Zheng Xu, deputy to the National People's Congress and chairman of Shanghai Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.: Accelerate the digital transformation and upgrading of the construction industry

On March 6, the reporter of the National Business Daily learned that Zheng Xu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and chairman of Shanghai Construction Engineering, submitted two written proposals to the National People's Congress in 2022, involving the digital transformation and upgrading of the construction industry and the comprehensive utilization of construction waste.

Zheng Xu believes that speeding up the digital transformation, upgrading and empowerment of traditional industries is an important starting point for deepening the structural reform on the supply side, an important way for traditional industries to achieve quality improvement and efficiency enhancement, and has increasingly become the core driving force for economic and social development. China's construction industry has a huge and rich digital application prospect, and the future can be expected.

Photo courtesy of Zheng Xu, Chairman of Shanghai Construction Engineering.

Digitalization promotes the transformation and upgrading of the construction industry

Zheng Xu pointed out that there are still some obstacles in the transformation and innovation of the current construction industry: the technology R&D and application costs are high, and there is no scale effect; The coverage rate of site projects is low, and the overall digitalization level of the industry is not high.

At the same time, the synergy of digital technology in the construction industry chain is not high, digital technology is widely used in single stage, single system and single project, BIM (Building Information Model) is not popular, and the links of design, construction, procurement and operation exist in isolation, so it is difficult for data and information to flow with the progress of the project, forming an information island that is not easy to interact; The environment of BIM model review and acceptance is immature, BIM pricing and review are still in the exploratory stage, and there is a lack of targeted and complete industry standards.

In addition, there is a big gap in innovative compound talents combining architectural design, construction, operation and maintenance with digital technology.

In view of the above problems in the construction industry, Zheng Xu suggested: First, deepen the digitalization of construction products and construction industry. Actively integrate the new generation of information technology with the construction industry, continue to promote the integrated application of BIM technology in the whole life cycle of the project, build a digital construction site based on 5G, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, and vigorously build an industry-oriented BIM-based Internet intelligent design, construction and operation and maintenance platform for the construction industry.

The second is to strive to build a digital business ecosystem. Supported by five key factors, such as "business drive, technical support, industrial synergy, policy support and entrepreneur's will", we will open up upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, supply chain and service chain and create a digital transformation business ecosystem for enterprises.

Third, vigorously cultivate the culture of construction service providers. Digital transformation has pointed out the direction for improving the service level of building products. We should actively cultivate altruism, improve the service ability and culture of construction service providers, actively provide intelligent green engineering products and service systems for the society, and promote the harmony between architecture and nature and people.

The fourth is to accelerate the cultivation of digital high-end cross-border talents. Make full use of the rich advantages of platform application scenarios of China construction enterprises, strengthen cooperation with universities and scientific research institutions, and continuously introduce and cultivate high-end cross-border talents in related fields such as building information technology and industrial software design.

At the same time, Zheng Xu suggested that the government should introduce a standard system for intelligent design, construction, operation and maintenance, update, study and formulate pricing policies for digital industries, digital model review and acceptance policies, and relevant industry standards that are both practical and targeted, vigorously support independent innovation of traditional industries, develop integrated, systematic and collaborative digital platforms, open up "information islands" for industry development, and strive to promote the construction of Internet platforms in the construction industry.

Promote the comprehensive utilization of construction waste

Zheng Xu pointed out that the domestic system of classified treatment, recycling and whole-process management of construction waste is not perfect, and the recycling of construction waste lacks special legislation, so the level of green construction in the industry needs to be further improved.

Secondly, the technical route and market demand should find the best combination point in continuous running-in and training. Construction waste has a running-in period from the source to the end of treatment. The characteristics of mixed loading of construction waste make it impossible to spread the production capacity of factory treatment at one time.

These factors eventually caused a large amount of construction waste in the upstream to be treated urgently, the capacity utilization rate of the construction waste resource utilization plant in the middle reaches was not high, and the policy guidance of using recycled sand and gravel aggregate in the downstream was not enough.

Zheng Xu pointed out that the key to solve this situation is to strengthen the policy convergence and diversion between the middle and lower reaches and the middle and upper reaches of construction waste.

At present, it is a systematic project to improve the regional construction waste recycling system, standardize the collection, storage, transportation, utilization and disposal processes of construction waste, and improve the quality of construction waste recycling products.

In view of the above problems, Zheng Xu put forward three suggestions: First, adhere to the people-centered development thought, vigorously develop urban renewal business, continuously promote urban ecological restoration and function upgrading, continuously develop and build green and low-carbon intelligent buildings, and practice the concepts of respecting nature, inheriting history and being green and low-carbon.

Second, persist in promoting the modernization of the construction industry, vigorously promote industrialization, digitalization and green construction, and reduce the total amount of construction waste from the source.

Third, adhere to the concept of a waste-free city, actively develop key technologies for recycling construction waste, and constantly expand the channels for recycling construction waste. At the same time, it is suggested that the government should be market-oriented, introduce supporting policies for the recycling of construction waste, encourage enterprises and social capital to enter the field of waste recycling, and build a complete infrastructure system for the treatment and utilization of construction waste.