PRADEEP BAKSHI addresses the need to leverage construction technology for the next chapter in India’s development. One of the biggest contributors to the country’s economic development, the construction sector in India has been witnessing exponential growth in the past few years. This can be attributed to rapid urbanisation, the Government’s increased focus on infrastructure and a growing population base. The rebuilding of roadways, railways, waterways, smart cities, metros and mining from coal and iron ore are great opportunities across the country. All these activities contribute to growth in demand for equipment used in mining, construction, crushing and screening. Technology has entered into every step of the development cycle and has led to notable operational and cost-efficiencies. Some of the benefits of new technologies include eco-friendliness, time and cost-efficiency, and the provision of consistent quality and a safer operating environment. The new technologies being leveraged for faster construction include prefabricated modules, building information modelling (BIM) and Mivan. Other technology innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI and telematics have also become a catalyst for change in the construction sector. Prefabricated modules The construction industry in the region has been moving towards the adoption of design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), where most of the work is done offsite in a controlled manufacturing environment and then transported and assembled on site. With more prefabrication, there is optimisation of manpower and time needed to construct buildings, worksites are safer, and there is less impact on the surrounding environment. Voltas has adopted this approach since 2015 to mitigate project-related risks. Some recent requirements of stringent project timelines have necessitated the use of prefab, although this was not envisaged during the conception of these projects. Offsite manufacture of MEP services modules provides a low-risk method of delivery and installation of desired services to the construction site. In this method, MEP service modules are designed (using BIM) and manufactured at an offsite facility and then delivered to the construction site using purpose-built transport stillage. Voltas has also successfully transformed its project execution strategy through a change in its construction approach and processes to suit the successful adoption of prefabricated MEP modules. Types of MEP modules This approach can be used effectively for projects with a large number of similar MEP elements in different sections of the project. A wide range of prefab solutions offered by our subsidiary Weathermaker currently covers about 30 per cent of MEP projects with solutions offered for various services such as integrated corridor modules, HVAC and plumbing riser modules, toilet and bathroom modules, pipe and cable tray stacks, etc, depending on the project type. MEP services are housed in predesigned steel structures ready to be installed; this requires coordination of these services along with the steel structure. Design – coordination with structural elements Although increased adoption of 3D design in MEP trades is the order of the day, traditional MEP engineers do not design for fabrication; this ends up in waste and rework at site during traditional construction. However, design for prefabrication does not allow margin for error; it requires detailed designs and inclusion in steel frames. Voltas, through its subsidiary WML, has honed its ability to design for offsite fabrication. Further, recent changes in software providers such as Autodesk are expected to encourage prefabrication across the industry in coming years. Common industry issues addressed by MEP prefabrication Modular MEP has several advantages cutting across multiple areas of concern in typical construction methodology, especially in the context of projects executed at a remote location.