Centre for Urban Science and Engineering

IIT Bombay

Ph.D. Written Test (Online) - Spring 2023

12 November 2022

Submission Deadline: 9 pm, 12 November 2022

Instructions:

1. Please be as concise and specific in your answers as possible but ensure that you
explain yourself adequately.
2. If you know the sources of ideas or information you are using, do mention them.
Awareness of relevant literature and debates will be appreciated but is not expected.
3. Some of these questions do not have one correct answer or approach against which
your response would be judged. How you make your argument is most important.
4. Write answers in your own words. Strictly refrain from copying from the internet, other
candidates, or any other sources. A plagiarism check will be conducted using
professional software tools. Any kind of copying or plagiarism will disqualify you from
the selection process.
5. PART A of the paper is compulsory.
6. Attempt ANY ONE from among PART B, C, D.
7. Create a separate answer pdf file for Part A and a separate pdf file for PART B,
C or D. Only two files can be uploaded on the google form.
 PART A (20 marks - Compulsory for all)
Answer both questions (10 marks each)

1. Shifting to electric vehicles (EV) is widely suggested as a way of making transport

more sustainable. But skeptics point out that this is no solution since electricity in
India is mainly produced from coal, and the greater power demand that EVs would
create will only aggravate the already serious environmental impact of coal-based
power. Similarly, for others, the promise of wind power is undermined by the more
extensive environmental damage that accelerating demand for copper - used in
turbines - threatens. As a result, some argue that the only way towards sustainability
is to reduce all production and consumption drastically. But equity advocates point
out that less developed economies like India need to industrialise much more to be
able to raise people out of poverty. In other words, damned if you do, damned if you
don't. This endless back and forth between equally persuasive scientific arguments
may make some wonder if evidence-based policy-making for a sustainable future is
possible at all. In the context of India's urban challenges, what is the broad approach
and attitude towards this impasse that you would suggest? The question here is
clearly not, 'Which solution is 'better'?' It is more: How do we think about problems
and solutions? Explain with examples, where appropriate.

(500 words)

2. Present your views based on a comparison between the increased energy

consumption in India (Figure A) and the corresponding rise in generating
energy using renewable energy sources (Figure B).
Figure A: The trend of primary energy consumption in India by source.

Figure B: The trend of power generation in India using renewable energy sources.
 PART B (30 marks)

Answer all questions (15 marks each)

1. You are given set of 1000 images and 1000 audio clips (of 5 second duration) of a
city captured with temporal and spatial stamps. The images and audio clips are
captured simultaneously at each point.
1. Where and how can you use RNN and CNN in classifying the data such as a)
road, built up areas, trees etc. b) noise of road, birds chirping, flow of water?
2. Can these two datasets be analyzed together?
3. Will there be any difference in the inferences, if they are analyzed together or
separately.

2. If a person wants to travel between point A and B (as shown in the figure), how many
routes with minimum distance are possible?
1. The network of road is a grid iron pattern of equal distances.
2. Travel time on all roads are same.
3. All roads are two way.
 PART C (30 marks)
Answer all three questions (10 marks each)

1. Drinking water supply in India is intermittent in most of the cities. Where as

the design guidelines followed as per Central Public Health &
Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) manual are for 24x7
water supply. Critically comment on the suitability of the design norms of
the CPHEEO manual in the context of the prevailing intermittent water
supply in India? (max 500 words)

2. Critically review the research article available on the following link. Write
your views about the usefulness of hybrid treatment systems in the Indian
context? Also explain how this research work can be extended further.
(max 500 words)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-t1AlMzX09f-7swBNaSL41A75eF2Z93c
/view?usp=sharing

3. Write a short note on the circular economy of water in cities. Explain the
barriers to achieving circular economy of water in cities and the
opportuinities that can be leveraged. (max 500 words)

PART D (30 marks)

Question 1 (15 marks)

Calculate the U-value of a wall assembly by considering the information given in

Table 1. These materials when arranged in series form the wall assembly. There are
no air gaps in between.

Table 1: Information on the thickness and conductivity for the individual materials that
form the wall assembly.
 Item Material Thickness (m) Conductivity (W/mK)

1 Clay brick 0.1 0.7

2 Mineral wool 0.05 2.85

3 Concrete block 0.2 0.55

4 Plaster 0.01 0.1

Question 2 (15 marks)

Calculate the monthly energy bill based on the information given in Table 2. The
given average cost for a unit of electricity (kWh) is Rs. 6.

Table 2: Details of the power rating and usage hours for the various appliances.

Item Appliance Power rating (W) Monthly use in hours (h)

1 Fan 40 300

2 Fridge 400 720

3 Air conditioner 3500 180

4 Induction cooker 600 150

5 Lamp 20 240