LafargeHolcim and IBM join forces
Companies to further develop ORIS digital materials platform for sustainable road solutions
IBM and LafargeHolcim have joined forces to further develop ORIS – the first digital materials platform for sustainable road solutions.
LafargeHolcim will work with IBM Services to further develop the ORIS digital platform for road design optimization, which can reduce road project costs by up to one-third and carbon emissions by up to half, while tripling road durability and usage lifespans.
ORIS allows decision-makers, road infrastructure authorities and project investors to improve road construction and sustainability and reduce inefficiencies through smart project design. This is especially timely as governments design stimulus packages to revive economic activity post COVID-19 while also responding to the impact of climate change.
An average of 700,000km (435,000 miles) of new roads are being built globally every year. Improving road quality and resilience will help reduce the massive amount of carbon emissions attributed to transportation.
However, because roads vary depending on location, climate, vehicle types and traffic volumes, it is a complex challenge to define the most sustainable and cost-effective mix of building materials and technologies early in the design phase.
ORIS assesses road pavement designs from different perspectives and recommends efficient construction and maintenance patterns with local materials availability and capabilities. In doing so, it is supporting public policies that conserve natural resources, allowing a more local and circular economy in road construction.
‘We are accelerating the digitalization of our solutions for sustainable and high-performance construction,’ said Marcel Cobuz, region head of Europe and member of the executive committee with responsibility for innovation at LafargeHolcim on a global level.
‘With global solutions like ORIS, we are committed to leading the way in low-carbon and circular construction as well as responsible natural resource consumption for roads and beyond.
‘We have already entered into pilots with different partners such as road authorities, international financing institutions and engineering firms to use ORIS in both developed and emerging markets.’
LafargeHolcim will leverage IBM’s portfolio of digital platforms, hybrid clouds, digital design services, as well as IBM’s expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, industrial Internet of Things and data analytics, to enhance even further their materials knowledge in cement and ready-mixed concrete products, as well as their solutions and products, including precast concrete, asphalt, mortar and building solutions.
‘Data-driven solutions and digital technologies have the potential to transform road construction towards more sustainable, circular, low-carbon, low-resource and cost-efficient techniques,’ said Hervé Rolland, vice-president of industrial solutions with IBM Europe.
‘ORIS is instrumental in recommending appropriate and tailored approaches to road-building, thus minimizing costs, environmental impacts and project delays. IBM Services help businesses establish the right industry-relevant platforms that support rapid digitization, standardization and simplification, as well as vertically integrating both industrial and business operations.’
