will be used to arrive at initial designs of subsystem (e.g. segregation, solar dryer, torrefaction and pyrolysis)
2. Experimentation with the resulting prototypes will lead to verification and refinement of the models
3. All the subsystems will be integrated in prototypes of the complete energy recovery system
4. Iterative build, test and modification will then be the way forward to deliver the advanced prototypes from the project

prosummary:
Modeling and procurement of component and Fabrication 
Preparation of Segregation unit using balancing and equilibrium of forces
Composting from organics and fiber recovery from valuable fiber containing waste like coconut, textiles etc
Pyrolysis of polymeric waste material like plastics to recover energy material in form of liquid, solid and gas
Experimental Trials & Data gathering, publication in thermal engineering
Validation of achieved results, optimization and automation, publication
Field testing, publication, patent
Draft completion report  for review (3 month prior to date of completion )

proEoutcome:
Expected Target Beneficiaries:	
Each and every person of India. The proposed plan serves big public issue and national service to minimize solid waste permanently.

Expected Impact
1.	Total reduction of waste by decentralized resource recovery stations
2.	Generating an employment at local level, Decrease level of migration towards cities.
3.	Create value for landfill by reducing its burden and creating cleanliness.
4.	No Landfill and Plastics free dumping site. Direct improvement in Air Quality due to absence of open burning of landfill dumps.
5.	Save cows from eating plastics, clogging the drainage lines etc.

FAScheme:
Development and Promotion of Clean Technology and Waste Minimisation Strategies


protitle:
Development of device quality III-V/Ge/Si epitaxial structures and optoelectronic devices on their base

prointro:
The design, preparation and characterization of solar cells on the base of the Ge/Si and GaAs/Ge/Si heterostructures (samples of these heterostructures would be provided by Russian partner). The electro-analytical and optical measurements of device structures and solar cells. The results will be correlated to fabrication conditions, morphology of layers and electronic properties of the materials in coordination with Russian and Chinese partners.

proobj:
•	Design and preparation of solar cells on the base of III-V/Ge/Si heterostructures.
•	Electro-analytical characterization of solar cells and photodetectors on the base of Ge/Si and III-V/Ge/Si heterostructures with YSZ antireflection films.

prometho:
The fabricated devices will be characterized by I-V measurements, C-V measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) measurements. The characterization results will be correlated to the processing parameters through theoretical modelling in order to optimize these parameters to achieve better performance. The proposed EIS measurements would be employed due to its following advantages: (1) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is very sensitive to variation of interfacial impedance influenced by dislocations. (2) Semicircles in Nyquist plots are followed by a diffusion line (Warburg Impedance) at lower frequencies that illustrates that the electrochemical impedance is controlled by both charge transfer and diffusion process. (3) Correlation of charge transfer resistance can be established with the TDD. (4) Decreasing the magnitude of impedance at intermediate frequencies by increasing dislocation density indicates decrease of the double-layer thickness. (5) Bode-phase diagrams can be used to find the number of time constants and interfacial charge transfer mechanism for the samples. The results of EIS may be used to optimize the active layers of the device to improve the electrical performance.

prosummary:
While silicon and gallium arsenide (III-V semiconductors) are dominant materials in modern micro- and nanoelectronics, devices fabricated from them still use Si and GaAs substrates only separately. Integrating these materials on the large and cheep Si substrate has been the subject of enormous research efforts for the past few decades. This project is planned towards the development of device quality III-V/Ge/Si epitaxial structures and their optoelectronic device applications. The devices fabricated devices would be characterized in India through various characterization tools, e.g. I-V, C-V, impedance spectroscopic measurements. The findings of this project would be reported in various journal and conferences. It may help in completion of Ph.D. of the prospective student. This project is expected to produce III-V solar cells grown on Si/SiGe with output open-circuit voltage around 1.5 volts or even greater. Further, it would help in achieving maximum absorption of solar spectrum through band gap engineered cell on Si. This project may help in demonstrating close to 30% efficient III-V/Ge/Si solar cells and >45% efficiency in concentrator photovoltaic applications.

proEoutcome:
(1)	The carrier lifetime in device quality III-V material with Si substrate for various TDD.
(2)	Explanation for difference in carrier lifetime on the basis of the mobility their correlation with residual dislocations.
(3)	Measurement of built-in voltages of various device structures with different TDD, which may be related to the depletion region recombination.
(4)	A theoretical model that may explain the the polarity preference for diodes (and solar cells) depending on (1) whether depletion-region recombination dominates the diode leakage current, and, in that case, (2) whether holes and electrons have different mobility values. Built-in voltages remain higher in cases where the higher lifetime carrier is the minority carrier in the base region of the diode. 
(5)	Device performance with respect to the variation in TDD to optimize process parameters.

FAScheme:
BRICS Multilateral Research and Development Projects - Pilot call 2016


protitle:
Design and Development of High Resolution Spectroscopic Diagnostics on SST-1 and ADITYA-U Tokamak

prointro:
Recent experimental evidences suggest that the understanding of Plasma
rotations and impurrity transport is of importance to
achieve optimum nuclear fusion in a Tokamak reactor. High Plasma rotation
shows increased confinement and stability in a Tokamak Plasma, whereas
understanding impurity transport of various (intrinsic and seeded) impurities
give insight into overall plasma behavior. The confinement in a Tokamak is
limited by particle and energy transport from core to the edge of the plasma.
Moreover little in known about the Physics of L-H transition, formation of
transport barriers etc. In the above scenario, detailed investigation of
ion temperature, rotation velocity and impurity concentration will provide
insight into particle, momentum and heat transport studies in a Tokamak.

proobj:
Development, and installation of Charge Exchange Recombination
Spectroscopy (CXRS) diagnostic on SST-1 and  Imaging x-ray crystal
spectrometer (IXCS) diagnostics on ADITYA-U.
Performing experimental measurements during various tokamak operations involving ohmic heating,
NBI heating, ICRH and ECRH heating etc. and analysis.

prometho:
The current proposal therefore has the following objectives.
(1)Installation of two diagnostics on tokamak: Charge Exchange Recombination
Spectroscopy (CXRS) diagnostic on SST-1 and  Imaging x-ray crystal
spectrometer (IXCS) diagnostics on ADITYA-U. (2) Performing wavelength,
absolute intensity calibrations etc on the system. (3) Developing software
tools for complete data analysis. Implementing appropriate code such as
STRAHL etc for impurity transport study. (3) Performing experimental
measurements during various tokamak operations involving ohmic heating,
NBI heating, ICRH and ECRH heating etc. (4) Complete data analysis and
obtaining spatially and temporally resolved profiles of plasma rotation
velocities, impurity ion temperature and impurity behavior.

prosummary:
The project envisages development of two spectroscopic diagnostic tools 
for the SST-1 and ADITYA-U Tokamak at IPR namely the Charge Exchange 
Recombination Spectrometer (CXRS) and  Imaging x-ray crystal
spectrometer (IXCS) respectively. The spectrometers will be installed
in the Tokamaks with appropriate collection optics and CCD cameras for
measurements. Prior to the experimental measurements various calibrations
like the wavelength calibration, absolute intensity calibration etc. will
be carried out. Apart from this, development of software tools for complete
data analysis, impurity transport study through STRAHL code etc. The 
data obtained from experimental measurements of Plasma rotations and impurity
transport during various tokamak operations like ohmic heating, NBI heating,
ICRH and ECRH heating etc. will be analysed to obtain spatially and temporally 
resolved profiles of plasma rotation velocities, impurity ion temperature 
and impurity behavior.

proEoutcome:
Plasma parameters through the measurements and analysis using the diagnostic 
tools together with results from other diagnostics such as Thomson scattering 
etc., will be used to address various confinement related issues and 
understand overall plasma behavior. The results generated will provide  
complete understanding of the plasma and impurity behavior which will in 
turn give insight into impurity control in tokamak.
Results will be published at the end of the project.


protitle:
Design and Development of High Resolution Spectroscopic Diagnostics
on SST-1 and ADITYA-U Tokamak

proobj:
Development and installtion of two diagnostics on SST-1 and ADITYA-U 
Tokamak namely, the Charge Exchange Recombination
Spectrometer (CXRS) and Imaging x-ray crystal
spectrometer (IXCS) respectively. Performing experimental measurements
of Plasma rotations and impurity transport during various Tokamak operations
and anslysis of the data.

prometho:
The project envisages development of two spectroscopic diagnostic tools
for the SST-1 and ADITYA-U Tokamak at IPR namely the Charge Exchange
Recombination Spectrometer (CXRS) and  Imaging x-ray crystal
spectrometer (IXCS) respectively. The spectrometers will be installed
in the Tokamaks with appropriate collection optics and CCD cameras for
measurements. Prior to the experimental measurements various calibrations
like the wavelength calibration, absolute intensity calibration etc. will
be carried out. Apart from this, development of software tools for complete
data analysis, impurity transport study through STRAHL code etc. The
data obtained from experimental measurements of Plasma rotations and impurity
transport during various tokamak operations like ohmic heating, NBI heating,
ICRH and ECRH heating etc. will be analysed to obtain spatially and temporally
resolved profiles of plasma rotation velocities, impurity ion temperature
and impurity behavior.

prosummary:
Following is the brief research plan.
In the first year the installtion work of the two diagnostic will be carried out
. For CXRS it involves mounting of an in vessal mirror inside the designated 
port, mounting collection optics system, inspection for spatial resolution, 
alignment, preparation of CCD with desired temporal resolution. For IXCS the 
mounting of the entry arm of the spectrometer with insulators, filters, 
films etc,  mounting the crystal on the holder, mounting the CCD on exit arm,
checking alignment and performing various wavelength calibration procedures. 
In both cases development of software routines in MATLAB, Python etc for
data analysis which involve correcting data for background radiation, data
modeling and estimation of plasma rotation and impurity ion temperature. 

In the second year various experimental measurements on SST-1 without
NBI heating to check passive emissions and then measurements with NBI 
heating. Experiments will be conducted for different discharge scenarios 
such as ohmic L- H modes, NBI assisted L- H mode, ECRH heating etc.
On ADITYA-U, initially experiments will be conducted in the standard ohmic 
discharges together with gas puffing of Argon to observe the soft x-ray 
line emission from the desired Ar line. Electron density and electron 
temperature will be monitored with other diagnostics such as Thomson 
scattering. Later, to increase the temperature of the plasma additional heating scenario such ICRH heating, Ohmic H modes etc., will be considered and data will be collected for all regimes. In both the diagnostics the measured
data will be analyzed after corrections applied for various background 
radiation etc.

proEoutcome:
Plasma parameters through the measurements and analysis using the diagnostic
tools together with results from other diagnostics such as Thomson scattering
etc., will be used to address various confinement related issues and
understand overall plasma behavior. The results generated will provide
complete understanding of the plasma and impurity behavior which will in
turn give insight into impurity control in tokamak.
Results will be published at the end of the project.


protitle:
To Study Performance of various Corrugated Web profile  steel Built up Beam.

prointro:
Beams are basically flexural member. They are design to take care of bending moment and shear force. Steel built up beam is combination of two flanges and a web. Flanges  are design to take care of bending stress and web are design to take care shear stress. 
Performance of web can be improved by introducing corrugation in web. So various corrugation configuration web steel built up beam will be erect and will be test  in control test set up environment. Research will provide better corrugation web profile. This research will help to minimize material requirement for web. So slender section of web will perform in better way.

proobj:
Optimum use of material in web of steel built up beam.

prometho:
Define Research Problem-Literature Review(Review concepts and theories /Review previous research finding )-Design Research(Including sample design)-Collect Data(Execution)-Analyze Data-Interpret and Report
Problem identification- Literature Review -Defining aspect ratio-erect test specimen-testing of test specimen-Validation of Result-Report

prosummary:
Define Research Problem-Literature Review(Review concepts and theories /Review previous research finding )-Design Research(Including sample design)-Collect Data(Execution)-Analyze Data-Interpret and Report
Problem identification- Literature Review -Defining aspect ratio-erect test specimen-testing of test specimen-Validation of Result-Report

proEoutcome:
Corrugated web profile will perform in batter way compare to flat web.


protitle:
Chemical and isotopic studies of groundwater from coastal aquifers of Saurashta and Kutchch: Implications to the origin of salinity

prointro:
Salinization of groundwater is a world-wide phenomenon prevalent in areas across several climatic conditions (e.g., humid, semi-humid) and it has been reported also from several districts of Gujarat, mostly along the coastal tract of the state. A detailed understanding on identifying the salinity in groundwater, its extent and the nature of its origin is planned in the proposed study. This attempt will be made by using the unique potential of the geochemical and isotope tracers (details discussed later) in conjunction with the information on geo-hydrological conditions of the study area. Achieving the objectives set out in this study will have implications to the sustainable management of water resources in the coastal districts of the state.

proobj:
The primary objective of the proposal is to determine the extent of salinity and the mechanism of origin of the salinity in the coastal aquifers of selected areas of the Surashtra and Kutchch areas.

prometho:
1. Sampling: 
Sampling of groundwater would be done in three seasons, viz., the pre-monsoon (April-May), the monsoon (July-August) and the post-monsoon (December-January). This would address to the annual variation of all parameters and would provide insights into changing contribution of sources to the solutes in groundwater.  
Water sampling would be made into pre-cleaned HDPE bottles. Subsequently, the water would be filtered through 0.45 micron membranes filters. One split of the filtered sample (250 ml) would for used the analyses of major ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, F, Cl, SO4, NO3 and HCO3) in waters; the second split will be kept acidified (1 Liter) for trace element and Sr isotope analyses. 
	Representative waste water samples would be collected from industries, to put constraints on the anthropogenic source. These water-samples types would be filtered following the similar protocols to that of the groundwater. Water samples for 18O (2H) measurements would be collected directly into 60 mL HDPE bottles and stored under low temperature conditions to avoid any evaporative loss. Water samples for carbon isotope measurements would be made directly into amber colored bottles, poisoned with HgCl2, and sealed with aluminum septum to avoid any exchange with the atmosphere. 
	Representative aquifer solids and saline soils samples would be collected from the basin from the existing knowledge on geology of the basin. Agro-products and industrial effluents would also be collected to constrain the inputs from anthropogenic components. 
(2) Analytical measurements
	In-situ measurements: Measurements of water pH, Eh, Temperature, TDS will be measured at site using a multi-parameter kit. These data provide supplementary information to the major ion, and isotope data and are used in determining the saturation index of minerals (e.g., calcite etc.). In addition, we plan to measure the Cl concentrations in groundwater by a Cl ion selective electrode to have a a-priori idea about the salinity. 
	Anions (Cl, NO3 and SO4) and cations (Na, K, Mg, Ca) will be measured by IC. HCO3 measurements will be done by titrations using auto-titrator (fixed endpoint method). Trace elements (B, Sr) measurements will be made by ICPMS. Isotopes of B and Sr will be measured by Negative Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (N-TIMS) and TIMS respectively. Carbon isotopes will be measured using a continuous flow Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS).
	Elemental concentrations in solid samples will be measured by ICPOES or by ICPMS after bringing the solids to solution by acid treatment. Similarly, experiments to understand water-rock interaction (and hence leaching of elements at various pH and temperature) will be made and elemental concentration leached out to solution will be measured by ICPOES/ICPMS.  

Note: All analytical measurements will be made using the facilities available to collaborators at Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

prosummary:
1. Identification of sources that potentially can contribute to major solutes (and salinity) in groundwater. Various source/processes contribute major ions to the groundwater; therefore, analysis of the major ions/elements in groundwater and in various sources will elucidate the sources that contribute them in groundwater. Analysis of major ions, their co-variation, ionic ratios, and speciation of the elements all some way or the other provides preliminary information on the origin of solutes in the groundwater. 

2. Isotopic characterization (C, H, O, B and S) of the groundwater samples by measuring isotopic ratios in them. Groundwater isotope data can be treated as that of a mixture.

3. Isotopic characterization of all possible sources to the groundwater. This is required to constrain the source inputs. The sources include weathering of aquifer solids (natural); ingression of seawater (natural), saline soils (natural) and a host of anthropogenic sources such as industrial effluents, domestic discharges, and agro-products (e.g., fertilizers, fungicide etc.).

4. Tracing of sources and quantification of source-contributions to the groundwater (Sr@, C$ and B&) based on mass balance and isotope balance approaches (below), using data from points 2 and 3 above.
[@ , $ ,& , where n is the number of sources and fi is the contribution from a particular source ‘i’.]

5. It is very important to understand the seasonal variability (i.e., temporal variation) of the major ion as well as the isotope data. This can potentially provide insights into the changing nature of sources and their relative contribution to the groundwater.
6. Understand the variation of groundwater chemistry (both chemical and isotopic) as a function of the distance from the coast; this will help understand the spatial variability of the chemistry and hence provide insights into (the spatial extent) of salinity-problem.

proEoutcome:
The basic idea of the project is to find the origin of the salinity that exists in groundwater from the coastal regions of Saurashtra and Kutchch region using the potential of isotope ratios of a few selected elements. Since the problem of increasing salinity is already identified and active measures have been initiated by the CSPC to help the communities involved in those regions therefore strong linkages are expected to be built with CSPC and its knowledge partners. The linkage that we envisage to build will help us to appreciate and understand the current state of the knowledge, identify our line of action of research and execute our research ideas based on the existing database with the CSPC and partners. We expect that the database that will come out after successful completion of the study will provide new dimension to the research on the salinity problem. Isotopic data and their application in gaining insights into the problem has been lacking in the study area.


protitle:
Land-Cover Classification of Polarimetric SAR
Image/Data for Agricultural and Urban Region

proarea:
Enhanced crop and vegetation monitoring, Urban applications

prointro:
Polarimetricsynthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image/data classification techniques play an important role in the automatic analysis and interpretation of remote sensing data. The polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data poses a challenging problem in this field due to the complexity of measured information from its multiple polarimetric channels.
There is an increase in the number of applications which use data provided by the SAR systems having fully polarimetric capability. Over the past decade, there has been extensive
research in the area of the segmentation and classification of polarimetric SAR data. The current state of art implementation of the classification algorithms for polarimetric SAR can be broadly categorized into three main classes which are as follows:
1) Classification based on physical scattering mechanisms inherent in data
2) Classification based on statistical characteristics of data
3) Classification based on image processing techniques

proobj:
Improve the classification accuracy along with real time response. Design a user friendly, expandable and cost effective GUI based tool for classification of SAR L & S Band data. Development of Novel classification techniques which can lead to research publications. Enroll Ph.D. scholar to work in this area.

prometho:
Various land cover classification techniques are available in Deep Learning has gained popularity over the last decade due to its ability to learn data representations in an unsupervised manner and generalize to unseen data samples using hierarchical representations. We would like to explore the possibility of using following options of deep learning for classification of PolSAR image/data and develop a mechanism which can lead to improvement in the accuracy of the results. Deep Learning architecture is
as shown in fig. 2 in the proposal.

 Greedy layer-wise training (for supervised learning)
 Deep belief nets
 Stacked denoising auto-encoders
 Stacked predictive sparse coding
 Deep Boltzmann machines

prosummary:
Requirement Engineering and Literature survey
[4 months]
Design Process model for Unsupervised learning [4 months]
Design Process model for Supervised learning and Semi-Supervised learning [4 months]
Creation of Test bed along with Setup of the system [8 months]
Validation, Testing, Documentation &
Deployment [4 months]

Creation of test bed will continue for additional 4 months and validation, testing and documentation will start after 4 months from the commencement of the project till it ends.

proEoutcome:
To overcome the issues and challenges faced in the agriculture and urban regions due to the inaccuracy of existing classifiers. An efficient classifier could help in monitoring food security, agricultural and economic planning. To explore environmental effects on problems associated with urban classification.


protitle:
Development of earth abundant nanostructured semiconductor catalysts for solar fuel generation

prointro:
The production of chemical fuels by solar energy conversion has been considered to be one of the major strategies for solving the global energy problem. A wide variety of metal oxides and chalcogenides showing semiconducting behavior, such as TiO2, Fe2O3, CuO, Cu2O, ZnO, SnO2, SrTiO3, SnS, SnS2, CuIn2S3 have been proven to be effective photocatalysts and photoabsorber electrode materials.

proobj:
•	Development of nanostructured metal oxide (NSMO) and chalcogenides (NSCh) from solution as well as vacuum routes.
•	Application of NSMO and NSCh as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water under solar illumination.

prometho:
In the collaborative project, these materials will be synthesized by both Indian and Korean side, in different synthesis procedures. Doping and sensitization of these semiconducotrs will be done in order to effectively utilize their band positions relative to the water redox levels. Bilayer and bulk-heterojunction configuration of photoelectrodes will be developed for effective utilization of excitons (electron-hole pairs). Most of the above materials can be developed by non-vacuum processes, such as Spray Pyrolysis, Electrodeposition, Spin, Solgel, Hydrothermal, atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition etc.Some of the above mentioned processes may be adopted to scale up the commercially viable materials for PEC based hydrogen generation

prosummary:
Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using semiconductor materials has attracted considerable interest due to its potential to cleanly produce H2 from water by utilizing abundant solar light. Fujishima and Honda first used a TiO2photoanode in 1972 to split water, researchers have been attempting to develop water-splitting systems that can efficiently use visible light (which accounts for almost half of the solar spectrum on the Earth’s surface) in order to realize efficient conversion of solar light. When heterogeneous semiconductors are used as photocatalysts they must satisfy three important criteria: 1. their conduction band edge to be more negative than water reduction potential, 2. their valence band edge to be more positive than water oxidation potential, 3. They must be chemically stable (devoid  corrosion) in aqueous solution under visible irradiation. 
Most of the semiconductors as cited above do not satisfy these requirements simultaneously. It opens up a scope of exploring new semiconductors, engineering band gaps of existing semiconductors and making them chemically stable in aqueous environments.

proEoutcome:
Photocatalysts of doped TiO2, Fe2O3 , ZnO, SnS; sensitized Fe2O3, CuO, Cu2O etcdeveloped from low cost chemical routes.

FAScheme:
JOINT PROGRAMME OF COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


protitle:
Use of Nano-Fibers in Activated Tungsten Inert Gas welding – A novel use of nanotechnology in manufacturing.

proarea:
Nano Technology / Nano Technology and its application/advanced welding technology

prointro:
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process is the most widely used joining process in the industries wherein high-quality welds are required. However, limited weld penetration capability in single pass operation makes the process unusable for joining high thickness plates. A-TIG welding process, wherein a flux layer is applied on the metal surface, increases the penetration capability of the TIG welding process, enabling joining of high thickness plates faster and economical. The effectiveness of A-TIG welding process is reliant largely uniformity in the flux layer applied. At present in A-TIG welding the fluxes are deposited on the metal surface after mixing it with a suitable solvent like acetone or ethanol in proportion with the help of a brush or by spraying. However deposition through brush or by spraying leads to non-uniform layer thickness throughout the surface. This, in turn, leads to discontinuous weld penetration and uneven bead profile. This further leads to inferior mechanical and metallurgical properties of the welded joint. Due to this drawback, the industry and front runner manufacturers, are not able to utilize this advantageous technology. So to get uniform flux deposition, an innovative deposition technique which deposits flux in the form of nanofibers has been proposed.

proobj:
)The possibility of getting enhanced penetration in TIG welding by incorporating flux in form of nanofibers instead of paste.
2) Effect of different electrospinning parameters on the type and morphology of synthesized nanofibers.
3) Effect of different types of nanofibers of same chemical composition on the weld quality parameters.
4) Effect on mechanical and metallurgical properties of the welded joint produced by A-TIG welding using nanofibers.
5) A relation shall be developed between flux thickness and the weld penetration achieved.

prometho:
The research work shall be started with a deep and critical literature review pivoted to the effect of different electrospinning parameters on the type of nano-fibers. This will also direct to identifying fluxes/chemical compounds already being electrospun into nanofibers and used for specific applications. Furthermore, the second phase of literature shall encompass identifying fluxes and welding parameters giving enhanced weld penetration. Based on this data, extensive experimental trials shall be taken to synthesize nanofibers of required thickness and finalized chemical composition using the electrospinning technique. These fibers shall be observed for the morphology under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, A-TIG welding trials shall be taken using this fiber on stainless steel and low alloy steels. Based on the weld bead macrostructures, further modification in the type and morphology of the nanofibers shall be made and these fibers shall be incorporated in A-TIG welding. The successful welds prepared by  A-TIG welding shall be further subjected to mechanical testing such as tensile testing, impact testing, shear punch test, bend test, fatigue test, creep test etc. Additionally, the welds shall also be subjected to metallurgical testing such as optical microscopy, SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM.

prosummary:
Nano-fibers have been used in a variety of applications, however, it is the first attempt incorporating nanofibers directly into welding process to enhance productivity and quality. The A-TIG welding itself is a relatively novel process which is gaining popularity in industries. However, till date adequate research has not been done on A-TIG welding of Stainless steel, its alloys and low alloy steels which are key materials for almost all manufacturing sectors. This is due to its several limitations, primarily the unreliable technique of applying flux leading to uneven weld penetration results. This has further limited the research on the effect of A-TIG process on fatigue and creep properties of welded joints which are of utmost use to industries. The present study will address the above issues for the first time by applying flux in form of nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning. Additionally, effect between fiber thickness, type and morphology of the fibers on weld quality shall be analyzed which has not been addressed till date per best of our knowledge.

proEoutcome:
The major research outcome of the project shall be the continuous and even weld penetration enabling the economical joining of components of thickness > 6 mm. It is expected that this will enhance the mechanical as well as metallurgical properties of the welded joint. The primary beneficiaries of the outcome shall be fabrication industries primarily involved in the manufacturing of pressure vessels, boilers, submarines etc. For instances, M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd. has been using A-TIG welding in the fabrication of various components. However, the full potential of the process cannot be used because of the manual and unreliable technique of application of flux. The positive results of the project shall be taken to industries which will make this process more usable and bring in cost as well quality benefits to the industries. Additionally, the process is the current focus for many research labs as well as researchers all over the world. By communicating the work in peer-reviewed international journals the technique shall be brought to society which is a unique amalgamation of nanotechnology and manufacturing. Additionally, the relation between the thickness of the flux and corresponding weld quality parameters are also yet to be explored. The current project will also throw light on this domain and a data set pertaining to specific material, flux, nanofibers thickness and morphology shall be presented. Going a step further, the technology can also be patented and further commercialized depending on the research outcomes.


protitle:
Assessment of local site effects using ambient noise measurements for Vadodara Region

prointro:
Evaluation of resonance frequency and vulnerability index of Vadodara region using ambient noise measurements will be carried out. The results of the proposed study will help the local authorities such as Muncipal Corporation and Urban authorities to demark optimal land use and city planning. Further, it is also useful for disaster preparedness, risk reduction, hazard mitigation and urban rehabilitation action in the region.

proobj:
To generate resonance frequency model.
To estimate vulnerability index for the region

prometho:
1. Field investigations using ambient noise measurements in Vadodara city in 2 km x 2 km
2. Data acquisition and process the data
3. Evaluate H/V ratio
4. Vulnerability index model
5. Seismic Site Characterization

prosummary:
1. Purchase, installation, commissioning of the equipment within six months
2. Field investigations within seven to twelve months
3. Processing of data and generation of predominant and vulnerability model within thirteen to eighteen months
4. Site characterization and final report submission nineteen to twenty four months

proEoutcome:
1. Resonance frequency model of the Vadodara region will be generated.
2. Vulnerability model of the study area will be developed.
3. Seismic site characterization will be carried out for the region.

FAScheme:
Minor Research Project, Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST)


protitle:
Solar powered Torrefaction- Energy Recovery from Solid Waste and Biomass

prointro:
Among the renewable energy and alternative fuels under
development, biomass energy is one of the promising resources to match the requirements of substituted fossil fuels for reducing GHG emissions. Over the years there has been a continuous migration of people from rural and semi-urban areas to towns and cities. The uncontrolled growth in urban areas has left many Indian cities deficient in infrastructural services such as water supply, sewerage and municipal solid waste management. Suitable technology adoption is key challenge. As per our earlier experience, waste management is not only science but it’s an art. The Key challenge to treat this complex waste is separation technique, which is done by waste separator developed by us and tried at your site. By this effort we can totally convert our waste in resources implementing concept of 4R (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Remove).

proobj:
Segregation of waste by machine
• Composting from organics
• Fiber recovery from valuable fiber containing waste like coconut, textiles etc.
• Pyrolysis of polymeric waste material like plastics to recover energy material in form of liquid, solid and gas
• Torrefaction using solar heater
• Use of Nitrogen as a carrier gas to provide a non-oxidizing atmosphere to increase the heating value and hydrophobicity
• Establishment of other recycling route for treatment of different kind waste stream

prometho:
In the proposed project we are going to build a plant having ~ 100-150 kg/hr input.
The main component of the torrefication plant is torrefication reactor.
In the proposed project we will use Fluidised bed reactor. Furthermore we will do an theoretical analyses to find following properties of torrefied biomass,
1. Moisture content
2. Volatile matter, fixed carbon and elemental contents
3. Solid yield, energy density and energy yield
4. Grindability
5. Reactivity, particle size distribution and surface area

prosummary:
Torrefaction is a thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material, which has better fuel characteristics than the original biomass. Torrefied biomass is more brittle, making grinding easier and less energy intensive. Compared to fresh biomass, storage of the torrefied
material can be substantially simplified since biological degradation and water uptake is minimized. Torrefaction involves the heating of biomass in the absence of oxygen to a temperature of typically 200 to 400°C. The structure of the biomass changes in such a way, that the material becomes brittle, and more hydrophobic. During the torrefaction process a combustible gas is released, which is utilised to provide heat to the process.

proEoutcome:
To establish Resource Recovery Stations (RRS) is high priority requirement to solve havoc of municipal solid waste and related issues. Waste is non wanted material to its owner but its potential material for other product and market as well. Mixed and complexity of waste minimize and make it difficult for further processing. De-centralized waste management and zero waste to landfill is ultimate aim. This will be achieved by state an art segregation process
and recycling of each type of material adopting best available and designed techniques.

FAScheme:
‘DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGY
AND WASTE MINIMISATION STRATEGIES’ under MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE


protitle:
Spectral Discrimination and Separability Analysis of Crops and Weeds using Deep Learning Techniques

prointro:
Classification of hyperspectral data is very challenging and mapping of land cover is one of its applications. The state of art implementation includes various land cover classification techniques, but still, uncertainty exists in labeling various clusters to their own classes without using any a priori
information. 
Hence, we propose the development of Hyperspectral image/data classification techniques which can serve as a valuable tool in agriculture and urban development. The application of herbicide to weeds at an early stage plays a vital role in the
management of field crops, both monetarily and ecologically. We propose the
use of hierarchical inference over deep learning models to encode multiple
levels of abstraction for classification of AVIRIS hyperspectral data for
discrimination of crops and weeds in the field. The goal is to improve the
classification accuracy to guide in the process of selective application of
herbicide to weeds.

proobj:
To perform spectral discrimination and separability analysis to
improve the classification accuracy along with real time response.

Design a user friendly, expandable and cost effective GUI based tool for classification of AVIRIS hyperspectral data.

Development of Novel classification techniques which can lead to research publications.

prometho:
Research: The group will develop an in-depth understanding of crop science and remote sensing of hyperspectral data, gaining spectral characteristics of crops, as well as remote sensing basics, and current remote sensing practices for hyperspectral data. The preprocessing of acquired hyperspectral imagery will be performed in this stage followed by Analysis and Design followed by Creation of Test bed along with Implementation of the system: The group will implement the hyperspectral transformation according to the specifications laid out in the Design phase. Code optimization will be performed to ensure that the running times of the transformation are as quick as possible. Validation, Testing, Documentation & Deployment. Testing will include the application of the transform to hyperspectral imagery and analysis of results.

prosummary:
Research: the group will develop an indepth understanding of crop science and remote sensing of hyperspectral data, gaining spectral characteristics of crops, as well as remote sensing basics, and current remote sensing practices for hyperspectral data.
The preprocessing will be performed on acquired hyperspectral imagery in this stage.
Analysis and Design: the group will apply the knowledge gained during the research phase to a detailed analytical study of hyperspectral imagery. In particular, several
preprocessing results, such as the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and generalized spectral profiles will be studied. By the end of the Analysis phase, the
group will have developed a thorough understanding of the application of hyperspectral imagery in the field of precision agriculture and Urban Development. The group will utilize the knowledge gained from the research and analysis phases to
develop a new hyperspectral transformation to maximize information relevant to Agricultural and Urban development.
Creation of Test bed along with Implementation of the system: The group will implement the hyperspectral transformation according to the specifications laid out in
the Design phase. Code optimization will be performed to ensure that the running times of the transformation are as quick as possible.
Validation, Testing, Documentation & Deployment: The group will validate that the hyperspectral transformation created in the implementation phase satisfies the design
specifications . 
Testing will include the application of the transform to hyperspectral imagery and analysis of results.

proEoutcome:
• To overcome the issues and challenges faced in the agriculture and urban regions due to the inaccuracy of existing classifiers.
• Improve the classification accuracy to guide in the process of selective application of herbicide to weeds
• GUI and platform independent software for weeds control system Possible application:
• An efficient classifier could help in monitoring food security,
agricultural and economic planning.
• To explore environmental effects on problems associated with urban classification
• Develop a a realtime system for identifying and spraying only the weeds.


protitle:
Probabilistic Mapping of Urban Flood Risk with Levees                                 
   : an Application to Extreme Events in Surat City

proarea:
Civil Engineering (Water Resources Management)

prointro:
The origin of the proposal is based on the flooding problem at Surat city, which is situated 100 km downstream of Ukai dam and near the mouth of River Tapi. The city experienced the catastrophic flood in the years of 1933, 1959, 1968, 1970, 1994, 1998, 2006 and affected by the flood at an every alternate year. It is estimated that the single flood event during August 7-14, 2006 in Surat and Hazira twin-city, caused a heavy damage and low lying areas such as Adajan and Rander of Surat was noticed under submergence up to 4-5 m during flood in year 2006, resulted in the death of 300 people and property damage worth INR 21000 crore. The peak discharge of 25768 m3/s release from Ukai dam was responsible for the disastrous flood in Surat city.  After this flood, it was the talk of the town that why Surat city is affected by the floods. Is the Ukai dam authority responsible for it? Did they have to release such a large discharge? Why is this crisis repeated? To find the truth behind these questions, this project will be carried out. It will discover the causes of flood as well as assists to reduce uncertainty and improve decision making system during flooding. Uncertainly or lack of the information of parameters has potentiality to take wrong decision during flooding and its results lead to the flood at Surat city. To overcome the limitation of hydrological data, missing information and knowledge about the integrated parameters during flooding, this project is carried out under the 1D/2D couple hydrodynamic modeling; it will reduce complexity for flood inundation mapping. The methods will include three distinct phases that involve: 1) modelling dam release discharge from the Ukai dam arriving at Surat, 2) modelling flooding within Surat caused by the combination of dam release, levees and tides, 3) identifying Surat critical infrastructure exposed to flooding. The work will provide the accurate information about the existing discharge carrying capacity of Tapi river, inundation of water in low lying areas and effect of tidal cycle on back water flooding. The flood inundation, flood depth, Water Surface Elevation (WSE), flood velocity and flood duration will be carried out in 1D/2D environment. Furthermore inundation is also simulated under the bank protection work (i.e. levees, Retaining Wall) constructed after the 2006 flood. It helps to understand the phenomena of parameters and its integration effect during flooding. Based on salient out comes from the modeling work normal, high alert and emergency situation will be proposed. In results, it will become robust the decision making system and avoid unwarranted situation at Surat city. Finally, we highlight how our modelling will contribute to changes in flood risk management within the city following a major flood and resulted in actions that will increase community resilience to flood hazard. In addition, it will help to address the climate change phenomenon in general and to create resilience against this change, in developing countries such as India.

proobj:
a)	To develop the 1D hydrodynamic River model for Lower Tapi River.
b)	To develop Stage-discharge curve along the Lower Tapi River and computation of wave hydraulics of river and floodplain from developed 1D–2D coupled hydrodynamic model of the lower Tapi River

prometho:
Adopted methodology comprises of 5 phases, namely 1) Preparation 2) Fieldwork, Data Collection and Data Preparation 3) Modelling 4) Sensitivity analysis and Advance Flood Warning System and 5) Reporting.

prosummary:
In the first phase, the literature based on 1D-2D couple hydrodynamic modelling, flood inundation modelling, flood warning system, HEC-RAS, RAS Mapper will be refereed from the peer-review journals, NEWS report during flooding, conference proceeding and flood manuals. The detailed hypothesis on Surat flood will be prepared. 1D-2D couple hydrodynamic modelling will be identified; after that the data collection task will be performed. It will be in three parts 1) Spatially located data viz. Zone boundary map will be collected from SMC 2) hydrological data e.g. Gauge-discharge data, location of discharge station, Cross-section of river, manning’s roughness coefficient ‘n’ and observe velocity will be collected from CWC, SMC and SIC. The collected data will be used for 1D HEC-RAS modelling, and it will be simulated for unsteady flow conditions. Suitable boundary condition will be exerted and out come from the results will be used to fix the site for instruments. 3) Filed work e.g. HLS type water indicator will be installed, flow velocity will be observed by Current meter and DGPS survey will be performed to fix the new bank RL for left and right banks of LTB including the Levees and Flood walls at Surta city. Suitable modifications will be incorporated in the river section at modelling stage. 1D HEC-RAS model will be simulated with modified data and the maximum discharge carrying capacity of river will be determined. The different water surface profiles will be discovered and utilized in 2D RAS mapper. 1D-2D couple hydrodynamic modelling will be performed and flood repose, inundation maps will be generated at different water surface profiles. 
The sensitivity analysis for 1D and 1D-2D hydrodynamic modelling will be carried out by trial-error methods. The simulated results will be compared with the observed values and validated for existing caring capacity of Lower Tapi river. Validated results will be used to fix the new warning and danger level at Nehru bridge, Surat city. Public announcement for future flood will be commenced and the information will be delivered to the flood cell, Ukai authorities and other government bodies. The water will be released based on new warning system. The post flood inundation mapping will be carried out and that validate approach for Surat city. Suitable recommendation and modification will be suggested in rule curve. Overall, the decision system will become robust and the proposed objective will be achieved.

proEoutcome:
i.	The understanding of the integrated parameters for flood inundation modeling will be intensify, in result it will help to produce global 1D/2D hydrodynamic model for flood inundation mapping. 
ii.	The low lying area of Surat city will be clearly addressed. Based on the information, detailed evacuation plan will be prepared. The flood mitigation and property damage chances will be reduced. The awareness about the flooding will be spread.


protitle:
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF TRAVELING WIRE ELECTROCHEMICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING PROCESS

prointro:
Electrochemical spark machining (ECSM) is a hybrid process, which occupies electrochemical machining (ECM) and electro-discharge machining (EDM). Several names have been used for this procedure such as electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM), electrochemical arc machining (ECAM), spark-assisted chemical engraving (SACE), Discharge machining of non-conductors (DMNC) etc... 

The ECSM process has been observed to be very useful for the machining of non-conducting materials those having high hardness values and difficult to machine.  Wire-ECSM machining principle is similar to that of Electrochemical spark Machining. Here a travelling wire is used as tool electrode and as this method is capable of machining electrically nonconductive material, suitable for machining of low machinability, high strength electrically non-conducting materials. An auxiliary electrode, submerged into the electrolyte, is used as anode. It generally employs a continuously travelling wire electrode to slice the workpiece

proobj:
The objective of the proposed project is to develop Traveling wire – electrochemical spark machining (TW-ECSM) for the laboratory experimental work and analyze NS Optimize the different parameters are affect on the process under the different experimental condition such that it can be used as an alternative of the traditional micro fabrication processes.

prometho:
The proposed project work involves design, development and fabrication of the experimental set-up followed by rigorous experimentation and analysis of the results. 
For experimental set-up:
•	Wire feeding system.
•	Power supply unit for driving motor and pulleys
•	Geared motor for pulley
•	Wire and electrodes 
•	Magnets 
•	Workpiece holding system
•	Electrolyte supply system
•	Transformer
For analysis and characterization:
•	Scanning electron microscope
•	Surface roughness analyser
•	Electrical Discharge machining (EDM)
•	Electro Chemical machining (ECM)

prosummary:
For this purpose, the systematic research will involve the following major steps to achieve the goal.
1)	Experimental Set-up: The experimental set-up has to design, developed and fabricated which will be used for microfabrication. This basically comprises the following sub-systems such as:
1)	Wire feeding system.
2)	Power supply unit for driving motor and pulleys
3)	Geared motor for pulley
4)	Wire and electrodes 
5)	Workpiece holding system
6)	Electrolyte supply system
7)	Transformer
8)	Glass cabinet for all the above systems.
As shown in figure 1.
2)	Design of experiments: The experiments will be planned according to the response surface methodology to find out the effect of various parameters on the process performance. Various parameters will be considered are supply voltage and type and frequency, type of electrolyte, wire speed, with and without application of the magnetic field, wire tension, MRR and over cut/kerf width.
3)	To conduct intensive experiments: 
The comparative study to analyze the different output parameters like Surface finish, Width of cut and Material removal rate (MRR) would be carried out in presence and absence of the following techniques. 
These techniques include Magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) convection approach, Circulating electrolyte and Coated wire.  
Each of these techniques has a particular value of specific experimental conditions. 
Additional these experimental results are comparing with the Laser machining. 
4)	Inspection of samples fabricated with TW-ECSM:  The component will be inspected for Material removal rate, width of cut and roughness of cut using techniques such as SEM, surface profile meter etc…..
5)	Process analysis: The analysis will be analyzed and standardized using the artificial neural network (ANN). This analysis will also help in optimizing the process parameters.

proEoutcome:
Detail investigation in to the process has to be done and relationship between the process variables and performance parameters are like Material removal rate (MRR), Kerf width and Roughness has to be established. Then the industry will be contacted for collabration and if fessible for commercialization. This process is cost effective, simple microfabrication. Utilized effectively for the machining of non-conductive materials like glass, ceramics, quartz & advanced composites considering the capability of machining a complex profile. 

The scientific study of the process will able to predict the responses as well as to improve the performance of the process. The emphasis in this project is to develop the process for the machining of non-conductiing subtract used for MEMS applications.


protitle:
Parametric Study of Lime Mortar Consist of Pozzolanic Waste Materials

prointro:
Lime mortar is a family of different material like fine aggregate, binding material (Lime), water and different pozzolanic waste material like ceramic slurry powder or metakaolin powder. Lime mortar provides lack of shrinkage due to volume stability under variable conditions of humidity and great elasticity which favours adaptation to the deformations of the substrate without producing cracking. It also provides appreciable permeability to water vapour which allows walls to "breathe" and avoids condensation. Lime mortar offers good thermal and acoustic insulation.
Lime, therefore, enhances the ability of the brickwork to accommodate stresses caused by building movement and cyclical changes without excessive cracking. If a cement based product is used as a render, pointing mortar or for repairs to brick or stonework on a lime mortar building, it will be incapable of moving in harmony with the rest of the structure. Currently, the need to revamp and reinstate historic monumental works has led to a revival of lime based mortars, since this is the binder which is most compatible with historic mortars.
Pozzolanic materials are natural or artificial substances of siliceous or silico-aluminium composi-tion or a combination of both. Said materials do not harden on their own when they are mixed with water, but finely ground and in the presence of water they react with calcium hydroxide to form silicates and aluminates able to develop strength in the short as well as long term depen¬ding on the nature of the material. Here with this study we are proposing study of alternate material for partial sand replacement with pozzolanic waste material which can also be filler up to some extent for pores of lime particles.

proobj:
1)	To derive the physical and chemical properties of different pozzolanic waste materials
2)	To evaluate properties of fresh and harden lime mortar samples.

prometho:
Adopted methodology comprises of 5 phases, namely 1) Literature review of lime mortar & different pozzolanic waste materials 2) Collection of pozzolanic waste materials samples 3) Physical & Chemical testing of waste materials & lime samples 4) Lime mortar sample casting 5) testing of samples 6) concluding remarks & publications.

prosummary:
For centuries lime was used in both mortars and concretes until it was replaced by Portland cement, due to faster hardening, higher strength and apparent longevity. Slaked lime plasters and mortars have been used for thousands of years whereas the use of cement in construction is relatively recent. The vast mainstream of buildings in this country dating pre 19th century would have been made using lime mortar to lay the bricks, render the outside and inside plaster. Buildings made using slaked lime mortars are far more capable of surviving the vibration from traffic and the movement of the ground beneath them. 
Today slaked lime mortars and mortars made with NHL (natural hydraulic lime) are gaining ground with enlightened architects and contractors, as a better alternative to cement mortar in new buildings. It is esthetically appealing, flexible and far less prone to cracking, it also allows moisture to be released from walls via the mortar bed. If a cement based product is used as a render, pointing mortar or for repairs to brick or stonework on a lime mortar building, it will be incapable of moving in harmony with the rest of the structure. This will inevitably cause stress and cracking in the area worked on as well as the lime construction in the surrounding area. Currently, the need to revamp and reinstate historic monumental works has led to a revival of lime based mortars, since this is the binder which is most compatible with historic mortars.
 Lime is the most sustainable binder due to lower production energy needs, lower CO2 emission during production and CO2 absorption by carbonation. 
We have limited sources of natural materials like sand and lime stone and if we want to make these materials in future available, we must need alternative solution for mentioned row materials. This alternate material search may not finish if we do not take initiation of research in this area. Here with this study we are proposing study of alternate material for partial sand replacement with pozzolanic waste material which can also be filler up to some extent for pores of lime particles.

proEoutcome:
Research will provide concrete mix design using waste material as an optimum replacement of cement for different grade of concrete. We can find out proportion of waste material and aggregate for various grade of concrete having different workability. Based on this research we can able to propose available ceramic waste for an optimum replacement of cement. It also provides the handy design sheets for practicing civil engineers to go for optimum selection of replacement of cement with available quality waste material (ceramic waste) for different grade of concrete.


protitle:
Advanced Urban Public Transportation System

prointro:
The project aims to design an ICT based solution to supplement the public transportation facility in urban areas. The proposed location tracker would would be able to track all the buses (including GPS-less buses) in real time. The trip planning module will use this information to compute and suggest optimal trip plan for the querying commuters. The commuters will interact with the system using a mobile application. The historical data of bus occupancy and mobility traces will be processed to suggest bus schedule and provision to the bus service operators. Finally, the project aims to compute the road network parameters such as presence of traffic lights at junctions, average movement speed and road quality (presence of potholes), using the collected mobility traces of the buses.

proobj:
The main objective of the project is to make public transportation an attractive commute option to people by aiding the following features:
1. real time tracking of buses and arrival time prediction at bus stops
2. suggesting optimal (with respected to one or more of the trip duration, number of change overs, and comfort) trip plan to the querying commuters
3. suggest schedule and provision plan of buses

The secondary but equally important objective of the project is to compute road network parameters such as presence of traffic lights at  junctions, average movement speed, and presence of potholes to supplement the existing road network maps and suggesting road maintenance.

prometho:
Objective 1: Active tracking of the buses

While the government is planning to deploy GPS on all the public transportation buses, the proposal does not assume the availability of GPS in all the buses. All the GPS enabled buses will report their position to the control center periodically and their tracking will be straight forward. The tracking of GPS-less buses will be done using crowdsourcing. A mobile application will be developed with the following features that will enable the tracking of a bus with minimal user intervention:
Automatic detection of the bus-boarding event: For this purpose the accelerometer and microphone of a smart phone will be used. For boarding a bus, a user needs to climb 2-3 steps that generates a unique pattern on the accelerometer sensor. Also, inside a bus, there will be a few unique sounds (e.g. Ghrrr sound of the bus, tin-tin sound of the bell generated by the conductor for starting and stopping the bus, ticket issuing machine also generates unique sound). This data will be analyzed locally in the phone to detect a commuter in the bus.

Location reporting by the commuters: Once the commuter is detected in a bus, the application will submit the location information (cellular fingerprint and optional GPS coordinates along with timestamp) periodically (every second or slightly less frequently) to the control center using cellular data connection. As the government is planning to provide free WiFi at the bus stations, the same can be exploited for reducing the location error using WiFi fingerprint and submitting data to the control center. It needs to be pointed out that the location tracking can be done without energy hungry GPS.
In addition to the location data, the commuters will be able to report various events enroute e.g., overcrowding in the bus, incident or and fail-stop of the bus. 

The real time location data of buses will be recorded and processed by the control center. The control center will estimate the arrival time of a bus at a bus stand using current position of the bus and historical movement traces of the bus. The commuters willing to board a bus will query its arrival time at a stand using the mobile application.

Objective 2: Trip Planning

A commuter will specify the origin and destination for a trip and query the system for feasible trip plans using the mobile application. The system will suggest the trip plan to optimize one or more of the following parameters: duration for the trip, waiting time, number of changeovers, and comfort (crowding in the suggested buses). Figure 2 shows the functional block diagram of the Trip planner.

Objective 3: Smart scheduling and provisioning

The commuters are permitted to report overcrowding of buses through mobile applications. Based on the crowding history of certain buses or routes, the control center may suggest the schedule and provision of the buses on certain route. Figure 3 shows the functional block diagram of the bus scheduling and provisioning module.

Objective 4: Road network parameter estimation

We aim to design a portable device that will record GPS coordinates and accelerometer data. Also, the application will have provision to record accelerometer and GPS data at a high frequency. The collected data will be analyzed (non-realtime processing) to derive the following road network parameters:

Presence of traffic lights: the digital map of Indian road network does not have accurate information about traffic lights. As the movement pattern at the traffic light controlled junctions is different than the other junctions, the mobility traces of the public transportation buses can be analyzed to compute the traffic light related information.
edge level average movement speed during peak hours and off-peak hours.
road quality i.e. presence of potholes: this may enable the appropriate scheduling of road repair and maintenance activity.

prosummary:
Work Plan

0-6 Months
Acquire equipments
Setup the project facility
Staff recruitment
Keep up with the current state of the art in the domain
Start with Objective 1, that is, active tracking of the buses

7-12 Months
Work on tasks related to Objective 1 
Design an android application that reads and processes accelerometer and microphone data to detect commuters in a bus records GPS coordinates, cellular fingerprint, WiFi fingerprint and accelerometer data, and communicates the same to a central server
Keep up with the current state of the art in the domain
Document the findings and updates from the previous two steps

13-18 Months
Work on tasks related to Objective 1 
Test the implementation of the applications for real time tracking of the buses
Analyze error in bus route prediction and make corrective measures
Work on tasks related to Objective 2
Analyze the mobility traces of buses to design the real time algorithms for bus arrival time prediction and trip plan computation
Work on tasks related to Objective 3
design algorithms to process the historical data of the mobility traces to suggest bus provisioning and scheduling plans
Keep up with the current state of the art in the domain
Document the findings and updates from the previous steps

19-24 Months
Work on tasks related to Objective 2
Test the solution for accuracy of predicted  bus arrival time and  quality of suggested trip plans
Work on tasks related to Objective 3
Test the solution for the quality of suggested bus provisioning and scheduling plans
Work on tasks related to Objective 4
Analyze the historical mobility traces of buses to design algorithms to compute road network parameters such as presence of traffic lights at junctions, average movement speed during peak and off-peak hours, and presence of potholes with their location
Keep up with the current state of the art in the domain
Document the findings and updates from the previous steps

25-30 Months
Work on tasks related to Objective 4
Test the solution for the false positives and false negatives in predicting presence of traffic lights and potholes in the road network, and accuracy of average movement speed.
Document the findings and updates from the previous steps

31-36 Months
Documentation and report writing

proEoutcome:
The output of the project will be a smart public transportation system consisting of 
the solution for bus tracking and arrival time estimation problem
trip planning and user interaction module
bus occupancy based provisioning and scheduling guide
a road network parameter estimation module
The solution will be supported by the detailed result analysis.

The following outcomes are expected after successful deployment of the project:
Increased reliability of public transportation schedule and service
More people may use public transportation services
revenue of public transportation companies may increase
Congestion and related side effects may reduce in the road network

fAhead:
Fund for Science & Engineering Research (FSER) This release is being made under Early Career Research Award. (EC Engineering Sciences)


protitle:
Investigating Approaches for Improving the Security in Remote User Authentication schemes of Wireless Multimedia Systems in IoT Paradigm

prointro:
With the advancement in digital transactions in the 21st century, the transfer of digital data also increased drastically. Also, due to emergence of IoT, Big Data and Cloud Computing, the amount of digital communication is becoming huge day-by-day. As per a recent survey by CISCO, the size of mobile data traffic is estimated to be reached 49 Exabytes by the year 2021. With size and speed, the security is the important feature for these data as it need to be secured from the prying eyes of the attacker on the open access wireless communication channel. The data need to be communicated in a hostile environments, from one end to the other end. Also, the resource constrained devices (e.g. battery, processing, memory) aid to the problem. The wireless multimedia device is one of the foremost devices that to be used in the hostile environments due to its key points like maintenance, durability, cost, etc. Within various kinds of wireless multimedia devices, mobile devices getting much attention as the main component of any system due to its pluses in usefulness.

proobj:
1.	To study the various mathematical attacks that were identified by the researchers in this field.
2.	To study the pros and cons of each mathematical attack identified in step 1.
3.	To prepare the avoidance analysis report of each mathematical attack that will be helpful for designing more secure schemes in future.
4.	To apply the identified attacks on the recent remote user authentication schemes in wireless mobile environments.
5.	To propose a new  scheme with reduced overhead and enhanced security.

prometho:
Based on our survey, we have identified the following research gaps - i) researchers have claimed their system to be fullproof against only a limited number of mathematical attacks, and not evaluated their proposal for the other attacks. ii) The lack of awareness of various mathematical attacks and their implications on the wireless multimedia remote user authentication schemes.  ii) Time complexity analysis is required for all the schemes in order to identify the more secured and more time efficient scheme.

prosummary:
•	For the first year, we aim to do the exhaustive survey of mathematical attacks starting from the Lampart till present. At the end of this year, we will prepare the report of mathematical attacks that can harm any remote user authentication scheme in wireless multimedia systems.
•	In the second year, we will prepare the detailed study report on the pros and cons of each mathematical attack. We will also prepare the report on the actionable measurement for possible avoidance of these attacks on the future schemes. We will also apply these attacks on the existing schemes for better security analysis.
•	In the third year, we will propose an efficient and enhanced scheme that will be better than its predecessors in terms of speed of execution and security.
•	We will organize the talks/workshops/research meets in each year to spread awareness about the research outcome of the project to the worldwide research community.

proEoutcome:
•	The researchers from academia and industry will be able to use the research outcome of the project in designing the remote user authentication schemes that will be more secure and time efficient.
•	Also, the summary of the attacks will be useful to identify the unknown attacks in other domains like medical system, smart city, digital payment, consumer electronics etc..
•	The proposed scheme will be useful for the secure and time efficient communication in the wireless multimedia systems under the IoT paradigm.
•	We will collaborate with national and international institutes for information exchange and to utilize the outcome of the project as a test bed for the researchers in various institutions.


protitle:
Recovery and Recycling of Industrial Waste Water containing Fluoride, Sulphate, Phenolic and other Hazardous Elements

prointro:
Total phenol concentration in the wastewater of a typical Indian refinery processing 5.0 million tonnes of crude per year is around 135 mg/L and the discharge rate of wastewaters varies from 125 to 250 m3 with pH range of 7-11. The ministry of environment and forests (MOEF), Government of India and EPA, United states have listed phenol and phenolic compounds on the priority pollutants list. The MOEF has set a maximum concentration level of 1 mg/L of phenol in industrial effluents for safe discharge into open atmosphere, the WHO recommends a permissible phenolic concentration of 0.001 mg/L in potable water.

proobj:
The objective is to find feasible and cost effective solution of coking waste water treatment. Here the proposed model will produce inoffensive water which is reusable for the same procedure and does not corrode the comprehending machinery. The comparative maintenance cost of proposed model is very less.

prometho:
Sometimes it becomes necessary to combine two or more methods of treatment, i.e., hybrid processes, to ensure efficient treatment of wastewater. Electrocoagulation has been shown to be a better option in the removal of organic compounds, heavy metals present in the wastewaters. There are no any combined process available for coking waste water treatment. However, based on literature reviews, so far no other studies have taken into account to the investigation of hybrid process (EC–ED) combining membrane technologies (ED) and electrocoagulation processes (EC) for coking waste water. EC is used for the degradation of organic matter, whereas ED allows the ionic species separation, which produces water suitable for reuse in the process.

prosummary:
1. Literature review and scrutiny of available techniques
2. Designing of Novel Solar- PV driven EC and ED units
3.Procurement of component and Fabrication.
4. Experimental Trials & Data gathering.
5. Validation of achieved results, optimization and automation.
6. Draft completion report  for review.
7. Field testing, publication, patent.

proEoutcome:
Indian coking industries, oil refining, coal tar processing, petrochemical production, coke oven by products, plastic industry, textile processing, leather processing, insecticides production, manufacture of dyes and dyeing, glass production are the direct beneficiaries of this project.

FAScheme:
Waste Management Technology (WMT) Program


protitle:
Energy Recovery from Solid Waste and Biomass

proobj:
1.	Segregation of waste by machine using balancing and equilibrium of forces
2.	Composting from organics 
3.	Fiber recovery from valuable fiber containing waste like coconut, textiles etc.
4.	Pyrolysis of polymeric waste material like plastics to recover energy material in form of liquid, solid and gas
5.	Torrefaction using solar heater 
6.	Use of Nitrogen as a carrier gas to provide a non-oxidizing atmosphere to increase the heating value and hydrophobicity
7.	Establishment of other recycling route for treatment of different kind waste stream.

prosummary:
Modeling and procurement of component and Fabrication
Preparation of Segregation unit using balancing and equilibrium of forces
Composting from organics and fiber recovery from valuable fiber containing waste like coconut, textiles etc
Pyrolysis of polymeric waste material like plastics to recover energy material in form of liquid, solid and gas
Experimental Trials & Data gathering, publication in thermal engineering
Validation of achieved results, optimization and automation, publication
Field testing, publication, patent
Draft completion report  for review (3 month prior to date of completion )

proEoutcome:
Target Beneficiaries:	
Each and every person of India. The proposed plan serves big public issue and national service to minimize solid waste permanently.

Expected Impact
1.	Total reduction of waste by decentralized resource recovery stations
2.	Generating an employment at local level, Decrease level of migration towards cities.
3.	Create value for landfill by reducing its burden and creating cleanliness.
4.	No Landfill and Plastics free dumping site. Direct improvement in Air Quality due to absence of open burning of landfill dumps.
5.	Save cows from eating plastics, clogging the drainage lines etc.


protitle:
Experimental and numerical study of Heavy fuel oil combustion (HFO) on swirl burner with porous medium

proarea:
Heavy fuel oil combustion, Swirl combustion, Coke reduction, Emission Control

prointro:
With an eye toward clean and efficient utilization of petroleum resources, there is growing interest in better understanding of the combustion characteristics of low grade fuels, such as heavy fuel oil (HFO). Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is an abundant fuel source from petroleum refineries. HFO has a complex molecular composition with a wide variety of chemical kinetic and physical decomposition behaviour. The composition of HFO includes asphaltene, heavy metals (Nickel, Vanadium etc.) and harmful chemicals like sulphur [1]. The density (~974.6 kg/m3) and viscosity (~ 712.9 cst at 312 K) of HFO is higher as compare to other liquid fuels. HFO produces copious heat energy and is particularly useful in industrial furnaces and electric power stations [1]. Soot formation of carbonaceous particulates from HFO combustion results in ultrafine particles (~ 0.1 μm) and can cause adverse health effects in humans [2, 3]. Apart from health concerns, production of larger carbonaceous particulates known as cenospheres (50-1000 μm) and coke also results in increased fouling and corrosion of heat transfer surfaces, which increases equipment maintenance costs and downtime. Formation of cenospheres has been noted primarily in HFO combustion and generally this has been ascribed to the presence of asphaltenes in such fuels [4, 5]. In general, emissions from HFO combustion systems are gaseous pollutants such as CO2, CO, SO2, NOx, etc., and carbonaceous particulates such as submicron soot and much larger cenospheres. Control of NOx emission from oil-fuelled industrial furnaces is still a critical challenging issue. 
HFO burns in power plants (includes in India) when the plant need to be operate at high peak loads and the start-up of the plants. Scaling and fouling of heat transfer surfaces due to coke formation is limiting the continuous burning of HFO in power plants. The cenosphere (Coke) from HFO combustion needs higher activation energy and oxygen to burn. The temperature of the combustion products are less than the combustion zone temperature and the O2 content in the products is very less. Hence the coke is not reacted and forms the scaling and fouling on heating surfaces. Now there is inevitability to develop a novel technology for clean and green combustion of HFO with reduced coke and NOx formation. Spray formation and droplet dynamics in the combustor is also a challenging issue, because the viscosity and surface tension of the HFO is very high. Fuel preheating upto the boiling point temperature of the fuel helps in better spray dynamics. Swirl combustion creates centrifugal force and vortex in the combustor that enhances the residence time of so formed coke particles in the combustor [6]. The increased residence time and recirculation helps in burning of coke particles (cenosphere) and enhances the flame stability limits. 
In this proposed instigation a novel combustor will be developed. Swirl flow in the combustor with metal foam lining benefits in three ways. (a) Swirl improves the recirculation results flame stability improves (b) metal foam holds the heat (c) Excess O2 will be supplied in the second half portion of the metal foam of the combustor. Coke particles reside in the combustor for long time and burn with excess heat and oxygen. The HFO will be preheated to a high temperature before the injection.

proobj:
Coke and emissions reduction from Heavy fuel Oil (HFO) combustion. This research use fuel effective utilization of low grade fuel (HFO)

prometho:
The following work plan will be followed in this proposed study
a.	Preheating of the HFO upto boiling point temperature, control of gas formed form HFO
b.	Spray diagnostics and use the spray characteristics in the simulation  
c.	Develop fuel composition chemical kinetics in Fluent software
d.	Computational simulation for optimal combustion geometry
e.	Fabrication of combustor and installation of experimental setup
f.	Emissions sample collection and testing

prosummary:
The following work plan will be followed in this proposed study
a.	Preheating of the HFO upto boiling point temperature, control of gas formed form HFO
b.	Spray diagnostics and use the spray characteristics in the simulation  
c.	Develop fuel composition chemical kinetics in Fluent software
d.	Computational simulation for optimal combustion geometry
e.	Fabrication of combustor and installation of experimental setup
f.	Emissions sample collection and testing

proEoutcome:
The computational efforts of the proposed project help in developing the fuel chemical kinetics composition (UDF) of HFO.  Computational simulations for the combustor design helps in develop an optimal combustor for heavy fuel oil combustion for industrial or power plant applications. The experimental study helps in predict the rate of coke formation. The proposed study aims to reduce the coke formation that helps in protect the heating surfaces from cladding or accumulation of coke. The understanding from the proposed study is useful for further study of effective burning the HFO for Industries and power plants.  The improved quality of combustion reduces the emissions.


proobj:
Heavy fuel oil combustion for emissions and coke reduction


protitle:
DEVELOPMENT OF WATER DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY WITH NOVEL AIR HUMIDIFIER AND SOLAR ENERGY

prointro:
There are two main challenges in the world; shortage of energy and shortage of fresh
water, both play a crucial role in the overall economic development of any country.
Conventional desalination technologies like Multi stage flash, Multi effect desalination,
vapour compression, Reverse Osmosis are usually large-scale, technology intensive
systems are most suitable for the energy rich and economically advanced regions of the
world. They also cause environmental hazards because they are fossil-fuel driven and also
because of the problem of brine disposal. So the development of a cost effective and
efficient solar collector is essential to the system‘s overall feasibility. Many technologies
for portable drinking water are cost effective but they have very low capacity to produce
drinkable water. Hence there is a need of development of technology for affordable and
portable drinking water system.
As per the literature study, the Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) based water
desalination techniques are more preferable. Here are the points for the same;
Σ HDH is very cost effective way of providing fresh water.
Σ HDH is simple and flexible system. In general, the only components required are an
evaporator and condenser which can be designed to be compact.
Σ Due to the low temperature and pressure operating range, components are light,
inexpensive, and easy to clean.
The performance of HDH is greatly affected by performance of Humidifier
and use of solar energy decrease the cost of fresh water. In all HDH desalination technology,
different types of humidifiers have been used like Spray type humidifier, packed bed type
humidifier, wetted wall type humidifier, bubble column type humidifier. All humidifiers have
limitations like poor efficiency, limited contact area, more energy input.

proobj:
Development of novel design of air humidifier for enhancement of air humidification.
Development water desalination technology for portable and affordable drinking water
system based on Humidification-Dehumidification principles and novel design of air
humidifier. Use of solar energy for air and water heating instead of electrical energy.
Development of theoretical model for prediction of performance of proposed
technology for water desalination.
Validation of the model with the experimental data.
Use of the optimization techniques for optimization of performance parameters of the
proposed system.

prometho:
The proposed work includes experimental work, development of mechanistic model,
validation of proposed model and use of optimization techniques for improving the capacity
and cost effectiveness of the system.
The experimental setup based on the humidification and dehumidification of air is proposed
for the development of water desalination technology. A mathematical mechanistic model
will be developed for the estimation of desalinated water collection. The results of the
mechanistic model will be validated with the proposed experiment work. It is also planned to
use optimization techniques for the optimization of controlled parameters for the
maximization of water desalination. The results of the optimization techniques will be
incorporated in the experiment system for improving the capacity and cost effectiveness of
the proposed technology.

prosummary:
The experimental runs are carried out considering the following procedure:
(1) The temperatures of the water and air are measured before supplying the electrical power
to ensure a uniform temperature of the system.
(2) The air blower is started to flow the air and water heater is started to increase the
temperature of water.
(3) By maintaining constant temperature of air, relative humidity of air is measured in the
range of 37˚C to 55˚C temperature of water.
(4) The outlet temperature of air is recorded in the range of 37˚C to 55˚C temperature of
water.
The experimental plan is designed to investigate the humidity of air at constant air
temperature and in ranging from 37˚C to 55˚C water temperature. Ten runs have undertaken
to calculate humidity of air and temperature of outlet air vapour mixture. Experiment is
carried out in summer and winter and followings results has been obtained.

proEoutcome:
•	State of art R&D facility for air humidification 
•	The test facility will be utilized to carry out M.Tech. and Ph.D. research work.
•	Papers based on the research outputs of the project.
•

FAScheme:
Scheme for Young Scientists and Technologists


prointro:
Engineering surfaces are generated by a variety of manufacturing processes like casting, forging, and secondary processes like turning, milling etc. Technological advances in the area of manufacturing have resulted in closer tolerances on the parts being produced by all these processes. This in turn has resulted in a need to evaluate and control the finish of the product which has a significant role to play in its function.

proobj:
To develop  novel methods for surface roughness, waviness and form measurement with the following features.

prometho:
The methodology to be followed in this project is outlined below.

	Specimen Preparation
	Collection of  Surface Waviness & Form Parameters by Stylus method.
	Setting up of Vision system.
	Software development & Testing
	Experimentation.
	Results, analysis and conclusions.

prosummary:
The proposed project aims to develop a unique surface texture measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature. The method uses a vision system.

proEoutcome:
The proposed project aims to develop a unique surface texture measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature. The method uses a vision system.


protitle:
Recovery of Precious Metals from Printed Circuit Boards by Combing Bio-Leaching and Electro-Winning Processes

proarea:
Research Area	E-Waste (Electrical & Electronics Waste): Recycling & Recovery

prointro:
Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), which are generated in large numbers due to the rapid development of information and communication technology and industrialization, are the key components of electronic equipment and serve as the boards on which many surface and micro components are mounted. The total quantity of waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE) generated in the Globe is approximately 30–50 million tons per year (Kumar et al., 2014). As per the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the quantity of E-Waste will be doubled by 2020. 
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) form about 3% by weight of the total amount of WEEE and it contains nearly 28% metals and almost 70% non metallic materials. Discarded PCBs are also categorized as hazardous waste.  Recycling of PCB is an important subject not only from the treatment of waste but also from the recovery of the valuable materials (Hall and Williams 2007; Guo et al., 2008). Manufacturing mobile phones and personal computers consumes 3% of gold and silver, 13% of palladium and 15% of cobalt mined worldwide each year (Schluep et al., 2009). PCB is particularly problematic to recycle because of its heterogeneous mix of organic materials, metals and glass fibers (Hall and Williams 2007; Li et al., 2007).

proobj:
•	•	To construction and investigate an effective metabolically-engineered strains that produce more cyanide lixiviant, and recovered more precious commodity metals from printed circuit boards.
•	To envision the industrial use of metabolically-engineered microorganism stains in the recovery of commodity metals from printed circuit boards, the detoxification of toxic metals from waste and landfills, and the recovery metals.

prometho:
Bioleaching, involving microorganisms may allow metal recycling in a process analogous to natural biogeochemical cycles, and hence reduces the hazardous nature of the existing process. The aqueous leachate, generated by the microbial bioleaching can be recovered and recycled after metal electro-deposition without make-up. The integral approach of bioleaching and electro-winning process for the metal recovery from PCB of metals is a robust procedure, applicable to a large variety of waste materials.

prosummary:
The environmental pollution caused by the present use of Pyrometallurgical process and hydrometallurgical process will be minimized. The proposed technology minimizes the use of highly concentrated acids/ bases for the metal recovery, thus reducing the potential of causing harmfulness to the people employed and the environment.

proEoutcome:
In comparison to the natural Au ores, the Au content in electronic scrap material (ESM) is significantly higher (10 g to 10 kg Au per ton of electronic materials as compared to 0.5 g to 13.5 g Au per ton of natural Au ore), creating an economic driving force for the recycling of electronic waste. The effective recycling and recovery of precious metals from the electronic wastes reduces the market cost of precious metals.  The import of scrap E-Waste business can be improved in India leading to a economic impact. The success of the technology slightly increases the India exchange value by increasing the potential import of E-Waste and recovery of the precious metals, which also may leads to the employment.

FAScheme:
Project Proposal under
Waste Management Technology (WMT) Program


protitle:
Production of Biodiesel from Industrial waste using functionalized Iron nano catalyst.

prointro:
Biodiesel, an alternative diesel fuel, is made from renewable biological sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats. It is biodegradable and non-toxic  has low emission profiles and so is environmentally beneficial. Continued and increasing use

proobj:
To produce biodiesel from Industrial waste using functionalized iron nano particles as a catalyst.
To characterize the oil and biodiesel

prometho:
Feeedstock for biodiesel is the major contributor for cost of biodiesel. It costs about 80% of total cost of biodiesel.  low cost feedstock derived from industrial solid waste reduces the cost of disposal problems.

prosummary:
Literature collection and review
Identification of feedstock from industrial waste
Extraction and charaterization of lipid
Production and characterization of iron nano materials
Functionalization of iron nano materials
production and optimization of biodiesel

proEoutcome:
Increase the economy of solid waste disposal
To generate the valuable by product
To generate self sustained fuel


protitle:
Reservoir Modeling and Simulation of Cambay Shale coupled with Geomechanics and Hydrofracturing.

prointro:
Energy is one of the most eminent and fundamental strategic commodity, scarcity of which may poses great impact on the functioning of the entire commodity. According to the present study, the estimated reserves of gas in India as on 31.03.2015 stood at 1427.15 BCM (Energy Statistics, 2015) . It is expected that the gas demand is set to grow significantly at a CAGR of 7% from 226.7 MMSCMD in 2012-13 to 713.5 MMSCMD in 2009-30 (PNGRB, Vision 2030) . To bridge the gap between the demand and supply of energy, the interest towards the exploration and exploitation of unconventional resources like – Shale gas, Coal bed methane, Gas hydrates, tight gas etc has immensed. Nowadays, Shale gas prospects are emerging rapidly as a promising energy source globally (Dayal et al, 2013) . Proved reserves of U.S. shale gas increased from 159.1 TCF in 2013 to 199.7 TCF in 2014 which is an increase of 40.6 TCF, 25% higher than in 2013. The share of shale gas compared with total U.S. natural gas proved reserves increased from 45 % (in 2013) to 51% (in 2014). The estimated production of shale gas increased 18%, from 11.4 TCF in 2013 to 13.4 TCF in 2014 (US EIA 2015) .  As compared to USA, Shale gas production in India is at nascent stage. Government of India, through its technical arm – Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has taken initiative to identify prospective shale gas basins and evaluate and assess the potential of these basins. Multi organizational team (MOT) has been constituted under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG). A resource potential of around 2000 TCF of Shale Gas is estimated and according to preliminary data analysis by Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), basins - Gondwana, Cambay, Krishna – Godavari, Cauvery, Assam-Arakan, Rajasthan, Vindhyan and Bengal are the most promising shale gas plays. So, Shale gas exploration and exploitation with adequate policies can improve the India’s energy demand and supply which may influence its economy immensely. It is the need of the country to exploit these untapped resources by the successful implementation of upgraded technologies and policies.

proobj:
Formulation and Validation of a conceptualized geomechanical and hydrofracturing model for Cambay Shale, Cambay Basin that can simulate the production capacity of this shale and help in the application of advanced recent technologies (like – Microseismicity).

prometho:
1.	The present study will investigate the pros and cons of two distinct shales namely upper and lower cambay shale from production point of view. The Kerogen type of both the shales has already been studied. 
2.	Models for trapping, reservoir characteristics and textural understanding through Tomography (2D and 3D models) will be constructed to simulate shales for exploitation strategies. 
3.	For the Cambay shale samples of North Cambay Basin (Fig. 5), following examination will be carried out for Microstructural characterization and fracture Identification-   
-	SEM 
-	XRD 
-	X- Ray Fluorescence. 
-	FTIR
-	X-Ray Computed Tomography
4.	In conjunction to the above study some other analysis will be performed to understand porosity, fluid saturation, grain density and bulk density, permeability etc. In-situ stress profile, natural fracture characterization and In-situ permeability measurement will augment the research study.  
5.	This will be complimented with Geomechanical Analysis and properties like- Bulk modulus, Young modulus, Stress/Strain regimes, Thompson property, Anisotropy, minimum/maximum stress direction, Rose diagram, zones of weakness, mineral assemblage along the zone of weakness etc. will be investigated. The mail goal of Geomechanical analysis is to investigate how flow properties evolve with change in stress and gas species. The method of investigation will follow Single stage and Multistage Triaxial Tests which will help us in analyzing the ideal HF job. The idea to validate and calibrate the geomechanical data is presented as below:

                                                     Obtain and Calibrate Geomechanical Data

 
















6.	After geomechanical analysis and Reservoir Property study, the data will be interpreted and then integrated in to a single Reservoir Model that can accurately describe the pre and post fracture production from the wells of cambay shale. 
7.	In the next section, models for shale stimulation practices (particularly Hydrofracking Model) will be developed. The rock contains natural fracture due to pressure from overlying rocks and tectonic movements of Earth’s crust. Stress loads in the reservoir determine the geometry of the fractures, which are often concentrated in fracture swarms. Natural fractures usually don’t provide permeability pathways sufficient to support commercial production in gas shales. 
8.	Hydraulic fracturing is a formation stimulation practice used to create additional permeability in a producing formation. During hydrofracking, all subsurface rocks are stressed in three directions because of the weight of the overlying formations and their horizontal reactions. Whether one of the horizontal stresses or the vertical stresses is the greatest depends on the additional stresses imposed on the rock by prior folding, faulting and other geological movement in the area. These tectonic stresses will control the direction of the fracture and determine whether the fracture will be horizontal, vertical or inclined. The algorithm will focus upon stress classification. This will help to attain the final objective of the research work which will focus on the generation of codes for 2D, 3D and Pseudo 3D models to predict the overall hydrocarbon production from the well. 
9.	It is envisaged that the research will culminate by presenting models like PK, PKN, Pseudo 3D, 3D and hybrid models. Sensitivity analysis will be carried out on the output of the models to choose the robust one. The research hopes to add a new understanding on cambay shale and will help industry at a large to fulfill the dreams of exploitation in cambay shale. Table-3 gives review of the work done in hydraulic fracturing modeling-

prosummary:
1.	Microstructure Characterization to image the fracture porosity/natural porosity and permeability. 
2.	Mathematical Representation of Non – Darcy Gas Flow behavior in the Shale Rock.
3.	Understanding of the Poro-Elastic Nature of Shales – Formulation of new effective permeability laws or stress dependent relationships.
4.	Determination of Static and Dynamic Parameters of Shale Rocks. 
5.	Anisotropic Compression, Tensile Strength and Failure Analysis of Shale Rocks.

proEoutcome:
1.	Complex multistage/single stage hydraulic fracturing designs require extensive geomechanical information for optimization, such as selection of well placement, horizontal well direction, stage interval selection, stage isolation, perforation locations and fracturing fluid/proppant selection. All these challenges can be addressed by the integration of all geomechanical information obtained from geological, geophysical, petrophysical and laboratory data. 

2.	 Drilling Optimization 
-	Well bore stability analysis – shear failure, time-dependent casing shear, critically stressed fracture/fault.
-	Well bore trajectory analysis
-	Optimum drilling design

3.	Completion Optimization
-	Horizontal well bore direction
-	Defining fracability and hydraulic fracture geometry
-	Fault reactivation risk
-	Optimum lateral well spacing and HF interval
-	Perforation location 

4.	Interpretation of Micro Seismic Monitoring


protitle:
Development of a low-cost sensor for urban air pollution measurement and micro climatic studies: Understanding urban heat island effect due to atmospheric aerosol for an urban area

proarea:
Air Pollution and Climate, Instrumentation Development

prointro:
Air pollution becomes severe when air contains small particles, toxic gases, dust, and smoke in harmful amounts. Aerosols of highly reflective in nature increases the albedo of the earth and thereby cools the surface and thus effectively offsets greenhouse gas warming by about 25-50%; whereas, absorbing types of aerosols absorb solar radiation, hence increases the surface temperature. 
One of the important parameters in aerosol measurement is aerosol optical depth (AOD). Several instruments and techniques are used to measure AOD such as with satellite and ground based sun-photometry, ground and airborne radiometers and LIDARs which are generally costly and non-portable. In response to bring down the cost and portability problem, a smartphone camera based AOD retrieval was developed by researchers which measured AOD at UVA range (340 and 380 nm). Similar effort by a few investigators to build a photo-sensor based photometer was taken up which composed of a green filter of wavelength 540 nm. It is clear from the above several studies that it is possible to build cheap sunphotometers using photo-detectors and light filters. The current research proposal is focused on developing cheap, affordable and portable photometer. 
Device thus built will be calibrated against standard instruments like Microtops. After validation, more of these will be manufactured and a network using these will be built to monitor AOD at several locations across the Ahmadabad city. The data thus acquired will be used to model Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect due to atmospheric aerosol using a regional scale atmospheric model.

proobj:
(1)	Design and development of cheap and handy sun-photometer 
(2)	Development of a network using the said sun-photometer
(3)	Study of heat island effect due to urban atmospheric aerosols and associated human discomfort level.

prometho:
The current research proposal is focused on developing cheap, affordable and portable photometer that will automatically track the sun and retrieve AOD. The AOD will be retrieved at 3 to 5 different wavelengths of visible spectrum. Several of these will be manufactured keeping in mind to build a network to monitor AOD at several locations. The device will be capable of automatically tracking the sun and retrieving AOD of specific locations. The device will consists of following components:
i.	A microprocessor and PC board, the brain of the device
ii.	A photo-detector module that will be used to detect solar intensity at 3 different wavelengths. It could be a programmable color light to frequency converter that combine configurable silicon photodiodes and a current-to-frequency converter on a single monolithic Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit. The output is a square wave with frequency directly proportional to the light intensity. It consists of 8x8 arrays of photodiodes. 16 photodiodes have blue filter, 16 have red, 16 have green and 16 are clear with no filters. any other similar photo-detector
iii.	Servo motors along with photo-detector sensors will be programmed and used to track the sun. Motors will be aligned in horizontal and vertical axis to make it dual axis tracking.
iv.	Light dependent resistors, sensors to detect sunlight which will direct motors to move them in specific direction. 
v.	Device will be appended with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to locate its position. 
vi.	Bluetooth for communication between a few units of the device to minimize wire connection
vii.	Sensor to monitors meteorological parameters. 

Microprocessor will be programmed to detect the maximum sun light intensity using 2 light detecting sensors mountable on the dual axis motors. A Bluetooth device will enable communication between motor and photo-detector to minimize wire connection so that device movement during sun tracking does cause the wire to get wrapped around which is an issue till date in a few sun-photometers. A sun tracking search program will be developed which will allow communication between photo-detectors and motors to locate the sun in the sky. Once the position of the sun is locked, microprocessor will instructs photo-detector to record the solar intensity at three different wavelengths. The recoded intensities will be used to retrieve AOD. Several retrieval algorithms are available till date which will help develop retrieval algorithms. Meteorological parameters thus monitored will be used to correct the AOD retrievals. GPS attached to it will automatically record latitude and longitude of its installed location.  
Device thus built will be calibrated against Microtops. After validation, more of these will be manufactured and a network will be laid to monitor AOD at several locations across the Ahmadabad city. The data thus acquired will be used to model urban heat island effect due to atmospheric aerosol using a regional scale atmospheric model such as Weather Research Forecasting-Chemical (WRF-CHEM) model.

prosummary:
Air pollution becomes severe when air contains small particles, toxic gases, dust, and smoke emitted from numerous sources such as vehicles, industries, fires or fumes in harmful amounts. Aerosols of highly reflective in nature increases the albedo of the earth and thereby cools the surface and thus effectively offsets greenhouse gas warming by about 25-50%; whereas, absorbing types of aerosols absorb solar radiation, hence increases the surface temperature. Absorbing types of aerosols are largely present in urban environment due to presence of relatively larger number of vehicle fleet and subsequent more fossil fuel combustions than in rural areas. This aggravates the already present heat island effect induced atmospheric heating due to almost ubiquitous presence of concrete structures. A few studies have shown positive correlation between temperature rise of urban environment with urban atmospheric aerosols.   
Excessive inhalation of particulate matter is detrimental to human health as it can lead to asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, it becomes essential to monitor aerosols accurately using cheap device having widespread presence and potential to address the related problematic issues. One of the important parameters in aerosol measurement is aerosol optical depth (AOD). A few studies have demonstrated that AOD could work as a marker for air pollution exposure to human but similar work has been non-numerous and a few in number aggravating the problem of linking AOD with exposure. Similarly, study related with effect of atmospheric aerosol on urban heat island effect is limited. 
Several instruments and techniques are used to measure AOD such as with satellite and ground based sun-photometry, ground and airborne radiometers and LIDARs which are generally costly and non-portable. In response to bring down the cost and portability problem, a smartphone camera based AOD retrieval was developed which measured AOD at UVA range (340 and 380 nm). Similar effort to build a photo-sensor based photometer was taken up by a few researcher which composed of a green filter of wavelength 540 nm. It is clear from the above several studies that it is possible to build cheap sunphotometers using photo-detectors and light filters. The current research proposal is focused on developing cheap, affordable and portable photometer. 
Device thus built will be calibrated against standard instruments like Microtops. After validation, a few more of these will be manufactured and a network using these will be built to monitor AOD at several locations across the Ahmadabad city. The data thus acquired will be used to model Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect due to atmospheric aerosol using a regional scale atmospheric model. AOD and simulated temperature due to atmospheric aerosol at various points across the urban area and its rural or suburban parts can give reasonable idea on UHI effect of atmospheric aerosol.

proEoutcome:
1) Design and development of a device to monitor Aerosol Optical Depth
2) Using the said device to study urban heat island due to atmospheric urban aerosols.


protitle:
A complete solution for industrial waste water- approaching to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) with water and energy savings schemes

prointro:
Water pollution by organic chemicals is a major problem over decades. The removal of organic contaminants from ground water or separation of contaminants present in polluted water has become a major focus of research. The presence of harmful organic compound such as phenols and their derivatives in water supplies and from industrial effluents is an ever increasing problem for the global concern.

proobj:
Design and development of complete solution for industrial waste water treatment leading to zero liquid discharge
Analyzing potential of using bacteria as pre- treatment of industrial waste water
Design and develop novel module including EC, ED, adsorption and RO 
Design and construct advanced prototypes to demonstrate up to 10000 population and evaluate water treatment potential powered from variety of thermal energy

prometho:
The proposed system will have EC followed by ED and Adsorption Unit followed by Multi- effect distillation and thermal- reverse osmosis process. Effluent water will first be treated in EC unit where most off suspended solids formed flock and get separated from water. This treated water will then be sent to ED unit. After treatment in ED the water is sent to Adsorption unit for further treatment. Finally the water will be recycled to the unit or will pass through thermal energy driven RO unit to make it potable.  Sequence and module of operation will be decided as per the customer based choice and feasibility.

prosummary:
Modelling will be done to arrive at initial designs of subsystem like EC, ED, Adsorption, MED and RO
Fabrication of separate module prototypes
Experimentation with the separate module
Experimental Trials & Data gathering with integrated unit
Validation of achieved results, optimization and automation
Field testing,
Draft completion report

proEoutcome:
People residing near waste water producing industries will be beneficiaries of this project.


protitle:
CyberHealth-A Novel Framework for Secure Medical Cyber Physical Systems with Reduced Overhead

proarea:
Cyber Security Research, Digital Services (E-Health)

prointro:
This era of 21st century witness its presence and embark the rise in the several domains not limited to technology, medical, science, education, etc. Indeed, medical is one of the hottest area of research due to the surge of various diseases for the mankind. In the past, all the private and confidential data of patients have been collected and processed manually (i.e. on the paper) by the respective doctor/hospital. Indeed, this entails the limitations inclusive maintenance of the hard copy records from various unexpected events like fire, theft, update, etc. Due to the rise of digital services in India, the medical records also become available on the one touch for the doctors/hospitals. This has given the birth of the Medical Cyber Physical System (MCPS), which not only concerns with the transfer of the medical data, but also the security provision at each layer i.e. from patients to doctors.

proobj:
1.	Awareness of CyberHealth in the health community and to the end users.
2.	To design and secure the patient health records with enhanced remote user authentication scheme in the initial phase i.e. Layer 1.
3.	To provide the fine grained access control of the patient’s data for the doctors and researchers to carry out the pre and post diagnosis of any disease.
4.	To provide complete automation in the CyberHealth framework including data collection from wearable devices, storage of data in the cloud, data analysis for disease diagnosis, medical report viewing, etc.
5.	To facilitate medical professionals with decision support system for early detection of certain diseases using machine learning algorithms.  
6.	To reduce the human errors cause due to lack of data.

prometho:
The project methodology is outlined as follows:
•	Literature Survey:  We have done the state-of-art survey of the various attacks as in following figure. In addition, we will survey the current state-of-art schemes in the Attribute Based Encryption. We also look at the resource efficient schemes in the Attribute Based Encryption schemes and with support of the homomorphism property.

prosummary:
In order to resolve this issue, in this project, we proposed the layered architecture for the secure MCPS called CyberHealth. The entire architecture is divided into five layers. Consider the typical hospital scenario with several wards and each ward contains several patients. The first layer deals with sensors which are implanted on the patient’s body for data collection. The second layer deals with data gathering from sensors of first layer. This layer operated for each ward while first layer deals with each patient. Indeed, the devices are more powerful than sensors as they are handling many data which send by Layer 1 device. Layer 3 deals with the internal server of hospital to collect all the data from Layer 2 devices (or from all wards). Layer 4 deals with cloud based configuration to store and process the data which received from Layer 3. Finally, Layer 5 deals with the machine learning algorithms to process the encrypted data in Layer 4 and to visualize for detection of any disease. Thus, each layer operates with different devices that range from sensors to the cloud computing. In addition, we design our own authentication and security scheme at each layer, which ensures the overall security of the healthcare system against various known attacks.

proEoutcome:
Patients	CyberHealth will be helpful to track the day-to-day data of patient’s health. This will be used by patients for self monitoring the patient.
Caretakers	The caretakers will be benefited from the system by getting daily updates of the patients.  
Emergency	If any change in patient’s data reported by the system, than we can use that data to report to the nearby emergency location to take care of the situation. This is one of the unique feature we can use to save the life of patient’s in critical situations.
Hospital	The most fundamental end user of CyberHealth is the hospitals. As it contains several wards and many patients, CyberHealth will be useful to take care of each ward patient individually based on automatic detection of data through sensors. The doctors of hospital can access and visualize the data from anywhere about the status of the patient. 
Doctors	The doctors can able to track the patient’s health using CyberHealth. This can be time saver for doctors by reducing the travelling time. Thus, with more time, the doctors can give their time to other needy patients. 
Researchers	Based on the pattern in patient’s data, the research can simulate the environment and gets the analysis on possible disease as the early diagnosis to the patients.


protitle:
Silicon nanoparticle embedded polymer-graphene composite for high energy storage capacity Li-ion batteries

prointro:
In last few years, the acceptance of renewable technologies i.e. solar photovoltaic and wind energy has increased in the society because of their non-polluting nature. But the intermittence nature of these energy sources is hindering the further replacement of conventional polluting energy sources. So there is an urgent need to develop robust and cost effective energy storage systems, moreover the advent of electric vehicles in the last few years demands a very high energy density storage system for automobile applications. To cater all these stringent requirements, Li-ion batteries are emerging as a potential energy storage system with applications in mobiles, electronics, electric vehicles and stationary large scale renewable energy storage facilities. To fulfill the requirement of future electronics, vehicles and grid energy storage, development of high performance Li-ion battery is necessary. The performance of Li-ion batteries can be increased by increasing the stabilities as well as charge loading and unloading capacities of electrodes.

proobj:
Development of Li-ion battery with improved energy storage capacity

prometho:
Our plan to achieve the targets in the proposed project area is described under following four sections:
I.	SiNW-graphene-polymer composite electrode preparation: Commercially available silicon wafer can be used as for SiNW fabrication. A blend can be prepared using commercially available graphene and conducting polymer material and spin coated on the SiNW with suitable heat treatments. 
II.	Positive electrode preparation: For the positive electrode, carbon as a porous conducting sulfur host helps to overcome the electrically insulating nature of the active material species (S8, Li2S2/Li2S). The cathodes can be prepared by a slightly adapted procedure from Bauer et al.( J. Power Sources 251, 417–422 (2014)) mixing sulfur (99.5%), conductive carbon black/graphene. Subsequently, a water-based binder solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) (ratio CMC:SBR = 1:1, m/m) can be added to make the slurry. The slurry can be casted onto aluminum foil.
III.	Cell Assembly and electrochemical testing: Cells with SiNW-graphene-polymer composite electrodes (diameter 12 mm) need to be prepared and characterized. Half-cell setups can be assembled as coin cells (MTI Corp., CR2016) in an argon-filled glove box (MBraun, < 0.1 ppm O2 and H2O). Metallic lithium (Pi-Kem, 99.0%, diameter 15.6 mm, thickness 250 μ m) can be used as negative electrode. Due to the respective potential vs. Li/Li+, the SiNW/C composite acts as positive electrode. The electrodes were separated by one layer of a polypropylene sheet (Celgard 2500, diameter 19 mm). The electrolyte consisted of 1 M lithium bis-(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)-imide (LiTFSI, Aldrich, 99.95%), 0.25 M lithium nitrate (LiNO3, Alfa Aesar, 99.98%, anhydrous) in 1,2-dimethoxy ethane (DME, Sigma Aldrich, 99.5%, anhydrous) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL, Sigma Aldrich, 99.8%, anhydrous). The ratio of the solvents was 1:1 (v/v). The cells were cycled at room temperature with a BaSyTec Cell Test System (CTS). The lower and upper cut-off voltage was set to 0.01 and 1.0 V vs. Li/Li+, respectively. Due to the unknown maximum capacity, a constant area current of 0.5 mA/cm2 was used to evaluate the available capacity. 40 μ l of the electrolyte were added to all coin cells. All chemicals except for LiTFSI, DME, and DOL were used as received. To remove residual water, LiTFSI was dried at 120 °C under vacuum for 24 h before use. DME and DOL were dried and stored over a 3 A molecular sieve. All samples exhibited a Coulomb efficiency above 98% until cell failure.
For the Li/S full-cell setup, the SiNW/C composite electrode was prelithiated within two full cycles and subsequently discharged in coin cells according to the testing conditions described above. The prelithiated SiNW/C composite electrode was disassembled and rinsed with a solvent mixture of DME/DOL 1:1 (v/v) and reassembled as negative electrode vs. the sulfur/carbon composite positive electrode (65 wt.% sulfur content, diameter 12 mm) using the same electrolyte (12 μ l/mg sulfur) and separator taken for the previously described half-cells. Due to the potential of the lithiated silicon anode, the cut-off-voltages were changed to 1.3 and 2.6 V. Galvanostatic cycling with potential limitation was carried out at a current of 1/5 C (1 C means full charging in 1 h) at room temperature.
IV.	Physical characterization methods: The SiNW/C composite electrode was investigated by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy before and after integration into a battery stack in order to identify the mechanisms causing the capacity fade during cycling. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) where taken on a ZEISS GEMINI LEO 1560 with Bruker in-lens detector, 5 kV acceleration voltage and a typical operating distance of 1 cm. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) experiments were performed in transmission geometry with Co Kα 1 radiation on an STOE Stadi P diffractometer with curved Ge(111) crystal monochromator and 6°-position sensitive detector. The Rietveld analysis was performed with the program MAUD53 assuming an isotropic size distribution. The Popa line broadening model was applied to determine the size and strain of the crystalline phases.
TEM investigations were performed with a FEI Tecnai F30 equipped with field emission gun and operated at 300 kV. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDXS) spectroscopy was operated in scanning mode (STEM). The selective area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern was analyzed with the program ELDISCA. For the cycled sample, a diluted HNO3 solution has been used to remove residuals from the electrolyte as well as the solid electrolyte interface (SEI). Prior to analysis, the samples were gently grinded and dispersed in acetone. The dispersion was dropped onto a copper mesh coated with lacey carbon film for TEM analysis.

prosummary:
Negative electrodes: Presently, commercial Li-ion batteries use graphite as negative electrode with maximum theoretical specific capacities of Csp = 372mA.h/g.  Various compositions of graphite, carbon nano tubes and graphene have been studied by researchers to increase the specific capacity of electrodes. Silicon is also considered as a good negative electrode material abundantly present with very large theoretical specific capacity of Csp = 3579 mA•h/g and a very low lithiation/delithiation potential. Although, silicon electrodes posses excellent initial storage capacities, but the capacities cannot be maintained for hundreds of cycles required for their potential commercialization. This decrease in capacities is attributed to the large volume change in silicon structure due to substantial lithium uptake. This leads to pulverization of active materials, loss of electrical connectivity and instability in solid electrolyte interfaces. This pulverization problem is generally addressed by using different type of silicon nanostructures resulting into stable storage capacities for hundreds of cycles. So, now the focus is on development of composite electrodes with silicon active materials for higher performance. 
Recently, Thomas M. Higgins at. el. has reported the development of silicon nanoparticle based negative electrodes with single conductive polymer binder PEDOT:PSS. The developed method is compatible with the present commercial production of electrodes by slurry-cast method. The very high silicon content (95 wt %) based electrodes reduces the capacity losses occurring due to the physical separation of the silicon and conductive additives during lithiation/delithiation processes. They also shown that an in situ secondary doping treatment of the PEDOT:PSS with small quantities of formic acid, electrodes containing 80 wt % SiNPs can be prepared with very high electrical conductivities of 4.2 S/cm with very stable storage capacities. Even at the relatively high areal loading of 1 mg/cm2, this system demonstrated a first cycle lithiation capacity of 3685 mA•h/g (based on the SiNP mass) and a first cycle efficiency of ∼78%. After 100 repeated cycles at 1 A/g this electrode remains able to store an impressive 1950 mA•h/g normalized to Si mass (∼75% capacity retention), corresponding to 1542 mA•h/g.

Positive electrode: 
The electrode components are predicted as lower in price and naturally highly abundant and therewith uncritical for shortage of resources. Introduction into the market has been prevented by limited stability and capacity as well as the absence of a suitable electrolyte when using full-cells with carbon-sulfur cathode, as carbonate-based electrolytes cannot be used due to their reaction with the polysulfides. Further on, present Li/S batteries employ a metallic Li foil as anode material resulting in undesired formation of cell safety critical Li dendrites. The use of a metallic Li anode can result in the loss of active material at the positive electrode, enhanced reactions with the electrolyte or short-circuiting of anode and cathode through the separator.
These points need to be addressed as key factors for high battery performance, long lifetime and safety. Silicon is one of the most promising anode materials replacing metallic Li due to a maximum specific capacity of 3579 mAh/g at room temperature but is accompanied by a large volume change upon lithiation and de-lithiation. To overcome stress related fracturing, several Si-based nanostructures that by their intrinsic geometry and neighboring free expansion volume allow an enhanced mechanical stress relaxation, like nanoparticles, nanowire, microwires and nanotubes, have been studied in battery setups. Further on, prelithiated Si nanostructures allow the insertion of Li independent of the chosen cathode material. Si appeals to be used as anode in high capacity lithium-sulfur systems since its high theoretical specific capacity is related to an insertion of 15 mole Li to 4 mole Si (Li15Si4). This high Li content compared to carbon with 1 mole Li per 6 mole C helps to build thin electrodes and to allow an easier balancing of the battery cell with excess Li of more than 2000% related to the sulfur mass. Recently, a balanced Li/S battery with high capacity and long cycling stability has been reported using a prelithiated SiNW/C composite as anode material (6.0 mAh/cm2) and an S/C composite for the positive electrode (2.4 mAh/cm2) to overcome the battery failure due to typical Li dendrite formation resulting from state-of-the-art metallic Li foils. In contrast to metallic Li, the presented system exhibits superior characteristics as an anode in Li/S batteries such as safe operation, long cycle life and easy handling. These anodes are combined with high area density S/C composite cathodes into a Li/S full-cell with an ether- and lithium triflatebased electrolyte for high ionic conductivity. The result is a highly cyclable full-cell with an a real capacity of 2.3 mAh/cm2, a cyclability surpassing 450 cycles and capacity retention of 80% after 150 cycles (capacity loss <0.4% per cycle). A detailed physical and electrochemical investigation of the SiNW Li/S full-cell including in-operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements reveals that the lower degradation is due to a lower self-reduction of polysulfides after continuous charging/discharging. 
This proposal aims to combine these studies by developing nanostructured silicon-graphene-polymer composite based negative electrode and sulphur-graphene-polymer composite based positive electrode to produce efficient lithium-sulfur batteries for advanced application in automotive or stationary electrical energy storage.

proEoutcome:
Till date there has been no report on investigation related to experimental determinations of the stress developments of such composite based electrode materials consisting of polymers in comparison to those in the absence of the polymer. Furthermore, still lacking is any systematic investigation and understanding on the possible effects of the interface properties on the integrities of the composite electrodes (pristine and in composite form upon insertion of buffer layer) at the various stages of lithiation/delithiation. This project aims to develop lithium-sulfur batteries to work as one of the most promising systems for advanced application in automotive or stationary electrical energy storage.


protitle:
Multi-modal Design of an Intelligent Transportation System

proarea:
Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (ICPS) Research; 
(2) Application of CPS in sector specific areas and research;
(q) Transportation (as per  http://dst.gov.in/icps-research)

prointro:
An Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) plays a major role in generating fine grained vehicular traffic information for city wide or larger region. The real time traffic information is used to optimize traffic movement in a road network. The historically collected traffic information enables proper planning of the road network expansion projects. This project aims to generate real time traffic estimation in a cost effective manner using the already deployed cellular network, WiFi infrastructure, and CCTV cameras, the GPS probes or test vehicles, and the selectively placed traffic sensors and ITS infrastructure. 

Most of the works on cellular network data processing for real time speed estimation report large error (mean error of 15-20% or higher). Hence, we aim to use cellular based tracking of users for vehicle counting on all the edges in a road network. This will enable the real time estimation of vehicle flow, occupancy and congestion level. 

The historically collected traffic data will be analyzed to cluster the edges with similar traffic profile.  The edges for  traffic sensor deployment will be selected using this information. A variety of non-intrusive traffic sensors will be studied for their availability, cost of deployment and maintenance, and quality of generated traffic information. Considering the large scale deployment of the CCTV cameras, and WiFi infrastructure, we will explore them extensively. In addition, the Bluetooth sensor, active IR/Radar sensors will be assessed.

A mechanism for spatial extrapolation of speed estimations from infrastructure edges to the infrastructure-less edges will be developed. For collecting the feedback and computing correction factor, we aim to use a set of test vehicles. The test vehicles will move in the road network and collect the traffic parameters in real time. A mechanism for computing the schedule and route of test vehicles will also be designed as an integral  part of the project. The effect of test vehicles (their count and schedule) on accuracy of generated traffic information would be interesting to analyze. 

The proposal will be evaluated for the ITS infrastructure requirement and accuracy of the generated traffic information. We also aim to analyze the effect of limited infrastructure deployment and failure of certain fraction of infrastructure on the quality of generated traffic information.

A set of traffic applications will be developed to examine the utility of generated traffic information. A mobile application and a web interface will be designed  to disseminate the real time traffic information. An Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) will be designed that uses the real time traffic information for suggesting trip plans and enroute changes to the commuters. The effect of ATIS on the average trip duration and congestion level in road network will be analyzed.

The development of appropriate computation framework is equally important for the large scale deployment of the system. A Map-Reduce (Hadoop) based distributed computing framework will be designed for data processing in real time. As a part of feasibility analysis, the computation, communication, and storage requirements of the framework will be evaluated.

proobj:
a) To generate accurate estimation of the road traffic information in real time using piecemeal data collected from various sources (cellular network, WiFi, GPS probes, CCTV camera, and selectively deployed traffic sensors)
b) To propose an efficient traffic sensor deployment plan and evaluate it for the infrastructure requirement, feasibility of incremental deployment and fault tolerance.
c) To design and validate a distributed processing and communication framework for the proposed ITS to assess feasibility of large scale deployment.
d) To design an Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) and evaluate its effect on average trip duration and congestion in road network.

prometho:
The ITS will use piecemeal data available from variety of sources to generate accurate estimation of traffic parameters in real time. We aim to collaborate with a cellular company to get access to the real time location data of users in a region. The users will be classified as non-vehicles and vehicles based on their movement characteristics. A map-matching algorithm  will be designed that can process the location data with large error to compute trajectory of vehicles. The trajectories will be processed to count vehicles on the edges for a sufficiently large aggregation period, and the vehicle flow, occupancy and congestion level on every edge will be computed.

We observe that speed estimation using cellular network data alone is erroneous and there is a need of additional accurate data sources to improve accuracy. The GPS probes/test vehicles can generate sparse but accurate traffic data. The data stream from CCTV cameras can be processed for computing traffic parameters. We aim to use all these available sources to generate traffic information. The sensor data fusion models will be designed that will integrate the data from various sources to improve accuracy and coverage of traffic information. 

To enable the accurate edge level speed estimation in whole road network, the ITS infrastructure deployment models will be designed. The models will identify the edges for infrastructure deployment. In the earlier work, we developed two models of ITS infrastructure deployment: COngestion COverage MOdel (COCOMO) and Edge COverage MOdel (ECOMO). Both the models use historically collected congestion profile of edges to select edges for ITS infrastructure deployment. The COCOMO aims to cover all six congestion levels using infrastructure edges. The maximum number of infrastructure units required to K-cover all the congestion levels are 6 * K. The ECOMO forms clusters of similar edges according to their congestion profile and deploys infrastructure on a few edges in each cluster to ensure K-coverage of all the edges in a road network.  The infrastructure requirement of COCOMO is independent of the road network size, whereas that of ECOMO is a function of road network size (as the road network size increases, the diversity in congestion profiles and hence the infrastructure requirement increases). The models do not make any assumption about the type of ITS infrastructure (any sensor providing speed estimation can be used) making them flexible to support a variety of them. The infrastructure deployment models designed in this work will be motivated from the COCOMO and ECOMO. We will assess a set of non-intrusive traffic sensors for the quality of generated traffic information and their deployment and maintenance cost. We plan to study performance of sensors available in smart phones (e.g. Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.), camera sensors, and active IR/Radar sensors. The evaluation will be done under different weather and light conditions.

On the edges with ITS infrastructure, the accurate speed information will be available periodically, in addition to the traffic parameters (vehicle flow, space occupancy, and congestion) estimated using cellular network data. The occupancy-speed relationship  will be learned on infrastructure edges. The aim is to spatially extrapolate the occupancy-speed relationship learned on the infrastructure edges to the other edges in road network. However, it is observed that the vehicle speed on an edge is affected by many parameters (in addition to space occupancy). For example, vehicle movement speed and edge length are highly correlated. For similar space occupancy values, the vehicle movement speed on a shorter-length edge is lower than that on a longer edge. To incorporate or overcome the effect of these parameters on speed estimation, we aim to use historical data of GPS probes/test vehicles to spatially extrapolate the occupancy-speed relationship from infrastructure edges to infrastructure-less edges. The average speed of GPS probes/test vehicles will be computed and stored for every congestion level for every edge in a road network. The infrastructure deployment models will permit incremental infrastructure deployment. The effect of limited infrastructure deployment on the quality of generated speed estimations will be analyzed.

To assess the feasibility of large scale deployment, we will  represent the ITS as a Map-Reduce (Hadoop) based distributed computing framework. The Map-Reduce framework proposed by Google permits data processing on a large cluster of commodity machines and is proven to work well under heavy computation load condition involving large amount of data. The computation, communication and storage requirement of the system will be analyzed. 

The generated traffic information will be disseminated using a web interface and mobile application interface. The same will be designed as a part of the project. The edge level speed estimations generated by the ITS would have a certain amount of error. Also, the estimations may not be available on some edges or at some times due to unavailability of infrastructure. An Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) will be designed that uses the real time traffic information generated by the ITS. The ATIS will suggest optimal  route to commuters during their trip. The ATIS is expected to improve trip duration and congestion in the road network.

prosummary:
Considering the large location error in cellular network data, it is difficult to predict the accurate entry and exit times of vehicles to compute edge level speed estimation. Hence, we aim to count vehicles on the edges for sufficiently large aggregation period (e.g. 10 minutes) to achieve good accuracy (less than 10%, for example). For computing the vehicle trajectories, a map matching algorithm will be developed that can work with large location error. This will enable the vehicle flow, occupancy and congestion estimations for every edge in a road network.

For the edge level speed estimation, a set of edges for ITS infrastructure deployment will be identified. In the earlier work, we designed two models for infrastructure deployment, namely, COngestion COverage MOdel (COCOMO) and Edge COverage MOdel (ECOMO). These models use the congestion profile of edges for selecting edges for ITS infrastructure deployment. The simulation results showed that the models provide full coverage of a road network with infrastructure deployment on less than 30% edges. The availability of CCTV camera or WiFi infrastructure will be considered while selecting edges for infrastructure deployment as these sensors can contribute the traffic information with appropriate processing of their raw data. In this work, we focus on non-intrusive traffic sensors such as WiFi and Bluetooth sensors, active IR/Radar Sensors, and traffic camera. The performance of each sensor will be evaluated with respect to its availability, cost of deployment and maintenance, and quality of traffic information.

The speed estimations will be spatially extrapolated from the infrastructure edges to the infrastructure-less edges to achieve real time speed estimation on all the edges. We will use the data from GPS probes/test vehicles for the purpose. The GPS probe/test vehicle data will be historically collected on all the edges for every congestion level. The difference between the GPS probes speeds under similar traffic conditions on edges will be used as a correction factor during spatial extrapolation of speed estimations. The methodology is expected to generate accurate speed estimations (ninety percentile error of less than 15%) on all the edges.

The proposed ITS will be evaluated for the feasibility of large scale deployment and the utility of generated traffic information. A Map-Reduce based distributed processing framework for the proposed ITS will be designed and the computation, communication, and storage requirement of the ITS will be analyzed. The real time traffic information will be made available to the commuters through a web interface and a mobile application. An Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) will be designed to suggest trip route and en-route changes to the commuters based on the real time traffic condition in a road network.

proEoutcome:
The project is expected to generate real time traffic information (vehicle flow, edge occupancy, congestion level, and speed estimation) for a city wide region. It will also suggest the locations for traffic sensor deployment in a road network. The transport department of government may carry out the ITS infrastructure deployment accordingly. 
The real time traffic information will be useful for a variety of traffic applications:
->the real time traffic information can be disseminated to the commuters using a web interface or a mobile application interface.
->the real time speed information will be used in an Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) that will suggest the optimal route or enroute changes to the commuters.
-> the edge level vehicle flow and occupancy information can be used to implement the adaptive traffic lights (a larger green period will be given to the higher flow edge). The same can be used to enforce diversions during peak/off-peak hours.

By analyzing the traffic data, the public/private transport agencies will get information about the routes in demand and will be able to schedule their transits accordingly. The historically collected traffic information  will be useful to the government for planning the road network expansion and other relevant projects. 

The proposed ITS permits incremental deployment of ITS infrastructure and is highly scalable. On successful deployment in a pilot region, the expansion to the city wide region would be straight forward. Given the digital map of a road network and associated cellular network data, the proposal will identify the locations for traffic sensors deployment and the real time traffic estimation would be feasible. The replication of the deployment in other cities/towns will be no different and will require the digital road network map and the cellular network data to start with. With the traffic sensors deployment at the suggested locations, the real time traffic estimation will be feasible in the whole road network.


protitle:
Design, Development and Investigations of Energy Efficient Solar Water Distillation Unit

proarea:
Location Specific Research and Technology Development

prointro:
Clean drinking water is the basic necessity of every human being. Billions of people currently face water scarcity issues while many of these people have easy access to various sources of contaminated water, like oceans and lakes. The major problem these individuals face is finding means of purification, and most water purification systems are extremely energy intensive, struggle to receive funding, and are too complex for untrained individuals to manufacture or run. there is a requirement of a device which is highly efficient, economical, simple to manufacture and maintain. A small scale solar distillation prototype will be made to act as a source of water purification for those in need. This system is extremely environmentally friendly as it requires neither energy generation nor harmful chemicals, is inexpensive for families, and is very simplistic to use and maintain. Today, the world economy steadily shifts from a hydrocarbon basis to more natural and sustainable energy-based forms. In the field of desalination, there is an interest in developing solar still devices into a more efficient technology for sustainable water production. So, increasing the productivity of solar stills has been the focus of intensive research.

proobj:
•	Design and development of an Energy Efficient Solar Water Distillation Unit by separating evaporator and condenser section
•	Evaluate the performance of the proposed design

prometho:
Planing: Data collection & Field survey
Implementing: Design, Development & Testing
Analysis: Performance evaluation & Conclusion

prosummary:
1. Literature review and scrutiny of available techniques
2. Designing of Novel Multi Effect Solar Powered Water Distiller
3.Procurement of component and Fabrication, publication in reputed journals based on water and energy
4. Experimental Trials & Data gathering, publication in thermal engineering
5. Validation of achieved results, optimization, publication
6. Draft completion report  for review ( 3 month prior to date of completion )
7. Field testing, publication, patent

proEoutcome:
•	Provide a complete module to treat any type of water impurity driven by solar energy with high efficiency.
•	Giving a feasible and more economical solution to purify the water through distillation.
•	Novel integrated unit/ units for water distillation.
•	Simulating strategies and modelling tools to optimize power requirement.
•	Prototype Energy Efficient Solar water distillation unit ready for evaluation 
•	Publications in journals like Energy, Applied energy and Desalination.


protitle:
Development of hybrid Fresnel Lens Assisted Solar Heater (FLASH) along with Thermal Energy Storage and LPG/PNG usage options

prointro:
This project aims to develop Fresnel Lens Assisted Solar Heater (FLASH) system to be used in association with existing LPG/PNG cooking stoves. This project may break the conventional dependence on the natural gas for cooking purpose, thereby utilizing the solar energy. The energy from Sun will be concentrated on a receiver using Fresnel Lens. The heat gained by the receiver will be transported to the thermal energy storage unit by working fluid via insulated pipe. The heat will be taken from the receiver unit to the cooking unit which will be inside the house (kitchen). This project will contribute in developing ways to increase the maximum usage of existing technology under Indian climatic conditions and will also help to explore various options to develop heat storage.

proobj:
1.	To build a Fresnel lens based solar collector with single axis tracking system.
2.	To build a cost effective hybrid cooking unit (to use thermal energy and LPG/PNG.
3.	To achieve a working temperature of 250°C.
4.	To isolate the sunlight focus point from the person who uses stove top by transporting heat into the kitchen.
5.	Suitable thermal storage with the capacity of 36 MJ.

prometho:
The Fresnel Lens will be used to concentrate the solar energy on to a single receiver. It also uses the tracking mechanism to track the sun & receive the heat energy. The concentrated heat energy is then utilized in heating the working fluid inside the receiver. It is also connected to the thermal heat storage unit, to store heat up to 1kWh, in a separate loop. The receiver is also connected with another loop, so that the heat can be carried to the cooking unit inside the kitchen. The heat will be exchanged with the hybrid cooking unit. The hybrid cooking unit also contains the mechanism to be operated on LPG/PNG system. A solar photovoltaic panel with battery storage is used to power two pumps in different loop system and a third motor to operate tracking system. Four thermocouples can be placed inside as shown in Fig. 1 to take the temperature reading on a data logger. All the thermal loops will be properly insulated to avoid the thermal energy losses. A bypass valve and a non-return valve can also be placed inside the loop. The schematic diagram in three-dimensions is also shown in Fig. 2 to visualize the final system.

prosummary:
The project aims to reduce the dependence on LPG/PNG by using thermal energy generated from sunlight thereby decreasing the emission of greenhouse gases. This development would help people who cook in rural/urban/semi-urban regions to reduce their dependence on the cooking gas as well as maintain their good health due to comparatively less pollution. It would help in the economy of the nation by providing an opportunity for new start-up for the technology being developed through this project. The start-up would help in commercialization of this Fresnel lens based solar assisted hybrid cooking system thereby creating job opportunities.

proEoutcome:
1.	Fresnel lens assisted solar heater (FLASH).
2.	Thermal storage system development to maintain 250°C.
3.	Hybrid cooking unit capable of using solar heat and LPG.
4.	Integration and testing of the abovementioned system.
5.	Documentation of reports, papers, articles, technology manuals, patents.
6.	Scientific data generation by field trials and updating the system.


protitle:
Solar-Biomass Assisted Trigeneration System for Low Temperature Industrial Cooling Applications

prointro:
Utilization of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources for power generation is increased. However, use of renewable energy sources for industrial process heat is still at an early stage of commercialization. Typically, the trigeneration system is a traditional cogeneration system with absorption and/or vapor compression system. Trigeneration systems with prime movers, like, steam turbine or gas turbine or internal combustion engine are commercially available. For small-medium scale applications, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising option compared to the steam Rankine cycle due to its superior thermodynamic performance and potential to operate with low temperature energy source. ORC can utilize different energy source, like, solar thermal, biomass, geothermal, combined solar thermal and geothermal, ocean thermal energy and waste heat, etc. The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) integrated vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS) based trigeneration systems are typically limited to space cooling. On the other hand, ORC integrated vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS) based trigeneration systems (for refrigeration applications) are having higher compressor size and higher electricity consumption. The ORC integrated  Vapor compression-absorption cascade refrigeration system (VCACRS) combines the advantages of both systems and achieves low temperature (up to –20°C) cooling efficiently. The proposed system, hybrid solar–biomass assisted trigeneration system using ORC integrated VCACRS, is independent of the fossil fuel and grid connectivity; therefore, ideal for remote and decentralized applications.

proobj:
1.	Design of solar-biomass assisted micro-organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system for simultaneous generation of power (10 kWe) and heat (78 kWth).
2.	Design of a novel energy efficient cascaded vapor compression-absorption refrigeration system (CVCARS) (with refrigeration capacity of 9 TR) for low temperature industrial cooling applications (upto –20°C).
3.	Hybridization of solar-biomass system, micro-organic Rankine cycle, and novel cascaded refrigeration system as a trigeneration system.

prometho:
1.	Thermodynamic analysis of the integrated system. (completed)
2.	Cooling/Heating/Electricity load calculation of integrated system. (completed)
3.	System component modeling and performance evaluation. (completed)
4.	Sizing and design of sub-systems and components. (completed)
5.	Selection and sizing of solar concentrator. (completed)
    	(Following step involved after receiving the grant)
6.	Purchase and integration of various sub-systems.
7.	Commissioning of the trigeneration system.
8.	Experimental studies and data collection for wide range of operating and performance parameters.
9.	Interpretation of experimental results and technology transfer.

prosummary:
EXPERIMENTS TO BE CARRIED OUT

1.	Performance testing of concentrating solar collector.
2.	Performance evaluation of organic Rankine cycle power block.
3.	Performance evaluation of cascaded refrigeration system.
4.	Performance testing of solar-biomass organic Rankine cycle powered cascaded vapor compression-absorption system.

HYPOTHESIS/ MODEL TEST.

1.	Micro-scale organic Rankine cycle system.
2.	Cascaded refrigeration system.
3.	Renewable energy based micro-scale organic Rankine cycle to operate novel cascaded refrigeration system for cooling solutions.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The ORC integrated VARS based trigeneration systems are typically limited to space cooling. On the other hand, ORC integrated VCRS based trigeneration systems (for refrigeration applications) are having higher compressor size and higher electricity consumption. The ORC integrated VCACRS combines the advantages of both systems and achieves low temperature (up to –20°C) cooling efficiently. The proposed system is independent of the fossil fuel and grid connectivity; therefore, ideal for remote and decentralized applications.

proEoutcome:
DELIVERABLES

1.	State of art R&D facility for solar-biomass trigeneration system and data collection.
2.	Hybrid experimental facility for renewable energy based micro-scale ORC to operate novel cascaded refrigeration system for innovative cooling solutions.
3.	The test facility will be utilized to carry out PhD research work.
4.	Papers based on the research outputs of the project.


protitle:
Sustainable and Resilient waterEnvironment by integrated SMARTcity-region development 
(SURE-SMART)

proarea:
Water Quality, Water Resources Management

prointro:
To realise the aforementioned ambition, SURE-SMARThas identified the following significant research needs that should be focused on:

1) there is insufficient understanding on the changing water environment and its interaction with city-regions’ socioeconomic development, which is key in assessing the current and future statuses of water quality. Although this is a global issue as specified in the ‘PantaRhei’ campaign by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS, 2016), it is especially significant in India due to the rapid changes in the environment and society; 
2) there is a lack of dynamic consideration on evolving hydrological disaster risk (GFDRR, 2015) that could have severe impacts on water quality;
3) a holistic (i.e., systems) thinking framework should be developed to interconnect the multi-scale systems (city-regions and the related water environment) and their boundaries. Robust decision making, especially with deep uncertainty (Walker, et al., 2015) in the changing water environment and socioeconomics, should be included in the framework;
4) an integrated decision support platform for city-region development is needed to act as a core to aggregate information under the guidance of the aforementioned holistic thinking framework. Such a system should encourage participation of stakeholders and enable transparent decision making to increase city-regions’ resilience and sustainability, with a particular focus on water quality management.

proobj:
To achieve this goal, the following objectives are targeted: 
•	to develop and promote a Smart Water Quality Information System; 
•	to understand the changing water environment and its interaction with city-region activities;
•	to study evolving hazards for disaster risk reduction related to water quality and pollutants;
•	to develop a decision support platform for smart city-region development with water quality in its core.

prometho:
WP 1 Development of Smart Water Quality Information System
WP 2 Water quality sustainability linking socioeconomics and environment
WP 3 Water quality resilience to disaster risk
WP 4 Holistic decision making support for sustainable and resilient economic development and social welfare in city-regions
SURE-SMART is composed of four interconnected work packages (WPs) with relevant supporting tasks. A smart information system is the foundation for the whole project. Knowledge of the changing water environment linked with pollutants is key in assessing water quality dynamics of the past, present and future. Uncertainty is an important factor to be considered throughout the whole project. Evolving hydrological hazards must be considered for a resilient city-region in dealing with water quality problem. A holistic thinking framework is needed to guide the interconnected system analyses and modelling. To make the project applicable in practice, an effective and integrated decision support system will be developed.Since each partner in the project has a proven track record of applying methods in their respective discipline, we choose to focus on how everything ties together rather than use limited space for detailed descriptions of existing domain methods.

prosummary:
This 36-months project will be conducted interactively between the researchers in the UK and India. UK PI Prof Han and India PI Dr Patel will lead the overall project (a sufficient budget has been allocated for cross-project coordination and integration). Among the four WPs, Rawat (India) & Rico-Ramirez (UK) will lead WP1; Woods (UK) & Kumar (India) will lead WP2; Yadav (India) & Agarwal (UK) will lead WP3 and Head (UK) & Vyas (India) will lead WP4. Prof Head from EST will lead the core resilience.io developers to implement the new functional modules derived from the related tasks/work packages in SURE-SMART. Close collaboration between all groups will be ensured by monthly teleconferences and regular staff/students exchanges. Specific project progress meetings will be held yearly with the project collaborators in UK/India and at international venues (e.g., conferences). All the collaborators have successfully carried out many large projects before, so it is expected that SURE-SMART will run smoothly. Due to the importance and key roles of the holistic thinking platform development and uncertainty analysis, WP4 will be run throughout the whole project. New data will be received and updated regularly in SURE-SMART so T1.2 will cover the whole project duration as well. It should be noted that the work plan in Table 1 is provisional and will be regularly adjusted every year or whenever needed.

proEoutcome:
SURE-SMART is truly novel in many aspects, and the key points are: 1) to tackle the water quality as part of sustainability of the changing water environment in India; 2) to deal with water quality linked with evolving hydrological disaster risk; 3) to carry out a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments with active support from social science, natural science, engineering, and systems using information fusion techniques; 4) to integrate multiscale modelling processes including city-regions, hydrological catchments, and climate change; and 5) to adopt and enhance a pioneering open-source decision support system in holistic resilience and sustainability modelling for city-regions with a focus on water quality. All these represent a new and innovative approach to future water quality management that will put India as well the UK at the cutting edge of the scientific and technological field.

FAScheme:
India-UK Water Quality Research Programme


protitle:
Resource assessment for combined exploitation of offshore wind and wave energy in Indian EEZ

prointro:
In recent years, taking advantage of various marine renewables at the same time through combined systems (wind and wave) has been regarded as a good solution to promote and accelerate the development of marine energy. Some of the recent studies have established the combined offshore wind and wave energy analysed spatial and temporal variability of both resources and the correlation between them. Moreover, there are other synergies between both renewables that enhance the interest of this combination, such as the savings achieved by sharing common equipment and infrastructure or the enlarged weather windows for operation & maintenance tasks that can be obtained from the shadow effect of co-located wave energy converters (WEC), which can also be useful in protecting wind turbines from heavy wave loading under storm conditions.

proobj:
Application of satellite data for development of spatial distribution of wind and wave energy resource maps over the Indian EEZ

prometho:
Collection of the observational data from buoys or marine platforms. Inter-comparison between hindcasted data and observations. Estimation of the available wind and wave power potential of the Indian offshore areas. Assessment of correlation between wind and wave power resource. Identification of locations for combined exploitation of wind and wave power resources.

prosummary:
Collection of data (wind and wave), Data analysis and simulation studies (offshore wind), Data analysis and simulation studies (wave), Data analysis and simulation studies (Hybrid wind-wave), Data analysis and simulation studies (Hybrid wind-wave), Project report Writing, submission and Publication.

proEoutcome:
•	Spatial distribution maps of offshore wind resource maps (wind power density (W/m2), inter annual variability, capacity factor and annual energy production).
•	Spatial distribution maps of wave resource maps (wave power potential (kW/m), inter annual variability, capacity factor, annual energy production). 
•	Quantification of offshore wind energy potential, wave energy potential and combined offshore wind-wave energy potential considering state of art offshore wind turbines and wave energy converters with uncertainty analysis.
•	Identify the most suitable areas for offshore wind, wave, and combined offshore wind-wave exploitation based on techno-economic analysis and marine eco-system considerations.


protitle:
Spatio-temporal analysis of sea ice condition and ice bergs over the polar regions using SCATSAT data

prointro:
Sea ice is formed when sea-water freezes to a temperature less than –1.9°C. Primarily, sea ice occurs in the Polar Regions but influences our global climate. Sea ice extent is a measure of the equator-ward spread of sea ice from the poles. 
Sea ice cover over polar oceans is a major critical parameter for understanding and forecasting oceanic circulation and earth climate changes. Sea ice acts as a thin insulator between the atmosphere and the ocean in the Polar Regions. In the presence of sea ice, only 30-50% of the incoming solar radiation gets absorbed. However, in its absence, ocean absorbs a whopping 85-95% of the solar radiation (Washington and Parkinson, 1986; Riggs et al., 1999). Moreover, in the Antarctic, sea ice massively impacts production of deep bottom-waters and thus, affects the global thermohaline circulation. Sea ice cover is an important parameter that indicates the polar response to climate change (Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems, 2009). Moreover, sea ice condition information is used for maritime navigation and also in coupled ocean-ice-atmosphere numerical models (Rivas, 2011).
The only means to monitor sea ice condition on a global scale is through satellite remote sensing. A comprehensive spatial and temporal distribution of large icebergs in in the vast Polar Regions can also be done using remotely sensed data only. 
Historically, two classes of sensors- microwave and multi-spectral radiometers have been typically used. Examples of the former include both passive and active sensor such as the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer or SMMR, Special Sensor Microwave Imager or SSM/I and scatterometer etc., while the latter includes the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS, and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer or AVHRR (Riggs et al., 1999). A number of applications of scatterometer data including the polar ice sheets, polar sea ice, and icebergs have been summaried by Long et al., 2001.

proobj:
To generate sea ice extent from Scatsat1 Level-4 Polar product and carry out spatio-temporal analysis of the condition of sea ice (sea ice type, cover, melting index, melt/refreeze onset, etc.) with use of synergistic use of ScatSat and microwave radiometer data.

prometho:
Multi-sensor Analysed Sea Ice Extent – Northern hemisphere (MASIE-NH) is one of the most standard sea ice extent products. It provides measurements of daily sea ice extent and sea ice edge boundary for the Northern Hemisphere using visible imagery, passive microwave data, field observations, and ice charts. It is a 4 km as well as 1 km data product available in different formats (geotiff, shapefile, png, kmz and ASCII values). Further details may be accessed at https://nsidc.org/data/g02186 and http://nsidc.org/data/docs/noaa/g02186_masie. The data is archived at ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/DATASETS/ NOAA/G02186/. This data is not available for the Antarctic region.
Martin and Augstein, (2000) retrieved large-scale drift of Arctic sea ice using passive microwave (85.5 GHz Special Sensor Microwave Imager) satellite data based on a cross-correlation method applied to sequential images. Zhao and Long, 2002 showed that sea ice drift merged from daily results from QuikSCAT, SSM/I, and buoy data gave more complete coverage and the sea ice motion derived from QuikSCAT and SSM/I data using the wavelet analysis method agreed well with ocean buoy observations in the Arctic (October 1999 to March 2000 data). Falkingham, 2014 outlined the requirements for satellite observations of global sea ice, icebergs etc. with a focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with the intention of identifying the observations needed to support scientific investigations aimed at improving our ability to monitor and model the floating ice environment. Classification of sea/lake/river ice, Ice motion / drift, Melt and freeze onset of sea ice, Concentration of sea/lake/river ice, Melt pond formation and evolution on sea ice, Leads and polynyas in sea ice, Sea ice floe size distribution, Land-fast ice, and Iceberg distribution patterns are some of the identified important areas that need attention. 
The Antarctic Iceberg Tracking Database (Long, 2016; Stuart and Long, 2011a; Stuart and Long, 2011b; Long et al., 2002;) has been prepared using six different satellite scatterometer instruments.  The database includes icebergs identified in enhanced resolution scatterometer backscatter images during July-Sept. 1978 (from Seasat), July 1996-June 1997 (from NSCAT), 1992-2001 (from ERS-1/2), June 1999-November 2009 (from QuikSCAT), 2008-present (from ASCAT), 2012-2014 (from OSCAT) etc.

prosummary:
For the first year:
Quarter	Planned activities
T0+3 months
(Jan2017- Mar2017)	Literature survey
T0+6 months
(Apr2017-Jun2017)	Classification of sea ice (SCATSAT-1 applications)
T0+9 months
(Jul2017-Sep2017)	Sea ice extent mapping (software development), which post testing may be made available on MOSDAC/VEDAS website
T0+12 months
(Oct2017-Dec2017)	Sea ice area mapping (software development), which post testing may be made available on MOSDAC/VEDAS website

For the second year: Sea ice type determination (software development) 
Sea ice melt index to be found using SCATSAT-1 data, may be validated                    with the one computed from global ice data
For the third year: Sea ice melt/freeze onset dates may be found, some algorithm may be developed and made available

proEoutcome:
Techniques will be developed for sea ice detection, classification and estimation of sea ice cover, melting index, melt/refreeze onset, drift etc primarily based on ScatSat data. The experimental global sea ice products and spatio-temporal analysis of large icebergs will be made available on MOSDAC/VEDAS website.


protitle:
Design and Development of Battery Management System for Photo Voltaic System.

proarea:
Battery Management System for Photo Voltaic System.

prointro:
Solar energy is the best candidate for integration into the power system due to technological advancements and less installation cost. However, the major disadvantage of solar energy system is its intermittent nature. The solar energy varies with the sunlight. Therefore, the energy generated fluctuates depending on the seasonal and environmental conditions. Moreover, the load demand also varies with time & seasons. To provide the energy required during a peak load period, power companies tend to supply additional power by using smaller gas turbine generators. This is a common practice to provide the extra energy to meet the demand during the peak time, but at a higher cost. On the other hand, surplus energy at lower cost is available during the low load periods, because the power plants are operated below their rated capacity. One way to solve this problem is to store energy during the low load period and then supply this energy during the peak load period.

proobj:
1) To design & develop a battery management system (BMS) for photo voltaic system operated by the digital controller.
2) To extract maximum power from solar panels using DC-DC converter.
3) To estimate the real time state of charge (SOC) of battery.
4) A graphical user interface (GUI) to monitor operations.

prometho:
A battery management system (BMS) is an electronic system that manages a rechargeable battery (cell or battery pack) by protecting them from operating outside its safe limits. In addition it also monitors the state for control action. Therefore, the primary task of BMS in photovoltaic (PV) applications is allowing the batteries to operate under conditions that will enhance its life by operating in safe limits. The monitoring function measures the voltage, temperature, state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH) and current of battery unit. By monitoring and protecting the battery pack, the BMS helps system to work in a more efficient way. 

The charging algorithm for battery is designed in such a way that the solar energy is stored in battery during low load periods and battery / PV panels will supply the power during peak loads. Therefore, when the load demand is less, the BMS stores the energy generated from the solar panels in the battery bank and when the demand is more, the BMS supplies the energy stored in the battery bank. During night time when the load demand is less the BMS stores the energy in the battery bank by taking energy from the utility through the bi-directional inverter. This provides the base energy for the next day’s load, and it also helps in maintaining SOC of battery.

prosummary:
Stage 1: Literature review & Identification and procurement of equipment and components - 0-9 months.
Stage 2: Simulation of the system - 3-12 months.
Stage 3: Digital controller coding  - 6-15 months.
Stage 4: Integration of the procured components- 9-18 months, 
Stage 5: Testing the system- 12-21 months.
Stage 6: Final report preparation & documentation- 18 24 months.

proEoutcome:
i.	Knowledge gained: Integration of solar panels to grid, implementation of battery management system, design and fabrication of sensor circuits, development of graphical user interface, digital controller coding, PCB fabrication.

ii.	Research publications: Two publications in referred international journals. 
iii.	Process and product development: Literature survey, simulation and testing of the BMS for solar applications. 
iv.	Contribution towards improvements in issues concerning System operation: 1) Development of battery management system. 
2) An algorithm to operate the battery within safe operating limits to extent its life.

FAScheme:
Central Power Research Institute, RESEARCH SCHEME ON POWER (RSOP)


protitle:
URBAN AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

proarea:
High resolution Numeric Modelling of Air Quality

prointro:
In the current global scenario, ambient ‘Air quality’ or ‘Air pollution’ has become a subject of serious concern resulting from rapid industrialisation, growing urbanisation, higher levels of energy consumption, increasing vehicular emissions, biomass burning etc. leading to various ill effects on human health and environment. In India, over the past few decades, air pollution has become a critical environmental issue as an outcome of enhanced anthropogenic activities, economic development, industrial development and growing energy demands. In a recent report in 2016, World Health Organisation had reported that high PM concentrations in ambient air is causing 3 million premature deaths worldwide every year and approximately 3% of cardiopulmonary and 5% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to the particulate matter globally. This is an alarming situation and draws research interest and immediate actions through various pollution control methods and policy measures particularly in urban areas with several evidences of impacts on human health besides local and regional environmental impacts.

proobj:
•	To identify potential sources and spatio-temporal variabilities in air pollutants through field measurements and ambient air monitoring.
•	Deriving air quality indices using field/in-situ, remote sensing and GIS data   
•	Source dispersion modelling of air pollutants using source inventory, satellite and meteorological data 
•	To investigate the impacts of air pollutants on human health and identification of potential zones of human health hazards

prometho:
The major work components of the study include: 
1.	Identification of sources and field measurements of various air pollutants in the study area. 
2.	Use of satellite data with in-situ measurements for deriving air pollution/air quality, GHG indices and estimation of satellite derived PM.  
3.	Atmospheric LIDAR measurements for generating vertical profiles of aerosols and cloud structure. 
4.	Mathematical simulations of air pollutants dispersion from elevated point sources and mobile sources in the study area.
5.	Integration of all inputs into a GIS framework for spatial modelling.
6.	Identification of potential zones of air pollution.   
7.	Investigations on impacts of various air pollutants on Human health. 
8.	Generating a WebGIS based urban Air Quality Assessment for the study area.

prosummary:
•	To apply and validate a Regional Chemical Transport Model for studying the Urban Air Pollution scenario in Ahmedabad city
•	To study the behavior of Ozone precursors viz. NOx and CO along with the meteorological parameters on its concentration. 
•	To study the spatial and temporal behavior of Ozone and Particulate Matter (in terms of its concentration) 
•	To undertake spatial modeling based on the outputs of the Regional Chemical Transport Model and prepare Air Quality Index (AQI) Maps 
•	To undertake Air Pollution based Health Risk assessment by coupling the outputs of Chemical Transport Model with a Receptor Model
•	To undertake scenario based modeling for improving the Urban Air Quality
•	To forecast Air Quality (in terms of secondary pollutants like Ozone) using techniques like Artificial Neural Network (ANN).

proEoutcome:
This proposed study would showcase the synergistic application of remote sensing data, in-situ/field data, chemical characterisation of air pollutants, source dispersion modelling and human health data for a detailed urban air quality assessment. This study would also utilise the real time air quality measurements from ambient air monitoring stations at SAC and surrounding environs of Ahmedabad city proposed under System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting & Research (SAFAR-Ahmedabad) project of MoES, Govt. of India. The highly resolved vertical resolution of few species and parameters from atmospheric LIDARS will be very useful in delineating the coupling between Planet Boundary Layer with free troposphere and possibly with stratosphere. The study would develop a scientific methodology/protocol for field sampling. The understanding and techniques developed under this study would support ISRO’s future missions on aerosols and air quality monitoring. Further, the integration of diverse datasets into a GIS framework would generate a sound scientific basis for policy makers and implementation of air pollution control measures in future.

FAScheme:
A PROJECT UNDER ISRO’s EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS MISSION


protitle:
REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE CONTAMINATION FROM      GROUNDWATEER USING CALCIUM PEROXIDE   NANOPARTICLES

prointro:
Around 80% of domestic needs of water in rural areas of India are met by ground water (Ayoob and Gupta, 2006). The excess fluoride in groundwater adds the water quality problem in many areas. In India, at least 17 states are affected by this problem. The proportions of the people affected by fluoride are quite large to assess and tackle (Ayoob & Gupta, 2006). In India permissible limit of fluoride is 1.5 mg L-1. Higher intake of fluoride from drinking water and other sources causes dental fluorosis, joint pain, sporadic pain, headache, muscle weakness and stomachache, risk of bone fracture, joint deformation by skeletal fluorosis, and nervous system damage (WHO, 2006).
Among various methods, adsorption is the most suitable and widely used technique due to its simple operation, and the availability of a wide range of adsorbents. The cost of the adsorption process mainly depends on the cost of the adsorbent. Hence finding of an alternate adsorbent with distinct advantages with respect to higher selectivity and better fluoride adsorption capacity is the main objective of proposed work.
Calcium metal has a good affinity to fluoride ion. Much research has been done for the removal of fluoride by different salt. But, the most important factors influencing the adsorption are the pH of water, the high adsorption capacity, and the crystalline form of the adsorbent, which was not satisfying by previously reported method, therefore a new method for removal by calcium metal, is highly desirable. Nanoparticles have unique adsorption properties due to their small size and large surface area, and hence it is proposed to prepare calcium peroxide (CaO2) nanoparticles which could be a cheap and efficient adsorbent for fluoride removal.
To improve the quality of drinking water the main objective is framed as ‘the development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles’.
The various experiments will includes: synthesis and characterization of calcium peroxide nanoparticles; improvement / modification in nanoparticles to improve surface area and adsorption capacity; study of drinking water quality and their impurities; batch study on removal of fluoride (effect of pH, adsorbent dose, time, concentration of fluoride etc); equilibrium study, column study, thermodynamic study, Taguchi methodology, process optimization etc. The standard methods for experimentation, characterization, analysis will be used. For the improvement / modification of the nanoparticles, different approached will be used based on literature. There is a strong potential to file a patent and published 3-5 international referred SCI/SCIE journal publications along with few national journal / conferences publications.

proobj:
The main objective of the proposed work is development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles.

prometho:
The main objective of the proposed work is development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles.
In view to achieve this objective following work will be carried out:
•	Study of drinking water quality and their impurities specifically fluoride
•	Synthesis of calcium peroxide nanoparticles 
•	Characterizations (SEM, TEM, DSC etc.) of nanoparticles
•	Improvement / Modification in nanoparticles to improve activity
•	Characterization of Improved/Modified nanoparticles
•	Study on Taguchi Methodology for removal of fluoride from water
•	Batch study on removal of fluoride (effect of various parameters)
•	Kinetics study
•	Equilibrium study
•	Thermodynamic study
•	Experimental Study of Adsorption column 
•	Process optimization

prosummary:
Around 80% of domestic needs of water in rural areas of India are met by ground water (Ayoob and Gupta, 2006). The excess fluoride in groundwater adds the water quality problem in many areas. In India, at least 17 states are affected by this problem. The proportions of the people affected by fluoride are quite large to assess and tackle (Ayoob & Gupta, 2006). In India permissible limit of fluoride is 1.5 mg L-1. Higher intake of fluoride from drinking water and other sources causes dental fluorosis, joint pain, sporadic pain, headache, muscle weakness and stomachache, risk of bone fracture, joint deformation by skeletal fluorosis, and nervous system damage (WHO, 2006).
Among various methods, adsorption is the most suitable and widely used technique due to its simple operation, and the availability of a wide range of adsorbents. The cost of the adsorption process mainly depends on the cost of the adsorbent. Hence finding of an alternate adsorbent with distinct advantages with respect to higher selectivity and better fluoride adsorption capacity is the main objective of proposed work.
Calcium metal has a good affinity to fluoride ion. Much research has been done for the removal of fluoride by different salt. But, the most important factors influencing the adsorption are the pH of water, the high adsorption capacity, and the crystalline form of the adsorbent, which was not satisfying by previously reported method, therefore a new method for removal by calcium metal, is highly desirable. Nanoparticles have unique adsorption properties due to their small size and large surface area, and hence it is proposed to prepare calcium peroxide (CaO2) nanoparticles which could be a cheap and efficient adsorbent for fluoride removal.
To improve the quality of drinking water the main objective is framed as ‘the development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles’.
The various experiments will includes: synthesis and characterization of calcium peroxide nanoparticles; improvement / modification in nanoparticles to improve surface area and adsorption capacity; study of drinking water quality and their impurities; batch study on removal of fluoride (effect of pH, adsorbent dose, time, concentration of fluoride etc); equilibrium study, column study, thermodynamic study, Taguchi methodology, process optimization etc. The standard methods for experimentation, characterization, analysis will be used. For the improvement / modification of the nanoparticles, different approached will be used based on literature. There is a strong potential to file a patent and published 3-5 international referred SCI/SCIE journal publications along with few national journal / conferences publications.

proEoutcome:
After the completion of project, a process for the removal of fluoride from drinking water using low cost calcium peroxide nanoparticles will be developed in a laboratory scale. The process further needs to be tested on pilot scale. A business plan will be prepared establishing techno-economic viability. The beneficiary from the proposed work will be:
i)	People from rural area 
ii)	Researchers working in the field of water treatment, nanotechnology etc.
iii)	NGO’s and GO’s working in rural area for drinking water.
iv)	Industries which are interested to develop low cost water purification technologies.
The development "Outcomes" and "Outputs' of the project 
PhD Research Scholar 	: 1-2,		M.Tech 	: 1-2
SCI/SCIE Publication		: 5-6		Conference	: 2-4
Patent				: 1
Technology Development	: 1


protitle:
Improving Speech Quality and Intelligibility in Digital Hearing Aids using Speech Enhancement Techniques

proarea:
Digital Signal Processing, Implementation of Speech Enhancement Techniques, Array Processing Techniques

prointro:
Hearing aids are electronic devices worn by hearing impaired people ideally to improve the reduced intelligibility caused by hearing loss. Traditional analog devices (amplifying devices) are no longer useful in noisy environment. They are suffered by poor speech quality and intelligibility and also unable to combat with noise. Recent digital devices can improve speech quality to some extent but their performance is also affected in varying noisy environments. Modern devices include some type of speech enhancement scheme (single or multi microphone) to improve speech quality further. The signal processing algorithms used for speech enhancement themselves distort the speech to some extent and generate artifacts.  So, still there are some problems unsolved: hearing impaired listeners have greater susceptibility to the distortions introduced by signal processing algorithms, the small size of hearing devices limits the size of microphone array, and the computational cost of the implemented algorithms. Further, most devices are monaural; not allow the user to listen more realistically by keeping the spatial information.

proobj:
i. Assistance to hearing impaired persons
ii. Improvement in quality of speech by cancellation of noise
iii. Improvement in intelligibility of speech by cancellation of multi-talker babble

prometho:
The improvement of speech quality and intelligibility as perceived by the hearing impaired person using hearing aids is a traditional problem. If certain speech enhancement techniques are embedded in digital hearing aids using digital signal processing algorithms the problem can be catered to a satisfactorily level. The livelihood of the affected person will definitely improve. Further, the cheaper hearing aids available in market are only sound magnifier and they are not capable to deal with the background noise and create annoying effect in the noisy environment. The use of speech enhancement techniques in hearing aids can open the door for so many industries to manufacture a good quality digital hearing aid and ultimately the hearing impaired person will get really an “aid”.  This will also open the door for collaboration between the audiologists and signal processing engineers and will further widen the scope of signal processing applications.

prosummary:
1. Literature Survey, 
2. Procurement of Equipments and Softwares
3. Simulation and Evaluation of Speech Enhancement Methods using MATLAB  SIMULINK and toolboxes, 
4. Results Comparison 
5. Modifications, tuning and refinement of algorithms for digital hearing aids application
6. DSP Hardware implementation using Development Tools and Platforms, 
7. Testing with real microphone array and speakers suitable for hearing aids
8. Evaluation of Real Time performance

proEoutcome:
1. Algorithm development, Hardware prototype implementation

2. Reports, Papers, Operating Procedure


protitle:
Development and analysis of energy efficient friction stir welding for dissimilar Aluminum-Magnesium welds.

prointro:
Development of joining technology for dissimilar metals is essential for the manufacturing of multi-materials structures. Analyzing the current trend in some strategic industrial sectors such as automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding and railways, the dissimilar joining between Aluminum (Al) and Magnesium (Mg) seems to be quite promising as Al alloys offer high strength, superior formability and weight savings while Mg alloys presents benefits of lightest structural material due to low density and high specific strength. However, joining of dissimilar Al-Mg system is challenging due to differences in the properties of individual materials that leads to the large amount of formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs). Therefore, fusion welding processes are not practically recommended to obtain sound Al-Mg weld. Thus, there is a requirement to develop suitable welding processes which can obtain defect free sound dissimilar Al-Mg weld.
Friction stir welding (FSW) is reported as feasible welding process to obtain defect free Al-Mg weld because of solid state nature of the process. The advantages of FSW Al-Mg welds are reduction IMCs, elimination of defects and low residual stresses. Despite of these advantages, limited research has been performed in the previous years including national and international researches. Subject to the national status, it is reported that, only few articles have been published, which talks about basic parameters and dissimilar joint formation. In case of other literature studies of dissimilar Al-Mg FSW, previous studies are focused on microstructural investigations of dissimilar Al-Mg joints, process parameters correlation with microstructures and mechanical properties of dissimilar Al-Mg joints. Apart from these studies, there are many important parameters and process modifications left, which must be performed in order to develop comprehensive understanding between process-property-structure relations of dissimilar Al-Mg FSW.

proobj:
	To establish the suitable process parameters of friction stir welding for Al-Mg dissimilar system. 
	Set up the effect of process parameters on properties (process-property-structure relationship) of dissimilar joints. Investigations on joint properties include mechanical testing, metallurgical characterization, and nondestructive testing.

prometho:
1. Detailed literature survey on the dissimilar friction stir welding of Al-Mg joints will be carried out. Project objectives will be further furnished based on the specific gaps identified from the literature review.
2. The base materials and other consumables will be purchased. AA6061 and AZ31B materials will be purchased as base materials and Tool steel of M2 grade, H13 grade and Stainless steel will be selected as tool materials.
3. Suitable fixture will be developed for butt joint configuration for different thicknesses of workpiece materials such as 2 mm and 6 mm.
4. Based on the previous literatures, the process parameters will be identified for the feasibility experiments. Different tool designs will be selected based on the available literatures. Special purpose machine of FSW and vertical milling machine are utilized to perform experimental trials.
5. Based on feasibility trials and data of previous literatures, working window of process parameters will be selected. Modifications in the tool design and process parameters will be suggested based on the feasibility trials.
6. Experiments on important selected process parameters will be conducted in order to set-up its effects on weldability and joint properties. 
7. Hybrid FSW of heating assisted FSW and cooling enhanced FSW will be implemented to obtain successful dissimilar Al-Mg welds.
8. Non-destructive testing such as radiographic test will be performed in order to see the quality of joint at non-destructive level. Standard testing procedures as per the guideline of American standards of testing materials will be followed. 
9. Destructive testing such as tensile test, hardness, and microstructural analysis will be performed. Standard testing procedures as per the guideline of American standards of testing materials, American society of mechanical engineers will be followed. Optical microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy will be performed to evaluate the joints.
10. Analysis for the intermetallic formation and its distribution will be carried out. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis will be carried out to evaluate formation of intermetallic compounds.
11. The tensile strengths, hardness and impact strengths will be analyzed through graphs or charts for normal FSW and hybrid FSW. Process-property-structure relationship will be established for dissimilar Al-Mg welds. 
12. At the end of the project, the final report will be prepared and submitted to UGC. 
13. Results obtained from the project will be communicated for the publication of original research papers in the reputed journals.

prosummary:
1. Detailed literature survey on the dissimilar friction stir welding of Al-Mg joints will be carried out. Project objectives will be further furnished based on the specific gaps identified from the literature review.
2. The base materials and other consumables will be purchased. AA6061 and AZ31B materials will be purchased as base materials and Tool steel of M2 grade, H13 grade and Stainless steel will be selected as tool materials.
3. Suitable fixture will be developed for butt joint configuration for different thicknesses of workpiece materials such as 2 mm and 6 mm.
4. Based on the previous literatures, the process parameters will be identified for the feasibility experiments. Different tool designs will be selected based on the available literatures. Special purpose machine of FSW and vertical milling machine are utilized to perform experimental trials.
5. Based on feasibility trials and data of previous literatures, working window of process parameters will be selected. Modifications in the tool design and process parameters will be suggested based on the feasibility trials.
6. Experiments on important selected process parameters will be conducted in order to set-up its effects on weldability and joint properties. 
7. Hybrid FSW of heating assisted FSW and cooling enhanced FSW will be implemented to obtain successful dissimilar Al-Mg welds.
8. Non-destructive testing such as radiographic test will be performed in order to see the quality of joint at non-destructive level. Standard testing procedures as per the guideline of American standards of testing materials will be followed. 
9. Destructive testing such as tensile test, hardness, and microstructural analysis will be performed. Standard testing procedures as per the guideline of American standards of testing materials, American society of mechanical engineers will be followed. Optical microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy will be performed to evaluate the joints.
10. Analysis for the intermetallic formation and its distribution will be carried out. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis will be carried out to evaluate formation of intermetallic compounds.
11. The tensile strengths, hardness and impact strengths will be analyzed through graphs or charts for normal FSW and hybrid FSW. Process-property-structure relationship will be established for dissimilar Al-Mg welds. 
12. At the end of the project, the final report will be prepared and submitted to UGC. 
13. Results obtained from the project will be communicated for the publication of original research papers in the reputed journals.

proEoutcome:
	Suitable process parameters of friction stir welding for Al-Mg dissimilar system will be established. 
	Effect of process parameters on properties (process-property-structure relationship) of dissimilar joints are expected to be settled up via Investigations on joint properties include mechanical testing, metallurgical characterization, and nondestructive testing.
	Formation of IMCs at the joint area will be reduced.
	Hybrid approaches of FSW such as heating assisted FSW and cooling enhanced FSW on dissimilar Al-Mg joints will be implemented.


protitle:
Assessing and Modelling of Petrophysical Anisotropy and Heterogeneity in Bioturbated clastic Reservoirs

prointro:
The scientific objectives of the proposed project is to evaluate and quantify various heterogeneity in the sandstones as a result of various degree of bioturbation. It is well known that bioturbation significantly alter the petrophysical properties of the reservoir rock. It was usually assumed that Bioturbation typically decreases reservoir quality by mixing adjacent sands and clays, introducing the clay into the interstices among the sand grains.  In the field of applied ichnology, the last few decades have seen many studies examining the effects of bioturbation on reservoir properties

proobj:
A)	To evaluate the petrophysical properties of Bioturbated sandstones
a.	Porosity characterization of Bioturbated sandstone
b.	Permeability characterization of Bioturbated Sandstone
c.	Capillary pressure characterization of Bioturbated sandstone
B)	To characterize and petrophysical heterogeneity of sandstones with different Bioturbation Index 
a.	Characterization of heterogeneity with bioturbation index-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
b.	To evaluate effect of trace fossils on the heterogeneity (e.g. walled Vs un-walled Traces; Vertical Vs horizontal oriented Traces etc).
C)	 To model the heterogeneity of sandstones with different bioturbation index.

prometho:
a)	Outcrop and locality delineation 
b)	Sample collection and preparation, which would include slabbing and sectioning of the large samples (minimum 30 X 30 Cm) in to two sets
.
c)	One set of sample will be cored from vertical as well as horizontal core plugs (preferably as multiple samples)
d)	Thin sections will be prepared from remaining part of the samples.
e)	Samples will be characterized for Sedimentary and ichnological data for generating facies groups. 
f)	Core Plug Porosity (based on Helium Porosimeter) will be estimated (in vertical and horizontal direction in respect to bed).
g)	Core Plug Permeability (Kair / Kliq)will be estimated (in vertical and horizontal direction in respect to bed)

prosummary:
Principle investigator has almost more than 17 years of experience in the field of Ichnology and have extensively studied trace fossils of the Kachchh, Jaisalmer, Dwarka, Lesser Himalaya, Andaman and Nicobar, and Crimea (Russia). During the course of the study it was observed that some of the highly bioturbated sandstones showed highly variable petrophysical characteristic. For example the interesting trace fossil horizon from Guneri Member showed extensive development of the trace fossil Balanoglossites. It showed fine grained, well sorted host rock burrowed extensively by Balanoglossites with passively filled medium to coarse grained moderately sorted burrow fill. Thus the bioturbated horizon showed permeability anisotropy.  Further, during the Principle investigators experience as faculty teaching Petroleum engineering courses to B. Tech and M. Tech students at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) and guiding several M. Tech research projects for reservoir characterization and modelling at PDPU and several interactions with eminent persons from with oil and gas industry. It was understood that reservoir characterization of bioturbated reservoir is one of the most underrated and understudied topics of the oil and gas industry. Characterization and Modeling of heterogeneous reservoirs is necessary to correctly predict the flow condition and performance of the hydrocarbon well during its production. Failure to characterize heterogeneity will lead to faulty prediction of the production scenario. Therefore it was feel necessary to study the petrophysical anisotropy and heterogeneity of bioturbated clastic reservoirs.

proEoutcome:
The studies proposed in the project are of significant relevance both to academic as well as industrial community in the country especially in the field of hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir engineering. Moreover, progress envisaged in the project should be of specific significance to hydrocarbon exploration and production. In Indian context, heterogeneous reservoirs are already hydrocarbon producing reservoirs, however, if they are re-evaluated with modified concept, it might be possible to enhance the production scenario of some of the reservoirs. For dissemination of the research result, it is planned to yearly circulate the progress reports to interested related specialist and for the institution in the country. Specific mention in this respect may be made with the Institute of Reservoir studies, Institute of Petroleum Exploration, ONGC Dehradun, and GSPC, Gandhinagar etc. along with ISM Dhanbad, RGIPT, Rai Bareley, and UPES Dehradun. The quick dissemination otherwise would be taken care of through presentation of the results in international and national conferences, workshops.


protitle:
Study of heterogeneous precipitation patterns with the help of aerosol - cloud properties: Focus on western India and Arabian Sea

prointro:
India is an agriculture dominant country and is highly dependent on monsoon system. Moreover, it is having large geological and seasonal heterogeneity. About 80% of the annual mean rain comes from southwest Indian monsoon over most of the regions of India. India being a large developing country with almost 700 million rural population directly depends on climate sensitive sectors (agriculture, forests and fisheries) and natural resources for their livelihood. By looking the high dependency of precipitation, we are interested to study the variability in precipitation patterns over Indian subcontinent and adjoining oceanic regions. Specifically, proposed work will be conducted over land (i.e. western region) and ocean (i.e. Arabian Sea) regions at high resolution (may be 25 km horizontal resolution for model simulation) of India. In order to study such uneven precipitation patterns, cloud microphysical properties, aerosol optical property and aerosol – cloud interactions can be utilized.

proobj:
1. To understand aerosol – cloud interaction with high resolution using remote sensing and model simulation data.
2. To understand rainfall variability by studying cloud microphysical properties with high resolution model simulated data.   
3.To compare remote sensing and model simulation data for aerosol and cloud properties.

prometho:
MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) is an imaging instrument flying on two satellites - Terra and Aqua in NASA’s Earth Observing System. Terra - 1999 orbit from south to north with a morning equatorial crossing and Aqua - 2002 orbit from north to south with an afternoon equatorial crossing. Its coarse spatial resolution is designed to observe land, ocean, and atmospheric conditions at a regional and global scale. MODIS – Terra and Aqua cloud retrievals of Level 3 will be accessed for the proposed project. Cloud products such as CER and COT with temporal resolution of daily as well as monthly and spatial resolution of 1º x 1º will be deployed. RegCM - 4.4 is a three dimensional compressible, hydrostatic, primitive equation atmospheric model based on the dynamics of National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mesoscale model version 5 (MM5) [Grell et al., 1994; Nogherotto et al., 2016]and described in [Giorgi et al., 2012; Nogherotto et al., 2016]. In the current version of RegCM 4, the resolved scale cloud microphysics is treated by the Subgrid Explicit Moisture Scheme (SUBEX) [Nogherotto et al., 2016; Pal et al., 2000] which calculates fractional cloud cover as a function of grid point average relative humidity and includes only one equation for cloud water. It is actively coordinated by the Earth System Physics (ESP) section of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), being the foster growth of advanced studies and research.

There are various schemes available in this regional model such as convective precipitation, radiation and ocean flux parameterization which may be used to determine the proposed work. In these schemes, optical properties of the cloud droplets are expressed in terms of the cloud liquid water content and an effective droplet radius.   

The simulations related to aerosol and cloud properties will be performed for past ten years. These results will be compared with remote sensing data to strengthen the proposed work. Hence, precipitation patterns over India can be investigated using RegCM simulations.

prosummary:
Year - I
• Literature survey and collection of relevant documents
• Arrangement of multi processor work station
• Installation and tuning of regional climate model version 4.4
• Collection of required input data(s) for simulations
• Study of remote sensing data of aerosol and cloud properties over western land region
Year - II
• Selection and simulations of most efficient cloud and aerosol parameterization scheme available in regional model over land region
• Study of remote sensing data of aerosol and cloud properties over ocean (i.e. Arabian Sea)  
• Selection and simulations of most efficient cloud and aerosol parameterization scheme available in regional model over Arabian Sea
Year - III
• Comparative study of satellite based and simulation based aerosol and cloud properties over ocean and land region of western India
• Validation of the simulation results 
• Explore the usefulness of present study at global scale
• Paper publications
• Preparation and submission of the final report

proEoutcome:
The utilization of expected research outcomes are as follows: 
1. Better understanding in precipitation variability over western India
2. May lead to better weather forecast at regional scale
3. May help to understand regional climatic variability
4. Better understanding in cloud formation process over India
5. Uncertainties in aerosol cloud interaction may improve
6. Project outcomes can be published in peer reviewed national and international journals
7. Presentation of results can be published in national and international conferences, seminars and workshops
8. Development of future projects for experimental prediction of cloud micro physical properties and aerosol cloud interaction on weather and climate

FAScheme:
Science and Engineering Board under Early Career Research Scheme

fAhead:
Science and Engineering Board under Early Career Research Scheme


protitle:
INVESTIGATIONS ON DISSIMILAR JOINTS PRODUCED BY ENERGY EFFICIENT FRICTION STIR WELDING

prointro:
The dissimilar metals joints are increasingly applied in different sectors of industries due to its technical and economic advantages. Common Magnesium alloys are not having enough strength to apply for structural materials. However, Magnesium is having a low weight compared to other metals and Aluminum is having high ductility and toughness. Magnesium alloy and Aluminum should be used in proper portion of the structure. It is always difficult to join Al-Mg together by any welding processes, because of their differences in chemical, mechanical and metallurgical properties. Major problems such as low melting temperature difference, formation of oxides, low strength, lack of versatility, generation of large and brittle intermetallics, etc. are major problems associated with dissimilar Al-Mg joints. Challenge of joining these two materials is considered as key research point. The intermetallic leads to a loss of strength and ductility of joint. Fusion welding processes are generally not recommended to join these two materials. However, FSW is reported feasible to obtain defect free weld of Al-Mg. Despite of FSW applicability, it is not fully utilized for Al-Mg dissimilar welds. However, analysis of important process parameters and novel process variations are missing in the available literatures. Therefore, it is worthwhile to further develop the FSW process for dissimilar Al-Mg joints considering all above benefits and utilizations.

proobj:
The main objective of proposed project is to investigate dissimilar of aluminum-magnesium joints produced by energy efficient friction stir welding.
Specific objectives based on the main objective are mentioned as under :

1.	To develop FSW process for dissimilar Al-Mg joints.
2.	Establishment of FSW process parameters for sound dissimilar welding.
3.	Set-up the relationship between process parameters and properties of dissimilar Al-Mg FSW.
4.	Study of formation of intermetallic compounds.
5.	Examination of defects found in dissimilar metal joints.

prometho:
•	Study of literatures (throughout the project)
Focused study and analysis of literatures available on dissimilar friction stir welding of Al-Mg joints throughout the project duration. The collection of literatures has already initiated.

•	Experimental work (2 months)
Based on the research gas identified from the literature studies, experiments on different innovative parameters will be performed for the two months. Feasibility trials has already been initiated from the available consumable materials.


•	Analysis of results and discussions (2 months)
After doing experiments, next two month will be spent for the analysis of results. In this time period, analysis of welded plates such as formation of defects, visual defects of key hole, types of voids and cracks, will be analyzed initially. Detailed analysis will be performed through tensile testing, hardness measurement, microstructure analysis, scanning electron microscopy and x ray diffraction analysis, which is explained in next topic. 

•	Testing and characterizations (1 month)
Following tastings and characterizations will be performed to evaluate the joint:
o	Soundness
o	Visual inspection
o	NDT such as LPT, radiography
o	Tensile testing
o	Hardness
o	Microstructure analysis in Scanning Electron Microscope
o	Energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy
o	X-ray diffraction analysis
o	Transmission electron microscopy

•	Report writing and documentation (1 month)
Report writing and documentation of project will be done in last month. The research paper(s) will be prepared and communicated in this month after the report submission.

prosummary:
Sl. No.	Details of Activities	Start to Mid time	Mid time to End time
		1.5 months	1.5 months	1.5 months	1.5 months
1	Literature Survey and Review								
2	Procuring the consumables and work piece materials								
3	Fixture design and development								
4	Tool design and tool manufacturing								
5	Selection of process parameters and feasibility trials								
7	Experimental trials and establishment of process parameters								
8	Performing NDT, metallurgical and mechanical testing.								
11	Analysis and characterization of data and report preparation. 								
12	Report writing and research paper writing and it communication

proEoutcome:
The main objective of proposed project is to investigate dissimilar of aluminum-magnesium joints produced by energy efficient friction stir welding.
Specific objectives based on the main objective are mentioned as under :

1.	To develop FSW process for dissimilar Al-Mg joints.
2.	Establishment of FSW process parameters for sound dissimilar welding.
3.	Set-up the relationship between process parameters and properties of dissimilar Al-Mg FSW.
4.	Study of formation of intermetallic compounds.
5.	Examination of defects found in dissimilar metal joints.


protitle:
Ambient Noise Measurements for Vadodara Region

proarea:
Science and Technology (Geodynamics – 
Geotechnical)

prointro:
Evaluation of site response to earthquake plays an important role in seismic design of engineering structures. It is well known that seismic amplification of ground motion at surface is strongly influenced by geotechnical characteristics of the soil formation below ground surface. For the regions of low to moderate seismicity such as Vadodara city, it may be difficult to obtain simultaneous records on both soft soil and hard rock reference sites. Use of ambient noise (called Microtremor when referring to low period seismic noise) measurement becomes a most common alternative in such regions now days. Further Vadodara region is having seismic threat not only for near field earthquakes but also from far field earthquake sources from the region of Kutch in the state of Gujarat. Microtremor studies are very useful in highly populated city like Vadodara with varying geotechnical characteristics for the estimation of local site effects. Hence in the proposed study extensive field investigations will be carried out in Vadodara city with a total area of 235 km2 in a suitable grid to estimate resonance frequency and subsequently vulnerability index using ambient noise measurement technique.

proobj:
•	To carry out extensive field investigation using ambient noise measurements in Vadodara region in a grid of 2 km x 2 km.
•	To estimate vulnerability index for the region.

prometho:
1. Field investigations using ambient noise measurements in Vadodara city in 2 km x 2 km grid
2.Data Acquisition
3. Process data
Amplitude spectra (Fourier Transform) Conversion of data from time domain to frequency domain
4.Filter the frequency domain data 0 to 10 Hz
5. Evaluate H/V Ratio
6.Vulnerability index model
7.Seismic Site Characterization

prosummary:
Literature within 14 months. Purchase of equipment, installation and commissioning in six months.Field investigation in 7-12 months.Generation of predominant frequency and vulnerability model 15-18 months.Writing and submission of report 21-24 months

proEoutcome:
The results of the microtremor measurements in the present study will be useful to determine the local site effects in Vadodara city. Further, it will be utilized to carry out microzonation study of the region.


protitle:
Strategy to  improve stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells

prointro:
The Hybrid metal halide perovskites have become one of the hottest topics in optoelectronic materials research in recent years. Not only have they surpassed everyone’s expectations and achieved similar performance as tried and true polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic devices, but they are also finding applications in a variety of different fields, including lighting. The main advantages of hybrid metal halide perovskites are simple processability, compatible with large-scale solution processing such as roll-to-roll printing, and abundance of ingredients, all coupled to materials properties reminiscent of GaAs. 
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have made impressive progress in just a few years with maximum power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) from 3.8% in 2009 to a certified 22.1% in 2016 1. In the past year, huge progress has been shown for different device configurations, including the classic mesoporous-infiltrated n–i–p junction and mesoporous-free ‘‘planar’’ configurations. The work on mesoporous scaffold configurations, mostly composed of TiO2, yielded record efficiencies up to 22.1%.

proobj:
The objective of research project is to use various strategies to improve stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells.

prometho:
Our cost-effective and less time consuming strategy proposed in this work will assist in improving the realistic functional design of photovoltaic materials in the laboratory towards the next stage.

prosummary:
It is expected that the projected research work will produce the high performing, stable and reliable graphene-ZnO composite based perovskite solar cell. An honest attempt will be made to look for a possible large scale production and fabrication of device and trouble shooting of scale up issues associated. The combination of computational and experimental work is expected to provide us better understanding of structure property relationship and hence providing a guiding principle for fine tuning of properties. The increasing energy demand and upcoming challenges from global warming is driving cutting edge R&D worldwide in the solar energy sector. Not only the advancement of existing solar photovoltaic technologies based on silicon and other thin-film materials is important, but there is an immediate need to explore a low cost alternative material, which can help in achieving a greater aim of electrifying rural India and non-electrified world.

proEoutcome:
The one of significant parameter restrict the high efficiency fabrication of PSCs is high humid environment condition in India. Under such circumstance fabrication of solar cell which can sustain under high humidity will be required to investigate or fabricate. Looking at the development of HTM free perovskite solar cells, which is found to be more stable, a initiative is still lack in India. Our strategy to make the HTM free high efficiency perovskite solar cells will be advantageous over following commercial hurdles.  
1)	No use of HTM and gold, a low cost alternative for existing technology.
2)	Easy to fabricate as employ screen printing or spin coating as compared to vaccum methods
3)	High stability, as discussed in literature the perovskite solar cells will suffer form HTM stability and gold migration


prointro:
The project aims to design an ICT based solution to supplement the public transportation facility in
urban areas. The proposed location tracker would be able to track all the buses (including GPS-less
buses) in real time. The trip planning module will use this information to compute and suggest
optimal trip plan for the querying commuters. The commuters will interact with the system using a
mobile application. The other modes of interactions, e.g. through web interface, public
announcement radios, and USSD based interface for basic phones would be feasible. The
historical data of bus occupancy and mobility traces will be processed to suggest bus schedule and
provision to the bus service operators. Finally, the project aims to compute the road network
parameters such as presence of traffic lights at junctions, average movement speed and road
quality (presence of potholes), using the collected mobility traces of the buses.

proobj:
• The main objective of the project is to make public transportation an attractive commute option for
people by aiding the following features:
1. real time tracking of buses and arrival time prediction at bus stops
2. suggesting optimal (with respected to one or more of the trip duration, number of change overs,
and comfort) trip plan to the querying commuters
3. suggest schedule and provision plan of buses
• The secondary but equally important objective of the project is to compute road network
parameters such as presence of traffic lights at junctions, average movement speed, and presence
of potholes to supplement the existing road network maps and suggesting road maintenance.

prometho:
Objective 1: Active tracking of the buses
While the government is planning to deploy GPS on all the public transportation buses, the proposal
does not assume the availability of GPS in all the buses. All the GPS enabled buses will report their
position to the control center periodically and their tracking will be straight forward. The tracking of
GPS-less buses will be done using crowdsourcing. A mobile application will be developed with the
following features that will enable the tracking of a bus with minimal user intervention:
• Automatic detection of the bus-boarding event: For this purpose the accelerometer and
microphone of a smart phone will be used. For boarding a bus, a user needs to climb 2-3 steps
that generates a unique pattern on the accelerometer sensor. Also, inside a bus, there will be a
few unique sounds (e.g. Ghrrr sound of the bus, tin-tin sound of the bell generated by the
conductor for starting and stopping the bus, ticket issuing machine also generates unique
sound). This data will be analyzed locally in the phone to detect a commuter in the bus.
•
Location reporting by the commuters: Once the commuter is detected in a bus, the application
will submit the location information (cellular fingerprint and optional GPS coordinates along
with timestamp) periodically (every second or slightly less frequently) to the control center
using cellular data connection. As the government is planning to provide free WiFi at the bus
stations, the same can be exploited for reducing the location error using WiFi fingerprint and
submitting data to the control center. It needs to be pointed out that the location tracking can be
done without energy hungry GPS.

Objective 2: Trip planning
A commuter will specify the origin and destination for a trip and query the system for feasible trip
plans using the mobile application. The system will suggest the trip plan to optimize one or more of the
following parameters: duration for the trip, waiting time, number of changeovers, and comfort
(crowding in the suggested buses).

Objective 3: Smart scheduling and provisioning
The commuters are permitted to report overcrowding of buses through mobile applications. Based on
the crowding history of certain buses or routes, the control center may suggest the schedule and
provision of the buses on certain route.

Objective 4: Road network parameter estimation
We aim to design a portable device that will record GPS coordinates and accelerometer data. Also, the
mobile application will have provision to record accelerometer and GPS data at a high frequency. The
collected data will be analyzed (non-realtime processing) to derive the following road network
parameters:
•
•
•
Presence of traffic lights: the digital map of Indian road network does not have accurate
information about traffic lights. As the movement pattern at the traffic light controlled junctions
is different than the other junctions, the mobility traces of the public transportation buses can be
analyzed to compute the traffic light related information.
edge level average movement speed during peak hours and off-peak hours.
road quality i.e. presence of potholes: this may enable the appropriate scheduling of road repair
and maintenance activity.

prosummary:
Objective 1: Active tracking of the buses
While the government is planning to deploy GPS on all the public transportation buses, the proposal
does not assume the availability of GPS in all the buses. All the GPS enabled buses will report their
position to the control center periodically and their tracking will be straight forward. The tracking of
GPS-less buses will be done using crowdsourcing. A mobile application will be developed with the
following features that will enable the tracking of a bus with minimal user intervention:
• Automatic detection of the bus-boarding event: For this purpose the accelerometer and
microphone of a smart phone will be used. For boarding a bus, a user needs to climb 2-3 steps
that generates a unique pattern on the accelerometer sensor. Also, inside a bus, there will be a
few unique sounds (e.g. Ghrrr sound of the bus, tin-tin sound of the bell generated by the
conductor for starting and stopping the bus, ticket issuing machine also generates unique
sound). This data will be analyzed locally in the phone to detect a commuter in the bus.
•
Location reporting by the commuters: Once the commuter is detected in a bus, the application
will submit the location information (cellular fingerprint and optional GPS coordinates along
with timestamp) periodically (every second or slightly less frequently) to the control center
using cellular data connection. As the government is planning to provide free WiFi at the bus
stations, the same can be exploited for reducing the location error using WiFi fingerprint and
submitting data to the control center. It needs to be pointed out that the location tracking can be
done without energy hungry GPS.

Objective 2: Trip planning
A commuter will specify the origin and destination for a trip and query the system for feasible trip
plans using the mobile application. The system will suggest the trip plan to optimize one or more of the
following parameters: duration for the trip, waiting time, number of changeovers, and comfort
(crowding in the suggested buses).

Objective 3: Smart scheduling and provisioning
The commuters are permitted to report overcrowding of buses through mobile applications. Based on
the crowding history of certain buses or routes, the control center may suggest the schedule and
provision of the buses on certain route.

Objective 4: Road network parameter estimation
We aim to design a portable device that will record GPS coordinates and accelerometer data. Also, the
mobile application will have provision to record accelerometer and GPS data at a high frequency. The
collected data will be analyzed (non-realtime processing) to derive the following road network
parameters:
•
•
•
Presence of traffic lights: the digital map of Indian road network does not have accurate
information about traffic lights. As the movement pattern at the traffic light controlled junctions
is different than the other junctions, the mobility traces of the public transportation buses can be
analyzed to compute the traffic light related information.
edge level average movement speed during peak hours and off-peak hours.
road quality i.e. presence of potholes: this may enable the appropriate scheduling of road repair
and maintenance activity.

proEoutcome:
The output of the project will be a smart public transportation system consisting of
• the solution for bus tracking and arrival time estimation problem
• trip planning and user interaction module
• bus occupancy based provisioning and scheduling guide
• a road network parameter estimation module
The solution will be supported by the detailed result analysis.


protitle:
Inclusive Social Policy focusing on Child Development in India

prointro:
Children, being not fully economic and social agents, are the most vulnerable section of the society. They are vulnerable in multidimensional way ever since they come into existence, with enduring consequences on those who survive into adulthood. Child is a human being who is dependent upon other human beings till the time she or he grows and develops into a responsible yet productive member of the society. Especially in India, largely owing to overlapping deprivation in basic needs of their family as a whole, children are subject to poor health, malnutrition, negligence, economic exploitation, illiteracy, sexual abuse, so on and so forth. 
As far as children in the lower strata of society is concerned, the tribal and slum dwellers in India are the most vulnerable group entangled with ‘multidimensional poverty’ and ‘overlapping deprivation’ in basic needs. As a case in study, Gujarat, although ranks amongst one of the most advanced states of India in terms of economic growth, yet, in terms of survival, growth and development of children in the lower strata, needs serious introspection.

proobj:
1.	To debate on making  suggestive changes in the existing policy so as to provide a better life and living conditions to the children

2.	To identify the causality of their vulnerability – family situation, status of children within the family, community treatment of children, conditions of parents, health condition, education and living standards, etc.

3.	To provide insights on the governmental programmes/services intended for the children. 

4.	To assess the situation of children in Gujarat from a multidimensional perspective, taking into account the region/location-specific context relying on multidimensional vulnerability index

prosummary:
o	Identifying the vulnerable of children in various spheres
o	Formulating better policies for the vulnerable children and their family
o	Identify and deliver targeted support needed for the children and household


protitle:
MathVerif : A Mathematical Verification tool in the Remote User Authentication
Schemes for Telecare Medicine Information System in a Smart City

prointro:
Smart City is an innovative concept to integrate the Information and Communication Technology to
the development of urban areas in India. Govt. of India launched the Smart City mission in the year
2015, which was inaugurated by our prime minister Shri. Narendra Modi to develop 100 cities by
making them self-sustained and amicable. Smart City encompasses several areas such as Smart
Health, Smart Energy, Smart Office, Smart Space, Smart Society and so on. Indeed, the smart
Health is a top priority as it relates to the health of the people living in the city. In Smart Health, the
patients from a remote location can transmit their data to the hospital/doctor for monitoring the
continuous progress of own health. Indeed, the Telecare Medicine Information System (TMIS) will
be envisioned, as the essential component in the smart city for its pluses as today’s most effective
healthcare system. In TMIS, patients from remote locations can authenticate itself to the server of

proobj:
Identify the platform (i.e. Website, App) for implementation of new TMIS schemes.
•Identify the common language that easily adapts by the researchers and novice authors for the
TMIS schemes.
•Developing the user friendly language for researchers for ease of implementation in TMIS.
•Testing of this project by using it to identify various mathematical attacks in the existing TMIS
schemes.
•Identify the various known mathematical attacks since Lamport proposed the first remote user
authentication scheme.
•Identify the various operations required in TMIS based remote user authentication schemes
including password based and biometric based.

prometho:
From the survey of various tools available in the TMIS schemes, we have identified
the research gaps and it necessitates the requirement of an automated tool for the detection of
attacks as well as time complexity from the early stage of scheme development.
The development of this tool will help the more secure and time efficient remote user
authentication schemes in TMIS. Indeed, this can lead to the feasibility of deploying the
remote user authentication schemes in TMIS as compare to it is doing at present on the pen &
paper method.

prosummary:
0—12 months:
 Literature survey
 Recruitment of Junior Research Fellows
 Study and purchasing of equipment for the project
 Organization of training program for the TMIS level-I which covers introduction and
applications of remote user authentication schemes in various fields of TMIS.
 The outline of the model framework will also start in this timeline in parallel with
literature survey.
13—24 months:
 Identification of generalized procedure/algorithm for identification of each known attack
 List of preventive steps for each known attack to avoid it in future schemes
 Development of GUI based interface for conversion of the proposed scheme to the
generalized format for attack and timing analysis.
 Development of GUI for the website and an app interface.
 Organization of training program for the TMIS level-II which covers discussion on the
various attacks in the TMIS and the preventive measures of it.
 As the experimental development start, the testing and debugging phase also starts from
this stage.
12—36 months:
 Conversion of latest remote user authentication schemes in the website and app for
possible security and timing analysis.
 Comparison of computer generated reports with the pen & paper approach for better
understanding.
 Organization of training program for the TMIS level-III which covers limitations and
future scopes in the present TMIS schemes. We will also demonstrate the use of web and
app interface to the intended audience.

proEoutcome:
The researchers become familiarize with known mathematical attacks in remote user authentication schemes in TMIS
•The researchers familiarize with the timing analysis of their new TMIS scheme as compared to the existing TMIS schemes
in the various environments.
•The researcher can use this tool to enhance the security of their TMIS scheme against various known mathematical
attacks and make their scheme time efficient as to existing TMIS schemes.
•Researchers from various backgrounds can easily able to use this project outcome for analysis and implementation of
their TMIS schemes.
•Upon successful deployment of this project, researchers and Institutes from National and International level can use this
to design the more secure remote user authentication schemes in TMIS for the smart city.
•This tool is applicable to both TMIS categories i.e. two-factor and three factor schemes


protitle:
“A novel nano particle based bioassay for sensitive detection of cancer specific proteases”

prointro:
1. Origin of the Proposal:
Cancer is the second most reason for death after heart diseases. Cancer detection is based on
molecular imaging using MRI, X-RAY diffraction, mammography, Tomography and ultra sound
techniques and it is still challenging to detect it in early stages. The diagnosis and treatment of
cancer in its early stages is of crucial significance due to the widespread occurrence of the
disease, high death rate, and frequency of reoccurrence after treatment.1 Biomarkers related to
cancer cells and optical contrast agents provide excellent signals for the detection of cancerous
tissue and have the ability to distinguish cancerous cells from normal cells.2 Effective markers
for cancerous cells are therefore in great demand. During the last decade an improved
understanding of carcinogenesis and tumor progression has revealed a large number of potential
markers, which include specific proteases (Cathepsin B, urokinase-type plasminogen activator,
Matrix Metalloprotease like MMP-2, MMP-9) overexpressed in cancerous cells.3 There are
several reports where nanoparticle based bioassays have been employed for highly sensitive
detection of cancer specific proteases.4 Several strategies and bioassays have been developed and
many experimental and theoretical studies have been done but still there is a need to develop an
ultrasensitive assay which can detect protease at very minute amount so that the cancer may be
diagnosed at very early stage and hence effective treatment may be achieved. There is a need of
developing novel, reliable, easy technique in this regard to differentiate between benign and
malignant cells with improved accuracy and sensitivity. The development of bioassay and
analysis to detect early stages of cancer protease (before disease gets symptomatic) with cost
effective manner is a major challenge. Nano materials are predominately used in biomedical
applications due to their interesting physiochemical properties on nanoscale. Gold nanoparticles
have major role as they are widely used in drug delivery, biosensors, optical sensors, in gene
therapy, tumour detection etc.5 Gold Nano particles have dominated this research due to its low
toxicity compared to other NP’s, stability and easy functionalisation. One of the common
technique which is already in use is gold nanoparticle based hyperthermia treatment for killing
cancer cells selectively.5b Here we propose the use of gold nanoparticles combined with FRET
fluorescent probe materials like Coumarin to detect cancer specific proteases.
To detect proteases, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanisms between
coumarin derivatives (coumarin-153, coumarin 343) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) will be
investigated using peptides as a support. To achieve greater sensitivity, the gold-peptidecoumarin
hybrids studied in solution will be grafted on cyclodextrin modified silica surfaces. It
is envisaged that this novel strategy, will enable design of highly sensitive and efficient,
renewable enzyme-responsive device.
The research proposed aims to be a breakthrough in the field of bionanotechnology. Specifically,
with its step-by-step approach it will set out the basis for a detection strategy that combines
extreme sensitivity, design flexibility, and easy fabrication, and therefore will allow fundamental
discoveries to be made, and provide practical applications for the healthcare market. The
expected outcomes from the proposed research project are:

proobj:
“A novel nanoparticle based bioassay for sensitive detection of cancer specific proteases”

prometho:
First year: We would start a thorough search of the literature and compile a comprehensive
report on the existing methods for synthesis of key intermediates which would be constantly
updated during the project period. Necessary steps would be taken regarding purchase of
equipments, chemicals and other laboratory supplies. We will also hire qualified candidates as
research fellows for conducting proposed research. Simultaneously, synthesis of the required
peptides conjugated with coumarin and AuNP for proposed bioassay would be carried out.
Second year: In the second year, thorough studies will be initiated concerning the utilization of
synthesized peptides for performing detection of cancer specific protease in solution. Also the
synthesis and characterization of cyclodextrin modified SAM for assessing detection of protease
on surface will be carried out.
Third Year: In the final phase of the project, protease detection assay will be carried out on
surface and the results of solution and surface studies will be compared with conventional
ELISA or RIA assays. It is expected that this nanoparticle based assay will be more sensitive and
efficient. The results obtained thus, will be published in reputed international journals.

prosummary:
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer in its early stages is of crucial significance due to the
widespread occurrence of the disease, high death rate, and frequency of recurrence after
treatment. Biomarkers related to cancer cells and optical contrast agents provide excellent signals
for the detection of cancerous tissue since it has ability to distinguish cancerous cells from the
normal cells. Effective markers for cancerous cells are therefore in great demand. It includes
specific proteases (Cathepsin B, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, class of matrix
metalloprotease like MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-7) overexpressed in cancerous cells. The aim of
present proposal is to employ the unique ability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to quench coumarin
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fluorescence as an analytical tool for developing novel assay for ultrasensitive detection of cancer
specific proteases. To detect proteases, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
mechanisms between coumarin derivatives (coumarin-153, coumarin 343) and gold nanoparticles
(AuNP) will be investigated using peptides as a support. During the first step, the coumarin-peptidegold
hybrids with the specific peptidic sequence that can be cleaved by protease will be
synthesized by attaching coumarin at one terminus and gold nanoparticle at other terminus of
peptide. Subsequently coumarin-peptide-gold hybrids will be tested for the presence of cancer
specific proteases in solution. Samples containing protease will cleave peptides and release
coumarin from AuNP thus giving a positive fluorescent signal while, samples which do not have
protease will show no fluorescence signal due to quenching of fluorescence of coumarin by AuNP
which is attached in vicinity (with peptide) via FRET mechanism. The second step will aim to design
a novel platform for sensitive enzyme detection, using host-guest inclusion chemistry between
coumarin and cyclodextrin. It is known that supramolecular inclusion of coumarin within cyclodextrin
cavity leads to remarkable enhancement of fluorescence signal of coumarin. Thus to achieve
greater sensitivity, the gold-peptide-coumarin hybrids studied in solution will be grafted on
cyclodextrin modified silica surfaces. It is envisaged that this novel strategy, will enable design of
highly sensitive and efficient, renewable enzyme-responsive device.
The advantage of this system over existing methodology lies in the fact that coumarin is very
biocompatible dye and thus this biosensing system is very ecofriendly and has minimal toxicological
effects. Moreover, host guest inclusion chemistry between coumarin and cyclodextrin will enable
higher sensitivity and the protease may be detected at very minute concentrations (crucial for early
diagnosis of cancer). Further, it is also possible to reuse cyclodextrin immobilized surface again for
other detection since the guest interactions can be removed via thorough washing with excess
cyclodextrin making this system very cost effective and efficient.

proEoutcome:
(1)Development of a novel bioassay for sensitive detection of cancer specific proteases is
envisaged.
(2)It is expected that this assay will be more sensitive as compared to previously reported protease
detection assay. This is because it employs unique host guest inclusion chemistry. Due to this, the
FRET assay will be much more sensitive as the fluorescence quenching and enhancement signal
will be much more prominent as cyclodextrin will trap coumarin in confined space. Thus the
sensitivity of assay will be more because a read-able signal can be achieved at very minute
concentration of protease.
(3)The assay will be more biocompatible and ecofriendly than existing assays since coumarin is
very biocompatible dye. The existing assays usually employ fluorescent dyes which are not
biocompatible and quantum dots that are not ecofriendly. Since both AuNP and coumarin a
biocompatible this assay is very ecofriendly and green method.(4)It is also expected that proposed research will pave way for design of cost effective renewable
biochip for ultrasensitive detection of protease. Multiple detection assays can be done on
cyclodextrin SAM since it can be reused. Both coumarin and AuNP are also cheaper alternatives
than other fluorescent dyes and quantum dots. It is envisaged that the outcomes of this project may
be very helpful in designing efficient biochip for cancer diagnosis with practical applications in
healthcare market.


protitle:
City Gas Distribution: An Indian Perspective (Preparing a Road Map for Setting RLNG Stations along with CNG in India)

prointro:
The present status of oil consumption and its discouraging prospects make natural gas a feasible replacement for oil to meet the energy demands in near future. Natural gas is anticipated to play a dynamic role in the global portfolio due to its increasing abundance via pipeline, especially Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for both domestic as well as commercial sectors. Countries like Middle East, Europe and Eurasia have total proved reserves of around 2804 TCF by 2016 while the sequence is followed by the Africa and Asia pacific with the total proved reserves of 620 TCF. On the demand side gas consumption in Europe has rose strongly by 6% i.e. 28 bcm. By 2016 Middle East and China has been found the increase in gas market with 3.5% i.e. 19 bcm and 7.7% i.e. 16 bcm along with the infrastructure improvement. Largest fall in gas market were in Russia and Brazil with -3.2% i.e. -12 bcm and -12.5% i.e. -5bcm respectively.

proobj:
To prepare a road map for Gujarat, India

prometho:
To prepare questionnaire and asking groups for the answers of the problem

prosummary:
To conduct factor analysis of the answers

proEoutcome:
To prepare roadmap for CNG and L CNG in hybrid mode.


protitle:
Reform and Rehabilitation of Bootlegger women of Chhara Community

proarea:
Psycho-social Intervention,Community Outreach,Quality of Life

prointro:
This is a post rehabilitation study of the bootlegger women of the Chhara community in Ahmedabad. Working to transform the Women of Chhara Community in Ahmedabad involved in bootlegging, theft and shoplifting, Ahmedabad City police has tied up with NGO’s to hand hold, rehabilitate, impart vocational training, empower them and bring these women in the mainstream through Suraksha Setu Project. The parameters of assessing successful mainstreaming are
gainful work, coverage of government schemes, community feeling, and other indicators of standard of living. The major assumptions guiding the research were that the mainstreaming into society and gainful employment play key role in ameliorating any post-trauma/injuries. Also, it is a proven criminological wisdom that post parole
rehabilitation requires constant monitoring and active engagement of
socio-psychological faculties of inmates. The project was carried with a motive to understand the role of Police and the concerned NGO in bringing stability in the chequered lives of the Chaara women.

proobj:
The study is important in five important aspects:
• It proves the ability of our police department in enhancing and promoting living standards of citizens with a criminal record.
• It shows the resilience of an entire community to fight against their misrepresented past and their desire to lead a self-sufficient life.
• It calls for a permeable approach in judging state agencies as most previous studies have decried the role of police vis-a-vis the Chharas.
• It goes to show how effective volunteering guided by a motto of service can achieve in bringing tangible change.
• It goes on to show that women when empowered are willing to make efforts to better their own and the conditions of their family.

prometho:
The present study was conducted on bootlegger women of Chhara Community in Ahmedabad. Sample was selected from the said population using open ended standardized interview format.After the collection of data the researchers have statistically analyzed the data to infer discussion across factors identified.

proEoutcome:
Most indicators in our study were selected keeping in mind the unique subjectivity of the participants. The study has argued for a further consolidation of the concerted action being put in tandem by the Police and the NGO. It appears that the first demographic of employment i.e.
liberation has been achieved. But for self-sufficiency and stability of social standards a larger coverage of social sector schemes among the community is essential. Thus it is a compelling finding in our research
that a greater degree of mainstreaming has already been achieved and the social and psychological well being is nearing a threshold. It is pertinent that the gender differences inherent in all of these issues -- invisibility, stereotypes, pathways to crime, bootlegging, shop
lifting, addiction, abuse, homelessness, and relationships -- need to be addressed at all levels of criminal justice involvement. The reason being that such issues and stereotypes that the women face, if addressed
properly will have a major impact on female offenders successful transition to the community, in terms of both programming needs and successful reentry. Fortunately these issues have been addressed by Ahmedabad Police with the help of the NGO ‘Wings to Fly’ by working
in a model which works towards Restorative Justice.


protitle:
Impact Assessment Study olf Vasna Slum before Rehabilitation in Ahmedabad

proarea:
smart cities and sustainable living in Ahmedabad

prointro:
The Industry funded project is Impact Assessment of Quality of life of slum dwellers Pre Rehabilitaion. It maps the living conditions of the inhabitants and their aspirations while staying in the slums with a hope of a better life

proobj:
The objective of the study is to draw a blueprint to advise policy changes in the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme of GoG and to plan and execute interventions to bring the poor into the mainstream.

prometho:
Face to face interviews, questionnaire and psychological tools on Quality of Life validated by WHO.

prosummary:
The plan is to visit the site and organise and schedule the survey and scientifically analyse and submit the report and publish the study.

proEoutcome:
The outcome is a book titled ' Living Conditions and Quality of Life of Slum Dwellers: An Ompact Assessment of Pre and Post Slum Rehabilitation in Ahmedabad" published by Boomerangvwith ISBN No 978-81-933903-0-6

FAScheme:
Total amount of INR 3 Lakhs deposited in PDPU account


protitle:
High efficiency and stable carbon-based printed perovskite solar cells

prointro:
the main goal of this proposal is to further develop a strategy to use variety of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites and their composites . Integral part of the proposal will be the fully physicochemical characterization as well as determination of the stability in complex conditions of temperature and humidity for the resulted PSCs. Finally, these devices will be fabricated and thoroughly investigated for various optical and electrical characterizations.

proobj:
Objective 1. Carbon-based Perovskite Solar Cells
Objective 2. TiO2 perovskite interface modification 
Objective 3. Optimization of device under AM 1.5 condition

prometho:
In general, interfaces in c-PSCs (TiO2-perovskite and perovskite-carbon) play a critical role on their chemical and physical properties, i.e. chemical composition, homogeneity; crystallinity, phase purity, morphology, grain size-dispersion, and charge transport and recombination and carrier mobility can be easily altered by simply modifying the interfaces. Most research studies in c-PSCs have already optimize the chemical and physical property of carbon nanoparticle and composition that could offer the minimum resistance for hole transport from perovskite layer to carbon contact.15-17 The interface modification in c-PSCs will be accomplished through a variety of approaches, including the surface treatment of TiO2 or modifying the perovskite absorber layer conductivity by cation or anion doping.9, 10, 25 Nevertheless, the use of surface treated TiO2 and use of multi-cation perovskite absorber layer for c-PSCs is still lacking.
More recently, in a close cooperation with Prof. M. Grätzel group, who is one of the most recognized expert in the field of photovoltaic, provided an efficient way to TiO2 surface treatment with lithium ion that lead to enhanced PCE by the reduction of series resistance and interfacial defect density of device. Moreover, in another application we found that by adding a small amount of Cs to MAFA was shown to improve significantly the stability and reproducibility.26-29 The triple CsMAFA cation perovskite suppresses the detrimental non-perovskite, hexagonal δ-phase (‘‘yellow phase’’) in compared to the previously used MAFA compositions. Further detailed investigations revealed that such surface treatment and absorber layer modification gave better superior device performance, which could be also beneficial for c-PSCs . 	This discussed approach with the previous demonstrations on PSCs opens up a new avenue for highly performed c-PSCs and will be extended in this research project to the preparation of large area PSCs.

prosummary:
The increasing energy demand and upcoming challenges from global warming is driving cutting edge R&D worldwide in the solar energy sector. Not only the advancement of existing solar photovoltaic technologies based on silicon and other thin-film materials is important, but there is an immediate need to explore a low cost alternative material, which can help in achieving a greater aim of electrifying rural India and non-electrified world. It is expected that the projected research work will produce the high performing, stable and reliable c-PSCs. An honest attempt will be made to look for a possible large scale production and fabrication of device and trouble shooting of scale up issues associated. The combination of  experimental and analysis work is expected to provide us better understanding of structure property relationship and hence providing a guiding principle for fine tuning of properties.

proEoutcome:
(Apart from reports/papers; identify any products, systems, hardware, software, synthesized compound etc. to be delivered at the end of the project)
•	 Synthesis and development of perovskite absorberlayer derivatives as novel absorber material in PSCs. 
•	Optimization of the device interfaces will result in high performance of PSCs.
•	It is expected that the fabrication of devices with the proposed configuration would be beneficial to overcome its current limitation for energy conversion devices.
•	The experimental work is expected to provide us better understanding of structure, property, and performance relationship and hence providing a guiding principle for fine tuning of properties.


protitle:
Assessment of drilling fluid impact on oil well productivity based on formation damage testing

prointro:
Permeability Investigations and Development of a mathematical model for the same

proobj:
1. Analysis of the scientific sources devoted to research problems of reservoir formation damage 
2. Development of mathematical model of changing core sample permeability as a result of interaction of fluid

prometho:
1. Understand the design of formation damage system 
2. Identification of major input parameters and output parameters 
3. Perform the correlation (positive/negative) and regression analysis
4. Develop the Concept/Process through Model Fitting
5. Develop and validate the model

prosummary:
1. Investigation of permeability by using a core sample
2. Obtain the results and perform various analysis on the data to formulate a mathematical equation
3. Demonstrate the efficacy of the mathematical equation in the dynamic or real conditions.

proEoutcome:
1. Permeability Data
2. Mathematical Model


prointro:
Permeability Investigation and Develop mathematical model for the same

proobj:
1. Analysis of the scientific sources devoted to research problems of reservoir formation damage 
2. Development of Mathematical model of changing core sample permeability as a result of interaction with fluid

prometho:
1. Understand the design of formation damage system 
2. Identification of major input parameters and output parameters
3. Perform the correlation and regression analysis
4. Develop the concept/process through model fitting
5. Prepare and validate the model

prosummary:
1. Investigate the permeability and obtain the data
2. Analyse the data and develop mathematical equations
3. Check the efficacy of the equation in the real/dynamic situations.


protitle:
Mapping of Groundwater Fluoride Contamination of Alluvial  Aquifer of Mehsana District, North Gujarat, India

prointro:
In the earth's crust fluorine is 13th in the order of abundance of elements. It is a physiologically important and its extremely high electro negativity makes it very reactive and therefore, it is found in a number of naturally occurring forms and types (Owens and Wendt 1969). The fluoride ion contributes over 95% of the total fluoride present in drinking water (Keshavarzi et al. 2010). The fluoride concentrations are found to be higher in water with high alkalinity. In many waters, calcium ions are in excess and under these conditions, CaF2, which at normal temperatures has a solubility of about 15 mg/l, controls the concentration of fluoride, and fluoride ion level is limited to about 8 mg/l. Presence of various hazardous contaminants like fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, sulfate, pesticides, other heavy metals etc. in ground water has been reported from different parts of India (Maheshwari 2006). Spatial changes in topography, geology, geochemistry, and hydrodynamics from place to place would cause differences in concentrations of various trace elements (Singh et al. 2012). State-wise population of India influenced by fluoride content in groundwater shows alarming situation and needs to identify alternative safe water sources along with their sustainability assessment (Table 1). Geochemically, hydroxyl (OH‾) and fluoride both ions are negatively charged and also possess nearly similar ionic radii. That’s the reason that in many chemical reaction and processes fluoride ion can easily replace OH‾ ions during the rocks forming process (Saxena and Ahmed 2001). Similarly, the concentration of fluoride in groundwater depends on the profusion of fluoride bearing minerals in the rock type (Davies and Mundalamo 2010). High fluoride concentration of groundwater is general in areas where rocks are dominant with fluoride bearing minerals such as fluorite, cryolite, muscovite, biotite, topaz, hornblende, and tourmaline (Chae et al. 2007). Fluoride ions leached out from these minerals up to the groundwater zone and contribute to high fluoride contamination. However, a considerable amount of fluoride from anthropogenic activities cannot be denied, such as from pesticides, fertilizers industries and agriculture frequently contain fluoride as an adulteration that can be leach down to the groundwater (Rao and Mamatha 2004; Haidouti 1995). The consumption of groundwater having high fluoride concentrations poses a serious health threat to millions of people around the globe. In the literature, many different methodologies have been applied to study and characterize the sources of variations in surface and groundwater chemistry (Yidana et al. 2007) simultaneously the pollution level and its remedies. Observation technologies and water cycle observation can help fill these gaps along with the geochemical models. This project will offer the help and understand the causes of fluoride pollution and its remediation in the region with the application of integrated framework approach and improve the water resources of the region.

proobj:
1)	To investigate the long term impact of land use/land cover activity on fluoride enrichment in the study area
2)	To characterize fluoride contamination in the groundwater
3)	To categorize the water type

prometho:
In this work we will collect the water samples from the field and that data will work as input for the geochemical model. The model will reveal the pollution level in the water. This model requires the cations and anions. We will perform seasonal runs of the model and forced by several processes affecting. This study will certainly reveal an important fact that affected the pollution level and depletion of water resources. (See the flow chart 1 for the detailed methodology)

prosummary:
Approximately 70% of the districts of state Gujarat have reported fluoride contents in their groundwater beyond the permissible limit recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS). The reports and available data from the Ministry of Water Resources, concerning groundwater quality scenario, reveals that 18 districts of Gujarat's out of 26 districts have fluoride content above the permissible limit. Gujarat ranks 5thamong the 19 states in high fluoride content in ground water. The districts that have such excessive fluoride content include Ahmedabad, Amreli, Anand, Banaskantha, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Junagadh, Kutch, Mehsana, Narmada, Panchmahals, Patan, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar and Vadodara.Those with excess nitrate include Ahmedabad, Anand, Banaskantha, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Mehsanan, Narmada, Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar and Vadodara.Data about high nitrate content was derived from samples collected and analyzed by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.It should be noted that the permissible limit of fluoride in groundwater is 1.5 mg per liter. Industrial pollution and other such things have rarely anything to do with it. The regions where the support programme functions, hardly has a concentration of industries. According to him the best solution is to make use of surface water and also recharge the groundwater level

proEoutcome:
It is expected that the output of the project will improve the living standard and also helps in improved understanding of the water pollution in the region which in turn would reduce the poverty level and improve the health of the residents. It is also expected that the amount of present project would be felt meager in future because the proposed model would help nearby residents in similarly the meteorological, geological and hydro-geological condition in other districts of Gujarat.


protitle:
Low Cost- Renewable Energy Driven (LC- RED) Water Treatment Solutions Center

prointro:
A typical wastewater treatment plant consists of a combination of physical, chemical and biological unit operations to target the removal of different constituents/pollutants will be designed and fabricated. Physical unit operations depend purely on the physical separation of pollutants from wastewater without causing a significant change in the chemical or biological characteristics of the treated water. The adopted methodology proposes variety of process application to treat industrial waste water. The proposed methodology will be in accordance with the quantity, quality and type of waste water. As of now the available options include electricity based techniques which have reasonably high efficiency and which are being used on small scale or household applications. The low- grade energy based options available so far, being explored by the industries have low efficiency. Through the proposed project we are working out a complete module to treat any type of water impurity- driven by low grade or renewable energy and provide high efficiency.

proobj:
1	Providing practical and innovative low cost solutions to address the shortfall of freshwater supply 
2	Providing practical and innovative solutions to address industrial waste water treatment

prometho:
1	Modelling will be used to arrive at initial designs of subsystem (EC, ED, Adsorption, MED, wind driven RO etc.)
2	Analyse the renewable energy resources which can be utilised for water treatment solutions   
3	Fabrication and Experimentation with the results- separate module prototypes will lead to verification and refinement of the models
4	All the subsystems will be integrated in prototypes of the complete water treatment system
5	Iterative build, test and modification will then be the way forward to deliver the advanced prototypes

prosummary:
(i)	Development  of solar power (DC) driven Electro coagulation (EC) unit with increased life span and low running cost
(ii)	Development  of solar power (DC) driven Electro dialysis (ED) unit with increased life span, high recovery ratio and low running cost
(iii)	 Design of high recovery and low cost Adsorption unit
(iv)	Design and construct advanced prototypes to demonstrate and evaluate desalination powered from variety of thermal energy sources
(v)	Design and development of wind powered reverse osmosis process with Continuous variable transmission (CVT) gear train arrangement for high recovery ratio

proEoutcome:
1	Optimized modules for fresh water supply
2	Optimized modules for different categories of waste water impurities 
3	Novel integrated unit/ units for waste water treatment/reuse and recycling
4	Wind driven Ro System
5	Fresh water supply systems integrating renewable energy, biological, bacterial and chemical techniques
6	waste water treatment systems integrating renewable energy, biological, bacterial and chemical techniques
7	Simulating strategies and modelling tools to optimize power requirement 
8	Publications in journals like Energy, Applied energy and Desalination


protitle:
Exploring the role of management practices and safety culture on safety performance in oil and gas sector.

proarea:
Safety Management in Oil and Gas  Sector.

prointro:
Workplace accidents are of one of the major issue industry is facing. Generally two common reason attributed for industrial accidents. One is technological system’s failure and other is human error. Human error includes errors like shortcuts, lack of preparation, starting a task before getting necessary information, neglecting safety procedure etc. However identifying human involvement in an accident’s causation does not necessarily mean that human error is the cause or the only cause of the accidents. Here under this project, we will try to study the managerial role in improving safety because , working environment in the form of managerial practice has been considered as an important intervention for improving safety management. Similarly, many researchers now recognize the importance of a strong safety culture in ensuring both the organization and employee to achieve a high standard of safety in the workplace (Beckmerhagen et al., 2003). The prime motivation of considering safety culture is the recognition that attitudes and behaviors of employees are crucial to safe behavior at work. Further, researchers including Cooper and Phillips (1995) suggest that to enhance safety performance and promoting a safety culture, there must be a reciprocal relationship between management practices and safety behavior. This has encouraged the researcher to examine the role of both management practices and safety culture for safety performance.

proobj:
The purpose of this study is to explore the managerial practices facilitating or obstructing safety performance of the organization. Further, attempt shall be made to assess/evaluate the safety culture of the organization preferably with recommendations on how the underlying culture can be improved to support safety better.

prometho:
According to Mearns, Kirwan, & Kennedy, (2009), questionnaires must measure the real safety management practices, and qualitative analysis is important for understanding employee beliefs and assumptions (Grote, 2007). Thus, the management practices are proposed to be measured through a questionnaire whereas Safety culture is to be captured through a qualitative data analysis. Safety performance to be measured through a perceptual safety performance scale. 

Sampling: The proposed sample includes companies, both public and private sector, operating in the oil and gas industries.
Proposed Distribution of Sample Respondent
Oil and Gas Value chain which includes different sectors like upstream, refinery, LNG/CGD/Retail Outlet.
1.	For Upstream we will study organizations like ONGC (Mehsana, Ahmedabad,Baroda), GSPC(Gandhinagar, Cambay), OILEX(Gandhinagar,Cambay).
2.	For studying refinery industries we have decided to study the organizations like RIL (Jamnagar, Baroda, Hazira), IOCL(Koyali).
3.	We will also study on LNG/CGD/Retail Outlets which will also cover companies like Adani, SGL, Gujarat Gas (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar ), Shell-Total (Hazira), GSPC LNG (Mundra).


Proposed Sample Size:
1.	Upstream(ONGC:50,GSPC:50)- 100.
2.	Refineries (RIL:50, IOCL :50)-100.
3.	LNG/CGD/Retail outlet (Adani, SGL, Gujarat gas, GSPC LNG)-100.

prosummary:
The organization on which research is to be carried out, will be done in a series of steps. The steps would include well developed and properly followed organizational practices, which ensure that every employee will start learning the importance of safety practices in organization and try to follow the same religiously. The practices that will be followed in turn create a strong based safety culture in the organization, which leads to enhancement of safety performance. This may lead to enhancement of overall performance of the organization. With proper feedback mechanism the whole process model can be improved with the passage of time.
Our study will be carried in following manner:
1.	Hypothesis Formulation: The proposed research aims at exploring the management practices and safety cultural factors capable of influencing safety performance. The existing research and the industry practices related to safety management shall be studied. 
2.	Sample Design and Pilot Study: We will select certain parameters particular to the selected industry for getting desired sample for the study. The selected sample will represent the industry.
3.	Questionnaire Design and Data Collection: Against the sample selected above, a set of  questions will be prepared and data collection will be done against it.
4.	Data Compilation and Final Presentation: Finally based on the above studies data would be compiled and drafted in the form of final report.

proEoutcome:
The expected outcome of the proposed research can be explained in terms of the following deliverables:
i.	Solution to practitioners and policy makers:
a.	Helping the practitioners and policy makers to identify the management practices capable of affecting safety performance.
b.	Helping the practitioners and policy makers to explore the safety cultural factors capable of affecting safety performance.
c.	Helping the practitioners and policy makers to measure the impact of management practices on safety culture and safety performance.
ii.	Knowledge gained:
a.	Organizational practices capable of influencing safety performance.
b.	Attitude and behavior suitable for creating safety culture.
c.	Safety performance indicators

ii.     Research  publications:
a.	Publications in International peer reviewed journal(No-1)
b.	Conference paper presentations and publications (No-1)


protitle:
Development of inexpensive photoelectro-catalysts for solar hydrogen generation from water

prointro:
The project aims at developing novel and inexpensive catalysts for electrolytic water splitting under less (mild) acidic condition. The main objective of the proposed project is the replacement of noble catalysts with inexpensive two dimensional materials including the transition metal di-chalcogenide (TMDC), such as MoS2/WS2; graphene and their composites. It has already been established that, TMDC-graphene composites have been able to reduce hydrogen evolution over potential close to Pt/Pd counterparts. However, preliminary works are limited to expensive process of growth of these materials and small geometric area of the electrodes. The development of graphene composite will be in-situ with TMDCs and will act mainly as efficient electron channel. Non-vacuum techniques, such as hydrothermal and atmospheric CVD routes are inexpensive and they will be applied in the development of TMDC and graphene composites. Various configurations of the TMDCs, such as 2H, 1T etc can be attempted to score the electrocatalytic process efficiency in terms of the Volmer step of hydrogen generation from adsorbed protons.

proobj:
•	Identify the two dimensional electron channel materials from theoretical perspectives (electronic structure calculation in pseudopotential formalism under density functional approach)
•	Hydrothermal synthesis of various two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanoforms as H2 evolution catalysts.
•	Low cost CVD process of the graphene and chemical process for RGO. 
•	Configuration variations in TMDCs (2H, 1T etc) lithiation process.
•	Synthesis of composites of TMDCs with graphene, reduced graphene oxide etc.
•	Integrating catalyzed electrode to small PV based electrolyzer.
•	Structure property relationship in small PV based electrolysis

prometho:
Hydrogen as an ideal carrier of energy, considered to be a major fuel (energy) resource for the future world. Conventionally, hydrogen is produced from natural gas through steam reformation of methane (a reaction of methane and water to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide). Therefore, hydrogen generation, through steam reformation of methane, leaves a large carbon footprint. On the other hand, electrolytic water splitting can be (a better solution) adopted using DC power from conventional grid or renewable resources (solar/wind etc). In electrolytic mode, the former always associates with an indirect carbon footprint, while the latter is inefficient (if Faradic efficiency is 80% and solar conversion is 15%, the net efficiency will be limited to 12%). On the other hand, water electrolysis can be more efficient, at a sufficiently low overpotential by the use of electrocatalysts, such as Pt or Pd used in acidic medium [1-3]. However, application of these catalysts is limited due to their precious nature. Therefore, inexpensive and efficient alternative electrocatlysts are on demand, which will be highly active and stable in acidic to neutral aqueous medium. Two dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC), such as MX2 (M=Mo,W; X=S,Se) in their mono/few-layer as well as amorphous forms have proven to be very active catalysts in water reduction or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) [4-6]. These TMDCs in their bulk form are poor catalysts; however their nano-forms are chemically more active in the electron transfer process [6-8]. Moreover, the HER activity could be further potentially improved by incorporating into a large conductive support with macrostructure to minimize charge transport limitations and into a assembled membrane electrode to minimize mass transport limitations or by adding dopants to decrease the resistivity of the MoS2 film.  In this aspect, great attention is made by creating composite of TMDCs with highly conductive nano-carbon forms (CNTs, Graphene, RGO etc.). The nanocarbons also serve as templates for mediating the growth of the TMDCs and formation of specific structures, which improves the dispersion of TMDC materials and enhances the conductivity of whole TMDC- composites. Therefore, great efforts are underway to design various types of nanostructures of these TMDCs and their composites that can be superior HER in less acidic to near neutral electrolytic conditions.

prosummary:
Stage I. Gram scale production of low cost TMDC materials with large fraction of active site nanosheets and their characterizations:
Active sites play crucial role in the catalytic activities of the targeted TMDCs. In spite of their layered structure, their activity may not be substantial unless domain size specific amorphization of these materials are carried out. Specific nanotechniques during their processing and post processing will be done to increase active site density in these materials.

Stage II. Production of TMDC nanocomposites with graphene (G) and reduced graphene oxides (RGO) and their characterizations:
The G and RGO nanosheets embedded within the TMDC nanosheets and nanostructure will help additional mediator to electron transfer (electron channel). In most cases these nanocomposites will be prepared in-situ or minimal additional steps to keep TMDC structure unaffected. 
Stage III. Immobilization of the catalysts from Stage-I and II on square inch size electrode. Test of hydrogen generation and its quantification.
Immobilization on the conducting electrode is a practical requirement to establish the electrocatalytic properties of the materials. The choice of electrode materials and electrically good and mechanically stable binding are the major component of tasks in this stage. 
Stage IV. Design of electrocatalysis module using electrodes from stage-III and integrating PV dc power.
At the final stage, the integration with fully renewable system, a proposed PV DC power conditioning system will be integrated to generate the zero cost hydrogen generation from natural sunlight and water.

proEoutcome:
Liquid hydrogen is a choice of fuel for space explorations due to lowest molecular weight among various possible inflammable compounds, high calorific value (13000 kJ/kg), that burns with extreme intensity (~3000°C). In combination with an oxidizer such as liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen yields the highest specific impulse, or efficiency in relation to the amount of propellant consumed, of any known rocket propellant. Therefore, generation of hydrogen has a self space in the ongoing as well as future space programs. Any non conventional and green processes of hydrogen generation are therefore highly demanding. The proposed project will utilize solar energy in the direct water splitting to produce hydrogen. One niche importance of the study is the low over potential hydrogen generation by developing catalysts of non-noble materials. The scale up approach, to be adopted in this project, will be patented and ISRO will co-hold the IPR. The proposed scale up may be adopted in developing pilot scale hydrogen generation unit in future projects. Other than this, paper will be published with newly developed material.


protitle:
DEVELOPMENT OF INEXPENSIVE CATALYSTS FOR SOLAR HYDROGEN GENERATION FROM WATER

proarea:
Nanomaterials and its application in renewable energy

prointro:
The project aims at developing novel and inexpensive catalysts for electrolytic water splitting under mild acidic condition. The main objective of the proposed project is the replacement of noble catalysts with inexpensive two dimensional materials including the transition metal di-chalcogenide (TMDC), such as MoS2/WS2; graphene and their composites. It has already been established that, TMDC-graphene composites have been able to reduce hydrogen evolution over potential close to Pt/Pd counterparts. However, preliminary works are limited to expensive process of growth of these materials and small geometric area of the electrodes. The development of graphene composite will be in-situ with TMDCs and will act mainly as efficient electron channel. Non-vacuum techniques, such as hydrothermal and atmospheric CVD routes are inexpensive and they will be applied in the development of TMDC and graphene composites. Various configurations of the TMDCs, such as 2H, 1T etc can be attempted to score the electrocatalytic process efficiency in terms of the Volmer step of hydrogen generation from adsorbed protons

prosummary:
The proposed project work will have following sequential components:
Stage I. Gram scale production of low cost TMDC materials with large fraction of active site nanosheets and their characterizations:
Active sites play crucial role in the catalytic activities of the targeted TMDCs. In spite of their layered structure, their activity may not be substantial unless domain size specific amorphization of these materials are carried out. Specific nanotechniques during their processing and post processing will be done to increase active site density in these materials.

Stage II. Production of TMDC nanocomposites with graphene (G) and reduced graphene oxides (RGO) and their characterizations:
The G and RGO nanosheets embedded within the TMDC nanosheets and nanostructure will help additional mediator to electron transfer (electron channel). In most cases these nanocomposites will be prepared in-situ or minimal additional steps to keep TMDC structure unaffected. 
Stage III. Immobilization of the catalysts from Stage-I and II on square inch size electrode. Test of hydrogen generation and its quantification.
Immobilization on the conducting electrode is a practical requirement to establish the electrocatalytic properties of the materials. The choice of electrode materials and electrically good and mechanically stable binding are the major component of tasks in this stage. 
Stage IV. Design of electrocatalysis module using electrodes from stage-III and integrating PV dc power.
At the final stage, the integration with fully renewable system, a proposed PV DC power conditioning system will be integrated to generate the zero cost hydrogen generation from natural sunlight and water.


proarea:
Electric mobility, Renewable energy integration, demand side management

prointro:
India is aiming to be all electric by 2030, this implies that there is grave need of developing additional infrastructure for accommodating whole new gamut of EV consumers. Otherwise there will be additional unplanned stresses onto the electrical grid in the form of increased load and unmet demand. So if the necessary interventions are not taken, grid is bound to get affected adversely which can mean overlay of lot of expenditure for the utilities. Also as we are moving towards connected electric mobility the realization of returns would be needed, as the investment requirements for setting up additional infrastructure is huge. Therefore optimization of charging-grid infrastructure would be the necessity for tomorrow.
My study would try to redound around the analysis of load profile data of supply (including energy from RE sources) and demand side, driving patterns and fuel related profiles of local commercial fleet aggregators etc. So that suitable time windows can be scheduled during off-peak or minimum load hours, which can be used for charging of EV’s through suitable charging infrastructure. These time windows can be used for providing subsidized tariff for fleet owners for the optimization of grid and charging infrastructure.
These emerging charging stations can also open up new revenue streams for utilities by adding specialized service offerings in their portfolio. There is potential of lot of remunerative business opportunities in this domain, which will act as a business case for utilities in India.

proobj:
To determine the suitable models and mechanisms for the optimization of EV grid infrastructure

prometho:
Our study would be focused on analyzing the primary and secondary data obtained in order to carry out the applied research as per the suitability and requirement of the research for reaching out at the cost optimization of the EV gird infrastructure. However there would also be the necessity to conduct the basic research about the technologies like data science and electrical power systems for having the better understanding of the subject study. 
The type of our research would be mainly quantitative however some qualitative study would also be needed as EV's are completely new concept and some study might be needed to establish the behavioral correlation of the EV owner with possible incentive structure, but this study would only be conducted if there would be requirement of such analysis.
The research will be proceeded by collecting primary and secondary data from the local utilities and generation stations, the secondary data would be available with the state load dispatch centers so this data would provide the overview about demand conditions and for understanding the demand conditions basic survey would have to be conducted. Also it would be required to understand the behavior of the EV owners with regard to the possible incentive structure. These data would help us in drawing the load curves of demand and supply side, so that optimal time window can be deduced.
Also suitable service models can be suggested for increasing the value proposition of such infrastructure, whose case study can be drawn separately. And possible mechanisms can be displayed and modeled so as to prove the viability of possible arrangements.

prosummary:
In the initial phase the correlation between the supply and demand sides would be understood based on the historical data available, so that better scheduling and forecasting for the demand side management of flexible loads (electric vehicles) can be made possible. Consequently available technologies and power systems would be reviewed for arriving at the better understanding of the subject study. The possibility of renewable energy would also be reviewed for better utilization of clean energy sources and minimizing the overall cost of the entire system. The driving and refueling patterns of EV driver would also be helpful for providing the necessary insights about the demand, as completely new demand patterns would emerge with the advent of the EV’s. 
Then the possible tariff structure would be studied for providing the necessary tariff relaxations during off peak hours (during off peak/free time windows), there would be necessity of reviewing these possibilities with the industry peers on this subject matter. As this is also the subject matter of state policies, but there can be a possibility of deducting it from the service surcharge/customer premium. 
 Then the possible methods and mediums would be reviewed for the implementing the possible signaling mechanisms to the consumers/EV owners for bringing the behavioral modification in them. Altogether such models would be reviewed for understanding the viability of EV grid integration.

proEoutcome:
The outcome of this study would provide us with the possible viable solutions of making the EV grid infrastructure more efficient so possible mechanisms and models would emerge out of this which would optimize the cost of the whole system. It will also direct us to the demand side management of the load for minimizing the load during off peak hours.


protitle:
Smart Dustbin with biometric recognition system.

prointro:
To develop a smart dustbin with biometrics so that thee waste made by a person can be recorded on a daily basis. The dustbin is a revolutionary product as it will have a weight sensor that will record the incremental weight of the food wasted. This weight will be stared in the form of data algorithms against the name of the person and the dustbin will be connected to a central information hub where all the data will be uploaded. There will be daily mails sent automatically to the students on the basis of the data fed into the dustbin. We also want to make the students feel that they are responsible and hence the names of the top 50 people having the highest wastage will be displayed on the bulletin board.

proobj:
Our objective is to make a smart dustbin which can calculate the food waste weight at an individual level.

prometho:
Development of a smart dustbin by coding and understanding the technology behind this.

prosummary:
Directly work on the coding for this dustbin.

proEoutcome:
Make PDPU a green organization and reaffirm its commitment towards making the place a better world to live in. This can be done by reducing the food waste as food represents an integral part of the entire energy cycle. 
By this project, of developing a smart dustbin, we will set a beautiful example for other institutions to follow.


protitle:
Mechano-synthesis efficient and stable 2D perovskites solar cells

prointro:
Solar energy is one of the most abundant and renewable energy sources that have minimum harmful impact on the environment compare to other sources like fossil or nuclear energies. An ideal solar cell requires low-cost, trouble-free, abundant material resources with good stability and high power conversion efficiency, also competent to integrate into large area. More recently, a research interest from the photovoltaic community has concentrated on organic–inorganic halide perovskites and nowadays perovskite solar cells represent an emerging photovoltaic technology. These ambipolar semiconductors have attracted increasing attention due to their easy fabrication process and unique physicochemical properties like small band-gaps and high carrier mobility.

proobj:
Objective 1. Development of lead, mix organohalide and pseudohalide perovskites
Objective 2. Development of composites based on perovskites doped by metal oxides nanoparticles 

Objective 3. Perovskite solar cells fabrication and measurements characterization

Objective 4. Stability in complex conditions of temperature, humidity and light soaking

prometho:
In general, 2D perovskite materials fabrication methods play a critical role on their chemical and physical properties, i.e. chemical composition, homogeneity, crystallinity, phase purity, morphology, grain size-dispersion, and parameters like extinction coefficients and carrier mobility can be easily altered by simply changing material formation route. Most research studies have focused on PEA, n-BA and iso-BA organic spacer cation because of their capability to tune optimal band gap and its compatibility with solution-based processing. The synthesis of 2D perovskites was accomplished through a variety of approaches, including solvothermal processes or high-temperature solid-state reactions. Nevertheless, preparation methods that could achieve more controllable and favourable crystallinity and morphology are lacking. 
More recently, the applicant in a close cooperation with Prof. M. Grätzel group, who is one of the most recognized expert in the field of photovoltaic, provided an efficient room-temperature mechanosynthesis of the hybrid organic–inorganic 2D perovskite with well-defined structure and composition. Further detailed investigations revealed that such mechanosynthesized 2D perovskite gave better superior device performance in comparison to a conventional route of perovskite synthesis. 
	This mechanochemical approach opens up a new avenue for making cheap and highly performed 2D perovskite materials for solar cell applications and will be extended in this research project to the preparation of a range of inorganic-organic hybrid 2D perovskites and their composites. In particular, the applicant divided his research tasks into four parts (See Objectives in 213)

prosummary:
The primary goal for this project will be the development of hybrid inorganic-organic 2D perovskite materials and their application in the fabrication of photovoltaic devices. The applicant’s institute’s i.e PDPU (Gujarat) and NPL (Delhi) is well equipped with state of art facilities and experience in the use of mesoscopic materials in energy conversion systems like photovoltaic cells, lithium ion batteries and photoelectrochemical devices. Also the applicants extensive experiences in the preparation and characterization of perovskite solar cells make it the ideal environment for this project to take place. 
	The proposed work plan has been divided into four different phases. A timeline including the estimated duration for the main tasks (T) together with the deliverables (D) and milestones (M) for each phase of the project is shown in Fig. 3. The work plan has been designed to ensure that each stage will have its own objectives in order to guarantee that the work is continuously contributing to the state of the art with new materials, methods and expertise. The detailed work plan for the project consists of seven individual tasks:

proEoutcome:
Communication and public engagement strategy of the action: The present research proposal also aims to transfer the research for the benefit of the society. This proposal, as a part of the DST Nano Mission programme, will enable integration of the research community, the public and industries. This aim will be realized by non-specialists who can improve the public's understanding of solar cells technology by writing about the research, participation in exhibitions and public meetings or discussion events. In the long term, it is expected to inspire school children, adults or families to take an interest in the photovoltaic and nano technology area.


prointro:
Theranostic technology combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, when performed with sub-micron material it is called theranostic nanomedicine.  We will pursue driver molecular that define the malignant behaviour of prostate tumours in the first part. We shall develop zipper nanomedicine. Later, we shall study in vitro and in vivo multimodal visualisation, targeted drug delivery and assessment of response in prostate cancer. Computational modeling efforts are becoming an important tool in accelerating the progress of nano- and bio-technology translational research.

proobj:
novel cell targeted-SELEX “zipper-like” nanoarchitectures (zipper nanomedicine) with theragnostic response to prostate cancerwith improved molecular and cellular targeting for enhanced specificity, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety (Acronym “NanoZip”).

prometho:
The project is divided into four work packages with number of specific tasks specifically WP 1 and WP 2  Indian team (WP-1: Design and characterisation of aptamers to target prostate cancer cells, WP-2:Design and in vitro characterisation of multifunctional zipper-like cell-SELEX architectures and their drug delivery properties), WP 3 – Chinese team (WP-3: In vivo multimodal imaging and biodistribution of zipper-like nanomedicine) and WP 4 – South African team (WP-4: Computational theragnostic nanomedicine: modeling and simulation of novel cell targeted-SELEX “zipper-like” nanoarchitectures).

prosummary:
The project is designed based on 4 work packages with clear tasks and deliverables and 1-2 partners are responsible for each work package (see project description). The principle investigators (PI) at each partner institution shall be responsible for overall management of the project in terms of objectives, timelines, workshops, budget and milestones whilst other personnel shall look after the experimental work and other day to day activities. Thus, all the groups shall contribute equally to the consortium in terms of planning, organization and execution of the projects
In addition to scientific goals, the project aims to foster close interaction with different research teams and senior and junior researchers in the consortium. This is evident from the work packages and research tasks involved in the project. In the process, there is a scope for great deal of knowledge transfer among the groups in the consortium in many directions; for example aptamers, nanofabriation to in vitro, in vitro methods and imaging technologies. This will contribute to the overall understanding of challenges and risk involved in the research and development of nanomedicine. Further, the short visits and project meeting shall provide an opportunity for research groups to interact at personal level and exchange thoughts and expertise.

proEoutcome:
Its main achievement can be summarized into “rationally designing stimuli-responsive ‘zipper’ theragnostic nanomedicine as versatile tools for integrated cancer care”. The zipper-like cell-SELEX, a fascinating theragnostic nanomedicine, is a latest combination of nanotechnology with advanced materials, are becoming versatile tools for ultra-targeting and triggered nanomedicine with non-invasive tracking for specific cancer care. Thus, the resulting zipper nanomedicine is capable of highly specific recognition of target prostate cancer, therefore, showing significant potentials in a range of cancer theragnostics.


protitle:
Application of multiple-isotope, and chemical tracer techniques for geochemical studies of Uranium-containing groundwater from Punjab (India) and sub-arctic Russian regions: Implications to the origin.

prointro:
Groundwater has long been a topic of interest for geochemists----primarily driven by its societal implication as an important resource, and its role in the hydrological cycle. A few key areas in the realm of basic research are, for example, origin of solutes and a gamut of process than control their abundances in them, groundwater flow, and groundwater residence times etc.. Other research themes that carry more societal implications are groundwater quality, the transport of contaminants and their treatment methods, and management of the groundwater resource. Groundwater quality issues can emerge either in the form of higher (than permissible limits) concentrations of stable element/compound (e.g., As, F, Cr, heavy metals, nitrates, organics), or of radioactive elements in them (e.g., U).
     Higher concentrations of U in groundwater has been reported in several districts of Punjab (Amritsar, Bhatinda etc.), whereas the declared safe limits by WHO and DAE are 30 ppb and 60 ppb respectively. Uranium is known to affect human kidney, liver and bones (ATSDR, 1999) and the associated chemical and radiological toxicity is a complex function of exposure route, solubility, and contact time and elimination route. Therefore, it is quite imperative to address the problem of high U concentrations.

proobj:
The objective is to provide a better understanding of the conditions for the formation of groundwater radioactivity and will contribute to providing the population with safe drinking water.

prometho:
In the course of the project, field research will be performed on the fresh and mineral groundwater deposits in the sandy and carbonate aquifers, including physical and hydro-chemical studies (temperature, pH, Eh, TDS, dissolved oxygen content) and sampling for analytical studies with samples preparation. In addition to groundwater, surface water samples will be sampled; atmospheric precipitation; sandy and carbonate rocks.
Under laboratory conditions, the macro- and microcomponent composition of groundwater and surface water and atmospheric precipitation, isotopic composition (14C, 13C, 234U, 238U, 87Sr, 86Sr, 18O, 2H) will be determined. Water analyzes will be performed using standard and proven techniques using modern high-precision equipment (Malov et al., 2015; Malov, 2016). U isotope determinations will be performed in samples of sandstones and carbonates.
The dating of groundwater will be carried out by radiocarbon and uranium-isotopic methods, taking into account their latest improvements (Han and Plummer, 2016, Malov, 2016).
The mineral saturation indices (SI) of water samples and the basic forms of chemical elements in natural waters will be calculated in the water-rock system by mathematical modeling methods (Malov et al., 2017).

prosummary:
Sampling would be done in association with the Russian collaborators. Groundwater sampling would be made into pre-cleaned HDPE bottles from hand pumps/tube-wells, conventional well and irrigation wells. Soil/sediments and representative rock samples would also be collected also from nearby groundwater sampling sites. 
In-situ groundwater parameters such as water temperature, conductivity, Eh, ORP, pH and TDS would be measured on the site by using a field kits (Hanna/Eutech instruments) after proper calibration of the instruments. For analyses of cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) AAS will be used, and for anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-) ion chromatography will be used. Alkalinity would be measured by titration using autotitrator. For dissolved U and a suite of other trace elements, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) will be used. Alkalinity and major cations would be measured at PDPU (PI’s institute). Anions will be measured at facility accessible to Indian collaborator at Physical Research laboratory, Ahmedabad. 
Solid phase characterization of the aquifer solids will be done using XRD facility accessible to the Indian PI. Elemental concentrations (e.g. U and others) in aquifer solids would be measured after they are brought to solution by digesting with a combination of acids (HF + HNO3+ HCl). Measurements will be made by using AAS accessible to facilities at PI’s institute.  
Measurements of δ13CDIC will be made by Continuous Flow Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (CF-IRMS) fitted to a gas bench system. Analysis of δ13CDIC will be made on CO2 after extracting it from DIC, by adding 100% H3PO4 to the water samples, and then keeping at temperature bath (28°C) for 18 hours. Measurements of δ18O and 2H in water samples will be done following equilibration of the H2O (liq.) with CO2 (or H2) respectively followed by isotopic measurements of the purified CO2 (or H2) by using Delta V Plus CF-IRMS. Measurements will be done at facility accessible to Indian collaborator at Physical Research laboratory, Ahmedabad.
Determinations of U isotopes in groundwater will be made in accordance with Fröhlich (2013). In brief, after collecting ~20 liters of the sample, spiking of 232U would be done followed by precipitation of (isotopes of) U. Spiking will be required to determine the yield in the all analytical processes involved in extraction of U isotopes for their measurement. In laboratory, Uranium would be purified from other interfering elements by anion exchange resin (Dowex-1X8) and will be converted to nitrate form by 1 (M) HNO3. Eluted and purified U would be evaporated to dryness and electroplating would be done by using electrochemical cell of stainless steel. Measurements of the alpha activity would be done using an alpha spectrometer. Measurements will be done at facility accessible to Indian collaborator at Physical Research laboratory, Ahmedabad.
For Sr isotopes, ~100 mL of water would be evaporated to dryness, and then purified by column chemistry with Sr-specific resin. Eluted and purified Sr fraction would be converted to 2% HNO3 and would be measured by MC-ICPMS. Measurements will be done at facility accessible to Indian collaborator at Physical Research laboratory, Ahmedabad.    
Water samples for 14C analysis will be treated with carbonate-free CaCl2 and NaOH solutions to precipitate Ca carbonate. In laboratory, CO2 would be released from the precipitated carbonate by adding HCl, followed by sintering with lithium to form lithium carbide, and then decomposed with water to produce acetylene, and finally the trimerization of acetylene to produce benzene. Measurement of 14C β-activity will be made using the prepared benzene by a liquid scintillation counter. Measurements will be done on chargeable basis at BSIP, Lucknow, for which budget will be requested for.

proEoutcome:
The urgency of the solution of this problem is related to the wide development of groundwater with increased radioactivity both in the boreal zone of the Russian Federation (Bakhur, 2008, Malov, Kiselev, 2008) and in the subtropical zone of India (Baiwa et al., 2015, Kumar et al. , 2014). In the latter, the radioactivity of groundwater in certain areas that will be investigated for this project is an order of magnitude higher and exceeds the WHO standards several times, averaging 0.06-0.13 mg / l (Kumar et al., 2014).
The results of the study will provide a better understanding of the conditions for the formation of groundwater radioactivity and will contribute to providing the population with safe drinking water.


protitle:
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY, EVOLUTION AND BIOGEOGRAHICAL CONNECTIONS OF BELEMNTES FROM THE SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN HEMISPHERES AROUND EARLY/LATE CRETACEOUS BOUNDARY

prointro:
This research is a continuation of the earlier project funded by DST-RFBR during the Year 2015-2016 to study a comparative study of the Jurassic and Cretaceous belemnite faunas in the northern and the southern margin of the Tethys Ocean. The encouragement for stdudying the propsosed project came from the discovery of unique Southern Hemisphere belemnite faunal sequence belonging to Aptian, Albian and Early Cenomanian from the sedimentary basin of Cauvery (South India) by the Principle investigators. Presently, such forms are poorly described in the litrature. Belemnite complexes of Indian Albian sequence are characterized by a high degree of diversification at genusand species level, and also include the presence of numerous new taxa representatives of Dimitobelidae family belonging to different biogeographical origin. Such cosmopolitan Belemnopseidae forms are common in the high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere and also common in Europe. Systematic Paleontological-stratigraphic analysis of such fauna can provide inter-correlation with coeval fauna of the Antarctic Peninsula, Australia, southern South America - on the one hand, and the epicontinental seas of Europe - on the other, through the identification of common species level taxa and reconstruction of marine biota migration pathways.
Thus, the project is aimed at establishing phylogenetic and biogeographic relations of fossil cephalopods from northern and southern hemispheres during Lower-Upper Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) boundary interval

proobj:
1) To analyze the global belemnite diversity and their stratigraphic distribution at the genus level and families in different parts of the globe during Early/Late Cretaceous Boundary.
2) To identify the evolutionary relationships of various belemnite taxa across Early/Late Cretaceous Boundary.
3) To understand the lateral migration and migration pathways across Early/Late Cretaceous Boundary.
4) To decode the phylogenetic relationship of belemnites from northern and southern hemispheres during Early/Late Cretaceous Boundary.

prometho:
The flow chart of the methodology to be adopted is shown in Figure 4. The methodology of the study of the different groups of belemnites follows various methodologies developed over the period of time by various workers. These methodology will be disused in detail in detail. Following is the point wise general methodology adopted by Investigators.  
1) Literature survey and selection of the important sections for the Albian-Turonian Interval.
2) Detailed Sampling of Ammonites and Trace fossils from selected section for Secondary data for age tagging and sea level history will be done
3) Systematic, bed-by-bed collection of belemnite material will be provided for the selected sections
4) In Russia studies of the key sections of Crimea, Dagestan and Russian Platform will be undertaken .
6) For Indian Cretaceous, key stratigraphic sections including various mines section of Cauvery basin and adjoining Pondichery basin sections will be selected . 
7) The belemnites belemnite samples will be processed and cleaned for morphometric studies.  
8) In addition to this the previously collected samples with both PI will also be taken in to account for comparison.
9) Systematic studies of the type specimens and reference material placed in museums and Palaeontological collections will also be done.  
10) Cameral studies of the belemnite longitudinal profiles for comparison (method well established for study of boreal belemnites, Ref: Cylindroteuthididae; Sachs and Nalnyaeva, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1975) and will be performed. 
11) Based on the Morphometric studies the intraspecific variation ranges of collected samples will be compared with the type specimens.
12)  The belemnite faunas of Southern and Northern Hemisphere will be tested for its “endemic” or generic nature based on comparison and analysis of statistical data such as coefficients of similarity-or difference (such as the Jaccard, Simpson index, etc).
13)  Selected specimens will be analyzed in details for their internal structure: 
a.       Serial sectioning of the belemnites
b.      SEM and CT Scans will be done for ultra-structures of belemnite rostra

Biostratigraphic and Morphometric analysis methodology
In addition to the generic methodology employed above. Following special methods will also be performed. 
A)  For the systematic analysis the whole spectrum of modern methods will be used in the study of belemnite including several post-processing techniques along with a number of approaches developed in recent years directly by the authors. These include, in particular, to biometric description phragmocone (Ippolitov et al., Submitted), and analysis of their ontogenesis (Ippolitov & Desai, submitted).
B) Study of dimitobelid belemnites will focus on following analysis:
1. The structure of the apex of the rostrum and its mineralogical composition. These features are key to the evolution of the early belemnitellid lineage of Praeactinocamax (Košťák, 2012), but has never been studied in detail for dimitobelid.
2. Details of the structure of the surface (ventro-lateral -vessels prints). Contrary to popular belief, vascular prints are almost exclusively common to both Belemnitellidae representatives and Dimitobelidae. Their comparative study will help in understanding the question of the similarity / difference in the soft body structure of these two belemnite groups.
3. Comparative analysis of phragmocone (Method following Jeletzky, 1966 - In particular) and also according to the procedures developed by the authors (Ippolitov et al, submitted a.). Phragmocone from early belemnitellid are extremely rare, but are well described in detail in the literature (Košťák & Wiese, 2008). Dimitobelid phragmocone were previously not been studied by anyone, and very scarce the data exist on them, with exception of few "random" image in publications. Well preserved and abundant material from South India will allow comparison of these dimitobelid phragmacone with European belemnitellid.
4. Analysis of directional evolutionary trends within the genus/group taxa of South Indian belemnite and comparing these trends with the appearance in the Northern Hemisphere belemnitellid and their evolutionary trends.
C) Identification of evolutionary trends for the generic level taxa will be carried out by applying the Infra-zonal stratigraphy concept - an approach designed for ammonites (see Rogov and others, 2012..), which were succesfully used by Russian counterpart last year for previous belemnite project (Ippolitov, Gulyaev, 2013, 2014 ; Ippolitov, Gulyaev, 2014). This approach is based on a directed search for subtle evolutionary changes in specific phylogenetic character and establishing levels of invasion of alien taxa, and plays a key role in tracking these changes in specific sections.
D) Belemnites are since long and classically studied for geochemical studies (isotopic studies of oxygen, strontium chemostratigraphy), if possible, we plan to transfer some of collected samples to our our colleagues (H.Wierzbouwski - Poland, Vladimir Rud'ko - Russian) and may involve their research data for verification, interpretations and clarifications of our stratigraphic models.
E) The belemnite infrazonal scheme developed will be supported by other biostratigraphic dating with the help of foraminifera, nanoplankton biostratigraphic scheme. These studies are well developed for south Indian sections. 
F) Other stratigraphically important group, the ammonites will also be used for age tagging, however as per the previous experience, these are extremely rare across the sequence, with the exception of a single level in the terminal Albian.

prosummary:
By end of Early Cretaceous, belemnites completely disappear throughout the Pacific, and their distribution was is essentially limited to two major areas - East Gondwana along with India as well as Europe. Thus, the objective of this project is (a) to analyze the global belemnite diversity and their stratigraphic distribution at the genus level and families in different parts of the globe, as well as (b) to identify the evolutionary relationships of these taxa during Albian-Turonian interval and lateral migrations (Figure-1). (c) Another Important aspect of the proposed project is to investigate the newly discovered unique belemnite fauna during the 2015-16. The Unique belemnite fauna comes from Aptian, Albian and Lower Cenomanian of South India especially from Tamilnadu (Tricuchirapolly). The newly discovered south Indian belemnites fauna contains following important faunal elements within same complex. 
1) Members of extremely endemic belemnite forms –Belospirula common in the Dalmiapuram unit of South India 
 2) Members of the genus Neohibolites(Refer Figure-3b), widely occuring in Aptian sediments of Europe - the base of the middle Cenomanian and non-zonal index of the interval (Mutterlose, 1990; Mitchell, Underwood, 1999)
3) Endemic phylogeny of large-sized Parahibolites, previously described from Antarctica and Argentina.
4) Finally, highly diversified and at the same time, poorly known representatives of Family Dimitobelidae (see Blanford, 1861; Spengler, 1910; Ayaasami & Jagannadha Rao, 1987), and most part of this Dimitobelidae family complex consist of completely undescribed representatives. At the species level, many of the forms are identical to previously described fauna from the Antarctic Peninsula (Doyle, 1987, 1990) and from Australia (Doyle, 1985) or are comparable with European forms (Figure-3 a & b). 
The above data suggest the south india belemnite fauna constituent of diverse biogeographical origin and contain element of northern and southern hemispherical element. Therefore the systematic study of belemnite sequence of South India will allow an inter-regional correlation and identify common correlation levels with the european forms on one hand and Eastern Gondawana (Australia, Argentina) forms on other hand (Figure 2). In addition, South Indian belemnite fauna occurs within slightly condensed sequences showing rapid changes in belemnite associations. This provides excelent material for detailing Belemnite zonal and infra zonal scale for the region. 
Thus the study will help in testing the hypothesis of direct phylogenetic relationships between northern hemispheric Belemnitellidae and Southern Hemispheric Dimitobelidae. This hypothesis is envisaged based on our colleciton of South Indian samples. The fact that in the South Indian belemnite fauna specifically among Albian representatives Dimitobelid occurs as morphological analogues of all three varieties of early (Cenomanian-Turonian) belemnitellid (Genus Praeactinocamax, Actinocamax and Belemnocamax), the relationship between such morphological similarity is unclear and may be explaind by polyphyly (Christensen, 1997). Thus, it is hypothesize that polyphyletic origin of belemnitellidae occurred from different groups of dimitobelid (Tetrabelus, undescribed taxa 1, undescribed taxa 2) due to the trans-equatorial successive invasions and the subsequent consolidation in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

proEoutcome:
Thus, the performance of a task for the reconstruction of biogeographical relationships, implies, first of all, a comprehensive monographic study of the unique South Indian fauna belemnite Aptian - Early Cenomanian, as well as a detailed comparison of its taxa with the early belemnitellid. The study of this fauna will establish inter-regional biogeographic link between the northern and southern hemispheres at the turn of the Lower and Upper Cretaceous at belemnite. This project also involves the study of the distribution of belemnite in key sections with a boundary interval Albian-Cenomanian, located in the Northern Hemisphere (Crimea, Dagestan, Russian Platform), some material of which has been collected earlier by project participants.


protitle:
Use of Nano-fibers in Activated Tungsten Inert Gas welding – A novel use of nano technology in manufacturing for a step towards sustainable manufacturing.

proarea:
Nano Technology / Nano Technology and its application

prointro:
The Major objective of the research is to fabricate nanofibers from nanoparticles of specific chemical composition (termed as flux) by electrospinning technique and employ them in Activated Tungsten Inert Gas welding (A-TIG) process for Stainless steels and low alloy steels. Currently, the flux is converted to paste form by mixing with alcoholic reagents and then applied on metal surface with the help of paint brush or spraying. However, process performance is sensitive to the thickness (amount) of the flux paste applied. By existing methodologies ensuring a uniform layer of flux is impossible. Thus the current research will primarily address to replace this cumbersome and non-reliant technique of flux application by developing and incorporating nanofibers synthesized from flux powder by electrospinning technique. The research also addresses the effect of different morphologies of electrospun fibers such as pores (round), beads (spherical or elongated spindle-like), fibers (round or flat), or a combination of all (bead-on-string) on the weld penetration capability of A-TIG welding process. Furthermore, the fibers may exhibit a variety of coils, loops, and bends resulting in different size and shape fibers, whose effect will be analyzed in the A-TIG welding performance and subsequently the mechanical and metallurgical properties of welded joint.

prometho:
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process is the most widely used joining process in the industries wherein high-quality welds are required. However, limited weld penetration capability in single pass operation makes the process unusable for joining high thickness plates. A-TIG welding process, wherein a flux layer is applied on the metal surface, increases the penetration capability of the TIG welding process, enabling joining of high thickness plates faster and economical. The effectiveness of A-TIG welding process is reliant largely uniformity in the flux layer applied. At present in A-TIG welding the fluxes are deposited on the metal surface after mixing it with a suitable solvent like acetone or ethanol in proportion with the help of a brush or by spraying. However deposition through brush or by spraying leads to non-uniform layer thickness throughout the surface. This, in turn, leads to discontinuous weld penetration and uneven bead profile. This further leads to inferior mechanical and metallurgical properties of the welded joint. Due to this drawback, the industry and front runner manufacturers, are not able to utilize this advantageous technology. So to get uniform flux deposition, an innovative deposition technique which deposits flux in the form of nanofibers has been proposed

prosummary:
The major research outcome of the project shall be the continuous and even weld penetration enabling the economical joining of components of thickness > 6 mm. It is expected that this will enhance the mechanical as well as metallurgical properties of the welded joint. The primary beneficiaries of the outcome shall be fabrication industries primarily involved in the manufacturing of pressure vessels, boilers, submarines etc. For instances, M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd. has been using A-TIG welding in the fabrication of various components. However, the full potential of the process cannot be used because of the manual and unreliable technique of application of flux. The positive results of the project shall be taken to industries which will make this process more usable and bring in cost as well quality benefits to the industries. Additionally, the process is the current focus for many research labs as well as researchers all over the world. By communicating the work in peer-reviewed international journals the technique shall be brought to society which is a unique amalgamation of nanotechnology and manufacturing. Additionally, the relation between the thickness of the flux and corresponding weld quality parameters are also yet to be explored. The current project will also throw light on this domain and a data set pertaining to specific material, flux, nanofibers thickness and morphology shall be presented. Going a step further, the technology can also be patented and further commercialized depending on the research outcomes.


protitle:
Adoption and usages of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) applications among Differently Abled People (DAP) for social inclusion in Gujarat

prointro:
As per World Health Organization (WHO), there are 600 million people with disabilities in the world. As per United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 80% of people with disabilities live in developing countries. As per Census 2011, the All India disability population is 26,810,557 (2.21% of total population of India) out of which 11,824,355 are female. Out of total disabled population 18,631,921 are residing in rural areas and within that 8,223,753 are females disabled. According to a survey by the Government of India around 5.5 million people have some kind of disability with legs. Approximately 1 million people don't have either a hand or a leg. Around 4 million people have become disabled due to polio. Every year around 25,000 people become disabled due to road accidents. Gujarat state alone has around 150,000 physically disabled people.  Disability is a wide term that includes not only functional disabilities i.e. physical, sensory and mental disabilities but also situational as well as elderly disabilities. Abilities can vary from person to person, and over time, for different people with the same type of disability. People can have combinations of different disabilities, and combinations of varying levels of severity. Disabled are generally called as “differently abled” or “DIVYANG” as every person does have abilities “different” from a non-disabled person.   Differently abled people can reach to equal and higher levels of accomplishment if they are provided with the necessary logistics, equipment, and clinical and augmentative support systems. By using alternative support systems, the ability of the physically and mentally challenged people can be enhanced. Studies and experiences show that that people with disabilities are many times brilliant than their normal counterparts in terms of knowledge, communication and interaction. The ICT stands for Information and Communication Technologies and is defined as a “Diverse set of Technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store and manage information”. Due  to  different  kind  of  limitations,  disabled  people  may  not  be  able  to  use  ICT applications and devices with ease, as it may be used by others. ICT have the potential for reducing discrimination and providing more opportunities to engage people with disabilities in all aspects of life including social inclusion in general and teaching and learning in specific. ICT offers  a  range  of  specialized  software  and  hardware  solutions  for  communicating, accessing and inputting data/information to/from web applications. The  ICT  is  an  increasingly  important  resource  in  many  aspects  of  life:  education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more. It is essential to have easy access in order to provide equal opportunity to differently abled people (DAP). Ease of ICT accessibility results into more powerful understanding and interaction of differently-abled people with the rest of the world, and in turn, results into fruitful contribution to the personal development of DAP and development of society at large. Disabled people may have stronger needs for or benefits from the Internet and other ICT tools than the general population, but they have a lower usage rate. This research study can  be  useful  for  all  the  discipline  of  social  sciences  and  humanities.  It is in fact convergence of technology and well-being of economic and social life of disabled with greater social inclusion. At present, DAP are facing lots of problems while accessing internet content. Most web developers do not make their websites easily accessible to people with disabilities. DAP face unnecessary difficulties while using the web, and in some cases, cannot effectively use it at all. For example, when developers require mouse interactions to use a website, people who cannot use a mouse have great difficulty; audio information is not provided in a text transcript or other accessible format, people who are deaf cannot get the information. Many technologies have evolved  over a  period of time  to aid  the  differently abled people  in  terms  of  accessibility  and  interactive  communication.  
Keeping in mind these issues, we feel an urgent need to study Adoption and usages of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) applications among Differently Abled People (DAP) for social inclusion in Gujarat

proobj:
1.	To explore how the ICT applications affect the socioeconomic life in terms of social inclusion of DAP in Gujarat
2.	To study the awareness and usages of various ICT applications among the DAP in Gujarat.
3.	To study shared experiences of DAP and analyze the behavior and attitude of DAP while using ICT applications
4.	To study the difficulties and barriers in the usage of various ICT applications by DAP
5.	To review and identify education and training needs for DAP for better usage of ICT applications
6.	To review and study the Gujarat Government and other NGO initiative for the use of ICT applications by DAP

prometho:
1.	Research Design:  Descriptive cross sectional Research Design will be used.  The studies normally concerned with the discovery of the behavioral variable of respondents. This type of research has got very specific objective, clear cut data requirement and uses a large sample.  By descriptive research recommendation and   finding are easily defined.
2.	Sampling frame:  A list of DAP beneficiaries located in major districts /villages of Gujarat State.
3.	Sampling  method:  Convenient  and  judgmental  sampling
4.	Sample size: The sample size will be decided with the help of statistical guidelines developed in the literature. Secondary data will be collected from authentic sources.
5.	Data Collection:
Both primary and secondary sources of data will be used. Primary data consists of the information which has been collected through surveys. In survey approach, researchers will be using a questionnaire, personal interview method for taking respondent’s views.  Perhaps the most important part of survey research is designing a survey instrument that asks clear and pertinent questions.
Based on the literature review, Secondary research will be identified for inclusion in a questionnaire.  Questionnaires  are  the  most  commonly  used  method  of  data collection in field  research and over the past several decades, hundreds of scales have  been  developed  to  assess  various  attitudes,  perceptions  and  opinions  of customers, employees, managers so on to examine hypothesized relationships with other constructs or behaviors (Hinkin, 1995). A pilot test will be conducted to detect weaknesses in design and instrumentation and to provide proxy data for selection of a probability sample. It should, therefore, draw subjects from the target population and  simulate  the  procedures  and  protocols  that  have  been  designated  for  data collection (Cooper and Schindler, 2003). Pilot Questionnaires will be interviewer- administered and face-to-face interviewing will be used during pilot testing. A draft survey  will  be  developed  and  will  be  circulated  to  a  group  of  academics  and practitioners and will incorporate their suggestions into a revised version. Then, after getting the advice of research experts on  both the survey’s design and execution, changes will be made to the format of the questions and to the  overall design in order to minimize biases induced by the questionnaire and maximize the response rate. Sampling unit will be differently abled person from Gujarat State.
6.	Data Analysis:
The data collected will be analyzed through a series of tools and procedures with the help of SPSS Software. The data will be interpreted with the help of various statistical tools like Frequency analysis, cross tabulations, charts & graphs, t–test and chi-square analysis.  A five-point Likert-type scale anchored by “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” will be used in this study.

prosummary:
Sr.
No.	Particulars	Approximate Duration
1	Detailed literature review and 
collection of relevant secondary data	6  months
2	Designing of data collection tools and pilot testing	3 months
3	Editing of data collection tools, finalization 	3 months
4	Primary data collection survey for samples under consideration	6 months
5	Data tabulation, generation of required data for analysis and cross checking before analysis	1 months
6	Data Analysis and Computation of various statistical measures and cross verification 	2 months
7	Drafting of chapters for first draft as per Chapterization scheme	2 months
8	Preparing final draft after feedback	1 months
Total	24 Months

proEoutcome:
The proposed project will help the policy makers in understanding the impediments in the adoption of ICT application among the DAP in fostering inclusive development on social and economical front. The social inclusion of DAP will lead to the inclusive growth of the society at large. This study will help to empower the weaker section of society and give them an opportunity to showcase their hidden talent by using ICT applications for their work. In an way ICT adoption may become the indicator of performance of DAP.


protitle:
Removal of Fluoride Contamination From Ground-water Using Calcium Peroxide Nanoparticles

prointro:
Project Tiltle:- Removal of Fluoride Contamination From Ground-water Using Calcium Peroxide Nanoparticles.

Faculty Name:- Dr. Swapnil Dharaskar (PI)
  Dr. Pravin Kodgire (Co-PI)

Scheme: Extra Mural Research Funding (Individual Centric).

Status:-  Result unknown- Project not defended

 
Around 80% of domestic needs of water in rural areas of India are met by ground water (Ayoob and Gupta, 2006). The excess fluoride in groundwater adds the water quality problem in many areas. In India, at least 17 states are affected by this problem. The proportions of the people affected by fluoride are quite large to assess and tackle (Ayoob & Gupta, 2006). In India permissible limit of fluoride is 1.5 mg L-1. Higher intake of fluoride from drinking water and other sources causes dental fluorosis, joint pain, sporadic pain, headache, muscle weakness and stomachache, risk of bone fracture, joint deformation by skeletal fluorosis, and nervous system damage (WHO, 2006). Among various methods, adsorption is the most suitable and widely used technique due to its simple operation, and the availability of a wide range of adsorbents. Calcium metal has a good affinity to fluoride ion. Much research has been done for the removal of fluoride by different salt. But, the most important factors influencing the adsorption are the pH of water, the high adsorption capacity, and the crystalline form of the adsorbent, which was not satisfying by previously reported method, therefore a new method for removal by calcium metal, is highly desirable. Nanoparticles have unique adsorption properties due to their small size and large surface area, and hence it is proposed to prepare calcium peroxide (CaO2) nanoparticles which could be a cheap and efficient adsorbent for fluoride removal.To improve the quality of drinking water the main objective is framed as ‘the development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles’.

proobj:
To improve the quality of drinking water the main objective is framed as ‘the development of low cost and effective technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles

prometho:
Methodology
Objective
The main objective of the proposed work is development of low cost and effective
technique as a novel in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) for fluoride removal from drinking
water using synthesized calcium peroxide nanoparticles.
In view to achieve this objective following work will be carried out:
• Study of drinking water quality and their impurities specifically fluoride
• Synthesis of calcium peroxide nanoparticles
• Characterizations (SEM, TEM, DSC etc.) of nanoparticles
• Improvement / Modification in nanoparticles to improve activity
• Characterization of Improved/Modified nanoparticles
• Study on Taguchi Methodology for removal of fluoride from water
• Batch study on removal of fluoride (effect of various parameters)
• Kinetics study
• Equilibrium study
• Thermodynamic study
• Experimental Study of Adsorption column
• Process optimization

prosummary:
The project will be carried out in three phases in three years.
Phase-I: (1st Year)
In phase one, the required staff will be recruited. The required glasswares, equipment
and chemicals will be purchased. The basic infrastructure will be created for carrying out the
experiments. The preparation and characterization of calcium peroxide nanoparticles and
basic experiments on adsorption of fluoride will start in this phase. The literature survey shall
also be completed.
Phase-II: (2nd year)
Adsorption experiments and the analysis of the results will be carried out. The effect
of various parameters on the adsorption efficiency shall be carried out towards the end of this
phase.
Phase-III: (3rd year)
Experiments on the adsorption of fluoride will continue in this phase too. Analysis of
all results will be carried out in this phase. The report will be written and submitted.

proEoutcome:
Expected Output and Outcome of the proposal :
After the completion of project, a process for the removal of fluoride from drinking water using low cost calcium peroxide
nanoparticles will be developed in a laboratory scale. The process further needs to be tested on pilot scale. A business
plan will be prepared establishing techno-economic viability. The beneficiary from the proposed work will be:
i)People from rural area
ii)Researchers working in the field of water treatment, nanotechnology etc.
iii)NGO’s and GO’s working in rural area for drinking water.
iv)Industries which are interested to develop low cost water purification technologies.
The development "Outcomes" and "Outputs' of the project
PhD Research Scholar : 1-2,M.Tech : 1-2
SCI/SCIE Publication: 5-6Conference: 2-4
Patent: 1
Technology Development: 1

FAScheme:
Extra Mural Research Funding (Individual Centric).


protitle:
Impact of Decent Work on Human Wellbeing: A case study of India

prointro:
The overall wellbeing of human beings gets directly influenced by the kind of work they do. Presence of decent work can enhance human wellbeing by strengthening the mental and physical health, reducing stress, providing adequate income, providing fruitful employment, social security, opportunities to voice one’s opinion, etc. Absence of decent work can negatively affect one’s work-life balance, leave less time for social interactions and contribution to society, increase stress, deteriorate health, increase future insecurity, etc. Keeping this in view, this study proposes to objectively assess how decent work can be used to enhance human well-being and what is its inter-relationship with different dimensions of human well-being.
As per the decent work agenda of International Labour Office, decent work is that type of work which enhances human aspirations and wellbeing. However the empirical relationship between the two has not been established so far. It would be interesting to find whether decent work improves human well-being and deficit of decent work reduces human well-being? What is the role and contribution of work on a person’s well-being? Which dimensions of working life can enhance human wellbeing?

proobj:
1.	To examine the inter-relationship between multiple dimensions of decent work and human well-being.
2.	To identify factors that stimulate decent work as well as human wellbeing (for eg. Enabling mechanism for higher education at work)
3.	To examine the role of the tripartite mechanism (employer, workers and Government) in facilitating decent work and human wellbeing
4.	To identify factors/challenges that lead to deficit in decent work and human wellbeing and working out a feasible solution for the same. 
5.	To empirically examine the impact of decent work on human well-being.

prometho:
Sampling design
As the target respondents of the study are workers, the type of sampling used would be non-random stratified sampling. This method would be used to select sampling units in North-west India. Snowball sampling would be used to collect data from other parts of India. The size of the sample is projected to be 1000 out of which 500 responses would be collected from Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar districts in Gujarat, 500 from Delhi NCR region and 100 from other parts of India. Sampling units would be selected in the working age-group across all workers irrespective of their gender, regions, castes, religions and ethnicity. The criteria for selection of sample would be a minimum work experience of 1 year. 
Sampling tools
The primary tool of data collection would be field survey through a well-designed and appropriate questionnaire as well as observation method. The observation method would be mainly used to verify the filled-in information by respondents. As decent work and human well-being are inherently subjective phenomena, use of narratives would also be made to generate data about the worker’s daily experiences and to understand the impact of their work on their well-being.
Data analysis
Collected data would be subject to rigorous data analysis using modern techniques of economics and statistics. The findings would be tested for sampling adequacy, sampling reliability and construct validity. Techniques of correspondence analysis and cluster analysis would be used to identify the clusters where decent work and human wellbeing are strongly, moderately or weakly related. Technique of regression and correlation analysis would be used to examine the strength and direction of inter-dependence between decent work and human well-being.

prosummary:
The Research Plan has been depicted in the form of Tentative Chapterisation and the Time Frame each component of the study would take.

Tentative Chapterisation
       I  Conceptual Framework For Decent Work And Human Well-Being
      II Review Of Literature
      III Theoretical And Pragmatic Linkage Of Decent Work With Human Well-Being
      IV Research Methodology, Data Analysis And Main Findings
       V    Discussion And Conclusion

10.	Time Frame
The proposed research study would be completed within 12 months of the time-frame and the broad time framework for different stages of this research have been mentioned below





Table I: Time frame of Proposed Minor research project
Components of research project	Time Frame
Conceptual and theoretical foundations of the study and literature review	2 months
Development of questionnaire and data-collection	4 months
Data-entry and data-analysis	2 months
Report writing as per chapterisation	3 months
Report editing, printing, submission	1 month
Total Time	12 months

proEoutcome:
The anticipated outcome of the report of this research is an empirically established relationship between decent work and human well-being. This would help the policy-makers to undertake defined steps in the direction of implementation of decent work agenda at the firm and industry level as presence of decent work would improve human well-being reduce stress in the lives of people and improve our quality of life. 
The proposed output of research is to identify such indicators of decent work which directly enhance well-being to higher levels. By doing so, the policy-makers can devise labour laws which guarantee decent work or make them more stringent so as to enable workers to achieve higher levels of well-being by enabling some modest changes in the conditions of work. For example, if productive work enhances the well-being of a worker by giving him a sense of satisfaction about his technical progress, then organization of minimum two training workshops per year may be considered mandatory in industries.


protitle:
HIV/AIDS Control Strategies: An Assessment of Self Concept, Gender Issues, Role of Government and Voluntary Sector in Gujarat state, India

prointro:
The proposed study envisions to undertake an investigation of the HIV-AIDS scenario in India wherein the role of government, psychosocial issues and voluntary sector to control it is to be analyzed. In this context the HIV-AIDS control strategies in the selected districts of Gujarat is proposed to be studied.

proobj:
•	To make a comparative assessment of the AIDS control strategies undertaken by selected districts in Gujarat.
•	To measurePatient’s perception? on the role of government and voluntary agencies in containing HIV/AIDS.
•	To measure the level of Self Concept of the patients under dimensions like Self directedness, group directedness, compliance, fatalism, optimism, pessimism, self confidence and hope. 
•	To analyse the Gender based response to the illness and to gauge the stereotypes and challenges faced by the patients because of their gender.

prometho:
a)	Area of the Study
The study is proposed to be carried out in the selected districts in Gujarat, which have significant prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country. In Gujarat the districts of Surat, Navsari, Dahod, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Surendranagar will be covered. All these districts are having category “A” status defined by NACO in its NACP programme i.e. having more than 1% ANC prevalence in district in any of the sites in the last 3 years. That means these districts are part of “high prevalence” districts identified by NACO in the country. Also these districts have high rate of in and out migration. For example, the district of Surat has high in-migration rate owing to the textile industry and other industries, other districts have large number of out-migration. 

b)	Universe and Sampling
The target group of this research is staff of State AIDS Control Societies, officials and field staff of voluntary organizations and the patients who visit the designated centers for anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The total number of respondents is expected to be over 600 including the medical staff, health administrators and heads of voluntary organizations.

prosummary:
Analysis Plan
The study will advance several indicators which can be called project indicators in the project implementation phase. Below are the few tentative indicators that would guide the study in evaluating the institutional stakeholders:
6.1.1	Understanding the HIV/AIDS control strategies
6.1.2	Efficiency in administering HIV/AIDS control programme
6.1.3	Knowledge of fatal diseases management
6.1.4	Understanding the Self Concept dimensions of the patients developed post interventions by Govt. and Voluntary control strategies  
6.1.5	Policy evolution and its effectiveness HIV/AIDS control 
6.1.6	Responsiveness of government and voluntary agencies 
6.1.7	Readiness of health and epidemic control infrastructure 
6.1.8    District specific differences in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the reasons
6.1.9    District specific differences in HIV/AIDS control policy and its implementation.
6.1.10  Understanding the Gender dimension of the illness to make necessary corrections in the 
            focus areas on specific genders in the policy.

proEoutcome:
The proposed research project would be of utmost importance not only to the State Government, but also the central Government in terms of evolving a definitive framework for assessing the role and impact of HIV/AIDS control strategies on a broader plane. It can also serve as a background study for drafting future National AIDS Control Programmes.
Foremost, the project will provide a framework for assessing institutional capabilities, technical competency of public personnel as well as the cost-benefit analysis of various health administration and epidemic management programmes. Secondly, it will lay a fertile ground for scientific study on the efficacy of HIV/AIDS control programmes in terms of financial viability, sustainability and effective voluntary sector involvement and community participation. Thirdly, it will present public perceptions on the various facets of health administration and epidemic management programmes in an objective manner. 
Overall, the study will critically evaluate and analyze the various factors that contribute to or hinder the implementation of HIV/AIDS control projects at the national, state and district levels.


protitle:
HIV/AIDS Control Strategies: An Assessment of Self Concept, Gender  Issues, Role of Government and Voluntary Sector in Gujarat State, India

prometho:
5.	Methodology
Study will be using mixed methods for data collection.

a)	Area of the Study
The study is proposed to be carried out in the selected districts in Gujarat, which have significant prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country. In Gujarat the districts of Surat, Navsari, Dahod, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Surendranagar will be covered. All these districts are having category “A” status defined by NACO in its NACP programme i.e. having more than 1% ANC prevalence in district in any of the sites in the last 3 years. That means these districts are part of “high prevalence” districts identified by NACO in the country. Also these districts have high rate of in and out migration. For example, the district of Surat has high in-migration rate owing to the textile industry and other industries, other districts have large number of out-migration. 

b)	Universe and Sampling
The target group of this research is staff of State AIDS Control Societies, officials and field staff of voluntary organizations and the patients who visit the designated centers for anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The total number of respondents is expected to be over 600 including the medical staff, health administrators and heads of voluntary organizations.

prosummary:
The study will advance several indicators which can be called project indicators in the project implementation phase. Below are the few tentative indicators that would guide the study in evaluating the institutional stakeholders:
6.1.1	Understanding the HIV/AIDS control strategies
6.1.2	Efficiency in administering HIV/AIDS control programme
6.1.3	Knowledge of fatal diseases management
6.1.4	Understanding the Self Concept dimensions of the patients developed post interventions by Govt. and Voluntary control strategies  
6.1.5	Policy evolution and its effectiveness HIV/AIDS control 
6.1.6	Responsiveness of government and voluntary agencies 
6.1.7	Readiness of health and epidemic control infrastructure 
6.1.8    District specific differences in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the reasons
6.1.9    District specific differences in HIV/AIDS control policy and its implementation.
6.1.10  Understanding the Gender dimension of the illness to make necessary corrections in the 
            focus areas on specific genders in the policy.

fAhead:
Budget Head - B Programs Research Grant - Plan General (09) Grant in Aid for Research Project(s)


protitle:
Selection of Diverting Agent for Refracturing Treatment to Improve Hydrocarbon Production

proarea:
Refracturing Treatment (Production Enhancement and Improved Hydrocarbon Recovery)

prointro:
During refracturing, zones having propped fractures offer least resistant to slurry. In this circumstance, during refracturing treatment, most of the slurry will be expended in already producing zones. Therefore, it is necessary to isolate the already stimulated zones or high producing zones and divert the treatment fluid to stimulate the unexploited zones. Therefore, selection of the diverting agent for refracturing treatment is one of the important parameters for its success.Chemical particulate diverter such as rock salt, benzoic acid flakes, naphthalene, polylactic acid, wax, oil soluble resins, crushed limestone, gilsonite, biodegradable particulates, aliphatic polyesters, polyimides, etc can also be used for zonal isolation.

proobj:
To investigate experimentally and optimize parameters affecting the selection of solid particles as diverting agents such as material chemistry, particle size, particle shape, particle size distribution, particle loading, carrier fluid type, and carrier fluid viscosity.

To develop the selection method of diverting agent for a given condition.

prometho:
There are some important properties such as Bridging or Sealing Property, low permeability, self-degradability which a diverting agent must possess in order to give efficient diverting characteristic. To analyze it, following tests are conducted.

Bridging Test: To determine the particle size distribution and concentration to bridge the simulated perforation tunnel or fracture as a function of fracture width (0.04 to 0.2 in.).

Permeability test: To evaluate the permeability of proppant bed in combination with diverting agent for known closure stress, injection flow rate and proppant – diverter concentration.

Dissolution test: To determine the time needed to dissolve the particles as a function of temperature, rate, particle size, carrier and produced fluid.

prosummary:
laboratory tests will be established. Thereafter, data will be evaluated and selection method for diverting agent will be developed for a given condition.

proEoutcome:
The advancement in this technology will help increase production rate and improve ultimate recovery of hydrocarbon reservoirs of Indian oil and gas producing companies
such as ONGC, OIL, Cairn India, GSPC, Selan Exploration Technology Limited, Joshi Technology, etc.

Bridge the gap between Academia and Industry

Improvement in recovery of hydrocarbon reservoir will help in energy sustainability and energy security of our country


protitle:
Development of dissimilar friction welding joint of Al-SS and Cu-SS materials

prointro:
The aim of proposed study is to develop and investigate the friction welding techniques for dissimilar Al-SS and SS-Cu tube to tube joint configuration. Process parameters
window is established for the aforementioned dissimilar systems. The effect of different process parameters on properties of dissimilar joint and its correlations are established. The formation of intermetallic compounds is decreased for both the dissimilar systems.

proobj:
To obtain a defect free dissimilar Al-SS and Cu-SS joints and establish the process parameters for the same.
To develop the dissimilar joints that can pass non-destructive test of Radiography as per ASTM standards.
To develop the dissimilar joints that can sustain MSLD 80 K cryogenic temperature and hydrostatic pressure 14 bar.
To achieve tensile strength 70 % of the Al and Cu base material for Al-SS and Cu-SS dissimilar systems respectively.
To exhibit the understanding of mechanical properties and metallurgical characterization including formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of dissimilar joints.

prometho:
Following step by step procedure will be followed.
1. Detailed literature survey on the dissimilar friction welding of Al-SS and SS-Cu will be carried
out. Project titled is furnished based on the specific gaps identified from the literature review.
2. The project staff sanctioned under the project will be appointed.
3. The based materials and other consumables will be purchased.
4. Suitable fixture will be developed for 60 mm and 80 mm pipe size configuration.
5. Based on the literatures, the process parameters will be identified for the working window.
6. Feasibility trials will be performed on different process parameters identified through the
literatures.
7. Also procedures for tempering at cryogenic and elevated temperatures will be established.
8. Actual weld samples will be generated at most suitable process parameters.
9. Non-destructive testing such as radiographic test will be performed in order to see the quality of
joint at non-destructive level.
10. Destructive testing such as tensile test, hardness, and microstructural analysis will be performed.
11. Analysis for the intermetallic formation and its distribution will be carried out.
12. The tensile strengths, hardness and impact strengths will be measured on the above steels prior
to cryogenic treatment.
13. At the end of the project, the final report will be prepared and submitted to BRNS. And, research
papers will be communicated.

prosummary:
Following step by step procedure will be followed.
1. Detailed literature survey on the dissimilar friction welding of Al-SS and SS-Cu will be carried
out. Project titled is furnished based on the specific gaps identified from the literature review.
2. The project staff sanctioned under the project will be appointed.
3. The based materials and other consumables will be purchased.
4. Suitable fixture will be developed for 60 mm and 80 mm pipe size configuration.
5. Based on the literatures, the process parameters will be identified for the working window.
6. Feasibility trials will be performed on different process parameters identified through the
literatures.
7. Also procedures for tempering at cryogenic and elevated temperatures will be established.
8. Actual weld samples will be generated at most suitable process parameters.
9. Non-destructive testing such as radiographic test will be performed in order to see the quality of
joint at non-destructive level.
10. Destructive testing such as tensile test, hardness, and microstructural analysis will be performed.
11. Analysis for the intermetallic formation and its distribution will be carried out.
12. The tensile strengths, hardness and impact strengths will be measured on the above steels prior
to cryogenic treatment.
13. At the end of the project, the final report will be prepared and submitted to BRNS. And, research
papers will be communicated.

proEoutcome:
Friction welding of SS-Al and SS-Cu joints of Pipe to pipe configuration 
Procedure for establishing good joint and test methods to ensure leak –proof joints. Fixture design for tube to tube type joint configuration.
Elucidation on the mechanisms and properties of dissimilar SS-Al and SS-Cu joints.
Data of analyses on microstructure features, formation of IMCs, tensile properties, hardness
profile and its co-relation for SS-Al and SS-Cu joints.
Effect of process parameters on dissimilar SS-Al and SS-Cu friction welded joints.

FAScheme:
Board of research in nuclear sciences (BRNS)


protitle:
Signs and Symbols in Political Communication with special reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign 
during the Lok Sabha election in 2014

prointro:
This study aims to study the then Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s use of signs and symbols in his election campaign speeches to connect to the Indian people, and voters in particular. There are broadly two schools in the study of communication. The first sees communication as the transmission of messages while the second takes it as the production and exchange of meaning. The transmission or the process approach, as the first one is known, tends to address itself to acts of communication, while the second, known as semiotic or ritual approach, tends to address itself to works of communication. This study will be carried out in the conceptual framework of the semiotic approach. The proliferation of modern means of communication has made leaders’ job easier as they have several communication tools and vehicles at their command these days. Prime Minister Modi is widely seen as an astute communicator. His choice of words, idioms, phrases in speeches seems to have paid rich dividends in the Lok Sabha election in 2015. Not that other leaders did not use words, idioms, phrases in speeches, but the overwhelming majority that Modi’s party and his political grouping, the National Democratic Alliance, won underlines his oratory. The study will identify the oft-repeated words, idioms and phrases in Narendra Modi’s election campaign speeches, traces the context in which he used these words, idioms and phrases, and studies how these words, idioms and phrases stood for something other than themselves, thus getting converted into signs and symbols. Emergence of an alternative to the “grand old party” of Indian politics at the national level has brought democracy in India into an interesting phase. An analysis of the oratory of the leader of the emergent alternative party thus evinces keen interest of the scholars and the laypersons alike. The probable outcomes could help political parties and their leaders in India to connect to their constituencies more efficiently.

proobj:
(i)	To identify the oft-repeated words, idioms and phrases in Narendra Modi’s election campaign speeches,
(ii)	To trace the context in which he used these words, idioms and phrases,
(iii)	To see how these words, idioms and phrases stood for something other than themselves, thus getting converted in signs and symbols.

prometho:
(i) Content analysis
(ii) Semiotic analysis, and
(iii) Survey

prosummary:
To meet the objectives of the study, the researcher proposes to carry out the study in two stages. The first stage will involve identifying the oft-repeated words, idioms and phrases in Narendra Modi’s election campaign speeches. While the second stage will involve tracing the context in which he used these words, idioms and phrases, and how these words, idioms and phrases got converted into signs and symbols.
The first stage of the research will involve Content Analysis of the speeches, as reported in the newspapers of those months, website archives, and any other source from where these speeches could be accessed.
The second stage will involve Semiotic Analysis of those signs and symbols. 
The third stage will involve survey of the people to find out the meaning they generated from those signs and symbols.

proEoutcome:
Emergence of an alternative to the “grand old party” of Indian politics at the national level has brought democracy in India into an interesting phase. An analysis of the oratory of the leader of the emergent alternative party thus evinces keen interest of the scholars and the layman alike. The probable outcomes could help political parties and their leaders in India to connect to their constituencies more efficiently. As the review of literature suggests, hardly any study using semiotic analysis has been done in the area of political communication in Indian context. Apart from contributing to the understanding of the leaders of political parties, their supporters and those interested in oratory or the manners of demagogues, the study will also fill a void in in the semiotic analysis of political communication in Indian context.

FAScheme:
Indian Council of Social Sciences Research Projects


protitle:
Development of full penetration CuOF to CuOF welding by GTAW for plate to pipe connection

prointro:
The objective is to establish welding technology for CuOF accelerator grid hydraulic piping welding by conventional GTAW process to ensure the full penetration with 100%
volumetrically inspectable joint, which further to be qualified for 10-9mbarl/s He leak rate and pressure withstanding capacity of 30bar.

proobj:
The objective is to establish welding technology for CuOF accelerator grid hydraulic piping welding
by conventional GTAW process to ensure the full penetration with 100% volumetrically inspectable
joint, which further to be qualified for 10-9mbarl/s He leak rate and pressure withstanding capacity of
30bar.

prometho:
Develop an automatic GTAW welding machine / improve upon the existing as needed.
• Selection of filler wire
• Study the thermal profile
• Assessment of mechanical and metallurgical properties of weld, HAZ and base material
• Study the distortion behavior and develop corresponding fixture
• Develop welding parameters to meet the above mentioned requirements
• Carry out destructive (mechanical, chemical and metallurgical) and non-destructive
examinations (surface and volumetric)
• Carry out He leak test and pressure test
• Carry out the scalability study to implement the process on 1:1 size grid plate

prosummary:
Conventionally, this connection has been realized by means of friction stir welding (FSW).
However, considering the inherent process limitations of this welding technology (e.g. non-full
penetration welding configuration, vibration induced dimensional inaccuracies, post welding
machining requirement, volumetrically non-inspectable weld joint, limitation on welding positions,
limitations on the repair techniques), the FSW has been avoided for the grids being used for recent
negative neutral beam experiments.Further, it is well evident form the literature and experience that when a pure copper is subjected to
any kind of fusion welding process, strength reduces by certain amount depending on the heat
input. For EBW it is less and for GTAW is would be little more. The designs of these grids are
based on the mechanical properties of annealed copper with limited YS and UTS. However, due to
the stringent machining tolerances for the diagnostics neutral beam application, cold worked
copper is being used which apparently has higher strength compared to annealed copper. This
means, even if the strength of weld reduces due to fusion welding, the weld could be accepted
provided it stays beyond the designed strength

proEoutcome:
Welded samples (10 Nos.)
• Tensile tested specimen (10 Nos.) with results
• Bend tested specimen (10 Nos.) with results
• Metallography photograph of weld, HAZ and base material (5 Nos. Macro and Micro each)
• Hardness survey specimen and results (5 Nos.)
• Fixture (designed, manufactured and demonstrated)
• Material certificate for (1) Filler wire (2) base plate
• Welded samples ready for He leak test and pressure test (5 Nos.)
• All the welds (except prepared for internal trials) have to be examined by NDE (1) visual
examination (2) LPT (3) RT
• Distortion measurement records record for all the welds
• Thermal profile of weld (temp to be measured from weld center to the agreed distance
based on the initial trials)
• Welding parameter for all the welds (shall be traceable with identification of test coupon
number)- details as required in WPS in ASME Section IX
• Weld joint design along with machining details (tolerances)


prointro:
This study aims to study the then Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s use of signs and symbols in his election campaign speeches to connect to the Indian people, and voters in particular. There are broadly two schools in the study of communication. The first sees communication as the transmission of messages while the second takes it as the production and exchange of meaning. The transmission or the process approach, as the first one is known, tends to address itself to acts of communication, while the second, known as semiotic or ritual approach, tends to address itself to works of communication. This study will be carried out in the conceptual framework of the semiotic approach. The proliferation of modern means of communication has made leaders’ job easier as they have several communication tools and vehicles at their command these days. Prime Minister Modi is widely seen as an astute communicator. His choice of words, idioms, phrases in speeches seems to have paid rich dividends in the Lok Sabha election in 2015. The study will identify the oft-repeated words, idioms and phrases in Narendra Modi’s election campaign speeches, traces the context in which he used these words, idioms and phrases, and studies how these words, idioms and phrases stood for something other than themselves, thus getting converted into signs and symbols. Emergence of an alternative to the “grand old party” of Indian politics at the national level has brought democracy in India into an interesting phase.

prometho:
To meet the objectives of the study, as stated above, the researcher proposes to carry out the study in two stages. The first stage will involve identifying the oft-repeated words, idioms and phrases in Narendra Modi’s election campaign speeches. While the second stage will involve tracing the context in which he used these words, idioms and phrases, and how these words, idioms and phrases got converted into signs and symbols.
The first stage of the research will involve Content Analysis of the speeches, as reported in the newspapers of those months, website archives, and any other source from where these speeches could be accessed.
The second stage will involve Semiotic Analysis of those signs and symbols.
The third stage will involve a survey of the electorate to study how they generated meaning in the speeches

prosummary:
The study is proposed to be carried out and completed over 12 months:
Months 1 and 2: Putting the research team in place, training of the research assistant, further review of relevant literature.
Months 3, 4 and 5: Content analysis of speeches in newspapers, official websites, etc, to identify key words, idiom and phrases.
Months 6 and 7: Semiotic analysis of the emerging signs and symbols.
Months: 8 and 9: Survey of the electorate
Months: 10, 11 and 12: Writing of the research project and submission to ICSSR.


protitle:
Development of a low-cost device for continuous measurement of atmospheric columnar integrated air pollution

prointro:
Several instruments and techniques are used to measure AOD such as with satellite and ground based sun-photometry, ground and airborne radiometers and LIDARs which are generally costly and non-portable. In response to bring down the cost and portability problem, a smartphone camera based AOD retrieval was developed which measured AOD at UVA range (340 and 380 nm). Similar effort to build a photo-sensor based photometer was taken up by a few researchers which composed of a green filter of wavelength 540 nm. It is clear from the above several studies that it is possible to build cheap sunphotometers using photo-detectors and light filters. The current research proposal is focused on developing cheap, affordable and portable photometer. 
Device thus built will be calibrated against standard instruments like Microtops. After validation, a few more of these will be manufactured and its applicability for use as network will be developed.

proobj:
(1)	Design and development of cheap and handy sun-photometer 
(2)	Development of a method for running these as a network for monitoring atmospheric columnar integrated air pollution

prometho:
The research proposal is focused on developing cheap, affordable and portable sun-photometer that will automatically track the sun and retrieve AOD of that location. The AOD will be retrieved at 3 to 5 different wavelengths. Several of these will be manufactured keeping in mind to build a network to monitor AOD at several locations. The device will be capable of automatically tracking the sun and retrieving AOD of specific location. The device will consists of following components:

i.	A microprocessor and PC board, the brain of the device
ii.	A photo-detector module that will be used to detect solar intensity at 3 different wavelengths. It could be a programmable color light to frequency converter that combine configurable silicon photodiodes and a current-to-frequency converter on a single monolithic CMOS integrated circuit. The output is a square wave with frequency directly proportional to the light intensity. It consists of 8x8 arrays of photodiodes. 16 photodiodes have blue filter, 16 have red, 16 have green and 16 are clear with no filters or any other similar photo-detector.
iii.	Servo motors along with photo-detector sensors will be programmed and used to track the sun. Motors will be aligned in horizontal and vertical axis to make it dual axis tracking.
iv.	Light dependent resistors, sensors to detect sunlight which will direct motors to move them in that direction. 
v.	Device will be appended with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to locate its position. 
vi.	Bluetooth for communication between a few units to minimize wire connection
vii.	Sensor to monitors meteorological parameters.

Microprocessor will be programmed to detect the maximum sun light intensity using 2 light detecting sensors mounted on the dual axis motor. A Bluetooth device will enable communication between motor and photo-detector to minimize wire connection so that device movement during sun tracking does not cause the wire to get wrapped around which is an issue till date in a few sun-photometers. A sun tracking search program will be developed and which will allow communication between photo-detectors and motors to locate the sun in the sky. Once the position of the sun is locked, microprocessor will instructs photo-detector to record the solar intensity at 3 to 5 different wavelengths. The recoded intensities will be used to retrieve AOD.  Several retrieval algorithms are available till date which will help develop retrieval algorithms. Meteorological parameters thus monitored will be used to correct the AOD retrievals. GPS attached to it will automatically record latitude and longitude of its installed location. 
Device thus built will be calibrated against Microtops. After validation, a few numbers of these will be manufactured and a network of these will be build to monitor AOD at several locations across the Ahmadabad city.

proEoutcome:
A device for measurement of air pollution


protitle:
Inspection of Gas-turbine engines for military applications

prointro:
Evaluation of surface texture of machined surfaces of Gas Turbine is useful in predicting the functional performance of the components. This will also help in providing evidence forewarnings of functional disasters.  Surface texture methods can be broadly classified into contact and non-contact methods. The major drawback of contact approach is that it requires direct physical contact, which limits its measuring speed. Even though, many non-contact surface texture measurement methods based either on optical or electro optical means provide better measuring speeds, but they simply do not provide enough information for the full characterization of the surface and also are not amenable for automation. In this context, the proposed method assumes special significance. The proposed project aims to develop a unique surface texture measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature. The method uses a vision system.
The Vision system consists of a personal computer (server) with a built -in advanced image processing card. The system also includes a charge couple device (CCD) camera. A CCD Camera is used to capture the image of a properly illuminated machined surface. Uniqueness of the measuring method is that it uses different types of illumination, for assessing different surfaces.  The surface image is stored in the server. The integrated software, installed in the server, helps in processing the surface image for noise and for assessing the surface texture. The proposed method is amenable for automation. One hundred percent inspection of components is possible. As the method is non contact in nature, high measuring speeds are possible.

proobj:
The proposed program aims to design and develop unique non-contact methods for surface texture measurement which finds application in inspection of Gas Turbine.

prometho:
The methodology to be followed in this project is outlined below.

	Specimen Preparation
	Collection of Surface Texture Parameters by Stylus method.
	Setting up of Vision system.
	Software development & Testing
	Experimentation.
	Results, analysis and conclusions.

prosummary:
Gas turbine components have surfaces are generated by a variety of manufacturing processes like casting, forging, and secondary processes like turning, milling 
etc. Technological advances in the area of manufacturing have resulted in closer tolerances on the parts being produced by all these processes. This in turn has resulted in a need to evaluate and control the finish of the product which has a significant role to play in its function. 

Evaluation of surface texture of machined surfaces is useful in predicting the functional performance of the components. This will also help in providing evidence forewarnings of functional disasters.  Surface texture methods can be broadly classified into contact and non-contact methods. The major drawback of contact approach is that it requires direct physical contact, which limits its measuring speed. Even though, many non-contact surface texture measurement methods based either on optical or electro optical means provide better measuring speeds, but they simply do not provide enough information for the full characterization of the surface and also are not amenable for automation. In this context, the proposed method assumes special significance. The proposed project aims to develop a unique surface texture measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature. The method uses a vision system.
The Vision system consists of a personal computer (server) with a built -in advanced image processing card. The system also includes a charge couple device (CCD) camera. A CCD Camera is used to capture the image of a properly illuminated surface.

proEoutcome:
Deliverables are outlined below.

1.	A unique and novel method for online and in-process surface texture measurement method. This will include hardware, software and Illumination.
2.	Technical report including procedure description, results obtained, analysis and conclusions.
3.	Research scholar completing his Ph.D Thesis based on the above work.
4.	Technical Papers


protitle:
Texture evaluation of Aircraft & Automobile engine components

prointro:
Evaluation of surface texture of machined surfaces of Aircraft engine surfaces is useful in predicting the functional performance of the components. This will also help in providing evidence forewarnings of functional disasters.  Surface texture methods can be broadly classified into contact and non-contact methods. The major drawback of contact approach is that it requires direct physical contact, which limits its measuring speed. Even though, many non-contact surface texture measurement methods based either on optical or electro optical means provide better measuring speeds, but they simply do not provide enough information for the full characterization of the surface and also are not amenable for automation. In this context, the proposed method assumes special significance. The proposed project aims to develop a unique surface texture measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature. The method uses a vision system.
The Vision system consists of a personal computer server with a built -in advanced image processing card. The system also includes a charge couple device CCD camera. A CCD Camera is used to capture the image of a properly illuminated machined surface. Uniqueness of the measuring method is that it uses different types of illumination, for assessing different surfaces.  The surface image is stored in the server. The integrated software, installed in the server, helps in processing the surface image for noise and for assessing the surface texture. The proposed method is amenable for automation. One hundred percent inspection of components is possible. As the method is non contact in nature, high measuring speeds are possible.
To develop  a novel method for surface Texture evaluation of Gas turbine, with the following features. 
•High measuring speeds
•Low cost of measurement
•Amenable for automation
•Ability to work in Industrial environment
•100 inspection of surfaces

proobj:
The proposed program aims to design and develop unique non-contact methods for surface texture measurement which finds application in inspection of Aerospace and Automobile components.

prosummary:
configuring,
assembling and testing a
machine vision system
Analysis, Design, Software
development &Testing
Creating the test set-up, Image
acquisition & conducting the
experimentation.
Analysis, Conclusion/Project
report/Thesis preparation

proEoutcome:
A Novel Inspection method for texture measurement of Aerospace and Automobile components


protitle:
Development of a novel hybrid renewable energy laboratory test setup (integration of solar, wind and biodiesel) in engineering education.

prointro:
•	Despite their development, solar and wind energies market penetration is still low. In fact, the wind and solar penetrations are respectively 30% and 10%.
•	Integration Approach is missing: Renewable energy technologies are taught as if they are independent of each other (This is old-fashioned and outdated approach in education: a view more or less well accepted in developed world) 
•	Need to foster wind and solar technologies evolution and their teaching, development of renewable energy laboratory (integration of solar, wind and biodiesel) is to be considered as a novel way since laboratories are the centre of Science/Engineering teaching and have a substantial impact on students.
•	Need for a hybrid RE laboratory for engineers with hands-on experience incorporating real-life grid problems to overcome traditional laboratories challenges.
•	To enhance skill and knowledge to our students to solve industrial/agricultural/household power problems (24 hr x 365 days) and compete at par with the developed world.

proobj:
•	To develop a novel concept of educational hybrid renewable energy laboratory (integration of solar, wind and biodiesel).
•	To allow students to learn all aspects of renewable energies in an integrated manner and take hands-on experience on equipment for a better understanding of clean energy technologies.
•	To develop various modules for the proposed hybrid laboratory (educational and training) that incorporates access mode in the wide range of realistic conditions.

prometho:
Based on 300 W DC load, we choose 300 W wind power, 50 W solar panel and 400 W biodiesel generator. Both solar panel and wind energy conversion system (WECS) are designed to feed the load simultaneously. Their nominal total power is 350 W that is 50 W higher than the DC load power because the power conversions loss between the sources and the load is taken into account to make sure that the power supply is enough. The battery bank is also dimensioned to store energy and supply power to the DC load. The biodiesel is used as backup and should be capable to feed the load itself when there is lack of solar and wind energies. As the DC load is 300 W, a 400 W generator is chosen taking into account the power conversion loss as well. One can notice that a 300 W AC load is also added in the HPS in order to operate the three energy source systems at the same time and study their behaviour in this case. As per the calculations based on principles of electrical engineering, battery power capacity and related parameters were calculated and chosen that had better match the existing load. 
The WECS, the PV system and the BDG are coupled and integrated in the same simulation environment in order to evaluate the hybrid power system behaviour under variations of input parameters. This system will be simulated and analyzed according to two cases:
Case 1: The BDG does not work all the time, the wind turbine works at the rated power for half time and stop for the rest of the time, the PV keeps working at its rated power all the time.
Case 2: The BDG works in the first half time and stops working for the rest of time, the wind turbine starts working at the rated power during the second half time and the PV does not work all the time.

Laboratory environment
The physical environment of the renewable energy laboratory includes wind blower, wind turbine, solar panels, insolation system, biodiesel generator, coupling units, batteries, and usual laboratory equipments. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) units are also included. The whole system unit is instrumented and using real time acquisition systems: the speed of the fan, the wind speed at the end of the blower, the temperature of the air, the rotation speed of the turbine, the insolation, the power output of all units, the signals (currents and voltages) at the ends of each electrical unit as well as the temperature of the batteries are all monitored. All data are acquired using DAQ LabVIEW unit.

prosummary:
(a)	Experimental determination of I-V and P-V characteristics with different radiations (200-1000 W/m2) and with different temperatures (25-100 0C); Maximum power  point (MPP) determination using maximum power point tracking controller (MPPT).
(b)	The solar power module system modelling and simulation to analyze the I-V and P-V characteristics to ensure that the simulation results correspond to the parameters provided by the vendor.
After solar panel tests, the solar power system (Fig. 2)  is connected directly to battery and resistive load to analyse following two scenario 
(i) constant irradiance and variable resistive load (17 ohm to 5 ohm  within 15 s) 
(ii) variable irradiance (1000- 200 W/m2 within 15 s) and constant load (say 20 ohm).

proEoutcome:
•	A new renewable energy laboratory concept based on the integration of wind, solar and biodiesel energies sources was presented.
•	The new hybrid approach will be used as an educational tool for
	(a) Overcomes the traditional laboratory challenges  
(b) Help to reinforce researches on energy resources (solar/wind/biodiesel) and sensitize students on the importance of clean energy. 
•	To develop a thinking process for round the year (24 x 365 h) solution for power through hybrid application of renewable energy.
•	Provide a solid foundation for research studies in the area of hybrid Energy.


protitle:
Evaluation of Straightness of machine tool Guide ways

prointro:
The evaluation of form errors, such as straightness and flatness, are of importance for the precision mechanical manufacturing. In practice, it is impossible (and also unnecessary in many cases) to obtain the variation over the whole surface of a workpiece. Only finite points, therefore, are collected from the surface to represent its features. To assess the tolerance errors, it is important to select an appropriate algorithm to extract the feature from the measured dataset.

Evaluation of straightness errors is useful in predicting the functional performance of the components. This will also help in providing evidence forewarnings of functional disasters.  Straightness Evaluation methods can be broadly classified into contact and non-contact methods. The major drawback of contact approach is that it requires direct physical contact, which limits its measuring speed. Even though, many non-contact surface texture measurement methods based either on optical or electro optical means provide better measuring speeds, but they simply do not provide enough information for the full characterization of the surface and also are not amenable for automation. In this context, the proposed method assumes special significance. The proposed project aims to develop a unique straightness measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature.

proobj:
The proposed program aims to design and develop unique non-contact methods for straightness measurement which finds application in inspection of Machine Tools.

prometho:
The methodology to be followed in this project is outlined below.

	Specimen Preparation
	Collection of straightness Parameters by standard method.
	Setting up of Vision system.
	Software development & Testing
	Experimentation.
	Results, analysis and conclusions.

prosummary:
Evaluation of straightness errors is useful in predicting the functional performance of the components. This will also help in providing evidence forewarnings of functional disasters.  Straightness Evaluation methods can be broadly classified into contact and non-contact methods. The major drawback of contact approach is that it requires direct physical contact, which limits its measuring speed. Even though, many non-contact surface texture measurement methods based either on optical or electro optical means provide better measuring speeds, but they simply do not provide enough information for the full characterization of the surface and also are not amenable for automation. In this context, the proposed method assumes special significance. The proposed project aims to develop a unique straightness measurement method. The measurement method is non-contact and in-process in nature.

proEoutcome:
A novel non-contact and online straightness measurement method

FAScheme:
D e v i c e D e v e l o p m e n t
Programme


proobj:
The main objective of the project is to make public transportation an attractive commute option for
people by aiding the following features:
1. real time tracking of buses and arrival time prediction at bus stops
2. suggesting optimal (with respected to one or more of the trip duration, number of change overs,
and comfort) trip plan to the querying commuters
3. suggest schedule and provision plan of buses
• The secondary but equally important objective of the project is to compute road network
parameters such as presence of traffic lights at junctions, average movement speed, and presence
of potholes to supplement the existing road network maps and suggesting road maintenance.


protitle:
Multi Modal Design of an Intelligent Transportation System


protitle:
bIo-mimetic and phyto-techNologies DesIgned for low-cost purficAtion and recycling of water 
bIo-mimetic and phyto-techNologies DesIgned for low-cost purficAtion and recycling of water INDIA-H2O

prointro:
Of the 2700 billion m3 increase in water demand forecast for 2030, some 468 billion m3 (17%) is expected to occur in India. The projected 2.8% per annum growth in water usage means that demand will exceed sustainable supply by 2030 [ ]. Groundwater is the major source of water across India, with 85% of the population dependent on it. The quality of ground water is, however, variable – failing to meet the drinking water requirements in many areas. Brackish groundwater lies below 60% of Indian territory (Figure 2) and this problem is most grave in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan where ground water salinity often exceeds 2000 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS), making it completely unsuitable for human consumption or conventional agriculture. In some locations, salinity reaches 10 000 mg/L. 
Besides salinity, groundwater is often contaminated with excess fluoride, arsenic, iron, microorganisms, and emerging pollutants. To augment the available and accessible water, it is necessary to implement suitable treatment technologies to render such contaminated water potable [2]. Desalination using reverse osmosis or distillation is a potential solution, but it is energy intensive. As economic and environmental constraints limit the use of such technologies [ ] in both rural and urban areas alike, a sustainable and non-polluting solution to energy and water shortages could only be provided by renewable energy systems [ ].
As regards wastewater, the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi (CPCB 2015), highlighted the large gap between sewage generation and treatment capacity for India in 2015 and reported that only a small fraction of about 23,277 MLD (million litres per day), or 37.54 % of the total 62,000 MLD of wastewater, is treated through 816 sewage treatment plants across the country. Water demand of industries is also under pressure, many have been forced to adopt wastewater recycling systems, and its reuse for different industrial purposes (WWTI 2010). Consequently, this massive discharge of untreated domestic wastewater causes a major contamination threat to the country’s water resources such as the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and underground aquifers. Wastewater re-use, is a potential solution to this problem bit it has been constrained by the limited availability and expense of the necessary technology. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a low-cost eco-friendly treatment system, with capacity to remove pollutants and fill gaps in existing technologies if waste water reuse is to be enabled in India

proobj:
The overall aim of INDIA-H2O is to develop, design and demonstrate high-recovery low-cost water treatment systems for saline groundwater and for domestic and industrial wastewaters

prometho:
INDIA-H2O proposes the development of novel technologies of high relevance to the water challenges faced by India.  The overall approach is to validate these technologies, and importantly the performance of the integrated systems, in the laboratory, with fundamental performance characterisation taking place in EU labs in parallel with knowledge exchange and planning for lab scale longer-term evaluation experiments in India, followed by a series of pilot studies in real world environments in India.  The technology developments are grouped into osmosis based science and plant based science which come together in rural small-scale pilots. These activities also inform specific research and development focussed on industrial wastewater recycling solutions for dominant industry sectors which are numerous in India. Improved ICT enabled solutions for management and control of these technologies will aim to optimise their efficiency and effectiveness.  To leverage the results of the project and inform future governance and policy related to groundwater and wastewater re-use and recycling we will explore the potential social, economic and environmental impacts and produce policy briefs to support improved management of precious water resources in the future.

prosummary:
The INDIA-H2O workplan comprises 3 interconnected technology development work packages addressing the development of systems to facilitate the demonstration of low cost solutions for the production of drinking water from high salinity brackish groundwater (WP1) and the re-use of domestic and industrial wastewater (WP2 and WP3 respectively) in rural and urban areas of India. The technology development in these work packages is underpinned by activities to enhance knowledge transfer between the EU and India (WP6), the development of sensor technologies and control systems adapted to the different contexts in which the water treatment solutions will be used (WP4), the development of a political, economic and social framework to support the uptake of the technologies developed within the project (WP5) and the implementation of processes and procedures for the efficient management of this complex project (WP7)

proEoutcome:
A Centre of Excellence can enormously and sustainably improve access to technologies and be a focus for knowledge transfer and exploitation of most appropriate solutions. Such initiatives like those already established by consortium members UNESCO-IHE, center of excellence in water management, will foster the emergence of a business model which seeks for the involvement of public and private entities with expertise on water treatment and regulation in the creation of a centre of excellence in water. Part of the duties of such centre is to develop affordable, innovative water solutions based on integrated Indian and EU expertise; The center aims to create a network of key stakeholders which cooperate and give feedback in the creation of a hybrid and integrated process for industrial wastewater which combine: 
	Batch reverse osmosis desalination pilot plant with energy monitoring and analytics
	Forward osmosis plant with provision for evaluation of draw solutions
	Integrated FO/BRO plant for reducing wastewater volume while clean water is recovered.
	Electrocoagulation pilot for wastewater pretreatment is required to remove suspended solids.
	Nanofiltration (with the option of modify its surface by LbL) for reducing total dissolved solids: 
	Electrodialysis and Membrane distillation for brine management. 
	Vacuum distillation for approaching zero liquid discharge schemes.
The integration of the process TRL 3 to 6. In principle, each unit of the process is capable of running isolated depending on the application and it is important to remark that they will work by sustainable energy. Therefore, its implementation has to be done in cooperation with stakeholders with expertise in alternative energy sources. The process can be configured and applied to several of the already identified industrial wastewaters, with the purpose of efficiently increase the percentage of water reuse and allowing to recover some of the materials which ends in the sewage infrastructure.
The proposed consortium is capable of providing practical and innovative solutions to address the shortfall of freshwater supply which is one of the most pressing problems affecting Europe, India and global regions. Alongside water saving and water recycling measures, treatment of industrial waste water will make an increasingly important contribution to closing the emerging gap.
The Centre of Excellence will exploit consortium partner’s strengths in biological, bacterial, biotechnology, renewable and efficient energy systems to address truly global challenges. PDPU will implement interdisciplinary cost-efficient solutions in areas of high relevance to India and will foster close professional ties between other project partners, industry and academia and the engineering, biotechnology, healthcare and industrial communities in the country. The solutions provided to date are very expensive, yet not efficient in waste water treatment. The Centre of Excellence offers a breakthrough in giving a feasible and more economical solution to industrial waste water treatment.
PDPU- Industries nexus in India will be helpful in test runs and field experiments especially in textile, dairy and ceramic industries which are in numerous in Gujarat. The best solution is not clean-up after, but prevention of the pollutants from entering the water system in the first place and recovery of some. Important chemicals and constituents from the waste water during the course of treatment. The consortium will put forward case based strategic way out at this aspect also. The outcome of the project is expected to be with high performance in terms of feasibility and practical solutions for implementation by the public and private sector.
Training Events A training programme meeting the needs of industry for managers and technicians and also events for undergraduates and post-graduate training in relevant programmes can serve to achieve the overall growth in knowledge and capability necessary for India to capitalise on these technologies in the short and long-term future. 
Outreach Events designed and delivered to raise awareness of water treatment and recycling technologies and the economic, societal and environmental benefits they can deliver will serve to engage local and national stakeholders through a series or workshop and demonstration events.


protitle:
INDIA’S INVESTMENT AND FOREIGN POLICY APPROACHES TOWARDS AFRICAN ENERGY RESOURCES (OIL & NATURAL GAS): OPPORTUNITY, EXTENT, CHALLENGES AND INTERVENTION

prointro:
Faced with the increasing demand for energy, the Indian government has been following a strategy of diversification and investment abroad in its quest for energy security. Hence, explored and unexplored oil and gas resources of Africa and its new but promising energy market have come to the limelight of India’s energy security and foreign policy discourse.

proobj:
To find out the existing potentials, new discoveries and investment opportunities in the African energy market.
To find out the existing trade and investment of Indian companies in the African energy market.

prometho:
The study will be based on both qualitative and quantitative methods.

prosummary:
There will be an extensive review of literature on Indian investment in African energy market, Indian foreign policy and newly emerged energy markets in Africa. Field visit will be conducted in two major trading partners and resource-rich countries such as: Nigerian and South Africa (shale energy). During the visit, interview and meeting will be conducted with the selective officials and ministries in these countries, who are associated with the hydrocarbon sector. In these countries, Indian officials and staffs will also be interacted to get feedbacks on investment.  Moreover, the Libraries and Institutes in these countries, working on the energy sector, will be visited to get first hand information and literatures.  Field visit to Delhi will be intended to interact with the ministers and officials in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of External Affairs and ONGC company. Likewise, ministers and officials of Gujarat government and GSPC will be interacted about their perceptions and investment in Africa. For the secondary resources, the libraries and the institutes of repute such as TERI- the Energy and Resources Institute, University of Delhi, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, Jawaharlal Nehru University and other related institutes in different parts of India will be surveyed.

proEoutcome:
In comparison to the existing literatures, the project will try to give a detailed picture of India-Africa energy trade, foreign policy perspectives for energy security and possible intervention for better India-Africa energy cooperation.  
There are new discoveries of energy resources in some of the African countries. Hence, India’s approaches towards these new discoveries will be suggested and contributed.    
The shale energy potentials of India and Africa and their future cooperation will help both India and Africa to work together for energy security.


protitle:
Development of Humidification-Dehumidification based water Desalination   Technique using Solar Energy

proarea:
Water Desalination (Thermal System Design)

prointro:
There are two main challenges in the world; shortage of energy and shortage of fresh water, both play a crucial role in the overall economic development of any country. Conventional desalination technologies like Multi stage flash, Multi effect desalination, vapour compression, Reverse Osmosis are usually large-scale, technology intensive systems are most suitable for the energy rich and economically advanced regions of the world. They also cause environmental hazards because they are fossil-fuel driven and also because of the problem of brine disposal. So the development of a cost effective and efficient solar collector is essential to the system‘s overall feasibility. Many technologies for portable drinking water are cost effective but they have very low capacity to produce drinkable water. Hence there is a need of development of technology for affordable and portable drinking water system. 

The proposed research proposal is aimed at development of water desalination technology for affordable and portable drinking water system. The work is focused on development of new technology for enhancement of air humidification using the water column based air humidification, air dehumidification using thermoelectric cooling technique and solar energy for heating of air and/or water.

proobj:
Design and development of   Humidification-Dehumidification based water Desalination   Technology  for affordable and portable drinking water system.

prometho:
The proposed work includes experimental work, development of mechanistic model, validation of proposed model and use of optimization techniques for improving the capacity and cost effectiveness of the system. 
The experimental setup based on the humidification and dehumidification of air is proposed for the development of water desalination technology. A mathematical mechanistic model will be developed for the estimation of desalinated water collection. The results of the mechanistic model will be validated with the proposed experiment work. It is also planned to use optimization techniques for the optimization of controlled parameters for the maximization of water desalination. The results of the optimization techniques will be incorporated in the experiment system for improving the capacity and cost effectiveness of the proposed technology.

prosummary:
1.	Development of novel design of air humidifier for enhancement of air humidification. 
2.	Design of Thermo electric cooler for air dehumidification.
3.	To develop portable and cost effective water desalination technology for drinking water using Humidification-Dehumidification principles and Solar Energy.
4.	Development of theoretical model for prediction of performance of proposed technology for water desalination.
5.	Validation of the model with the experimental data.
6.	Use of the optimization techniques for optimization of performance parameters of the proposed system.

proEoutcome:
•	In the ruler area through demonstration of usefulness of technology to individual, gram panchayats and welfare organizations. 
•	For the small scale industries, new SHGs/technology user group or beneficiaries’ group will be formed for project implementation. 
•	Involvement of beneficiaries through formation of enterprises Provision of certificates for participation/proficiency for beneficiaries Involvement of the beneficiaries as trainers and/or trainees.


