New trends in construction industry
Sri Lanka today is witnessing a massive boom in the real estate and construction industry. Lots of modern machinery required for construction have been imported during recent times and it has gradually led to the industry to look forward to a greater development around the country, a senior official in the local construction industry told the Business Times.
The newest technology that the majority of apartments and buildings construction companies use today is the precast concrete or pre-fabricated construction. This is a construction product produced by casting concrete in the reusable mold or ‘form’ which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into place. This precast concrete is manufactured offsite which reduces construction time, cost savings, less waste. Also there’re some construction companies that do onsite molding as well.
The senior official also stated that building materials and supply chain have improved cost efficiency and many energy efficient materials have come into play. Today buildings and apartments are built in such a way, that they are sustainable with less carbon emission where lots of energy consumption materials are in place.
One other important technology that construction companies have adopted is the use of Buildings Information Modelling (BIM). It is an intelligent 3D model-based process that equips architecture, engineering and construction professionals with the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure.
Some of the benefits of using the tool are that it provides more consistent, more accurate and less time consuming project document generation for buildings. “Many new builders want their contractors to use this technology. There is data that they can capture and capitalise on other projects,” the senior official noted.
Laser scanning is another new technology adopted in the construction sector. A technology which uses 3D laser scanners that can create digital reproduction of the dimensions and positions of objects in a certain space and give a better picture, is also on the rise, he added.
He also stressed on the fact that the main focus of apartments and high rise buildings construction should be on the sustainability factor. Trees growing on buildings give fresh air and less sunlight to the building whereas other similar features are now adopted on high rise buildings.
One of the unique and exquisite apartment complexes the country is looking forward to is the ‘Altair’ in Colombo. A design the country has never witnessed before, this is a composite structure made out of pure concrete and steel.
Grant Hyatt Colombo is standing out as the tallest apartment cum hotel complex in Sri Lanka with 47 stories which is to be opened by the end of this year, the Lotus Tower as the tallest vertical structure and Clear Point Residencies remains the tallest vertical garden in the world which is to be opened mid this year, the senior official stated.
He also stressed that the construction sector has come a long way within the last 10 years. More and more foreign companies have come and invested in the country while extremely talented local companies are using new techniques and standards that are prevalent worldwide.