Future of construction brainstormed by experts
Future of construction brainstormed by experts
Digitalisation is promising to become an optimal tool for construction sites that is observed and managed by digital technologies in order to increase systemisation and efficiency. 
Opening the Large Infrastructure Project Conference 2019 last week in Ho Chi Minh City, CEO Siam City Cement Group Aidan John Lynam pointed out that mega cities and rapid urbanisation are creating pressures on infrastructure, housing, services, and the environment to meet the living requirements of current and future generations.
The conference’s theme this year, on rethinking construction, aimed to introduce the latest innovations and technologies of leading global companies to overcome the barriers of traditional construction methods, save resources, and move towards sustainable development.
For the second time, the event was organised by INSEE Vietnam, an affiliate of Jardines, and in partnership with engineering and chemicals giant Sika and construction business Doka.
Increasing population density, another prominent topic at the conference, is also adding pressure to ageing infrastructure and is impacting the environment. Vietnam has 800 urban areas – the rate of urbanisation increased from nearly 24 per cent in 1999 to 37 per cent in 2017. The rate is expected to climb by 50 per cent by 2025.
According to INSEE, the demand for construction materials is increasing, but will not be sustainable as it depends too much on the exploitation of new resources. Moreover, the majority of exploitation is carried out using outdated technologies and techniques, thus wasting resources and causing environmental pollution.
As a result, the reduction of the use of materials produced from new resources, the promotion of sustainable materials that use less energy, and the reduction of construction waste are necessary goals for Vietnam on the path towards sustainable development.
Nirukt Sapru, Vietnam CEO and head of ASEAN and South Asia Cluster Markets at Standard Chartered, said that there are significant infrastructure investment opportunities in Vietnam in which “water, energy, transportation, and digital infrastructure are key sectors that are immediate priorities.”
INSEE Vietnam is attempting to contribute to the country’s national development by continuously providing breakthrough solutions to customers. The cement
manufacturer is committed to sustainable development throughout its value chain, reflected in the brand philosophy of “building for life”.
The group has pursued a sustainable development strategy since its establishment in Vietnam nearly a quarter of a century ago, and is utilising advanced techniques to produce environmentally-friendly cement and concrete.
One of the groundbreaking initiatives is to reduce the clinker factor by using different materials such as pozzolana, limestone, and steel slag, as well as alternative fuels such as biogas or energy derived from industrial waste.
PR manager for Doka Group, Michael Fuker said, “Being more efficient, more productive, and working at ever-increasing speeds with no loss of precision are the challenges that construction companies face today. At the same time, planning and execution are becoming increasingly complex.”
To address these challenges, the construction industry is progressively integrating more digital solutions with the declared goal of implementing lean construction. “The nucleus, where all the construction data is stored, is building information modelling (BIM),” Fuker said. “New digital solutions designed to boost the industry’s profitability on the basis of BIM are gradually emerging on the market. Smart tools developed by Doka in co-operation with its customers illustrate what this can look like in practice.”
The Large Infrastructure Project Conference set out to address issues surrounding the construction sites of the future, which are automated and digitalised and where exchange of information is logged via collaboration platforms. In real time, site managers, financiers, customers, and suppliers will be able to communicate seamlessly and comprehensibly with each other.
Highlights of the event this year included sessions on strategy for development and management of smart cities in Vietnam; the future of concrete for sustainable cities; building digital twins as the next step of BIM; offshore wind energy tech solutions and supply chain opportunities; innovation in concrete and 3D printing; and digital solutions for upbeat construction.
