THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Considering the importance of lightning protection as one of the needful areas of awareness and training in India, the Lightning Awareness and Research Centre (LARC), part of the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA), will organise a series of two-day workshops in three districts, including the state capital.
The two-day workshop would be organised in Thiruvananthapuram on November 24 and 25, while Kochi would host the workshop on November 26 and 27. The workshop would also be held in Palakkad on November 28 and 29.
The two-day workshops in these three districts are expected to benefit engineering and management personnel of the industrial and constructions sectors, aviation sector, power and communication sectors, hydrology and meteorology, commercial sectors providing electronic and IT equipment and services, insurance, and any other institution or individuals interested in these areas.
“Lightning is a natural hazard that causes serious economic loss, personal injuries and deaths. Many of these damages and loss occur due to lack of awareness or due to ignorance about lightning protection system and precautions to be taken during lightning activity. As we know, Kerala is a highly lightning prone area and from our experience we found that most lightning accidents could have been avoided if proper awareness was in place,” S Muralidas, Workshop Coordinator, and former scientist, Atmospheric Sciences Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies, said.
V Sasikumar, LARC director and former scientist, Atmospheric Sciences Division, Centre for Earth Science Studies said that lack of information regarding lightning characteristics is one barrier that hinders the development of protection systems. The other barrier is the poor knowledge among the engineering community on lightning and lightning protection systems.
The topics that would be discussed at the workshops would include National and International Standards on Lightning Protection, Risk Analysis and Management - a First Step in LPS Design, Structural Protection against Lightning, Introduction to EMI/EMC - a New Concept in Lightning Protection Engineering, Protection of LV Electrical / Electronic Systems and Installations, Earthing Systems for Safety, Alternative Air Termination Systems, and Personal Safety.
G R Nagabhushana, AICTE Emeritus Fellow, High Voltage Engineering Division, IISC, Bengaluru; S Murali Das, former scientist, Atmospheric Sciences Division, CESS; V Sasikumar, former scientist, Atmospheric Science Division, CESS; Ganesan Rengaswamy, former scientist, SAMEER, DIT, Union Ministry of Information Technology; K V Varadharajan, member, Technical Committee, BIS, for Low Voltage Equipment, and S Gopakumar, Managing Director, Cape Electric India Pvt Ltd, would lead the workshops.
Delegates can choose any of the venues. Contact: 09496070206 or e-mail: cissa.larc@gmail.com.