Today, the construction industry is going through a paradigm shift. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the industry hard on numerous fronts, leading to numerous problems such as worksite lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, and delayed and suspended projects. However, despite the pain it has created, the crisis has also accelerated innovation – particularly in the industry’s adoption of digital design and emerging engineering technologies.
There are a host of elements that are important for success in the construction industry today. These include creating an ecosystem of partners that can increase efficiency, sustain capability and build skill in the organisation; using data-driven operational models to optimise work; and using predictive analytics to future-proof projects.
Platform for success
The key to successfully creating an ecosystem is choosing the right digital platform to operate on. The optimal use of a digital platform leads to a schedule time reduction of 10-20 per cent, a cost reduction of 10-20 per cent, and an improvement in project safety by 15-25 per cent. However, there is an important need to distinguish between a digital platform and an ecosystem. A digital platform is used to connect different point solutions (applications that perform specific functions) through a common system. An ecosystem is made by connecting digital platforms and point solutions that deliver a common outcome. Hence, choosing a digital platform is critical for creating a robust ecosystem, to increase efficiency in the construction process.
There are quite a few pitfalls that need to be considered when choosing a platform. First, the security of the platform is of utmost importance, as even a single breach can be very costly and cause delays in execution. Second, there needs to be proper clarity regarding the degree of neutrality of the data. For instance, the privacy of the data and access to it by super users needs to be made clear before choosing a particular platform. Third, the integrity of the data (history of decisions) needs to be ensured to maintain accountability within the system. Fourth, a distinction should be made between data management and collaboration. Data and information management refers to the process of capturing and storing data, while collaboration refers to sharing data and working with other stakeholders to achieve a common goal. Finally, there is a need to separate the project data management (PDM) from common data environment (CDE) platforms. A PDM system is a single source of truth for project data and files. It retains an uneditable record of files, documents and communications, and enables visibility, management and governance of the project. Meanwhile, a CDE system enables easy sharing of files and documents while retaining a log of document transmissions. The system enables visibility into the management of business or operations processes across a portfolio. The biggest difference between the two systems is that a PDM system allows easy reporting on the progress of a project from a document creation and management perspective, while a CDE system allows seamless integration with other technologies to aggregate data, process control and obtain insight through analytics.
A successful example of using platforms to digitalise work was seen in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The organisation had developed a CDE platform before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, during the lockdown, it could train all its employees on using the system and soon the platform was successfully integrated with NHAI’s workforce. Now, the organisation is planning on allowing concessionaires, consultants and contractors on its projects to use the platform for simplifying work and achieving efficiency. The digitalisation push has helped NHAI achieve a construction rate of 534 km per week, which is unprecedented in its history. This was made possible by the efficiency gained through the CDE platform, which made it easy to track contracts and streamline appraisals in order to minimise delay in implementation. In addition to this, the CDE platform acted as a knowledge bank for the organisation, which could be accessed to observe and implement innovative solutions from the past for new projects, thus expediting execution.
Cloud connects
Another important trend is the increasing use of cloud operating systems for platform integration, collaboration, and analytics. Cloud operating systems have already been in use in many industries. Today, with mobile devices leveraging cloud technology, storing massive amounts of information and sharing it instantly has become possible. Cloud solutions can not only facilitate the storage of large amounts of data, but also make the data accessible to project managers and keep it secure in a remote location. This information can also be accessed by connected devices or data analysis platforms. Another use of this technology is cloud-based collaboration. As construction projects deal with high fragmentation and multiple teams that have little or no synchronisation, it is evident that cloud-based collaboration solutions can offer a key to implementing increasingly complex projects. These solutions help developers, engineers and contractors to easily integrate and manage their existing processes through a single, always-connected cloud-based platform.
Building the BIM way
An additional trend that is shaping the construction industry today is building information modelling (BIM), which promises to bring in more accuracy to the building process through its ability to depict project development in an open and highly collaborative environment. With BIM, digital 3D models that include data associated with physical and functional characteristics can be designed. BIM allows architects, engineers and contractors to collaborate on coordinated models, so that everyone can have valuable insights into how their work fits into the overall project. BIM technology offers several benefits to construction companies, making resource management more accessible, enabling enhanced collaboration and helping people stay in touch throughout a project’s lifetime. It can also help in tackling such challenges as budget overspending, quality issues and project delays. The latest version, called 5D BIM, provides shorter project cycles, better understanding of project scope and an increase in productivity. In India, notable structures that have made use of BIM technology include Bengaluru airport and the Delhi metro.
Need for a long-term vision
The problem with Indian companies when it comes to new technologies is that they often consider the short-term solutions provided by these technologies as their only end benefits. Thus, they seldom formulate a long-term vision for using the technologies to link together disparate aspects of the project and achieve maximum efficiency. One way that an organisation can solve this problem is by creating a long-term strategy for the adoption of new technologies while having a set plan regarding the resources required to implement them.
The advent of digital technology has presented a unique opportunity for the construction industry to revitalise itself. Digitalisation has made the work of employees in the industry much more collaborative through the use of cloud-based software and mobile apps, which, in turn, has strengthened the quality control process in the sector. Construction costs are increasingly being optimised through the use of common platforms that can integrate various point solutions and simplify the execution process. Therefore, successful adoption and integration of innovation in design and engineering will be one of the key determinants in ensuring the success of any company in the industry. w
Based on presentations by Rogier Roelvink, Customer Strategy Director, Oracle Construction and Engineering, Asia & ANZ, and Harsh Pareek, Regional Sales Director, India and SAARC, Trimble Solutions; and a discussion between R. Shankar Narayanan, Head, Corporate Centre, L&T ECC, and A.K. Srivastava, Chief General Manager, IT & Highway Operations, NHAI