The Indonesian construction industry is seeing a major upscale following the rollout and application of an innovative information framework.
Danis H. Sumadilaga, the Plt. Director General of Human Settlements at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) announced that the Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has been applied in many construction and renovation projects for education and sports facilities. He added that this new construction programme has been implemented for several projects, including those for sports in preparation for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup. Some of these projects include the renovation of the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, the Central Lombok Renteng Market, Manahan Stadium and the Malang State Polytechnic University.
The statement was made during the virtual opening of Building Information Modeling Week 2020. It comes on the heels of Regulation No. 22 released in 2018, which mandates the use of BIM programmes in the construction of government buildings higher than two floors and with an area of 2,000 square meters.
The BIM technology is a 3-D model-based process that employs data insights and tools for efficient construction and design of infrastructure projects. The government is banking on the system’s capacity to apply information and communications technology as the country fast-tracks its digital transformation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of the PUPR, renewed his call for government agencies to utilise digital technology in order to produce a more streamlined approach to public service. He said, “The use of technology must provide added value to the implementation of infrastructure development, not just to follow trends. Industry 4.0 roadmap is only an instrument.”
In the same statement, Iwan Suprijanto, the Director of Strategic Infrastructure at the Directorate General of Human Settlements of the Ministry of PUPR, echoed the same sentiments. He added that the Ministry will continue to improve on the BIM technology. Currently, this system is at its digitisation, collaboration and system integration phases. Next on the pipeline is partnering with a team to oversee the implementation of the BIM application and to “provide technical assistance, provide technical advice, and evaluate” results of implementing the BIM.
The Ministry is positive that 2021 will be marked with milestones in the construction industry following a string of innovative solutions introduced by the government. This digital transformation is expected not just to leverage software applications but also to cultivate a digital mindset.
This new mindset is seen in many government action plans. According to the Director, the Ministry has intensified efforts in digitalisation in preparation for the FIFA World Cup. It is now in the early stages of conducting studies on digital monitoring using drones with CCTV features. Using these drones, organisers of the event, who will be staying their headquarters in Zurich, can oversee operations online and in real-time through a progressive information dashboard.
With the innovative mindset that the government is gradually adopting, the Director expressed confidence that improvements in planning, licencing, implementation and maintenance in the construction sector will be fully integrated by 2024.
The Indonesian government is also making leaps in digitalisation in the agricultural sector to mitigate food exports and prevent a food crisis. OpenGov Asia earlier reported that the PUPR has integrated modern food and water management models in Central Kalimantan Province. Its goal is to improve existing food development processes there, particularly in lowland and tidal swamps. The food estate project is part of the National Strategic Programmes from 2020 to 2024. The master plan covers both irrigated and non-irrigated land with corresponding agricultural methods that can be used to improve these areas.
