Mayur R Shah, Managing Director, - Marathon Group
AI, machine control and IoT are promising technologies; they will help in predictive maintenance instead of preventive maintenance to ensure almost negligible downtime of machinery, leading to reduced cost of maintenance, increased efficiency and speed of construction, and increased life of the machinery.
Opportunities & Challenges
India's GDP is growing at the rate of 7% which is the highest in the world. The size of the Indian construction market is going to be the third largest globally by 2030, and its contribution to GDP is expected to increase to 15%. By 2025, the industry is expected to be worth USD 1 trillion, and by 2022, it is poised to become the largest employer with more than 75 million workers.
An ever-growing market means an abundance of opportunities though some challenges need to be addressed. These include making available cheaper land and its funding, making available affordable funds for construction activities, lack of skilled workers, and need for faster approvals by the various government bodies.
Software & Technology for Efficiency
Execution becomes quite challenging because of lack of the necessary project management skills. Lack of awareness and access to new software and technologies also makes it difficult to speed up construction. As developers, we understand and utilize technology in all functions of Real Estate development. Technology and engineering prowess help us improve quality and efficiency. For example, we use ERP to manage projects within the stipulated cost and time.
We are quick to adapt construction technologies available globally. Way back in 2004, we had imported Aluminium formwork technology from Malaysia for the construction of a 36-storied residential tower - Marathon ERA at Lower Parel. We were the first developer to deploy this technology in a project that didn't fall under mass housing. The objective was to achieve faster speed and improve quality of construction. We completed one floor of RCC in 5 days as against the conventional speed of 15-20 days.
Since 2004, we have been using automatic batching plants and testing labs to achieve the highest quality of concrete. This also speeds up construction work. These measures also helped us in delivering the Marathon Era project on time; the building has stood the test of time, with zero leakages from any external walls during monsoons.
At Marathon, we believe that investment in new construction technologies not only improves quality and efficiency, but also reduces repair and maintenance costs for the end-users. Consider this: it has been 13 years and Marathon Era has not incurred any façade repairing or re-painting costs.
Scope of Artificial intelligence & IoT
AI, machine control and IoT are promising futuristic technologies. We are already achieving RCC construction cycle time of 6-7 days in our projects because of reasons stated above. To further improve speed and reduce costs, we need to ensure reduction in machinery breakdown and minimize downtime. AI and IoT will help in predictive maintenance instead of preventive maintenance. It will ensure almost negligible downtime of machinery leading to reduced cost of maintenance, increased efficiency, increase in speed of construction, and increase in life of the machinery.
Marathon's engineering practices with some more details – https://marathon.in/engineering/
Opportunities & Challenges
India's GDP is growing at the rate of 7% which is the highest in the world. The size of the Indian construction market is going to be the third largest globally by 2030, and its contribution to GDP is expected to increase to 15%. By 2025, the industry is expected to be worth USD 1 trillion, and by 2022, it is poised to become the largest employer with more than 75 million workers.
An ever-growing market means an abundance of opportunities though some challenges need to be addressed. These include making available cheaper land and its funding, making available affordable funds for construction activities, lack of skilled workers, and need for faster approvals by the various government bodies.
Software & Technology for Efficiency
Execution becomes quite challenging because of lack of the necessary project management skills. Lack of awareness and access to new software and technologies also makes it difficult to speed up construction. As developers, we understand and utilize technology in all functions of Real Estate development. Technology and engineering prowess help us improve quality and efficiency. For example, we use ERP to manage projects within the stipulated cost and time.
We are quick to adapt construction technologies available globally. Way back in 2004, we had imported Aluminium formwork technology from Malaysia for the construction of a 36-storied residential tower - Marathon ERA at Lower Parel. We were the first developer to deploy this technology in a project that didn't fall under mass housing. The objective was to achieve faster speed and improve quality of construction. We completed one floor of RCC in 5 days as against the conventional speed of 15-20 days.
Since 2004, we have been using automatic batching plants and testing labs to achieve the highest quality of concrete. This also speeds up construction work. These measures also helped us in delivering the Marathon Era project on time; the building has stood the test of time, with zero leakages from any external walls during monsoons.
At Marathon, we believe that investment in new construction technologies not only improves quality and efficiency, but also reduces repair and maintenance costs for the end-users. Consider this: it has been 13 years and Marathon Era has not incurred any façade repairing or re-painting costs.
Scope of Artificial intelligence & IoT
AI, machine control and IoT are promising futuristic technologies. We are already achieving RCC construction cycle time of 6-7 days in our projects because of reasons stated above. To further improve speed and reduce costs, we need to ensure reduction in machinery breakdown and minimize downtime. AI and IoT will help in predictive maintenance instead of preventive maintenance. It will ensure almost negligible downtime of machinery leading to reduced cost of maintenance, increased efficiency, increase in speed of construction, and increase in life of the machinery.
Marathon's engineering practices with some more details – https://marathon.in/engineering/
NBM&CW July 2019