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Why efficiency and productivity are key to the future of Australian construction

With a boom in infrastructure projects and a national conversation about government plans for new housing and the need to upgrade public buildings, attention is on the construction industry and how it will need to scale rapidly. Already, demand for construction services in Australia is high and expected to grow, with significant government investment – in particular projects in education, transport, power and energy, and utilities. The Australian construction industry is also facing challenges, including rising costs, labour shortages, and high-profile delays to public projects. But, looking ahead…

“In Australia, the engineering and construction industry outlook is positive. Those that can successfully navigate through the short-term challenges should be able to capitalise on the huge pipeline of opportunities that lie ahead.”

This is KPMG’s assessment in its latest Global Construction Survey, adding:

“Companies need to continue to develop new and innovative ways to improve productivity and project performance.”

There is huge potential for growth in the Australian construction sector, and rapid adoption of new technology will be key to overcoming challenges and delivering the improved productivity necessary for success.

Help teams work safely and efficiently

The construction industry will need nearly half a million additional workers by 2026 to meet demand and replace retirees. One of the challenges of ongoing labour shortages is the need for teams to work more effectively while maintaining the highest standards of safety. Labour costs are also increasing so, to meet budget demands, improving productivity and preventing project overruns is key.

With UBY’s construction management solution, UBY Productivity, the position of individual workers can be tracked in real time, making sure resources are allocated to the most beneficial areas. Lone and exposed workers can also be monitored with immediate, automatic alerts for managers when any individual strays into a dangerous or restricted zone. In case of emergency or evacuation, the same system allows those overseeing work to ensure everyone is out safely. An example of this approach to productivity in practice involved UBY’s work with contractor Dragages Singapore, when they were tasked with overseeing construction of the 51-storey CapitaSpring building (also known as Project Glory). We deployed an autonomous mesh network, with all information being sent to the cloud and our construction management platform. Project managers were able at any time to check headcounts by project phase, zone and elevation, plus contractor/subcontractor company. By the end of the project, an estimated 3,000 man-hours of expensive labour had been saved.
Avoid delays, refine schedules, improve forecasting and minimise theft In a time of high inflation, project overruns put further pressure on already tight margins. Some of the key operational challenges construction projects face are knowing whether works are deviating from programme, understanding what to do about it in the moment, and having the information available to refine schedules and forecasts so bottlenecks are avoided, and future allocations optimised.
For example, contractors working on the LRT1 light rail extension project in Manila were overseeing construction of a viaduct in which large, pre-cast bridge spans were brought onto site by transporters. Aware that a large portion of all delays in operations like this are logistical in nature, the contractor asked us to tag assets including transporters and a mobile gantry crane in order to understand their status. UBY’s smart monitoring allows managers to optimise schedules of work and improve forecasting while works continue. By tagging and tracking equipment and vehicles, managers can watch vehicles live, or check whether equipment is, say, idling or running, allowing staff to observe, plan and anticipate resource requirements, allocating proactively not reactively, but also reacting immediately when events do arise.
As well as real-time tracking, managers can use clear and customisable dashboards to study outcomes, identify friction points and evolve allocations and usage patterns. Metrics such as time spent loading and unloading, average speeds and routes taken, could all be studied and acted upon. Certainty about the location of equipment, machinery and tools also reduces the risk of theft. Using smart tagging systems supports managers with stock control, and alerts can be set up to notify you when items leave the controlled site area. Maintenance and compliance can also be managed, allowing all the oversight of equipment you need through one platform.
 
Respond from where you are UBY integrates smart sensors with a cloud-based data visualisation platform to equip construction managers with the information they need to act, no matter where they are. Log into the networked platform from anywhere and see information updated in real-time. All information is visualised with actionable insights provided. The customisable dashboard allows you to tailor the information presented so site teams receive the information they need to optimise delivery. Save time, with the right information at your fingertips, and specify reports to be generated and shared automatically, on the schedules you set.
 
Make sure you are maximising value The first thought of anyone in procurement is to assess whether the option under consideration is competitive – but investment is key. If a smarter system means each worker and each asset can achieve more, managers are freed up to focus on other tasks such as improvement and optimisation of processes. The technology you put in place may pay for itself very quickly.
 
There is real potential for change in construction productivity, and technology is driving that.
 
Worksite insights have never been more critical – and understanding how your project is progressing in real-time can help you minimise unexpected costs, stay on schedule, and anticipate risks. UBY offers smart AI-powered monitoring solutions that support construction project managers – making projects more efficient and productive.

There is real potential for change in construction productivity, and technology is driving that

Worksite insights have never been more critical – and understanding how your project is progressing in real-time can help you minimise unexpected costs, stay on schedule, and anticipate risks. UBY offers smart AI-powered monitoring solutions that support construction project managers – making projects more efficient and productive.

 

Looking for support on your next project? Contact us by email ausenquiries@uby-group.com or via the website

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