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Back in June 2017, the US government released the 2018 infrastructure budget proposal. This plan included $200 billion of federal spending over the next decade and this would spur about $1.3 trillion in overall spending tied to the various infrastructure projects from cities, states, and private firms. 

There’s no doubt about the opportunities the sector has to offer. It’s also true that the USA leads the world when it comes to construction. This is a massive industry. But why are so many headlines dominated by news of delayed projects, missed deadlines, penalties, and poor financial performance? 

One of the reasons is the sector lags others in the adoption of technology. Software-driven solutions exist for streamlining planning, operations, project management, and maintenance. But adoption is lower than optimal.

BIM, a key technology used in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry is a great example. The software is a proven enabler of better planning, collaboration, monitoring, resource estimation, and maintenance support. Some other leading construction markets have made the use of BIM mandatory for public infrastructure projects. Consulting powerhouse PwC estimates that the UK has seen savings of over 400 million Pounds per year since their BIM mandate. 

But qualified BIM resources are hard to find. Those that are available are expensive. This is an even bigger problem for small construction companies or companies located away from the traditional tech hotspots.

This is where working with BIM partners is rising up the popularity charts. Like the software sector, companies have often felt that the chief reason to work with a BIM partner was to leverage the cost advantage. But there are some other solid reasons why working with BIM partners makes sense:

Hub of talented professionals – As we mentioned, finding talented BIM professionals is a major obstacle for companies looking to kick off BIM for their projects Managment. This problem is easily solved by hiring a BIM partner. There is no need for the construction company to find, train or retain people. The partner brings the right skills to the table. They ensure that their experts are updated with the latest developments in technologies and construction methods. What the construction company gets is a reliable source of expert BIM talent.

The experience to learn from – All construction projects are complex. But adding the layer of technology like BIM, inevitably, brings in a major variation. This may need changes in other areas like communication, review patterns, and workflows. A BIM partner with the right credentials can make it easier for construction companies to make that change. They don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they can lean on the experience of the BIM partner who has “been there, done that”. The partner will communicate frequently and clearly and address any problems proactively. This will make it easier to increase the collaboration between the stakeholders. This could also, potentially, mitigate several other risks associated with the projects and reduce frustration and pitfalls in the long run. This enhances outcomes by improving efficiencies. 

Fast off the blocks – By hiring BIM partner agencies, construction firms can get an instant injection of expert BIM talent. The BIM partner would usually have larger BIM-specialist teams in place that they would have built up over many years. They would have a reputation as a BIM expert. This gives them the advantage of being able to hire fast when needed. For the construction company this means that if there’s a need to ramp up a team, this can be done right away. This is an important aspect for firms who want to get their projects started right away. Of course, the reverse also applies in that when the spike in work is done, the BIM partner can also scale back equally quickly. This ability to ramp up and scale back on-demand could become a massive competitive advantage for the construction company.

Consistent quality – The right BIM partner will have, both, breadth and depth of experience. Such partners would have worked on large, complex projects. They would have end-to-end experience of different types of construction projects. They would know the impact that BIM can deliver at each stage of such projects and what they have to do to deliver that impact. This will enable them to infuse those benefits into every stage of your projects too. Rather than the construction company having to “learn on the fly”, it can depend on high-quality BIM output from the very start. This will ensure consistency and quality across the entire project, irrespective of nature or scale.  

Hire a BIM Partner for Maximum ROI

The AEC, MEP, and construction industry is undergoing several changes and innovations. The companies that embrace this change are likely to stand out and make an impact. Working with an expert partner can make it easier for construction companies to adopt the challenging new technologies that can deliver transformative impact. It’s either that or stay rooted in the old ways and watch the construction world pass them while riding the technology wave

Construction and development have always been data-intensive; however, the quantity of data streams is multiplying. Integration implies the process of creating a whole from the sum of its parts. In construction, this spans the gamut of activities from collaborative working practices to how data from unique sources can be brought together for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

For contractors, bringing data about project plans together with cost and quantities is tricky enough, particularly in a profession subject to the unexpected in terms of weather extremes, economic shocks, and planning challenges. Helping clients to see ahead and plan their myriad “imagine a scenario in which” prospects effectively has always been important.

Thanks to BIM, integrating such information into a construction-ready model is now possible. In fact, it is often the starting plan framework. This is apparent to construction companies in the USA, including even the small and mid-sized companies in the space.

The goal of better designed, more sustainable, and lower cost “digital” buildings is praiseworthy. Yet, the expertise challenge this creates can be tough to overcome for small and medium construction companies in centers away from Silicon Valley and similar locations.

These companies are looking at working with partners to get their BIM initiatives off the ground. Of course, this is a model the software development industry has made popular. The way it works in that scenario is; the software development partner has the skills, the processes, and the ability to scale up or ramp down teams in accordance with the needs of the client.

Of course, this is also a great option for construction companies looking to leverage the power of BIM. However, before embarking on this path, it’s useful to know what could go wrong. That knowledge can help prevent your BIM initiative stalling when it encounters similar headwinds.

Here are 5 things that can go wrong while working with a BIM partner:

1.     Poor communication:

A large number of construction companies that have adopted BIM technology face a peculiar issue in creating an efficient communication channel between the various construction departments working simultaneously on the project. This becomes a key challenge with BIM-driven projects due to the transparency. There is no hiding place – no covering of late information and mistakes. Of course, this is a bigger challenge when the BIM model is coming from a partner, usually located at a remote location.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a method of project communication that ensures a smooth flow of communication between the BIM provider and the various on-site teams. Seasoned BIM service providers are attuned to such collaborative working. They should help create an impactful communication model to support successful project outcomes needs to be implemented by the management

2.     Lack of end to end experience: 

BIM can impact various aspects of the construction project. It can deliver value in the planning, resource estimation, project management, ongoing monitoring, and, even, ongoing maintenance post-construction. That apart, the data the BIM model can help generate has tremendous value in itself. Clearly, when utilized to the fullest, BIM can help construction projects save significant amounts of time, money, and effort. But that kind of upside is possible only when the BIM partner has the end-to-end expertise to deliver across the entire project lifecycle. Without that experience, the BIM initiative could deliver sub-optimal impact, or, worse, no impact at all.

3.     Lack of experience in large projects:

Gauging the experience of your BIM partner is the most significant step while finalizing the deal. Ask yourself – Does your BIM partner have experience in complex projects? What makes the BIM partner stand apart? How many projects have they worked on? A BIM service provider with that experience will bring greater depth and breadth of expertise. A BIM partner with global experience will bring the best to the table in terms of construction practices, techniques, tools, and technology. A partner without that breadth of expertise will probably fall short when faced with the real-world challenges of construction projects.

4.     Lack of ability to scale:

Do your construction projects go through a smooth and linear growth? Probably not, right? It’s likely that the initial planning stage needs many more resources of a certain type. Once the design is done, those resources can scale back and a different set of resources need to take over. But there’s always the unexpected to plan for. Suppose your project needs a major change in the design you would need to quickly ramp up the resources for a short period of time. Working with a BIM partner can be a challenge if the partner cannot scale up or ramp back teams in sync with your needs. Projects are typically on tight deadlines, so that scaling needs to be quick and responsive. A BIM partner with the ability to scale can accelerate your project delivery and one without that ability can seriously hinder it.

5.     Lack of understanding of the American Construction Industry:

A key challenge in implementing and executing BIM with a partner is the partner’s understanding of the American Construction Industry. The BIM partner needs to stay abreast of the latest developments in construction materials & methods. The partner must have the latest updates about changing government rules & regulations on both state and central levels. A failure to bake that information into the model can have its own downside in terms of lost time.

Every construction project involves a steep investment of cash and human resources. BIM can help you deliver projects more efficiently and effectively but it’s vital to zeroing in on a BIM partner who is the right fit for your organization. Such a partner can help you make the most of the power of BIM for your construction projects.

Innovative advancements in the construction industry, such as an improvement in contractor management software, project management software, building information modeling(BIM), drones, and aerial photography, are all helping the industry to develop.

Construction companies are looking to clear the roadblocks for smoother and quicker implementation of projects. Digitization of processes to bring more efficiency at each phase of a project’s construction, including upskilling the workforce with regular training are on the agenda of forward-looking companies. By leveraging advanced software, construction-centered solutions, and analytics, technology innovations are eliminating many of the issues that have been in the construction sector for quite a long time, including difficulties in compiling and sharing project data.

There is a sense of inevitability about the arrival of disruptive thinking and a fresh approach that will change the way we train, work and eventually build, and develop in construction. The construction industry is at the start of a new period, with a growing appreciation of the latest applications and tools that could change how companies design, plan and execute projects.

This reality suggests that the construction industry must become much better at taking advantage of the tech opportunities that emerge along the way. Only then, can the industry attract a young and tech-savvy workforce. Otherwise, the construction industry risks falling behind in the race for advancement.

Many companies have started incorporating new innovative technologies. Technologies like AI, BIM, and advanced communications and collaboration solutions are seen as being able to drive a more agile and collaborative design effort and a more interactive design process where everyone involved can add their input and advance the virtual blueprint and have a critical contribution to construction’s future.

But how can small and mid-size construction companies in the USA go about embracing technology?

1.     Creating a functioning digital strategy:

Organizations can take a reasoned and strategic approach to deal with the technology by building up a picture of their current performance pattern and benchmarking themselves to recognize the most critical areas for development. The organizations can consolidate an implementation plan that focuses on achieving key milestones in specific areas within a realistic timeline to remain on track as they keep moving forward. Organizations with strong digital skills have an advantage while implementing complex solutions across their organizations. But the first steps have to be small, manageable, and carefully considered. As the digital strategy starts kicking in across various sectors, more far-reaching and complex processes can be addressed.

2. Transforming the projects:

A project is an opportunity for every organization to test and refine new digital solutions in a kind of splendid isolation. Pick a project that is reasonably self-contained and a good test case and start embracing point technology solutions within it. This is easier to roll out and easier to see results in. To monitor results, project teams can set up key performance markers and share them periodically with the leaders. This will help overcome communication gaps and generate enthusiasm. The project experience will also provide data that will prove useful to address crucial obstacles faced and help address large-scale programs efficiently.

3.     Letting data lead the way: 

A large number of the best development innovation tools incorporate data from both past and ongoing projects. Collecting, processing, and analyzing this data must become an ongoing and strategic exercise. As the practice becomes more widespread, organizations can incorporate analytics into their daily workflows by embedding insights into them.

4.     Getting the skills in place:

Talent is a key challenge for mid-sized construction companies looking to ride the technology wave. In locations away from the tech centers and startup hubs, it’s hard for such companies to find, train, and retain the people with the right technology skills. Upskilling and training for the current employees are useful but only up to a point. To kick start the technology initiatives, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced and expert technology partner.  This will give them access to not only the technical skills they need but also bring added flexibility in resource deployment as projects ramp up and scale back.

5.     Implementing safety monitoring and quality control:

Safety has always been a primary concern for construction and development companies. And this is a high-impact area to start the technology drive with to get a meaningful impact. Numerous applications facilitate the tracking and reporting of safety incidents across job sites. Some new applications assist managers in investigating remote locations by providing pictures and image tags and also enable them to update and track their punch lists in real-time. Such solutions can help improve safety on construction sites. These real-time systems, combined with new technologies like GPS and building-information modeling (BIM) and artificial intelligence with other tools, can help bring about a massive, and much-needed, change in the construction industry.

Technology is the principal driver of change and it will surely have a ground-breaking impact on how organizations work in the building industry. Innovative technology provides hundreds of tools for use across the project life cycle, ranging from design management to scheduling to safety monitoring.

The industry is ready to change. innovative advancements are already taking over the industry and changing the way we work, design, and develop. What mid-sized construction companies in the USA need is the expertise to harness the power of technology and ride the tech wave.

The construction industry is a volatile arena with several external and internal factors impacting the project lifecycle. Delay or deviation from the set construction time and budget only add to the project risks. In fact, delay is one of the most recurring problems in the construction industry across the world and India is no exception. These delays have a domino effect on the project completion time, cost, and quality.

Construction delays are a liability to all stakeholders involved and lead to clashes and sometimes abandonment of the project. Time overruns, especially in infrastructure projects not only increase the completion time of ongoing projects but also hamper the commencement of new projects. These delayed projects consume more economic resources, reduce infrastructure accessibility to the citizens, and slow down national development. All these aspects have a crumbling effect on the economy.

There are two main types of delays that affect the construction industry: excusable delays and non-excusable delays. Excusable delays are unexpected and often beyond the contractor’s control such as access to the site restricted, labour protests, or unexpected weather conditions. Non-excusable delays are delays due to project aspects that can be controlled and avoided by the contractors such as performance, inadequate project planning, quality issues, or delayed procurement.

While excusable delays like weather conditions are beyond control, the Indian construction industry can work on reducing non-excusable delays.

Here are three ways that could help stakeholders mitigate non-excusable delays:

 1. Adopting the right technology

As mentioned earlier, construction projects are influenced by internal and external factors. There are multiple stakeholders involved in each construction phase. Delays are often caused due to misaligned project teams, lack of standardized systems and processes, and inefficient communication between stakeholders. This is why digitization is the need of the hour in the construction industry. Adopting digital technology tools enable real-time information accessibility, helps foresee and avoid potential risks and delays and streamline communication among the stakeholders. Similarly, using construction equipment that is aided by technology tools helps faster and accurate construction, better productivity and enhanced project planning and reduction in material wastages.

Delhi Mumbai Expressway project is an example of how digital technology aids better productivity. Using Digital Controlled Machine Graders (DCM) up to 300-350 cum per day of soil was moved and graded as against 100-120 cum per day without DCM, which is an increase in productivity by around 200%. The 24×7 operation further increased the production per day by 50% and at the same time, the contractor could reduce the actual team size required at the site.

2. Implementing bonuses and penalties

Another way to avoid construction delays is by applying bonuses and penalties on construction projects. Early completion should be incentivized with bonuses whereas project extension and late completion should be levied penalties. There are a few examples of India adopting early completion incentivization. In 2017, the Indian government had considered offering a 10% bonus of total project cost for early completion of highway projects through the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways Industrial Development Corporation (NHIDCL). In 2019, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced that railways will be offering incentives to contractors for the early completion of construction projects.

These preset conditions of bonuses and/or penalties can bring in greater discipline for timely project completion.

3. Review the bidding pattern

For public procurements, the Indian government employs one of the three bid evaluation criteria:

·        Quality cum Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) – There’s equal weightage on the technical qualifications of the bidder and the cost committed by the bidder.

·        Quality-Based Selection (QBS)– Here the evaluation is based on the technical qualification of the bidder.

·        Least Cost Method (LCM) – Here the evaluation is based on the cost committed by the bidder.

Currently, LCM or the L1 is the most commonly used method for bidder selection.

The NITI Aayog paper has reported that the current L1 method leads to non-performance, suboptimal delivery, increased cost and delays throughout the lifecycle of public construction projects. In this view, the paper has mentioned ways to rethink the bid evaluation process to ensure high-standard quality and performance for critical infrastructure projects. One way could be by increasing the adoption of the QCBS method for state-of-the-art projects where quality is uncompromisable. The paper also suggested implementing a performance rating system for contractors to ensure quality control. An effective bid evaluation will help achieve the best infrastructure and also boost Indian construction firms to raise their standards for global competition.

To conclude, contractors can do their best to avoid non-excusable delays by adopting digital technologies for effective procurement, planning, and project delivery. On the other hand, the clients and government authorities can use bonuses and penalties as tools to achieve the estimated completion time. Lastly, a revaluation of the current bidding system for public procurement can raise the bar of quality and performance, reduce delays and achieve timely construction of state-of-the-art assets.

Building Information Modeling

On March 31, 2021, US President Joe Biden announced his ‘once-in-a-generation investment plan to revive the nation post the pandemic and create the most resilient economy in the world. He put forward a USD 2 trillion infrastructure plan designed to create employment, upgrade the infrastructure and tackle climate change.

President Biden’s vision is to create a robust infrastructure that is safe, environment-friendly, and can withstand climate change. He has allocated more than USD 600 billion to ramp up the existing infrastructure through this plan: including railways, bridges, ports, and highways. However, repairing existing infrastructure has its own set of challenges.

Traffic interruptions during construction and repair are one of the primary challenges in road and railway projects, and the management of ground utilities like sewage lines, telephone cables, water supply, etc is complex as well. People will still be commuting by roads, rail, and airports that are undergoing renovations or upgrades. While completing the project on time is a priority, construction planners and managers have to ensure that the daily commute isn’t interrupted. If these nuances are not considered during the planning stage, clashes may arise during implementation, which culminates in rework and project delays. In addition, weak contract management and lack of coordination between project stakeholders cause further delays and losses.

Radical infrastructure transformation calls for meticulous planning, designing, and timely project completion. The buck stops at every step, therefore making the deployment of the right digital solutions quintessential. The way we see it, Building Information Modeling (BIM) should be the first step towards infrastructure upgradation in the USA.

The Swedish transport administration, Trafikverket, which manages the design, construction, and maintenance of all state-owned roads and railways offers a good case study. Since 1994, Trafikverket has been implementing BIM in rail projects; Hallandsås tunnel project being one of them. Considering the on-ground challenges like high-water pressure, excavation through hard rock, soft rock, and clay, Trafikverket implemented BIM for streamlined planning and engineering and timely project delivery of the Hallandsås tunnel project.

During the tunneling, the real-time ground conditions were fed into the 3D model that helped stakeholders assess design errors and other risks in engineering. The shared model kept all stakeholders abreast with the project progress and ensured smooth coordination. With the help of BIM, project members could identify around 200 non-constructable conflicts and 3,000 unique collisions at the design stage, which led to a saving of around 4.5 million pounds on the project. (Source: The Informed Infrastructure magazine, May 2014 issue)

The utilization of BIM models can extend way beyond design, as it stores data at every construction phase and beyond. Parameters like quantities of raw materials, cost estimation, scheduling and monitoring construction progress, resources deployed, safety and sustainability statistics, etc can be computed.

BIM models can also be used in simulation studies to gauge the impact of natural disasters on any asset. BIM makes Assets better managed after disasters. Such information arms the project team in decision-making at the early design stage, and in taking corrective action, thereby, reducing the financial burden of repairs in the future. In high flood zone areas, using model-based flood analysis and simulation, project members can gauge potential flooding damage on infrastructure and modify the designs. For example, changing the elevation on the road can mitigate risks in a flood-prone area.

So far, we have only heard stories about the far-reaching effects of the pandemic on the US economy. The President’s vision will strengthen the country’s backbone and make the aging infrastructure future-ready. We are confident that BIM can offer a competitive edge to planners, construction firms, architects, and all others who will carry the torch of the President’s vision.

BIM can certainly be the fulcrum for building a robust, resource-efficient, and sustainable infrastructure in USA!

The construction industry contributed 2.7 trillion INR to the GDP of India in 2019. The industry has been growing steadily from 2015 to 2020 and continues to be the largest employer and a key pillar of the economy. That said, there are several challenges associated with the Indian construction sector and poor labour productivity is one of those significant concerns.

Quite often, poor labour productivity is mapped with India’s construction sector but the root cause of the challenge is seldom assessed. So, why is productivity low?

Many factors contribute to limited productivity in Indian construction. The ratio of contracted labour and in-house labour is one major reason. Other factors include the shortage of skilled labour and the lack of labour welfare policies. Safe working conditions are one more area to focus on. Workplace accidents lead to approximately 48,000 deaths per year in India and 38 fatal accidents are reported per day across Indian construction sites. These numbers are alarming enough in themselves but accidents also pose a major productivity challenge due to time taken by stoppages, inspections, investigations, etc. Companies and contractors also hesitate to use the latest technologies and tools due to the costs involved, fear of inability to manage the changes, and additional requirements of training the workers.

Turning around a few strategies can drive a marked improvement in productivity on India’s construction site.

Digital tools and remote tracking

Technology can be used by construction managers and leaders to resolve productivity issues and other benefits. It is essential to continuously monitor the construction site and ongoing activities to identify gaps and fix them. Drones and body cameras are some technological innovations that can be used intelligently on Indian construction sites. These devices will enable managers to obtain real-time site information. The issues, such as the possibility of an accident, improper usage of the construction tool, lack of workers in a particular area, etc. can be spotted using technology and rectified early. Construction sites are spread across a large area and managers cannot be physically present across the site at all times. Such digital tools can simplify the task for managers and leaders. At the same time, these can resolve the existing gaps to experience better productivity.

Automated trackers and performance measurement tools can also be used to determine the safety situation of the construction tools and equipment. Smart maintenance schedules of the construction equipment can be developed and implemented based on the details captured. Improved tools and equipment will result in lesser workplace accidents and will assure improved productivity levels.

Workplace Training

Construction workflows are witnessing major changes with the launch of techniques and tools, such as Building Information Modeling, modular construction, and offsite construction. These technologies and tools can be used effectively only when construction workers and other stakeholders adapt to these tools and the new processes they bring in their wake. The impact of the changes must be explained to those impacted and they must be made to understand the benefits and the potential of such automated and computerized systems to help them improve their performance.

In the long term, effective workplace training is crucial in resolving productivity challenges on India’s construction sites. Training the people on the latest tools and techniques, new workflows, health and safety measures, and communication strategies can help cement best practices that help maintain high productivity and efficiency levels.

The motivation and productivity of the construction workers will also improve with proper knowledge and understanding of the tools, compliance requirements, safety practices, and techniques. This, again, helps drive up productivity.

Communication is the Key

It is not uncommon for construction projects in India to witness an overrun of 20-25% in terms of costs. Cost overruns are often tied to and accompanied by time slippage. Poor productivity and unexpected cost hikes have caused massive losses to the construction security in India.

Maintenance of information transparency is an effective solution to resolve such concerns. Integrated project management systems, automated control systems, and intuitive communication tools can be used for non-stop connectivity and information sharing. Remote monitoring and tracking tools, as explained earlier, can provide construction managers with updated site information. Digital communications tools can be used at construction sites to maintain connectivity and resolve worker concerns in real-time. Frequent status reporting and information sharing can result in quicker resolution of problems and improved productivity through collaborative decision-making with BIM. For example, the workers can directly contact the Chief Engineers and Architects in case of site-related concerns or poor work conditions. Platforms like BIM also ensure that all the teams work on the same information. This improves collaboration and transparent communication.

To Sum it Up

Construction sites in India are exposed to a wide range of challenges with productivity concerns on the top of the concern charts. A combination of measures and strategies can assist the improvements in productivity levels. The use of digital tools for remote tracking, monitoring, and communication can make a huge difference. Real-time information sharing will facilitate better clarity and quick resolution of the problems. The use of project management tools, automated control systems, and performance measurement applications will also help by making equipment more available and usable. Proper maintenance and workplace training will improve the health and safety conditions of the workers. Effective communication using technologies and modified strategies will assist in improving the site productivity levels. Put these together and you get an effective holistic strategy to drive up productivity in the construction sector.

The Indian real estate industry is an appealing area for international players due to many reasons. The government allows 100% FDI in areas like infrastructure, SEZs, and industrial parks. In the last 20 or so years, over $17 billion has already been invested through these routes. This being said, global companies want to adopt a more structured and data-driven approach to working.

Internationally, new technology such as BIM enhances transparency, creates agility, and fosters innovation. Without these tools in place, international companies assume there may be a lack of predictability and order. Due to this sentiment, many of these companies would appreciate technology like BIM being used to create better plans, more visibility about the progress of projects, and optimize resource procurement and use. It could be said that a new era of structure and transparency is awaited in India’s construction sector.

It’s already widely known that technology such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a powerful approach that offers many benefits to construction professionals. The adoption of BIM can address the needs of greater predictability, planning, and management. The BIM framework also allows for evaluation processes to occur smoothly as well and provides insights and connectivity for sites too. There is much scope for BIM in enhancing the design, construction, and facility management processes.

Despite this, the adoption of this technology in India is still low in the AEC industry. Why is this so? There are many preconceived notions and real-world realities that are causing this slow uptake.

Let’s discuss 5 such barriers being faced by mid-sized companies in implementing this technology.

Cost of Implementation

Many contractors feel that the added cost of implementing new technology will be a burden on them. This is due to the idea that the cost of acquisition, deployment and training will be high. To overcome this mindset, companies can learn how to leverage BIM technology to remove process inefficiencies, reduce costs over time, and increase profits. While the technology will demand some upfront investment, the savings that accrue will soon offset that.

It’s important to change mindsets by creating a feeling of optimism towards the long-term goal. Historically, software has been used to streamline work, manage projects, and predict potential issues way before they occur. All this helps to create a world-class construction in the least amount of time possible. Failing to adopt these technologies can make companies fall behind their competitors – which will prove disastrous in the long run.

Interoperability

Companies feel that there will be a lack in the ability for the systems to exchange and use information cohesively with the technology and systems they have at present. It’s clear that legacy processes will have to change to allow for faster operations, greater transparency, and seamless collaboration and communication. Change always brings concerns that must be allayed. It is also true that construction companies do struggle to attract and retain technology professionals in the face of competition from more glamorous sectors like IT. These issues can be tackled by partnering with specialists to create a carefully planned roll-out of the technology, clear training procedures, and expert advice on process improvements, accompanied by handholding and support.

No Change in Mindset of Stakeholders

Institutional attitudes towards adapting to new technology, especially in a traditional sector like construction, are always a barrier to development. This includes a bias against adopting new technologies due to prior negative experiences, conservatism, lack of understanding of the tool’s potential, and a lack of commitment to proper implementation training. Added to this is a reluctance for workers to “waste” their hours being trained and change their schedule leading to lower than optimal onsite adoption of BIM.

To overcome this, all stakeholders must understand how this technology offers the potential to drive improvements in their performance and the impact their teams can deliver. The best way forward is to specifically illustrate to the end-users themselves how this technology will make their workflow easier and more convenient and involve them as they see the change setting in. Clear communication is essential to answering all their doubts and proposing effective solutions to difficult areas.

Legal Procedural Challenges 

Due to a lack of knowledge, there are concerns about the possible legal consequences of using new technology. The reality is that the Indian government is very supportive of adopting BIM. In 2019, studies have shown how this technology can optimise the cost of upcoming and ongoing housing projects in the country. This technology will also help with cutting down on the time escalation of these projects. Niti Aayog was also considering using technologies in multiple government construction projects such as national highway constructions, metro, and airport projects, revamping railways, and more. Iconic projects like the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation are turning to BIM for more efficiency and impact. It’s fair to assume that the technology is here to stay.

Issues Regarding Cyber Security

As with most software, there is always the risk of cybersecurity breaches. People worry about ransomware attacks and data breaches that include project designs, bid information, employee data, materials pricing, financial records, and more. Mitigate this by creating a plan which covers the security of project management software, online collaboration tools, mobile devices, financial apps, and more. Enhanced this by educating employees about cybersecurity measures they can implement to protect data.

Also, other strategies such as running contained pilots can help drive familiarity. Introducing BIM as a subject in the university curriculum will help overcome many of these barriers. This would help influence behavior changes and create national-level guidelines. Creating an India-specific  BIM product library is also a useful solution.

Studies suggest bringing together the Government, industry experts, and academic institutions to create ways to encourage companies to implement the technology. Academics can enhance awareness among students, who will then drive usage and innovation. Industry professionals can conduct training sessions. The Government can further encourage BIM in bids and reports. These steps will maximize the impact of this technology and help streamline many processes related to construction in India.

When we were in school and asked to attempt a complex problem, we’d use a rough paper to work out the tougher calculations. This would help us make our mistakes early and fix them. Similarly, while constructing some of the most important sites in the world – it makes complete sense to make a rough version first to ensure the final product is devoid of problems and errors.

While this metaphor may seem simplistic, it suits the relation between construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

BIM is now an established technology in construction globally. It enhances how data is organized, improves operational efficiency, and generates transparency. Experts project the global BIM market to reach $15,892 million by 2027 – registering a CAGR of 15.2% from 2020 to 2027. While North America dominates this market, studies show that the Asia Pacific will exhibit the highest growth rate here, due to the booming construction industry. It stands to reason that one of the key players in this market must be India. But is India ready to adopt this technology? Let’s take a look.

Overview of Indian Construction Sector

By 2025, India will be the third-largest construction market and will contribute approximately 13% to the country’s GDP. It should hit US$1 trillion by 2030. These sunny forecasts are due to the consistent growth of the sector. In 2017, it was the most employed sector in India, as it employed around 51 million people. A key part of the sector concerns urban development projects, such as highway construction, transport, healthcare infrastructure, etc.

Along with its already immense scope, there are continuing plans to include modernizing existing infrastructure, developing smart cities, improving transportation routes, and more. Additionally, there are plans to craft an ambitious National Infrastructure Pipeline – which should prove to be a real game-changer. With so many exciting events constantly happening in this sector, it’s no surprise that even in 2020, just the real estate sector itself received foreign investments of over US$5 billion.

The Indian construction industry offers several investment opportunities for foreign companies, but the question is whether this hugely lucrative sector will retain transparency, efficiency, and organization with such entrenched practices. We know that international companies entering the Indian market desire such openness and structure. From the way things are looking, the answer is a resounding yes. This is mostly thanks to government policies and the industry itself striving to follow best practices. Let’s explore a few of the reasons that should safeguard the integrity of this sector.

Attracting direct investment from foreign investors with fewer barriers.

The government allows 100% FDI in infrastructure, SEZs, and industrial parks. Already, $17 billion has been invested through these routes over the past two decades. As the country rises out of the pandemic, this number should go up. Especially since foreign investors benefit from being able to invest in construction projects without needing approval from the government.

By injecting FDI into this sector, the government is breaking domestic monopolies, creating a competitive market, and bringing international best practices into the sector. This is beneficial in many other ways as it pushes firms to strengthen their processes and improve their offerings. Businesses become exposed to the latest international tools and technologies, as well as operational practices. Over time, these influence everyone, which results in enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the industry as a whole.

International companies focus on adopting more structured, data-driven, and transparent ways of working.

Global projects of large-scale work with a huge amount of data and resources. It’s not enough to make decisions based solely on instinct with so many factors and people involved. This is why these companies have invested in tools and skills to streamline their processes. For instance, Building Information Modelling enables information exchange and effective project lifecycle management in real estate, construction, architecture, construction, and engineering.

Apart from the operational improvements (those are well-known), the use of BIM also brings in transparency, accuracy, and estimation quality. This is why international entities have adopted such tools to streamline and optimize collaboration and planning.

These companies are conscious of the need for agility and innovation, but value predictability and order.

The power players on the global scale place great importance on stability. They believe that predictability and order are important to drive sustainable growth. Again, it’s the technology that is enhancing systematic processes and increasing the certainty of decisions. For eg., BIM delivers more efficient estimates, transparent tracking, and ongoing visibility. This provides greater cost and resource savings, greater efficiency and shorter project lifecycles, improved communications and coordination, higher quality results, and more opportunities for leveraging modern technology like prefabrication and modular construction. Using tools like this helps companies progress at an orderly pace.

Modern construction companies appreciate building methods that leverage the power of technology like BIM. They know how this will help them make better plans, achieve greater visibility into ongoing progress, and optimize resource procurement and utilization. For any Indian entity to take advantage of the government’s truly excellent policies to attract FDI or to compete with international players, they must have these technologies in place. This will show that they’re ready to go to the international stage, armed with excellent technology that’s on par with the global players. It also sends a strong message that they’re committed to transparency and efficiency. This acts as a signal that there will be ease of communication, organization, and operations. With the advent of foreign companies entering the Indian construction sector, a new era of transparency, efficiency, and organization will inevitably begin and technology and design software will power this.

Recently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chose the Mansycom-Nadhi-Excelize Consortium to implement a cloud-based Integrated Project Monitoring Systems (IPMS). The system should allow the seamless flow of data from various sites to central locations and ensure that future DMRC projects are completed within the stipulated time and budget. The system will be integrated with Autodesk BIM 360 design models and Oracle Primavera project schedules, so project officials can access personalized dashboards and interfaces.

The announcement followed close on the heels of a Union Budget where the Government allocated $1.5 trillion for infrastructure development.

India’s ambitions demand extensive, powerful, and intelligent infrastructure. In that light, some of the leading infrastructure projects in the country are looking beyond merely building facilities. They are looking to implement capabilities to become more efficient, transparent, and future-ready.

Although India emphasizes infrastructure development, it grapples with issues such as time delays and cost overruns. There are also other pain points such as inaccurate contract documents, getting clearances from different departments, lack of labour productivity monitoring, etc.

These issues can be resolved with Integrated Project Management Systems. With DMRC paving the way for using technology such as Building Information Management (BIM) and the Government’s push to infrastructure growth, we believe that solutions like IPMS will become more common in India.

How Can IPMS Boost India’s Infrastructure Projects?

1. Promote transparency

Transparency is now essential in public infrastructure projects as the government (and citizens) view public investments in a new light. Considering that multiple stakeholders from various departments are involved in a project, and disparate systems are used to manage the project, there are chances of data or documents going amiss during the process. The numerous hand-offs and miscommunication between the stakeholders could lead to more ambiguity. This creates room for inefficiency, duplication, waste, and mala fide intentions.

That’s why an integrated project management system is critical. The cloud-based systems can store all kinds of data and provides access to all the relevant stakeholders. Considering that each workflow will be mapped with each task and process, there is minimal scope for missing documents or data during hand-offs. Using an integrated project management system will also ensure that every stakeholder involved in the project is aware of the common objective and visibly works towards fulfilling it.

2. Improve scheduling

Gone are the days when infrastructure projects were expected to not meet the published schedule. Slowly (but surely) the pressure is growing on everyone involved to deliver fast and stay on track. Integrated project management allows stakeholders to set up schedules and deadlines for tasks that are interdependent.

Sometimes the scope could change during the project. In such cases, IPMS will allow the stakeholders to adjust the scheduling accordingly. Organizations can use 4D BIM planning and scheduling to visually track the project’s progress and get better control over it. The objective is to ensure that stakeholders are aware of deadlines and the progress towards them, so they adhere to them.

3. Improve collaboration

Traditionally, teams in such large projects function in silos. This creates communication gaps and makes collaboration harder. Miscommunications cause errors, gaps, and duplication of effort. An inability to collaborate effectively creates a loss of synergies and unmet potential. These challenges can derail the project’s progress if not addressed immediately. That’s where integrated project management helps.

IPMS acts as a glue that holds the various teams together. It allows different stakeholders across the organization to focus on common goals and address the common challenges that delay the project completion. These systems are backed by features such as document management that allow stakeholders to exchange information between different teams seamlessly and securely.

4. Reduces operational costs and increases profitability

Working in silos and the lack of communication could lead to communication gaps and unnecessary rework and delays. Rework is costly and time-consuming as it consumes 30% of the work done by organizations. Organizations can avoid such wasted operational costs by using integrated project management systems.

Considering that every stakeholder is involved in the project from the beginning, they can identify potential issues at the start of the project itself. This gives them time to eliminate last-minute rework. By reducing the instances of rework, organizations can bring the budget under control and earn profits.

5. Reduces material and resource wastage

Every year 13 million tonnes of unused material goes to waste at construction sites. This also escalates the cost of the project and has an indirect impact on project earnings. Organizations can prevent such colossal wastage by integrating project management practices with tools such as BIM to create more comprehensive and transparent plans. This will help them control how much material is really needed at each stage of the project. Since the resource estimates can be tied more directly to the project plan, just-in-time stocking can be implemented, making cash flows more predictable and efficient.

Conclusion

The implementation of Integrated Project Management might differ for every project depending upon its scale and complexity. However, the best practices for implementing it remain almost the same. It begins with:

• Defining the scope of the project
• Creating a project plan to document the plans and processes associated with the project
•  Documenting how to execute the project
• Measuring and monitoring the performance
• And creating a change control document in which all the change requests and project impact are recorded

Most importantly, the organization managing the project must leverage BIM to improve communication and collaboration among the different stakeholders. 4

The DMRC project looks set to become a guide for other infrastructure projects in the country by making project management more intelligent, responsive, transparent, and integrated into construction progress. Nagpur Metro project for MAHA Metro, another project that we at Excelize, are proud of having contributed to, set new benchmarks of schedule adherence and cost control by leveraging the power of BIM. Such projects show that the future of Indian public infrastructure may well be smarter and integrated!

The Middle East construction sector has been facing a slight slowing of momentum over the past few years. Fluctuating demand, climate change, and the fluctuations in the oil market are some of the main drivers for this ongoing transformation. And today, the pandemic has completely changed how projects are built (and delivered). Companies have had to restructure their plans to reflect the changing social and economic needs of the region. The only way construction companies can keep up with these evolving changes is through digital transformation.

The current state of affairs

The Middle East construction sector (and in fact every other sector in every other region) is under immense pressure to minimize carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Embracing a greener approach to building and infrastructure design, construction and delivery is compelling construction giants to build new strategies that could help in the decarbonization of projects. These strategies center on finding more efficient ways of working that minimize wasted effort and materials.

Simultaneously, projects in the Middle East market have been experiencing a slump in value due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Priorities have been constantly changing for companies and governments. The value of construction contract awards reached only about $24 billion in the first ten months of 2020, compared to over $50 billion for the full year in 2019.

Perhaps unexpectedly, the pandemic has also caused clients to seek greater social and economic value from their project investments at a time when investors and developers are postponing (or trimming) their investment plans in response to fluctuating demand. It is also visible that government bodies are seeking to control capital spending on all but the most critical infrastructure projects.

The scope for digital transformation

Despite the overwhelming impact of COVID-19, the potential for new projects in the Middle East remains constant. At the beginning of November 2020, projects worth an estimated $4.3 trillion were planned or were under construction across the MENA region. And the best way for construction companies to capitalize on these opportunities while addressing the new challenges of today is through the digital transformation of projects in the region.

Here are some technology approaches that can help them achieve just that.

Adopting advanced Building Information Modelling (BIM) models and associated processes can allow companies to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage their projects and infrastructure. These powerful tools, supported by competent technology partners, can help companies take a comprehensive view of all the elements of a construction project and drive higher levels of interoperability, flexibility, and customization while ensuring the best returns on investments.

Cloud-based digital twins offer several benefits to designers, contractors, suppliers, and operators. Through the intelligent digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility, digital twins can help in better and richer engagement between various stakeholders in a virtual world. This makes planning and coordination more effective, reducing on-site clashes and late-stage variations that lead to delays and disputes.

As the data available for construction sites explodes, AI looks set to have a far-reaching impact. AI will help in cutting down the probability (and impact) of crucial issues while improving the safety of the workforce. AI will not only help in ensuring onsite safety it will also help in mitigating risks. Through real-time monitoring and the use of proximity alarms, AI can help alert workers when they are in danger while allowing them to practice safe social distancing techniques. When used alongside sensor technology, AI can also enable real-time monitoring of construction assets, allowing for more efficient utilization, more effective maintenance as well as better optimization of service delivery.

Given how costly mistakes can prove to be, especially when the sector is already experiencing a financial crunch, modern CAD techniques will enable designers and architects to produce models more precisely – thus avoiding costly mistakes. These techniques will allow them to carry out accurate measurements, spot design flaws, and conduct advanced analysis on designs while offering the flexibility to make changes on the fly.

Many construction companies looking to adapt and evolve their businesses as a result of the pandemic are also keen on adopting new approaches and evolving practices and processes. To make on-site inspections easier (and more efficient), the Middle East construction sector will also see a rise in the adoption of remote visual tools such as drones and laser scanning. These tools will help companies to remotely monitor the progress, quality, and security of their projects.

The road ahead

As the Middle East construction sector looks to emerge stronger from the impact of the pandemic while continuing to develop some of the best construction marvels in the world, companies must undergo digital transformation to ease cost pressures, enhance productivity (and efficiency) as well as boost profits.

Given that digital transformation can open the doors to greater control and visibility, the willingness to embrace modern digital tools to transform the delivery of complex engineering projects in the region is high. In the coming months, companies will embrace modern technology to improve the precision with which they plan their projects, efficiently deal with issues, enable richer engagement, avoid project delays (and costly mistakes), and ensure continued safety and sustainability.