Ashutosh

Excel has natively supported data extraction from text files and databases for over a decade. Still, the ability to directly import structured data from PDFs was a major milestone introduced in 2020 via Power Query.  Today, integrating Copilot makes this process frictionless. In a well-structured document, the AI does more than ingest raw numbers—it inherently interprets the underlying data, its broader significance, and the strategic logic behind the publication's intent. On that account, i.e., explaining the tables and how to use them for preliminary estimation, the CPWD's PAR2025 document (freely available on the   CPWD Publications | Document | Central Public Works Department, Government of India website ) passes the AI usability test. 

Most of India's habitat and civil infrastructure is yet to be built. The existing ones need rehabilitation and to be built better. The " LiFE mission " without enabling and integrating the construction industry is incomplete.     The model above depicts an integration of the two and is considered the first practical step towards a circular economy. Civil Infra Life Cycle need to assimilate and integrate with LiFE.  The above model for  moving towards sustainability and the Circular Economy is an extension of the earlier p roposal in the  Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav conference on Indigenous Engineering Solutions . Does writing integration of LCC with the LiFE mission make sense when we have not even started with Life Cycle Costing in construction practice?

“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo Sustainability is the idea of which the time has come. In earlier posts  Decision Making Through  Life Cycle Costing- A Simple Practical Example   and  Life Cycle Costing-2: A Practical Project Feasibility Example Solutions  were worked out with side by side generating the cash flows and evaluating the Present Worths of the two alternate cash flows.  The life now is not as simple as say a decade ago when the above solutions were evolved and accepted. The clients are more demanding and we have numerous options & better software tools. Most importantly passionate green professionals have to strive and inch all solutions towards sustainability.  FOCUS:  Supporting Green Decisions With Financial Simulations Sheer inertia and lack of qualified professionals in the Indian Construction Industry are main factors that inhibit innovations. So business goes a...

Decision Making Through  Life Cycle Costing- A Simple Practical Example Problem Statement: To compare the life cycle costing by calculating the single Present  Value for different scenarios. A choice is required to be made for air conditioning by Installing AC only Installing AC along with insulation works and solar film . The variables would be the Initial costs and the Cost of Capital. The link below would take you to the Excel worksheet wherein the comments in each cell would make you understand the process fully. It is assumed that the user is a knowledge worker and the input parameters have been evaluated through experts. Excel Workbook has been set in a manner that is fit for a novice excel user. Download The Excel File Related Article - THE ECONOMY OF ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS; AN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE