NIT Warangal, Saptagon Asia sign MoU for advanced infrastructure research
NIT Warangal and Saptagon Asia have signed an MoU to promote collaborative research in transportation engineering and advanced infrastructure technology. The partnership covers technology development, consultancy, training and AI-enabled solutions, with Saptagon Asia also demonstrating its laser-based pavement evaluation vehicle.
Hanamkonda: National Institute of Technology, Warangal (NITW) and Saptagon Asia Private Limited entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote collaborative research.
The MoU was aimed at technical innovation, consultancy, training, technology development as well as strengthening industry–academia collaboration in transportation engineering and advanced infrastructure technology.
Speaking on the occasion, NITW Director Prof. Bidyadhar Subudhi lauded the industry–academia collaboration. He appreciated the initiative taken by Prof. S. Shankar, the single-point contact from NITW for the MoU, to introduce advanced transportation technology to the institute.
He emphasised the importance of undertaking more cutting-edge research through the transportation division in collaboration with Saptagon Asia to contribute to India’s infrastructure development as part of Viksit Bharat and the Make in India vision.
As part of the collaboration, Saptagon Asia demonstrated its advanced Laser Dynamic Deflectometer (LDD)-based road pavement evaluation vehicle. The specialised vehicle, equipped with advanced laser-based pavement evaluation technology was worth Rs 30 crore.
The demonstration provided faculty members and students of transportation engineering with an opportunity to witness the technology and understand its potential applications in pavement evaluation, infrastructure asset management and transportation research.
Traditional pavement deflection evaluation has relied on equipment such as Benkelman Beam Deflection (BBD) and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD). The LDD enables faster and data-driven approaches to road pavement assessment and infrastructure management.
The MoU provides a broad framework for joint research and development, consultancy, workshops, seminars, technical lectures, industrial training, internships and live projects along with the development of advanced engineering methodologies and AI-enabled infrastructure solutions.