By Nidhi Aggarwal
Gone are the days of a mason carrying bricks tray to the nth floor of the building manually or architects designing the designs on paper. With the advent of technology and being a leading partner in India’s growth story, the construction sector is heavily technology-intensive and is adopting tech-based tools and techniques at a rapid pace. Here is a lowdown on how technology is positively impacting a sector which employs over 20 million people in India.
Usage of Drones
Be it the construction of a sprawling township or a skyscraper, effective monitoring and tight vigil are a sine-qua-non. Moreover, humans have their limitations. This is where the revolutionizing Drone technology steps in. Automated drones are very useful and easily navigable within the perimeter of the project. With high precision cameras, the capacity to fly for hours at length and HD recording of the events make drones a sharp supervisor. Drones are proving immensely beneficial in cases of hazardous or dangerous site conditions.
Moreover, drone manufacturers are making drones specifically for the construction industry. Very cost-effective for aerial mapping, topographical surveys, site surveys and construction monitoring, drones will play a key role in the construction sectors in near future.
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BIM Software and 3D Modelling
The construction industry has witnessed an exponential rise in the usage of 3D and Building Information Modelling software (BIM) lately. The BIM software allows the stakeholders to have a detailed, accurate yet virtual model of the under-construction or proposed building.
3D modelling allows engineers and architects to generate an automated project cost sheet and saves a lot of time. BIM software and modelling help in efficient sequencing, deep insights and cost and time involved in each project construction stage.
On top of it, when the 3D software is coupled with the Virtual Reality (VR) technology, the stakeholders can see the construction in virtual reality.
Prefab Technology
The awareness towards reduced carbon emission has given a major Philip to the sustainable construction techniques. This trend has given rise to pre-fabricated and ready to shift blocks which can replace a wall or a beam. Interestingly, these blocks are made of recycled construction waste, and recycled waste or plastic. In terms of cost, they are available at 60 percent of the cost of traditional materials. Although used at a limited scale at present, developers are increasing their usage in non-residential structures. Prefab blocks emit less carbon while manufacturing and are environmentally friendly.
In addition to this, many startups have started offering ready-to-assemble homes which will trigger a whole new era of construction.
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Construction Management Platforms
When the world is adopting a tech-enabled approach in every field, how can the construction sector be left behind? The usage of construction management software which is being provided as Software as a Service (SaaS) is increasingly gaining pace.
Inefficient tracking and monitoring of a project lead to significant losses of man-hours and material. This eventually adds to the project cost and resources are left underutilized. The project management platforms are resolving this problem.
Leading software companies are offering end-to-end construction management software for the construction industry. With a mobile-first approach, these applications ensure seamless communication and collaboration among project managers, site workers and owners. These apps relay a real-time information about the sites to the managers.
The usefulness of such applications and project management platforms can be gauged from the fact that in 2021, over 1 percent of the construction in India, valued at Rs 7000 crore, was helmed and executed by a leading construction management platform.
Conclusively, the Indian construction sector is betting heavily on the technology for its obvious benefits. In the near future, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and virtual reality will play a major role in the Indian construction sector.
(Authored by Nidhi Aggarwal, Founder, Space Mantra)
