GS 3, Indian Economy, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
3. The construction sector can be an excellent driver to rebuild the economy and create jobs. Substantiate. (15 Marks)
निर्माण क्षेत्र अर्थव्यवस्था के पुनर्निर्माण और रोजगार सृजित करने के लिए एक उत्कृष्ट चालक हो सकता है। पुष्टि करें।
Approach-
Candidates need to write about how the construction sector can be an excellent driver to rebuild the economy and he has to provide facts to prove or support it.
Introduction:
During the same period, however, the construction industry has continued operating as it has for the past 50 years, with a heavy reliance on manual labour, mechanical technology and established operating and business models. Productivity has stagnated as a result. But scenario is changing over the past decade as the digital technologies have been transforming whole industries, ushering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Body:
The construction sector can be an excellent driver to rebuild the economy and
create jobs: How
With the digital technologies gradually entering the construction industry, there is a change in how infrastructure, real estate and other built assets are designed, constructed, operated and maintained. The digital technologies include building information modelling (BIM), prefabrication, wireless sensors, automated and robotic equipment, and 3D-printing. The economic and social impact could be substantial, as the construction industry accounts for 6% of global GDP and employs more than 100 million people worldwide.
Many proposed actions relate only to a particular scenario, but six key actions will be relevant in any possible future.
- Artificial intelligence (AI), software systems and autonomous construction equipment replace most manual work throughout the engineering and construction value chain.
- Construction activities move largely to factories and the industry uses lean principles and advanced manufacturing processes to pre-fabricate modules that are later assembled on-site.
- The construction industry uses sustainable technologies and new materials to meet tough environmental regulations.
- Attract new talent and build up required skills – as any future scenario requires talent with substantially different skills than today’s workforce possesses, and adequate upskilling processes are largely not in place.
- Integrate and collaborate across the construction industry’s value chain – as the construction industry is characterized by a disintegrated and highly fragmented value chain, which hampers the seamless data flows and integrated systems that are essential in any future scenario.
- Adopt advanced technologies at scale – as the construction industry has been slow to adopt new technologies and still heavily relies on manual labour and mechanical technologies, resulting in poor productivity.
- Further key actions are to maximize the use of data and digital models throughout processes; to review existing product portfolios and embrace new business opportunities; and to enable change-management and adaptiveness.
Conclusion:
Players along the construction industry’s value chain – architects, designers, engineers, building material suppliers, contractors, and operations and maintenance companies – need to prepare strategically and make the right moves to thrive amid the disruptions the new technologies and trends could cause. However, the myriad potential changes in the industry will make it difficult to predict the future.
