response: Ganapathy Mahalingam

	Digital Media and Architectural Education in India
	
	Having gone through undergraduate education in India, and having been
	significantly involved in computer-aided architectural design education in the
	U.S., I bring a perspective that bridges both worlds.
	
	The challenges that face the integration of digital media in architectural
	education in India should arise from the challenges that the architecture
	profession faces in India. Areas where digital media can play a significant role
	in India (in no particular order) are:
	
     1) The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for urban and rural planning
	at all levels and incorporating all systems.
	
     2) The use of advanced surveying, scanning and modeling tools for Historic
	Preservation.
	
     3) The use of design systems that focus on spatial synthesis for Housing and
	Community Design at all scales.
	
     4) The use of Environmental Performance Simulation tools for Energy Efficient
	and Sustainable Design, especially simulation tools that enable passive, low
	cost environmental control.
	
     5) The use of Project Management tools for effective Project Management,
	Resource Conservation and Cost Control.
	
	It is not necessary for educational institutions in India to pursue the latest
	form-making trends in computer-aided architectural design, but focus on the more
	urgent problem of providing a high quality, affordable and sustainable habitat
	for its billion plus people. The question is one of appropriate digital
	technologies for the architecture profession in India.
	
	Ganapathy Mahalingam, 
	The University of North Dakota, USA