My fascination for the historical structures, be it the mysteries behind them or their magnificence,

eventually led me to pursue Civil Engineering. Belonging to Lahore, a city filled with historic monuments,
my interest in them grew. These structures, even after enduring the struggles of time, remained eminent
and a hallmark of the people who made them. I would look for the details which at first sight would go
unnoticed and ponder on their purpose.

My journey from being a starry-eyed individual to a pragmatic one is credited to the education that I
received. During my bachelors in Civil Engineering, I began to understand the intricate details of a
construction project. I eventually grew fond of project management. The use of IT based software in project
management, helped to highlight various details of the construction project. It was around this time when I
came to know of an innovative technique known as Building Information Modeling (BIM). It could not
only help in planning out and creating models for new structures but also help to recreate models of many
existing or old structures so we could glimpse at what they looked like in their prime.

In order to bridge the gap between my knowledge and this innovative technique, I chose 'Barriers, Potential
Use, Competitiveness, and Implementation Framework of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in
Construction Industry of Pakistan' as my final year project. I led my fellow members to investigate the
current usage of BIM in our construction industry, and we worked to explore the various benefits that BIM
could provide if adopted in our construction industry. For this purpose, we surveyed and gathered the
opinions of key individuals in the construction industry, and while taking into account the different
obstacles currently in our industry, we formulated a framework that suggested different measures that
should be taken to properly integrate and utilize BIM. This project broadened my view of project
management and sparked within me a flame to further research on this technique and many similar ones
which were being adopted in developed countries in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

After my graduation, I entered the practical field of civil engineering and worked as an intern at Progressive
International Engineers and Contractors. I worked on the project “Establishment of Workers Welfare
Complex”, which was directed for the well-being of the community. In addition, I also worked with a new
housing society scheme which proved to be educational as I experienced how the society was being planned
and managed for the long run. During these field experiences, I learned about the current practices first
hand and became aware of the disregard for the environment that these practices posed. These projects
consisted mainly of cement-brick based construction with little regard to waste reduction during the
construction phase. In addition, the buildings both during and after construction, consumed an excess
amount of energy in building operations. It is no surprise that globally buildings generate 39% of annual
global CO2 emissions with 11% accounting for the building material and construction while 28%
accounting for the building operations.

The ever rising global warming issues are causing more natural disasters around the world. In Pakistan, the
expanding population is causing a decrease in agricultural land as more and more of it is being replaced by
housing and the country is predicted to be 50% urbanized by 2025. The residential sector of Pakistan alone
consumes 49% of total energy produced. The emission of CO2 gasses from increasing urbanization is
considered to be a cause for increase in smog during winter seasons which not only creates health related
issues but also disrupts the daily life of people. It has become evident that in order to reduce the carbon
footprint that buildings leave, the construction industry must try to pursue eco-friendly construction
approaches.

As times change, it is best for us to adapt ourselves to the changing times. With the ever growing industries
being improved through technological advancements, we must strive to seek out efficient techniques that
may reduce the impact that buildings have on the natural world. So, to broaden my understanding of such
innovative techniques in the construction industry, I have chosen to pursue a Master’s degree in Building
Science. This program can equip me with the knowledge to improve the residing practices of the
construction industry in order to increase the energy efficiency of buildings as well as reduce their carbon
footprint. I have come to the conclusion that McWhorter School of Building Science at Auburn University
is the best fit for me. The course of Advanced Building Information Modeling along with their state of the
art BIM lab can add on to my knowledge of how to better integrate BIM in any project and all of its
applications and benefits.

Furthermore, the opportunity to learn from such esteemed faculty such as Dr. Salman Azhar, whose
research related to BIM has contributed so much to the construction industry, is hard to come by. As my
final year project had similar scope to their previous researches, I wish to gain more in depth knowledge on
the topic through their guidance and work with them to further explore the topic and provide publish worthy
findings. I am aspiring to get a research or teaching assistantship so that I may give back to the school
through my work and to add to my experience.

I wish to utilize this opportunity to get a firm grasp of the principles of Building Sciences and use them to
improve Pakistan’s construction industry and help it to move toward a more sustainable future. In order to
leave a mark in Pakistan’s construction industry I want to bring innovation and create exemplar structures.
By working with some of the leading construction companies in Pakistan, I want to implement sustainable
techniques for new and old buildings to reduce their energy consumption and improve their environmental
impact.