An Importance of Software in Road and Highway Construction

Road and Highway Infrastructure

Demand for roads and highways throughout the globe has grown steadily over the last several decades. India has second largest road networks in the world, spanning nearly 136 thousand kilometres (kms). This road network transports 64.5% of all goods in the country and 90% of India’s total passenger traffic uses road network to commute. As per India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) Despite pandemic and lockdown, 13,298 kms of highway was constructed across India in FY-21. The Indian Government aims to construct 65,000 kms of national highways at a cost of Rs. 5.35 lakh crore (US$ 741.51 billion) by 2022. Under the Union Budget 2022-23, the Government of India has allocated Rs. 199,107.71 crore (US$ 26.04 billion) to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Highway construction in India increased at 17.00% CAGR between FY16-FY21. The Government of India has allocated Rs. 111 lakh crores (US$ 1.4 trillion) under the National Infrastructure Pipeline for FY 2019-25.

Think about a conflict that emerged after the completion of one of your projects. Consider an incident in which a worker misunderstood instruction and had to repeat a portion of the work, resulting in delays in both time and money. I'm sure you can think of a few examples. 9 out of 10 times, these construction issues may be avoided if better communication is maintained throughout the construction process.

The Unique Challenges of Infrastructure

This field's communication is unique. Several disciplines, including drainage specialists, utility providers, and geotechnical engineers, must work together to complete roadwork projects efficiently. Road construction is often carried out in stages, with each step of the project having to be finished before going on to the next stage of construction. It is essential for businesses to have an established technique of communicating and collaborating in order to prevent making huge mistakes and unnecessary delays.

A contractor must organize crews, supplies, and equipment to pave a road. Drainage systems, utilities, bridges, electric and fiber-optic installations, traffic lights, and cameras are just a few of the things that need to be taken into consideration. Bad weather may be a major problem for construction schedules since roadwork is done outdoors without shelter. Unlike commercial construction, where work may be done concurrently, roadwork is usually phased. Often, making progress requires the completion of another task first.

Keeping everyone safe is essential at all times, whether they are working on a construction site or driving down the road. According to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), road construction sites had an average of 2103 fatal work-related injuries each year from 2003 to 2019. Building roads and highways that can handle a growing population and increased commuter traffic is also a problem for companies.

Many road construction projects are carried out in rural places, where workers lack the connection that is available to commercial contractors. Instead, they are exposed to the weather. The project trailer and the construction site may be several miles distant, and a lengthy trip back and forth collecting construction drawings and documentation is both time-consuming and expensive. Engineers now spend more time on the work site than they do running errands back and forth between the job site and the trailer. A trusted software and the most up-to-date blueprints are essential for any road or highway development project to succeed.

How Software Helps

Finding and hiring contractors is easier with the appropriate software. It also decreases errors and remove data silos, preserve finished projects, and develop uniform processes.

One of the best ways to boost efficiency on the worksite is to monitor real-time data. It's important to use the correct construction software to assess and manage a significant quantity of data, including project performance, weather conditions, and the precise details of the work force. When you use personalised daily views, you can see which teams are in need of attention and provide them with the tools they need to set daily goals and stay on top of progress. With real-time data, project managers and operational staff may quickly identify potential problems, events, and other possible risks, such as traffic jams or poor traffic flow.

For infrastructure projects, data silos may be a serious issue. Subcontractors, for example, may keep their own records. Since general contractor is responsible for receiving this information, it must go via the subcontractor in order to be received. As a result, the flow of information may get clogged, reduce overall project productivity.

Digital platforms enable general contractor to access data at anytime, anywhere, from a single point of access. It prevents miscommunications and removes the need for subcontractors to clarify information that may have been available to everyone from the outset. For the efficiency of road and highway projects, a centralised software system that serves as a single source of truth is essential to success.

Monitoring and maintenance are required even after the project has been completed. In 2017, state and municipal governments spent 45 percent of their highway and road infrastructure investment on expenses including maintenance, operation, and safety. Once the project is completed, Changes may be made if the appropriate technical software is used. Using this platform, project managers may analyse data to make appropriate adjustments to claims processing and handling.

What Does This Mean for Construction Teams?

The data management capabilities of the software have significant implications for project management. A user-friendly interface that enables teams to interact, solve issues, and expedite projects while decreasing errors and saving time and money.

Superintendents and foremen may spend more time on the job with their crews since software takes care of the administrative burden.

Information may be distributed more quickly and efficiently with the help of software. With the help of the technology, the project engineer no longer needs to speak with subcontractors and other personnel in the field one-on-one. They just need to upload the information to the software. It minimises upfront burden and allows project engineers to focus on the most important aspects of the project.

Conclusion

Rail infrastructure, road infrastructure, and other infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, dikes, subways, and mass transportation, make up the majority of the infrastructure construction market. In October 2021, Prime minister Mr. Narendra Modi has announced Rs.100 lakh crore master plan for multi-modal connectivity with the goal of developing infrastructure to lower logistic cost and improve the economy. India is expected to become the world’s third largest construction market by 2022. In Financial Year 2021, there is approx. 30% growth in activities related to National Highway Construction in India.

We live in an ever-connected world. There is an increasing need for infrastructure that is both efficient and safe as the population increases. Construction companies that work on roads and highways have a lot on their plate. With government contracts, how can they maintain their prices low enough to remain competitive without jeopardising safety? When dealing with interdisciplinary groups, how can they prevent creating data silos? When it comes to large-scale initiatives, how can they keep innovation alive while keeping track of the huge volumes of data required?

Technology has the key to solving all of these issues. Your organisation will be able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment without sacrificing creativity, efficiency, and dependability if you use the correct software. There's never been a better moment to start automating your processes with the help of software. Companies that don't take these steps risk being left in the dust.

If you aren’t currently using construction management application, You can try out ours for free. The benefits of leveraging technology to connect teams and increasing productivity cannot be overstated.