Connected Construction: The Future of Infrastructure
Infrastructure is a crucial pillar of connectivity, inclusion, and economic growth. While the sector has been traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, the rise of digital workflows is now reinventing the industry. This has made connected construction an imperative for the future.
According to Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, “Digital technology and infrastructure is a vital subject, not only for rural sectors but also for roads, power projects, and all sorts of things. Digital technologies are crucial for reducing costs and improving quality.”
At the Geospatial Artha Summit 2024, industry experts shed light on the crucial aspect of connected construction. “Connected construction has become indispensable today,” said Sekh Samim, Deputy Chief Architect/Business Development at DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd). “Modular construction saves time and money, making it a big factor for major infrastructure projects,” he added.
Better Monitoring for Improved Efficiency
“Connected construction requires a common data environment. Large construction projects have multiple stakeholders who require information in near real-time with minimal lags and delays,” stated Abhay Kimmatkar, Managing Director of Ceinsys.
Dr. Bhargav Dave, Founder & CEO of Visilean, emphasized the importance of connected construction for everything from asset monitoring to project lifecycle management. “There’s a need to connect projects vertically as well as horizontally. We are also looking at open architecture projects,” said Sunil MK, Director of Business Development at Bentley Systems.
Shantanu Phalnikar, General Manager (Arch) at Airport Authority of India, also highlighted the need for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and connected infrastructure to ensure timely and reliable monitoring.