Globalisation of construction industry

Globalisation of construction industry will greatly effect Indian construction industry and also improve the economy too. With the business soon to be recognised as an industry, company and labour law will see a sea change. Outdated trade practices will come to an end.
Import and export procedures, customs and excise laws and ease in operations of foreign accounts will minimise controls on industry and rapid growth will be scant. Simplified single window clearance will ease import export procedures. Indian construction Industry will then be able to compete in overseas market.
With all this sea change, the approach towards construction policy and introduction and application of new result oriented technology is a must.
Adaptation of new equipment, infrastructure, advent of IT, safety measures will be the order of the day. Experts and pundits have come forth, with vision of the future growth and given their views on the subject.
Accommodation Times brings you this exclusive “Construction Vision 2020 from their futuristic eyes.
“Structures with heights of 1 km and spans of 3 km will be built”
By Dr. N. S. Subramanian, Chief Executive, Computer Design Consultants, Chennai

About 30 years ago, we used slide rules for the calculations, though second generation computers were in use in some select institutions. Till about 1980, only a few organisations had main frame computers, which were expensive and operated on batch-mode processing. Punched cards were used as the input and output medium and hence the processing was slow and expensive.
The introductions of microprocessors and later personal computers have changed the pictures completely. These small machines, which can be housed on a small machines, which can be housed on a small tabletop have the power of main frames of yester years. Current PC’s run with a speed of 500-600 MHz and have main memory of 128 MB. The costs of the systems are such that even small consulting engineer can buy these systems.
The current trend is towards the development of integrated packages which will automatically generate the structure and the loads acting on it.
3D we can generate the structural geometry in graphics mode and then ask the computer to compute the coordinates of the structure), analyse them for the given loads and base on the analysis, design the various members and estimated the quantities involved. Most of the packages also have facilities such that the detailing can be made by using drafting packages such as AUTOCAD.
In future, even mode complicated structures will be generated by using latest techniques like Formex algebra. Even components of structures will be fabricated using numerically controlled machines as per the designs made by the computer.
There will be a lot of computer usage at the construction site too. These computers will site too. These computers will store data such as fabrication drawings, stock of materials at site, regular progress made in construction, labour employed and money spent on a day to day basis.
Due to the use of computers in all aspects of analysis, design, estimation and execution of different types of buildings, the execution times of projects may be reduced.
The development of nonlinear analysis programs will result in the adoption of innovative structures such as tensile structures. Such structures have already been adopted in several developed countries to cover very large space with minimum cost.
The construction of ‘intelligent’ structures will grow. In these structures, the built-in computers will automatically open and close doors, change the orientation of window fins such that the air conditioning load is reduced, etc. In addition to monetary audit, energy audit will become mandatory. More and more use of waste materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, recycled concrete will be encouraged (based on research conducted in these areas the mix design of concrete will be performed to obtain maximum strength and durability). Durability in addition to strength, will be specified as a performance requirement.
The Indian market will be flooded with equipment’s, contractors, etc., of developed countries. There will be stiff competition resulting in better quality due to rapid developments taking place in the IT industry and internet, anybody in the world can work in any part of the world. It will be a place where only those who have knowledge, experience and can work, as a team member, will survive. Of course due to the financial problems, the small-scale companies will not be in a position to complete with the global giants.
During the next 20 years, due to research conducted at different parts of the world, improved materials will be used in the construction industry. More than 90% concrete used in construction will be ready mixed concrete. More chemicals will be used in the industry will become a major industry. High rise structures having a height of 1 km will be built. Similarly, spans larger than 3 km will be built Similarly, spans larger than 3 km will be achieved.
The use of computers and internet will result in people working and studying from their homes thus reducing the traffic on the roads (already Anna University, Chennai has started M.E. course in the internet and several American companies allows people to work from their homes and have flexible working hours.) Cities and large areas may eventually become covered by large domes or tents to protect them from environmental pollution.
Construction Dewatering

Construction projects require solution to problems involving ground water seepage and ground settlements. Construction dewatering involves lowering the ground water table below the bottom of excavation in order to operate in best possible dry conditions.
In India, some years ago, planned and designed dewatering systems were relatively few and those were executed mostly with imported equipment. Through the use of “Complete” Wellpoint System, hundred of projects have been completed in India. Though the know-how was obtained from USA, equipment used has been made entirely in India. Concept of contract dewatering and hire of dewatering equipment used has been made entirely in India. Concept of contract dewatering and hire of dewatering and hire of dewatering equipment has been successfully used. These options are already existing and are common features in developed countries. The result of this has been to make dewatering a planned and controlled activity. This has resulted in enormous saving in project time and cost.
Deciding on the best method to be adopted and designing its system, requires information on project conditions, ground water level, subsoil conditions etc. unfortunately not enough information about the site is made available by the project authorities. In western countries, dewatering is treated as a critical activity. Proper information is given in tender documents and a lost of responsibility is asked for in return also. The contractor is required to submit a detailed scheme for ensuring lowering of ground water in excavation area. They are also required to taken adequate steps for safe required to take adequate steps for safe removal of pumped water. In our country, responsibility and performance can not be assigned due to inadequacy of relevant data.
There is need to have more advanced scientific and investigative methods to tap ground water resources economically and effectively.
As globalisation of Indian economy takes place there would be inflow of latest technology and equipment. It would have a positive impact as there would be greater awareness and acceptance of its importance. This would lead to standardization norms to be set. Users would be more quality conscious.
Dewatering can be done through sumps by open pumping, through sumps by open pumping, through deep well pumps, well point systems, electronic cosmosis and ground freezing. Each method has its advantage and its limitations.
Some of the problems that could arise due to unplanned and uncontrolled dewatering are indicated below :
(a) Ground settlement
(b) Temporary reduction in ground water supply in nearby area.
(c) If ground water is contaminated, unless dewatering is planned specifically for clean up operations, changes in gradients can cause the contaminated water to move and pollute a bigger area.
(d) Can contribute to development of sink holes. When pumping for dewatering in areas where solution caverns exist, there are possibilities of development of sink holes. There can be thin layers and caps which support the overlying soil. Part of this load is carried by a buoyancy and artisian pressure. When the artisian head is removed by the pumping or the buoyancy is removed by lowering the water table, the thin layers and caps may collapse and sink holes may develop.
(e) In coastal aquifers, excessive pumping of ground water may cause sea water to flow into the acquifer.
In the next 20 years, the construction industry in India will see many significant developments.
That we need vast physical infrastructure which will entail large-scale construction. There present scenario is not very encouraging. However, the thought to have a unified body to administer this important but very fragmented economic sector is fast catching up.
With the onset of new millennium, this mega size business shall see emergence of several new policies to back up this important business. Several new insurance instruments based on actual studies, would be in-place for assessment of risks involved in the business. To summarise, the next 20 years are going to be quite exciting as regards the shape of Indian Construction Industry.
Future development in the construction industry will affect the corporate in different ways, depending on their willingness to change and adapt. In other words it will be a mixed bag.
Major policy changes that are required shall be as follows.
- Emergence of new educational curricula in technical colleges and changes mode of education with a greater participation of industry.
- Emergence of new fiscal policies.
- Emergence of new, fiscal policies.
- Emergence of new, market driven support instruments.
- Ingress of new technologies, both as a result of indigenous research and reverse engineering.
- Impact of globalisation would generally be positive with infusion of new ideas, systems and technologies, and would only adversely affect those who do not want to change and modernize. Caution would however have to be exercised to avoid impractical and detrimental systems.