Robot dogs and smart concrete: Moscow hosts Construction Innovation Awards Ceremony

The capital closed Construction Innovation Awards, this year’s first technological competition, 13 projects having reached the finals; the developers have already signed agreements for piloting and cooperation with Construction Innovation partners, leaders in Russia’s construction market and municipal agencies.

Over 300 startups from all over Russia took part in the competition. More than half of the applications came from developers based in Moscow and the Moscow region and covered lots of topical import-substituting proposals, while the partners selected 30 of the most promising developments. Over five weeks, participants were presenting their projects to major construction firms.

“Construction is, of course, a crucial area that needs advanced developments, the latest materials and technological products enabling control over the quality of all processes at a high level. This competition helps add the best construction solutions to Moscow’s innovation ecosystem, and Russian IT developers have the opportunity to find large business partners and introduce their technologies into the urban environment,” said Kristina Kostroma, Head of the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development

Organized by the Moscow Agency of Innovations, the competition partnered with the Moscow Department of Construction, the Department of Urban Development Policy, ANO Smart City Competence Center, major developers, and the Construction R&D Center.

On the final demo day, the partners selected some projects for further cooperation and are entering into contracts with IT developers with potential pilot tests and integrations into their routine practice.

The Moscow Construction Department, for instance, singled out seven projects at once, while the Moscow Urban Development Policy Department laid eyes on three developments.

“Our industry is rapidly growing; introduction of digital technologies, BIM modeling, robotics and other innovation can radically improve the efficiency, quality and safety of construction projects. Participation in such competitions helps us find those drivers of the construction industry with whom we can make the city better,” says Rafik Zagrutdinov, Head of the Moscow Construction Department.

Meanwhile, the Construction R&D Center is going to cooperate with two companies, a developer of technologies that analyze buildings and structures to identify potential emergencies and a company, which has developed a smart concrete solution. The latter includes a cable with ultra-sensitive sensors to monitor concrete amounts tens of thousands of times better than point sensors do; immediately after pouring, it monitors moisture and ripening, making concreting 20 to 30 per cent faster. The development also provides lifelong moisture control, is effective in cold joints and water-saturated soils and also creates smart piles that prevent thawing permafrost, its components and equipment are all Russia-made.

Another finalist is a system for high-precision construction monitoring whose autonomous robot dogs ensure geodetic control, track processes and maintain digital documents; in fact, they can be employed at heights, in the dark, in low temperatures and strong winds.

The finalist group also include a unique AR-based development that can remotely control the entire system of tower cranes on a construction site.

Another finalist was a computer vision-based platform enabling waste producers and recycling firms to find each other in real time. It is not only a construction, but also an environmental innovation aimed at protecting the environment.

The Technological Competitions project has been running for five years. It has brought together more than 880 Russian companies. 494 solutions have been successfully implemented into the urban ecosystem and large businesses, the attracted investment having reached RUB 2 billion.