It is crucial for the Indian construction industry to embrace digital transformation to unlock its full potential. In fact, given the scale of infrastructure projects in the pipeline, rapidly adopting advanced and more reliable methods is essential to fast-tracking construction while maintaining high quality. Key effective technology tools being used across infrastructure sectors include building information modelling (BIM), drones, robotics and automation.
The missing link in efficiency
Industry 4.0 is reshaping stakeholder perspective on equipment design, functionality and manufacturing processes. The construction equipment market has improved significantly, characterised by increased mechanisation and digitalisation of equipment. The increasing availability of diverse automation technologies is driving demand for automated construction equipment. Strict implementation of automation can address the long-standing issue of lack of skilled labour. Efficiency gains are becoming more visible as automation enhances equipment performance while eliminating the need for constant human management during operations, thereby lowering overall project costs.
Steady progress is being made across other sectors with the integration of automated technologies such as telematics and the internet of things (IoT) in construction equipment. These advancements provide real-time performance and operational data to all stakeholders. Specifically, telematics employs sensors, GPS tracking and related technologies to monitor and transmit crucial information about equipment status, location and utilisation patterns.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently reiterated its focus on timely and quality construction. It aims to adopt automated and intelligent machine-aided construction (AIMC), using GPS-aided motor graders, intelligent compactors and stringless pavers on a pilot basis for some of its existing expressways. The National Highways Authority of India has successfully implemented AIMC on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway. It further plans to expand the use of this technology to greenfield expressways and access-controlled corridor projects.
The implementation of automated guided vehicles and mobile robots for material handling and transportation is also gaining traction. These technologies significantly reduce dependence on manual operations. Another effective approach is the adoption of computer-aided design and manufacturing technologies. These systems enable the creation of automated components and detailed 3D models of machinery, reducing production time, cutting expenses and minimising errors.
Optimising performance through AI and ML
Many infrastructure sectors are undergoing modernisation with the increasing use of cutting-edge communication technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven predictive maintenance and IoT-enabled sensors are transforming road asset upkeep by enabling real-time monitoring of road conditions, faster identification of defects and data-driven decision-making for timely repairs. Traditional physical telecom networks are increasingly being replaced by virtualised architectures, driven by advancements in automation, AI and machine learning (ML). The addition of these next-gen technologies is enabling more flexible, scalable and efficient network management, thereby reducing costs for operators and ensuring faster service deployments.
Automation is playing a crucial role in streamlining network operations and reducing manual intervention. Automatic gates and drive-through container scanning systems are being built at ports to optimise the movement of truck cargo and make them more sustainable. Coimbatore is set to become Tamil Nadu’s first integrated smart city project with G Square City. Designed as fully residential space, this smart zone incorporates AI monitoring systems, smart licence and number plate recognition, visitor management systems and surveillance apps. AI-based smart sensors and digital flow water meters are also gaining traction among urban local bodies to regulate groundwater extraction. Meanwhile, the integration of AI and ML is enhancing the diagnostic capabilities and operational efficiency of solar inverters.
Building with BIM
Building information modelling (BIM) has been a game changer in the infrastructure industry. It provides the ability to visualise the planning and design aspects of infrastructure projects during the initial stages, addressing various construction challenges such as on-site safety, coordination and errors, even in the pre-construction stages. Many infrastructure sectors have adopted BIM.
Bengaluru International Airport Limited has employed BIM for designing, building and operations across the entire project life cycle, using Autodesk BIM 360 as the platform for designing and planning Terminal 2. BIM has also been deployed in metro projects in Mumbai and Delhi. The Nagpur metro rail project has implemented common data environment to store 3D BIM models and drawings, linking data to project schedules on a Prima Vera server and SAP’s enterprise resource planning system. Another notable example is the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, where BIM was instrumental in creating 3D models for complex sections. In transmission line construction, BIM has supported the integration of data across multiple dimensions (material properties, spatial constraints and environmental impact), improving design accuracy and reducing errors.
Advantages of drones and robotics
Drones and robotics are making significant inroads into the infrastructure sector. Drones are being used across the road, power, oil and gas, telecom and railway sectors for surveillance, project monitoring, digital mapping, asset inspection and aerial topographical surveys.
Drones are increasingly being used for last-mile deliveries of urgent packages, and are particularly useful for transporting medical supplies, first aid essentials and blood samples to isolated or disaster-impacted regions. Reliance Jio is using drones for tower surveillance and maintenance. In colder regions, sprinkler-equipped drones can help improve the performance of wind power plants by de-icing blades. Further, drones are revolutionising stocktaking by automating processes through barcode and QR code scanning, thereby reducing manual inventory checks and processing time. The oil and gas sector has deployed drones to survey remote and inaccessible areas through high resolution ortho-photography, and detect and analyse changes in pipelines. More interestingly, back in November 2023, two advanced drones, equipped with simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) technology, and AI, expedited the Silkyara rescue mission by mapping the area and assessing the probabilities for a safe rescue of 41 trapped labourers.
Meanwhile, robotics is another new-age technology that has gained traction for its various use cases in the infrastructure sector. Robotic cleaning is picking up in a big way in the renewable energy, oil and gas, and water and waste sectors. The technology is also being used for material handling, maintenance and routine work, asset mapping and health monitoring, inventory management, etc. Many coal companies are using advanced, robot-assisted fire-fighting and dust suppression technologies. Indian Oil Corporation Limited has partnered with Genrobotics to develop robotic tools for internal tank cleaning and inspection at refineries. The startup’s Bandicoot robot, the world’s first robotic scavenger, has been deployed by urban local bodies to replace manual scavenging. The use of robotics to tackle black spots and potholes on roads is still in its early stages. However, ongoing pilot projects will help refine and advance this technology.
Maximising asset value for the future
India still lags behind many countries in terms of digitalisation in infrastructure sectors. However, it exhibits significant potential. In the future, despite existing challenges, India, one of the fastest-growing construction markets globally, is expected to witness a greater adoption of efficient and cost-effective advanced digital technologies.
With the wider proliferation of digital technologies, several use cases will emerge across multiple sectors. Additionally, ML algorithms could be used for predictive analysis to understand network demand trends in sectors such as water and oil and gas. As highway, bridge and tunnel designs becomes more complicated, powerful, all-in-one computer-aided software programs will be needed. While Indian Railways has traditionally operated on a call centre-based system, technology and automation are now assuming a much greater role in its operations. A particularly user-friendly development has been the automation of the complaint section in the interactive voice system, with the ministry now embracing a customer-centric approach.
To ensure successful implementation, companies must at least begin introducing digital technologies at relevant stages of an asset’s life cycle. This will be essential to effectively manage day-to-day operations, which might otherwise face resistance due to unfamiliarity or apprehension towards new technologies.
Going forward, a potential key enabler will be the government’s role in promoting the use of efficient cleaning technologies, and encouraging research and development for the local production of automated solutions.
Harman Mangat
