Caution: Tech At Work

The staid construction industry is rewriting the rules as companies use next-gen technologies. Components are tagged from origin to consumption using sensors. Similarly, biometrics give the management a quick idea about skills, qualifications and expertise of workmen on a continuous basis, says S.N. Subrahmanyan

- SN Subrahmanyan

Disruption is the new order. New technologies are creating fresh paradigms as enterprises transform, thanks to digitisation. The construction industry, too, is changing with digital tools and analytics enhancing efficiency. Using in-house capabilities of L&T Infotech and L&T Technology Services, we have begun to make significant improvements in processes and offerings.

Data was always there, but digital tools are now making intelligent choices to help detect patterns, draw inferences, suggest trends and provide in-depth analysis. This has led to improved productivity, cost cutting, quicker execution with benefits of transparency, accuracy and informed decision-making.

A New Digital Dawn

Topographical surveys used to be long-drawn and time consuming. But new geospatial technologies such as GPS, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), Photogrammetry and drones have made these quick, easy, economic and also accurate. Apart from this, assets like batching plants, transit mixers, cranes and motor graders are being ‘wired’ with sensors so that they can ‘talk’ to us. The sensors allow streaming continuous data which is then used to track usage, analyse efficiencies, detect redundancies, and assess health. The use of BIM (Building Information Modelling), for example, has opened a way of working with more efficient methods of design, estimation, clash resolution, construction and maintenance of physical assets throughout the lifecycle.