ACE January 2020

Industry Speaks
investment in project pre-planning, to strengthen processes
and capabilities in terms of reforming procurement and
strengthening contract management, bringing in lean
construction methodologies for improving productivity,
incorporating a culture of risk management, augmenting
organisational skill-sets, and deepening stakeholder
management for land acquisition and regulatory approvals
related challenges.
there is a growing demand for Constructible BIM, which
is much more evolved way to allow the construction
industry to be more efficient and productive. Trimble has
also added the fourth and fifth dimensions of time and
cost to the conundrum, which allows contractors and
developers to manage their businesses more efficiently
than before.
Trimble’s digital innovations in construction technology
revolve around constructability. We have developed
a unique lifecycle approach to ensure our customers can
successfully realise the full benefits of BIM and automation by
emphasizing on the 3Cs of construction: connected, contentenabled
and constructible.
Modern collaboration tools like Tekla Model Sharing and
Trimble Connect allow streamlined flow of information
between different stakeholders. These tools can take in
building information models with construction schedule and
stream this information to remote devices, like smart phones,
leading to significant gains in speed of execution.
Internet of things (IoT) is another disruptive technology that
is helping speed up the construction process and reduces
the wastage of resources on site. Internet-connected sensors
embedded in equipment, materials or even helmets worn
by workers can transmit real-time data; allowing project
managers and supervisors to monitor critical performance
parameters on an ongoing basis. This optimises site operations
for unprecedented productivity and efficiency. Use of robots
in the construction industry is no longer a visual revelation
alone; the industry is facing an ever-increasing pressure to
construct quickly and in a reliable way, and this is where
robots are being found quite useful.
How much can fast tracking of projects and relaxation
in bureaucracy further boost construction sector?
As a standard practice world over, most of the infrastructure
projects are delayed primarily due to regulatory approvals,
issues on land acquisition, shortage of skilled resources,
ineffective dispute resolution mechanism, and geological
challenges. However, if one comprehends these issues
proactively, the project leader can plan more effectively
and ensure that the project is efficiently managed. It
has become imperative to recognise the need for heavy
How can the new metro/monorail projects help the sector in
the next year?
India is emerging as a fast growing market for urban rail
systems. Currently, 10 cities have an operational urban rail
network spanning 536 km. The network has grown significantly
over the past 12-13 years, up from about 90 km in 2006. With
the Metro Rail Policy 2017 in place, several cities are ready to
roll out work to develop their respective urban transit systems.
In the last five years, 13 new metro projects with a total length
of about 248 km have been approved for implementation.
Further, about 750 km of metro rail network and 373 km of
rapid rail transit network is under planning in various cities.
While metro will continue to be the dominant mode, new
modes such as, rapid rail and light rail are also gaining traction.
State-of-the-art rolling stock and advanced signaling and
telecommunication systems are expected to be deployed as
part of these projects.
How can the sector play a positive role in tackling pollution?
It’s no secret that the construction sector has a significant
impact on the environment. According to some studies,
construction is responsible for up to 50 per cent of climate
change, 40 per cent of energy usage globally, and 50 per
cent of landfill waste, not to mention air, water, and noise
pollution and destruction of natural habitats. Fortunately for
the construction industry, the same changes that will protect
the environment from the harmful impacts of construction
can also improve the quality of construction products and
boost profits for construction firms. This mutually beneficial
relationship plays out across all phases of construction,
from the initial design to the building process to long-term
building operations.
With IoT and advanced software solutions like Constructible
BIM, industry professionals can now use technology right
through the lifecycle of construction, build structures that
reduce the emissions and thus make earth a better and
more sustainable place. Technology works actively to reduce
wastage of time, as well as people and money resources.
What kind of forecast is the sector predicting for next year
in terms of investments?
The construction sector currently has a share of eight per cent
in the gross value added at the current prices and has degrown
from 9.6 per cent in Q1 FY19 to 5.7 per cent in Q1
FY20 . ‘Construction in India – Key Trends and Opportunities
to 2023’ reveals that India’s construction industry, which
registered an output growth of 8.8 per cent, up from 1.9 per cent
in 2017, is further expected to grow at a compounded annual
average rate of 6.44 per cent to US$690.9 billion in 2023. The
construction sector is on the path to recovery.
16 January 2020 ACE UPDATE
ARCHITECTURE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING