Reimagining Automation in Construction
On most construction sites, the rhythm of progress is measured in the clang of steel, the hum of machinery, and the sweat of thousands. But increasingly, a new sound is entering the mix, the quiet efficiency of algorithms, the hum of drones overhead, and the precision of robotic arms at work. Behind the concrete and cables, an invisible force is taking hold – data. It is turning blueprints into living simulations, managing fleets of machines, and helping engineers make decisions before a single brick is laid. This is not the construction of tomorrow; it is the architecture of today; built on code as much as concrete.
To unpack the rise of automation and its growing influence on India’s construction sector, FIRST Construction Council, in association with Construction World, Equipment India and Infrastructure Today magazines, hosted a webinar – titled “Reimagining Construction with Automation” – bringing together a panel of industry and academic leaders. Moderated by Nitika Krishan, Technical Director, KPMG India, the session featured Dr Nikhil Bugalia, Assistant Professor (Building Technology and Construction Management) Civil Engineering, IIT Madras; Joy Mukherjee, Co-Founder & CEO, i3DC Solutions; K Senou, Head – Technical Services (Buildings & Factories), L&T Construction; and Manesh Jain, Founder & CEO, Flo Mobility.
Laying the foundation for a new era
Opening the discussion, Krishan emphasised the critical role of the construction industry in India's economy, contributing approximately 10 per cent to the GDP and employing over 50 million people. Despite this impressive scale, the sector has long grappled with persistent challenges such as labour shortages, cost overruns, project delays, and safety lapses. It is within this backdrop that automation emerges as a compelling solution; one that promises to not only improve efficiency and productivity but also promote sustainability and safety.
Senou offered a compelling retrospective on how construction processes have evolved over the past decade. “Project delivery timelines are shrinking. What used to take five years must now be completed in three,” he explained. In response, L&T introduced a two-pronged approach- ‘white-collar automation’ for digital workflows and ‘blue-collar automation’ for on-site mechanisation.
The adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) was pivotal, enabling collaborative design, material tracking, and significant reductions in project timelines. “We have also embedded IoT in over 30,000 pieces of equipment, enabling real-time monitoring and smarter resource management,” he said. On the ground, L&T championed precast construction and 3D printing, completing 96 flats in just 96 days. “The transformation has been remarkable.”
Pockets of progress
Despite these advancements, automation in India’s construction sector is far from evenly distributed. Jain pointed out that while digitalisation tools like BIM and project management software have seen broader adoption, hardware-centric automation like robotics and drones remains limited to certain regions and high-profile projects.
“Infrastructure projects and high-rise commercial developments are leading the way,” Jain said. “But smaller buildings, especially in less-developed regions, are yet to catch up.”
This fragmented growth, according to Jain, is due to the sector’s inherent complexity. “Every project is unique. And without a strong foundation of people, processes, and technology, automation won’t yield meaningful results,” he added.
Mukherjee echoed this sentiment and highlighted another critical issue- the lack of seamless data flow. “We have approached automation in a sporadic way, targeting specific pain points rather than embracing a holistic strategy,” he observed.
Mukherjee believes the future lies in centralising data to empower decision-makers. “A single version of truth enables predictive analytics and proactive decision-making. That’s the real value automation can deliver,” he noted. But with data scattered across multiple silos, confidence in its accuracy remains a challenge.
Safety, training, and AI
Dr Bugalia brought an academic perspective, focusing on construction safety and the disparity in practices across small, medium, and large projects. “Smaller construction projects often neglect safety, and automation adoption is far from uniform,” he explained.
However, Dr Bugalia pointed to promising innovations, including mobile apps for reporting near-misses and the use of smart cameras for PPE checks. Yet, he also sounded a note of caution. “These are pilot-scale deployments. For real impact, we need scalable, accessible tools that even small companies can use.”
He also emphasised a neglected opportunity, design for safety. “Automation and visualisation tools like BIM should be leveraged not just for execution but for planning safe, efficient workflows from the design stage itself.”
When asked about the barriers to automation, Senou laid out a detailed landscape of constraints, operational, financial, and cultural. “In India, we often begin construction while the design is still being developed. That undermines the full benefits of digital tools like BIM,” he explained. Further, the high initial costs of mechanised construction, lack of standardisation, and limited R&D investment remain significant obstacles.
“Every architect wants to leave their signature on a project. This lack of standardisation makes it harder to implement automation at scale,” he noted. Despite these roadblocks, Senou was optimistic, “Even with these challenges, we’re progressing.”
From problem to solution
For Jain, the answer lies in breaking down the problem into smaller, manageable tasks. “We started with automating material movement and are gradually moving to wall finishing, facade cleaning, and more,” he shared. The goal, he explained, is not to replace people but to augment them.
He said, “Let robots handle productivity. Let humans focus on creativity.” This philosophy resonated with the broader discussion around robotics. Jain and other panellists agreed that robots are ideally suited for repetitive, labour-intensive tasks, allowing human workers to channel their energy into improving design, materials, and processes.
Beyond efficiency, automation is becoming a crucial enabler of sustainability. Senou shared how L&T is leveraging digitalisation and smart equipment to reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. From electrifying construction equipment to installing solar panels at labour colonies, the company is taking bold steps toward its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2040.
“We have even automated our steel processing centres, reducing material waste from 3 per cent to just 0.5 to 1 per cent,” he added. “These are not just cost-saving measures; they are part of our responsibility to the planet.”
Digital twins, predictive planning, and the next frontier
Digital twins and collaborative platforms are also expected to redefine how projects are managed. “What we’re all looking for is repeatable success,” said Mukherjee. “And digital platforms can help identify what’s falling through the cracks before it becomes a problem.”
These tools also offer a pathway toward standardisation, data-driven planning, and seamless collaboration among stakeholders. “We expect a major transformation in five years,” he said. “From asset management to real-time planning, digital technologies will be at the heart of it.”
As the conversation shifted toward the future, the panellists returned to the role of humans in an increasingly automated environment. Jain addressed concerns about job losses with a pragmatic view. “This isn’t about replacing people. It is about helping them do more,” he said. “The industry is already running behind schedule. Robots can help us catch up.”
He predicted that in five years, with the right human-machine collaboration, the same workforce could deliver three times as many projects.
Rethinking roles and bridging gaps
The role of the traditional project manager is also set to evolve. With AI, cloud computing, and digital dashboards, managers can focus more on strategic decision-making and less on manual coordination. “They will have more time for quality work and less for firefighting,” Mukherjee observed.
Dr Bugalia, however, cautioned against over-reliance on opaque AI systems. “Decisions affecting worker safety must remain transparent and explainable,” he said. “Otherwise, we risk losing sight of the human impact.”
The discussion also turned to skill development. Dr Bugalia acknowledged that institutions like IITs are now more focused on research than workforce development, and that very few civil engineers continue in their core field. “We have shifted from producing skilled labour to nurturing innovators and entrepreneurs,” he said.
In contrast, L&T has taken a more hands-on approach. “We run multiple training centres across India, from unskilled workers to MTech programs in collaboration with IITs,” said Senou. “We’re not just building projects; we’re building people.”
Vision for the future
As the webinar drew to a close, Krishan summarised the collective insight, “The future of construction isn’t just about adopting new technologies; it is about reimagining how we build, design, and manage.”
The panel agreed that automation in construction isn’t a passing trend. It is a movement that holds the potential to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable structures, redefine job roles, and unlock new avenues for growth. As India’s construction industry builds its way into the future, automation is not just helping to lay the bricks; it is drawing the blueprint.
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