India in the last few decades has made many technological advances in many fields. However, there is one industry that has not changed much – construction. We are still using the age-old methods in the way we build our homes/apartments.
Our mindsets have not changed when it comes to accepting newer trends and materials in building the dwellings where we spend our lives. Although the way the style and facades have changed the crux of the building - the structure, the walls, the cement plastering is still the same.
We are still employing the same old laborious and time consuming methods of building the walls brick by brick and then plastering the surface entirely floor after floor. Finding skilled masons to do this is becoming a challenging task. Add the Supreme Court of India’s order on restrictions on sand mining, and we have a real situation at hand. Non availability of sand is hindering the speed of projects.
Innovations in building construction and management boost safety and are imperative to increase efficiency, better automation, curb costs and minimize construction timelines.
This will improve margins for developers and ensure lower prices for customers as well provide increasingly safer homes, which is our paramount priority.
Innovations come in various hues to improve the products and practices of the construction industry. For instance, a Greek building chemicals company has developed waterproof roof products that protect buildings from all deteriorating elements, thereby extending their shelf life. Or consider the solar power based pumps that provide 40 per cent more energy than conventional pumps. And not being dependent upon traditional source of power, these pumps could be used in remote locations too, thus truly reducing project development costs in hinterland regions.
A technique that made global waves is precast technology. In this technique, numerous modules of a structure are built in off-site units, then taken to the site and assembled. The technology delivers high efficiency and almost zero wastage because dozens of laborers or skilled resources are not required to erect the structure. The technique is more cost effective for large projects, since higher volumes enhance margins.
Given the tremendous drop in time and cost overruns, traditionally the bane of India’s construction industry, more developers will adopt precast technology in future. Since manufacturers specializing in this technology are presently few, some developers have established their own precast factories.
As precast technology gains traction among st builders and becomes popular with customers, more manufacturers may enter the business once demand soars. Through precast technology, roof slabs, columns, beams, wall panels etc. can all be customized as per requirement. Thereafter, they are taken to the construction site and put in place with tower cranes.
Considering the immense shortfall of residential units and with affordable housing being one of India’s national policy goals, precast technology would be best suited to meet these requirements cost effectively and speedily. Industry analysts believe precast technology could curb 20 per cent of construction costs and save around 40 per cent time, while promoting better quality and robust structures compared to conventional construction techniques.
