Dr Har Amrit Singh Sandhu (Faculty, PEC Chandigarh and President, ASCE India Section) was recently invited to deliver the inaugural keynote address at the 3rd International Conference on Technology Innovations and Digitalizations Accompanying Creativity (TIDAC 2025), hosted by NSBM Green University, Homagama, Sri Lanka’s first green university.

Addressing approximately 200 delegates from various countries, Dr. Sandhu spoke on “Bridging the Gap: Engineering, Design, and Society,” emphasizing how technological interventions and digital innovations can reduce socio-economic disparities, with special focus on the global challenge of the “unmapped billion”, the nearly one billion people worldwide who remain excluded from digital and physical maps, while directly linking these efforts to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During the opening ceremony, he was felicitated by Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe (Vice Chancellor), Prof. Baratha (Head of Academic Development), Dr Chandana (Dean of Faculty) and Dr Malsha (Conference Chair). Apart from the keynote speech, he also delivered a special interactive session for students in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Electronics Engineering on the pivotal role of geospatial technology and the critical importance of accurate mapping and evaluation in developing resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Just weeks earlier, in October 2025, he travelled to Seattle, USA, to personally receive the prestigious 2025 ASCE Distinguished Service Medal for Region 10 (covering approximately 170 countries) at the Global Reception of the ASCE 2025 Convention. Dr. Sandhu expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues, particularly the management of the institute for fostering a supportive and enabling environment that continues to facilitate such international achievements.