Keeping in mind the concern over the delay in completion of several national highway projects across the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has accelerated the use of Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction (AIMC) systems.
It will provide real-time data on the status of each project along with a survey of construction at each stage of the road construction process. The generated data will be sent to the stakeholders including MoRTH on real time basis.
The ministry earlier this week issued a draft circular to all stakeholders, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). National Highway projects.
An MORTH official told The Indian Express that the department has studied the systems of the likes of the US, Norway and European Union countries, where AIMC has already been implemented, to come up with this pan-India scheme.
Why is AIMC necessary?
The introduction of various types of machinery for highway construction has accelerated the process. Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), we are on the cusp of another revolution.
Several “intelligent road construction machines” have been developed, which will increase the durability and longevity of constructed roads, provide real-time documentation and increase productivity. Such machines will help complete projects according to precise schedule.
Recently, while replying to a question from a Rajya Sabha member, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that in March 2024, 952 projects costing more than Rs 150 crore (including National Highway projects) are under construction. A total of 419 projects have extended beyond their original completion schedule, missing one or the other of the various stages of project completion.
While there are many reasons for the delay in highway construction, the ministry officials say that old technology, outdated information and poor performance of contractors have added to the problem.
Is AIMC tested in India?
NHAI is implementing AIMC on a pilot basis in the 63-km long under-construction Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway project, also known as the Awadh Expressway, with automated and intelligent machines such as GPS-assisted motor graders, intelligent compactors, and stringless pavers. has been used.
Based on this pilot project, AIMC will be adopted nationwide in the construction of national highways, officials said.
“These machines are called intelligent machines, not AI machines. Because AI works on the basis of already available data, in these machines, we have to feed project-wise information into the system, which will reduce manpower. This will speed up the work as the construction work with these machines will continue even during the night, said the official.
He added, ‘Now after the completion of each stage of construction, a survey has to be done to check that there is no compromise in quality. With these machines, the survey will go hand-in-hand as it will send real-time data of every step to all stakeholders including the Ministry.
What are AIMC machines? How will they work?
Road projects require embankment, subgrade, subbase and base pavement layers. Under the AIMC system, a GPS-assisted motor grader will be used for soil, subbase and base layer, and an intelligent compaction roller (IC roller) and a single drum/tandem vibratory roller will be used for soil, subbase and base layer compaction.
A GPS-assisted motor grader, also known as 3D machine control technology, will process data from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and angle sensors. It will calculate the precise position and orientation of the grader’s blade in real-time and compare it to the design surface or grade specified in the digital design plans.
Similarly, IC rollers will help minimize post-construction consolidation, a critical step in highway construction. Consolidation reduces voids, air pockets, or water content in materials such as concrete or clay, so that roads are not damaged.
At present, the national highway network of India is about 1.46 lakh km. The network consists of about 3,000 km of high-speed corridors, with a target of an additional 45,000 km by 2047.
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