Construction Archives

5 Technologies Disrupting the Construction Sector

Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants

Technology has disrupted almost every facet of the real estate business today. However, the creation of the core product is and will remain the most important aspect of this business, and advanced technologies are certainly playing a major role there.

By adopting innovative technologies like automation in construction, innovative designs, sustainability, use of prefabricated material and online marketing, developers can value-engineer their product.

Let’s look at some of the existing and upcoming technology disruptions in real estate construction.

3D Printing

Among the many new technologies already adopted by the construction sector, 3D Printing (large-scale printing of homes) is anticipated to change the way real estate is built over the next decade.

Though still very nascent, 3D Printing can potentially replace a substantial amount of construction across major segments, including residential, commercial or even retail.

This will be a massive paradigm shift in real estate development. Apart from seriously reducing waste, cost and labour requirements, 3D printing will help builders penetrate the hitherto inaccessible areas of dense urban centres,

by Santhosh Kumar

Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants

The built environment of any community is considered to be the reflection of regional architecture – and thereby a significant component of differentiation.

In the pre-Industrial Revolution phase, India’s built environment, as in the rest of the world, was shaped by certain values and cultural beliefs.

However, with tremendous urbanization and globalization after the Industrial Revolution, India’s rich cultural and architectural heritage is vanishing. This is primarily due to increased usage of industrially-produced and standardized materials.

With that, the dependency on locally-available materials has declined, transforming ‘vernacular architecture’ buildings to more standardized modern concrete structures.

Vernacular architecture refers to structures built indigenously to a specific time or place, taking into consideration the experience of centuries of community building. It depicts the characteristics of the local environment, technology and climatic conditions.

Importantly, buildings constructed through traditional techniques using natural, locally-sourced, non-toxic, renewable and biodegradable materials can also minimize negative ecological impacts.

Modern architecture, on the other hand, uses industrially-produced materials (such as steel and concrete) that possess a low thermal resistance and require high energy intensity,

by Anuj Puri

Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants

The construction sector is one of the largest employment generators in India, and the country will need approximately 76.5 million workers in the building, construction and real estate sector by 2022.

Despite it being a job creation engine for people from the economically weaker section of society, the basic working conditions of construction workers have been long ignored.

Migrant workers are the most vulnerable – they are more often than not forced to work under inhuman conditions, and are simultaneously bereft of any real bargaining power.

Under the labour laws, migrant construction workers are entitled to housing and other social security benefits apart from minimum wages, overtime payments and weekly offs.

However, on the ground, the implementation of this clause of the labour law has been abysmal. In far too many cases today, it can be said that the bottom line literally consumes the bottom of the pyramid.

Without a doubt, a more humane approach needs to be taken towards migrant construction workers. It has previously been suggested that the amount collected through construction cess can and should be used for providing rental accommodation to migrant workers.

by Anuj Puri

Anuj Puri, Chairman – Anarock Property Consultants

With several property developers in Delhi-NCR and elsewhere developing skyscrapers of 150-250 metres and more, an increasingly pressing question being asked by property buyers is whether they safe.

This is obvious and natural, given the increasing incidence of fires, earthquakes and building collapses that the media throws at us fairly regularly. Let us take a closer look at this.

As opposed to the scenario seen in more developed countries, there are still various problems with implementing strict norms for the structural safety and fire safety for high-rise buildings in India. In fact, as we have seen in a recent case of a residential tower in London, this can present a challenge even in such global cities.

However, considering the rapid pace of urbanization being seen in cities like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, there definitely need to be stricter and enforceable safety norms for skyscrapers. Here are some guidelines.

Earthquake Resistance:

While fire safety is one aspect, earthquake resistance of high-rises is a relatively lesser cause of concern.

5 Technologies Disrupting the Construction Sector

3D Printing

Sustainable Building In India: Integrating Traditional And Modern Architecture

Housing India’s Construction Workers

Focus On Safety Measures In High-Rise Buildings