Page 20 - Construction_Opportunities_Sep_2026

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easier to access, while the company’s wider work combines project execution.
machine learning, computer vision and edge computing to
support more intelligent machine operations. The larger shift is POWERING THE TRANSITION
towards connecting the machine with the jobsite. AI can bring For construction equipment, the question is not simply how to
together information from equipment, project plans and fleet move away from diesel. It is which technology can do the job
systems to provide a clearer view of how work is progressing. Over just as effectively. That distinction is particularly important in
time, this could help contractors improve machine deployment, India. Construction equipment works long hours, often under
maintenance schedules and productivity across multiple sites. demanding conditions and frequently at sites where reliable
India is beginning to see the same shift at the project level. charging infrastructure cannot be taken for granted. The transition
NHAI’s decision to mandate Automated and Intelligent Machine- towards lower-emission equipment will therefore be shaped less
Aided Construction for highway projects longer than 20 km and by a single technology and more by the practical realities of
costing more than `500 crore is a significant step. It brings individual applications.
greater emphasis on machine-enabled monitoring, real-time Battery-electric equipment is gaining ground where those
information and measurable quality into major infrastructure conditions are favourable. Urban projects, metro construction,
delivery. AI is also entering construction management. DRA has tunnels, industrial facilities and other noise- or emissions-sensitive
adopted an AI-based platform across project management, environments can provide clear use cases, particularly where
quality inspection, site monitoring, procurement, safety and delay operating cycles are predictable and access to power can be
prediction. Nemetschek India and NCCCL are similarly working planned.
on AI-enabled digital construction workflows through pilot projects Volvo CE is among the companies advancing this shift, with
involving Runwal and L&T Realty. electric machines including excavators and loaders forming part
These developments are important because they create of its India portfolio. The company is also taking a broader view
demand for intelligence across the construction ecosystem. As of electrification globally, recognising that the machine alone is
project owners seek better visibility and quality control, contractors only one part of the equation. Its 2026 collaboration with Hitachi
will require more connected fleets. As machines become more Energy focuses on integrating equipment, charging, power supply
connected, AI can help turn the data they generate into practical and energy management—an approach with clear relevance for
actions. markets such as India, where site infrastructure will play a major
The near-term opportunity is therefore not necessarily fully role in determining adoption.
autonomous construction. It is better-informed construction— Schwing Stetter brings another relevant dimension to the Indian
predicting failures earlier, improving machine utilisation, market. Its work around electric equipment in concrete and
monitoring work more closely and supporting operators and specialised construction applications points towards sectors
project teams with timely information. For construction equipment, where electrification could gain traction earlier, particularly across
AI’s value will ultimately be measured in familiar terms: more urban infrastructure and enclosed working environments.
uptime, better productivity, lower costs and greater control over But electrification is not the only technology being pursued. JCB’s

20 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|SEPTEMBER 2026