Concrete

How Technology Helps Building Materials

Published

3 years ago

May 10, 2023

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Vishal Kanodia, Managing Director, Kanodia Cement, explains the role technology plays in making the building material segment more sustainable.

In today’s world, sustainability has become a key concern for businesses across all sectors. The building material segment is no exception. With the rapid pace of urbanisation and the increasing demand for housing, commercial complex and infrastructure segments, it is high time for the construction industry to look for alternative, sustainable building materials that can meet the growing demand for construction without degrading the environment.
The good news is that technology has the potential to play a significant role in making the building material segment more sustainable. Let’s explore how different technological elements can help us achieve this goal.

Traditional Technology Elements
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Enterprise Reporting have been around for a while and are widely used in the building material industry. These technologies help in streamlining operations, improving customer engagement, better feedback from the last mile customers and providing real-time visibility into business processes, which ultimately augment customer satisfaction.
Industry 3.0, which refers to the third wave of the industrial revolution that started in the 1960s, brought about the automation of production processes. It enabled the industry to produce goods at scale, reducing production costs and increasing efficiency. While Industry 3.0 technologies are still prevalent, it is time for the building material segment to embrace newer technologies that can help them become more cost effective and sustainable.

Green Building and Sustainability
The use of alternative sustainable building materials is one way to make the industry more sustainable. Technologies such as modular building design and precast construction can help in the faster construction of buildings while reducing the wastage of materials. The use of renewable energy, such as solar panels, can reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy.
Carbon credits, wastewater treatment and reuse of water and material reuse are some other sustainability initiatives that can be taken up by the building material industry.

Digital Disruption
Digital commerce, big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are some of the newer technologies that can disrupt the building material industry. They can help in the optimisation of production processes, reduce energy and water consumption and enable the industry to produce goods at scale with minimal human intervention.
Industry 4.0, which is the fourth wave of the industrial revolution, refers to the integration of technologies such as AI, machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) to create smart factories. These factories can operate with minimal human intervention and can optimise production processes based on real-time data.

Smart Supply Chain
A smart supply chain can enable the building material industry to optimise logistics and reduce the wastage of materials. Technologies such as autonomous mobile robots (AMR), indoor drones, and visual AI can help in the automation of material handling and warehouse operations. IoT-based asset tracking can provide real-time visibility into the location of materials, enabling better inventory management.
Smart last-mile logistics can enable the industry to enhance the transportation of goods to their final destination. Technologies such as vehicle telemetry, geo-fencing, and drones can help in the optimisation of last-mile delivery.

What Lies Ahead
The building material industry is at a crossroads. The industry needs to embrace newer, sustainable technologies that can enable it to produce goods at scale without degrading the environment.
With the help of technologies such as AI,machine learning, and the IoT, the industry can optimise production processes, reduce energy and water consumption and automated material handling and warehouse operations. The role of technology in the sustainability of building materials is significant and has played a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact of the building materials segment.
However, it is not just about using technology to scale up the supply chain and manufacturing processes. The use of technology in the sustainability of building materials also involves the use of green building materials and renewable energy sources.
Alternative sustainable building materials such as bamboo, straw bale and recycled plastic are becoming more popular due to their low environmental impact and their ability to reduce energy consumption. Moreover, the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, and geothermal energy has become more common, as it helps reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources. The use of green building materials, renewable energy sources, carbon credits and digital disruption has helped companies reduce waste, optimise resource usage and lower their carbon footprint, leading to a more sustainable future. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative solutions that will help the building materials segment become even more sustainable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishal Kanodia is the Managing Director of Kanodia Cement. He has a rich experience in the cement manufacturing industry and a leadership flair.

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Aditya Birla Group Launches Ultravolt Wires And Cables Business

UltraTech extends building solutions into electrical wiring

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2 days ago

September 9, 2026

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Aditya Birla Group has entered the wires and cables market through Ultravolt, extending UltraTech’s move from building materials into building solutions. The shift builds on UltraTech Building Solutions, a multi-category platform that already addresses customers across different stages of construction and extends beyond cement into ready-mix concrete, waterproofing, tile-fixing solutions and mortars.

The company intends to enter with scale, seeking presence across 100,000 retailers in more than 500 districts and availability through 5,000 plus UltraTech Building Solutions (UBS) outlets. The portfolio spans house wires, light-duty cables, communication cables, solar cables and low-tension and industrial cables to meet changing electrical requirements driven by solar installations, communications infrastructure and industrial automation.

An upstream advantage begins in the Group’s metals ecosystem, with conductor quality central to product performance. Ultravolt wires will use TruePure Copper, defined as 99.97 per cent pure electrolytic-grade annealed copper sourced from Hindalco, providing greater control over raw material quality and provenance and supporting electrical performance, safety and durability.

The business also targets the electrician community as a decisive influence on product choice and installation quality. The Wires and Cables Business has launched a Skill India Electrician Training Programme in partnership with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India that aims to train and certify more than 40,000 electricians across India over the next year, focusing on safe wiring practices, correct installation and advanced wire technologies and offering Skill India-aligned certification and identification credentials.

The move combines market opportunity, UltraTech’s construction ecosystem, manufacturing capability and Group-level resources. A large Gujarat facility, advanced machinery and in-house testing and research and development underpin the product strategy, which is designed for both traditional and emerging applications. The ambition is to build a scaled national brand and become one of the top two players within five years, making the Group an integral participant in modern building infrastructure.

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Ramco Cements Mine Restoration Gets Global Biodiversity Certification

Pandalgudi mine restoration receives Advanced Certification from TGBS

Published

2 days ago

September 9, 2026

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The ecological restoration of Ramco Cements’ limestone mine at Pandalgudi in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, has received international recognition with the site being awarded Advanced Certification by The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS). The recognition makes Pandalgudi the first site in Peninsular India to receive the certification and places it among globally recognised biodiversity restoration projects.

TGBS, recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), assesses biodiversity restoration projects based on scientific evaluation and their contribution to ecosystem recovery and local communities. The certification is supported by more than 250 scientists and academics worldwide.

Spread across over 500 acres of worked-out mine areas, the restoration project includes a certified 234-acre site. Initiated in 2018 with technical support from Auroville Botanical Gardens, the project began plantation activities in 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2027. More than 430,000 native trees and shrubs belonging to 150 ecologically significant species have been planted at the site.

The restored mine, which was once a barren landscape with limited biodiversity, has recorded over 72 bird species and 53 butterfly species. The project has also captured an estimated 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the past seven years, supporting broader sustainability and carbon reduction goals.

Opened officially in 2022, the site has attracted more than 13,000 visitors through educational programmes for schools, colleges and training institutions. The restoration initiative has also contributed to the development of the Rajapalayam Masterplan and supported Tamil Nadu’s carbon neutrality ambitions.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr P. R. Venketrama Raja, Chairman, Ramco Group, said the company aims for the Pandalgudi restoration project to serve as an inspiration and blueprint for the mining industry in India. Dr David Bartholomew, CEO, The Global Biodiversity Standard, highlighted the project’s long-term commitment to biodiversity recovery and independent assessment of ecological outcomes.

The certification reinforces Ramco Cements’ focus on sustainable mining practices and ecological restoration as part of its commitment towards a carbon-neutral future.

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Central Technical Team To Survey Sites For Bhadradri Kothagudem Airport

Delegation to assess feasibility and ground conditions

Published

3 days ago

September 8, 2026

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A central technical team will visit possible sites identified for the Bhadradri Kothagudem airport in Telangana to assess their suitability for airport development. The team will conduct on-site inspections to evaluate terrain, accessibility and existing infrastructure and will examine factors relevant to safe operations and construction feasibility. The exercise is being carried out in coordination with the state government and local administration to ensure alignment with regional planning objectives.

Members will survey topography, drainage patterns, soil conditions and potential approach paths and will note proximity to habitations and transport corridors. The inspection team will interact with revenue officials, the public works department and representatives of the civil aviation authority to collect technical inputs and records. Satellite imagery and prior site reports will be reviewed alongside ground observations to develop a comprehensive assessment.

Environmental considerations will form a central part of the review, with attention to forest patches, water bodies and biodiversity corridors in and around shortlisted locations. The team will examine regulatory clearances required and will flag areas where detailed environmental impact assessment and mitigation planning are necessary. Land acquisition records and options for minimising displacement will be evaluated in consultation with district authorities.

Findings will be compiled into a technical report for submission to state and central agencies to inform subsequent decision making. The assessment is intended to support careful site selection and to identify infrastructure and connectivity requirements that would need to be addressed during project planning. Stakeholder consultations with local communities and businesses will be part of the follow up process to capture ground level concerns and logistical inputs. The state government will consider the technical report before taking further steps towards detailed design and approvals.