Big Project ME November 2018

Publication licensed by Dubai Production City

152

NOVEMBER 2018 meconstructionnews.com

THE BUSINESS OF CONSTRUCTION

“We Want to enrich the community and bring value to it.

We really think about What an individual Would need” issam galadari, ceo of ithra Dubai, details how the developer is building dubai’s future, while respecting its heritage and people

Contents

Issue 152 November 2018 08

16

18

28

34

44

16 Maturing market

40

06 MEConstructionNews.com ONlINe

The biggest stories from Big Project Middle East’s home on the web

aNalysIs

Retrofit market to benefit from new initiatives that improve energy efficiency awareness

cOMMeNT

Synergies for an efficient future

Ghassan Barghout outlines why it’s crucial to find the right regional energy balance

08 MENA construction to be best 18 Issam Galadari

44 Multi-directional in the sky

13 Volvo CE sees 24% rise in sales 28 The Founder’s Memorial

64 Top Tenders

The bIg pIcTure

Mace report suggests a ‘perfect storm of cost pressures’ could have an unpredictable impact INTerNaTIONal News

Construction machinery giant sees Q3 increase driven by strong sales in China and Europe

IN prOfIle

Issam Galadari explains how Ithra Dubai is creating the future, while respecting the past prOjecT prOfIle

Big Project ME profiles how The Founder’s Memorial was conceptualised and built

14 Dubai hospitality sector outlook 34 Going digital MarkeT repOrT

JLL report provides an insight into the retail and hospitality market sectors in Dubai for Q3 2018

TechNOlOgy

Greg Bentley explains how owners and contractors can share integrated project delivery benefits through connected data

buIldINg TechNOlOgy

Big Project ME speaks to Dr Michael Cesarz about how a new ropeless elevator is disrupting tall building construction TeNders

Big Project ME lists the Middle East’s biggest construction tenders for November 2018

68 Autonomous vehicles lasT wOrd

Hamid Iravani discusses solutions towards improving traffic congestion in crowded cities November 2018 1

© 2018 LACASA Architects & Engineering Consultants All Rights Reserved

I’m Sami Obaid and I am a

SR. ARchitect

www.lacasa.ae

An architect who believes that architecture is a lifestyle to pursue We should grow up with an architectural mindset; it should be a priority of teamwork, problem solving and community.

Cultural perspectives should not only be limited to reflecting the values of history, but be mixed with cutting-edge technology to enhance our designs.

Sami Obaid SR. Architect

LACASA is committed to providing quality-driven designs within a multidisciplinary environment.

Established in 2006, the firm has grown significantly over the past eleven years. Today, LACASA boasts a diverse portfolio encompassing all types of developments and across the entire MENA region.

While it is said that perfection doesn’t exist, we believe that perfecting design can be achieved by cultivating extraordinary talent.

Introduction

History lesson

A

s any long-term Dubai resident will tell you, change is perhaps the only constant in the city. Whether it’s the ever-evolving road networks, the development of neighbourhoods or the creation of entirely new districts, Dubai’s mantra is to constantly evolve and grow.

However, one area that has stubbornly resisted change for years has been the neighbourhood of Deira, which has been the commercial heart of the city since before the formation of the UAE. Back when Dubai was still a sleepy little fishing village, this neighbourhood was where all business and trade was conducted, as evidenced by the gold and spice souks that still thrive to this day.

But even here, things must change.

Having resisted change for so long, the time has now come for the neighbourhood to undergo a dramatic facelift. Therefore, it was with great interest that I met with Issam Galadari, the CEO of Ithra Dubai, the real estate development arm of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

Having been to the press launch for Phase One of the Deira Enrichment Project, I was keen to meet with him and hear in detail how Ithra Dubai intends to revitalise and revamp the area around the Gold Souk. While you can read about the plans in our cover interview, the biggest takeaway for me was the respect and fondness that Galadari showed for a key part of Dubai’s history. While the plans for the future development of the area are certainly exciting, I’m equally glad to see the area’s distinctive heritage and feel will be maintained.

As we move towards the end of

4 November 2018

GROUP MANAGING DIRectOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 eDItORIAL DIRectOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 eDItORIAL eDItOR GAVIN DAVIDS gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5480 SUB eDItOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVeRtISING cOMMeRcIAL DIRectOR JUDE SLANN jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5714 DeSIGN ARt DIRectOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DeSIGNeR PERCIVAL MANALAYSAY

the year, I would also like to take a moment to thank everyone who attended, and took part in, the third edition of the ME BIM Summit.

When we launched this event in 2016, it was with the intention of starting a conversation about BIM and its use in construction. In just three short years, it has grown to a point where we’re struggling to keep it down to just a half-day event!

This year we recorded our biggest ever attendance figures with more than 260 delegates, and I have to say that the feedback has been most heartening! Do keep an eye out for next year’s event – the bar has been raised, but we here at Big Project ME, ME Consultant and MECN.com are more than confident of being able to clear it!

percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com PHOtOGRAPHY MAkSYM PORIECHkIN MARKetING MARKetING MANAGeR SHEENA SAPSfORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 cIRcULAtION & PRODUctION PRODUctION MANAGeR VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DIStRIBUtION MANAGeR PHINSON MATHEW GEORGE phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 WeB DeVeLOPMeNt MOHAMMAD AWAIS SADIq SIDDIqUI FOUNDeR DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINteD BY RASHID PRINTING PRESS LLC PUBLISHeD BY

Licensed by TECOM to registered company, CPI Trade Publishing fZ LLC whose registered office is 207 – 209, Building 3, Dubai Studio City, Dubai, UAE

Gavin Davids editor gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com @MecN_Gavin

www.cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2018 CPI Trade Media. All rights reserved While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

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GLObAL CONSTRUCTiON OUTPUT TO GROw 3.6% PeR yeAR UNTiL 2022 – RePORT

Besix subsidiary and TGCC to build Africa’s tallest tower in Morocco

CONSULTANT

Mace Macro names Michael Coley as new director for the MENAP region

feature: fossil fuels + Renewables – Synergies for a more efficient future

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MACHiNeRy

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Oman to develop four solar projects worth $1.6bn in five years 6 November 2018

Site Visit: La Perle – The story behind a show like no other

Really good to hear that the global construction industry is expected to see a rise to $12.9 trillion in real value terms by the year 2022, expanding by an average of 3.6% per year from 2018 until then, with the Middle East region leading the growth. While I can’t confess that I’m in a position to validate whether the Middle East and Africa region will be the fastest market, with an annual average growth of 6.4% from 2018 to 2022 you would hope that a recovery in the oil price will help put money into the region’s economies. The last 20 years has seen a lot of investment but it has ended up in only a handful of cities. My hope, if these figures are correct, is that we will start to see investment in other areas that need it. I believe the developers and construction industry in the UAE, in particular, are ready to spread their wings across the region, and hopefully they will be delivering projects across the region over the next 20 years, not just in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

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The Big Picture

MENA will be world’s ‘best performing construction sector for a decade’ - Mace

Research suggests “a perfect storm of cost pressures” will have an impact Mace believes its latest tender cost update for the MENA region proves it is “likely to be the globe’s best performing” construction economy over the next decade.

However, the international construction and consultancy firm warns that there is still a great deal of unpredictability in the market.

“The latest research from Mace indicates that a number of factors are likely to drive significant construction growth across the entire region. These include significant project-related activity in Dubai and Qatar, renewed funding of projects in Saudi Arabia, as well as

diversification efforts, oil-driven economic recovery and growing structural demand for basic needs infrastructure,” said the firm.

Mace estimates that the region’s construction added value will grow by 6.2% annually to 2027. “[This is] a strong pace of growth which belies mixed fortunes within, based on relative success at diversification. Despite the region’s numerous star markets, such as Egypt and – in the near future – Saudi Arabia, there are many laggards dragging down the positive outlook through a myriad of security risks (such as in Libya and Yemen).”

The company warns that growth does not necessarily mean a predictable and sustainable margin for construction and consultancy companies in the region: “The rapid growth across construction markets in the region is also swelling prices of building materials and labour, as an increasingly large pool of projects chases a finite amount of suppliers and skills.”

It adds that with political tensions in the region, recent appreciations in MENA currencies and the ongoing reliance on skilled and unskilled migrant labour, “There is a perfect storm

of cost pressures that could have an unpredictable impact.”

“Tier 1 multinational contractors are exiting this challenging market due to cash flow issues, at the same time as oil price growth loosens fiscal conditions in some countries,” commented Mark Taylor, MENA regional director, Mace. “This is allowing project activity to ramp back up in previously depressed markets such as Saudi Arabia.

With lower levels of capacity available in the market and strong demand from diverse drivers, it is a supplier’s market which could ultimately drive up tender prices.”

“This is allowing project activity to ramp back up in previously depressed markets. With lower levels of capacity available in the market and strong demand from diverse drivers, it is a supplier’s market” 8 November 2018

The Big Picture

Abu Dhabi Hyperloop gets design lead

Construction of project is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2019 Design and engineering firm Dar Al-Handasah has been appointed to head construction of Abu Dhabi’s first commercial Hyperloop system. Construction is targeted to begin in Q3 2019.

Dar Al-Handasah will act as design lead on the project, heading a team that includes fellow Dar Group members Perkins+Will (architects, US), T.Y. Lin International (engineers, US), GPO Group (engineers, Spain) and Currie & Brown (cost management consultants, UK), said Hyperloop Transportation Technologies in a statement.

“We are extremely honoured to be part of this global movement in mobility and rapid transportation and are looking forward to collaborating with HyperloopTT to deliver a truly iconic project in Abu Dhabi,” said Talal Shair, chairman, Dar Group.

HyperloopTT confirmed it had signed an MoU with Aldar Properties earlier this year for the construction of a new HyperloopTT centre, including a full-scale commercial Hyperloop system, an XO Square Innovation Centre and a Hyperloop Experience Centre. The proposed

site within Aldar’s Seih Al Sderieh landbank is also conveniently located on the border of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, close to the Expo 2020 site and Al Maktoum International Airport.

“We are bringing the future of rapid transportation technology to all those living in the UAE,” said Bibop Gresta, chairman, HyperloopTT. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the continued commitment and determination of all our partners, both within the UAE and abroad. As we move forward with the system we invite other

interested organisations in the region and around the world to join us in making history.”

“With today’s announcement of the appointment of Dar AlHandasah, Perkins and Wills, and Currie and Brown, we have achieved a significant milestone towards the construction of the world’s first commercial Hyperloop system in Alghadeer,” added HyperloopTT CEO Dirk Ahlborn. “We are looking forward to working with all of our regional stakeholders to build this historic piece of transportation infrastructure.”

“We are extremely honoured to be part of this global movement in mobility and rapid transportation and are looking forward to collaborating with HyperloopTT to deliver a truly iconic project in Abu Dhabi”

November 2018 9

The Big Picture

Developing downstream industries The project will also provide feedstock for other petrochemical and speciality chemical plants in the Jubail industrial area.

Saudi Aramco and Total to build complex Complex will require total investment of $9bn and will create 8,000 jobs Saudi Aramco and Total have signed a joint development agreement for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) of a large petrochemical complex in Jubail. The agreement was signed

by Amin H Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, and Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of Total in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Scheduled to begin operations in 2024, the complex will require an investment of approximately $5bn and will be built next to the SATORP refinery jointly operated by Saudi Aramco and Total. It will include a mixed-feed cracker (50% ethane and refinery off-gases) with a capacity of 1.5m tons per year of ethylene and other related high-added-value petrochemical units. According to a statement, the complex will be the first in the Arabian Gulf to have a mixed-feed cracker integrated with a refinery.

“The petrochemicals sector has been undergoing significant growth globally and is one of the future growth engines.

10 November 2018

“SATORP’s expansion represents a significant value addition in Saudi Aramco’s downstream strategy to maximise the full value of our vast resources portfolio and position the Kingdom as a chemicals manufacturing and exports hub”

Thus, SATORP’s secondphase expansion represents a significant value addition in Saudi Aramco’s downstream strategy to maximise the full value of our vast resources portfolio and position the Kingdom as a chemicals manufacturing and exports hub, supporting economic growth and diversification as part of Vision 2030,” said Nasser.

In a bid to further develop downstream industries in the Kingdom, the project will also provide feedstock for other petrochemical and specialty chemical plants in the Jubail industrial area and beyond.

This will require an additional $4bn investment by third-party investors and will benefit the Saudi economy, Aramco said.

“Today’s signing with our partner Total will deliver on multiple levels, from high-value fuels and petrochemical products never manufactured in the Kingdom before, destined for consumers on three continents, to meaningful job creation for Saudi

men and women and local content development. Our partnership with Total has evolved from a buyer-seller relationship of crude oil to one that has progressed to a strong long-term partnership through SATORP, and today we’re pleased to commemorate another major milestone as part of the SATORP journey,” Nasser added.

The complex as a whole will require an investment of approximately $9bn and is expected to create 8,000 local direct and indirect jobs.

Pouyanné commented: “We are delighted to write a new page of our joint history by launching a new giant project, building on the successful development of SATORP, our biggest and most efficient refinery in the world. This world-class complex also fits with our strategy to expand in petrochemicals by maximising the synergies within our major platforms, leveraging low-cost feedstocks and taking advantage of the fast-growing Asian polymer market.”

The Big Picture

$59m

Skanska has signed an additional contract worth $59m with OM-SE for the mixed-use development ‘Fifth+Broadway’ in Nashville, USA

1. Merint coMpletes work on $10M polish ski village Merint, a UAE specialised glass distribution company partnered with Saint Gobain, has announced the completion of a $10 million ski village project in Poland. Overseen by Merin sp Zoo, the property development arm of Merint Group, Merint Ski Village is now ready for occupation, a statement by the company said.

Located in Wisla, in close proximity to a popular ski slope, Merint Ski Village is a three-building development with 28 high-end apartments.

“With low taxes, an open economy, a healthy business environment, a relatively simple residency programme and an undervalued real estate market, Poland is a fantastic option for anyone thinking of investing in Europe,” said Fazal Manekia, founder and CEO of Merint.

“Putting aside any potential undervaluation, Poland has some of the best rental yields in Europe and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better return in this part of the world,” he added.

Located 150km from Krakow alongside the Vistula river and close to mountain trails, the development is surrounded by nature and offers views of the Barania Mountains.

12 November 2018

$13bn

Mexico’s President-elect Andres Manuel López has halted construction of a $13bn new airport being built at Texcoco

2. Besix suBsidiary and tgcc to Build africa’s tallest tower in Morocco Besix Group has announced that a consortium consisting of subsidiary Six Construct and TGCC has won the contract to design and build the tallest building in Africa. Located in Rabat, Morocco, the 250m-tall Bank of Africa Tower is being developed by O Tower, a subsidiary of FinanceCom Group, and is expected to be delivered by mid-2022.

According to a statement from Besix Group, China Railway Construction Corporation International (CRCCI) will continue to provide support to the consortium.

The tower was designed by architects Rafael de la Hoz and Hakim Benjelloun and will feature a luxury hotel, offices and apartments. A viewing terrace is also being planned for the top of the tower, and the 55-floor building will be HQE- and LEED Gold-certified.

“I have every confidence in the consortium’s ability to build our tower, and in particular in Besix’s skills and expertise.

We are all working towards a common goal: to make our tower a source of pride,” said architect Othman Benjelloun.

Besix Group CEO Rik Vandenberghe added, “The Bank of Africa Tower will be an emblematic building for the country.”

2

The Big Picture

3

$130m

China will provide a grant assistance of $130m for the design and construction of buildings of the Parliament and Government of Tajikistan

1

4

3

Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education has said that three large universities will be constructed in the New el-Alamein City, by the Mediterranean Sea

3. volvo ce reports 24% rise in third quarter sales Volvo Construction Equipment has reported a 24% rise in sales for the third quarter of the year, driven by strong growth in South America, China and Russia.

According to figures released by the company, net sales increased to $2.06bn while operating

income also went up to $286m from $224m in the same period of 2017. The resulting operating margin also improved to 13.9%.

According to Volvo CE, net order intake increased by 22% year-on-year in the third quarter, largely driven by higher intake from China and particularly Europe, which saw orders increase by 53%.

Up to the end of August, the European market was up 11%, driven by growth in Russia and stable demand in Germany, the UK, France and Italy. North America saw an increase of 19% over last year.

In Asia (excluding China), the total market was 13% above last year, while the Chinese market was 42% up.

4. aaeM wins egypt nuclear project contract AAEM has won a contract to supply turbine hall equipment for Units 1 to 4 of the El Dabaa nuclear power station. The contract was awarded by DEZ JSC, acting on behalf of Atomstroyexport JSC, a general contractor for the El Dabaa project.

Established in 2007, AAEM is a JV between Atomenergomash – the power engineering division of Russian group Rosatom – and General Electric (GE).

Per the terms of the deal, the JV will be responsible for the design, manufacture and supply of four sets of steam turbines, condensers, generators and select auxiliary equipment. The company will also be responsible for technical field advisory services during the erection and commissioning of supplied equipment at the NPP site.

Over 50% of the equipment will be manufactured in Russia.

The El Dabaa nuclear power plant will comprise Arabelle half-speed steam turbines and Gigatop 4-pole generators manufactured by GE, the statement said. The project will include four units equipped with VVER 1200 reactors.

The project is being built under the intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement.

November 2018 13

Market Report

Dubai retail anD hospitality outlook

JLL report reviews the Dubai retail and hospitality market outlook for the third quarter of 2018, following a year of challenges for both sectors

Retail perfomance The third quarter of 2018 saw the completion of Badrah Pavilion Community Centre in Nakheel’s Jebel Ali Waterfront development (adding around 5,000sqm of retail GLA), bringing total stock to approximately 3.7m sqm.

The remainder of 2018 is expected to see much higher completion (around 350,000sqm of GLA), with notable projects including the Night Souk on Deira Islands, the Pointe on Palm Jumeirah and the Souq at Culture Village.

We remain cautious of the timing of many of these projects, as delays have been experienced

in the past and market conditions remain subdued.

Looking ahead, more than 1.1m sqm of retail GLA is expected to be delivered in Dubai in 2019-20. Notable projects in the pipeline include the Nakheel Mall on Palm Jumeirah, Al Khail Avenue Mall in Jumeirah Village and Dubai Hills Estate Mall. The majority of future supply is in super regional malls (65%) or regional malls (26%).

With the retail market continuing to be soft, discounts are being offered on existing and new leases. Rents in super regional and regional malls declined by around 5% and 8%,

compared to the second quarter of 2018. Smaller neighbourhood and community malls have generally recorded greater declines than in the larger centres. Developers are offering shorter and more flexible lease terms to even smaller retailers, taking into account the drop in sales. Luxury brands have been affected more by the drop in sales, compared to the more affordable brands.

As the retail market has softened over the past year, market-wide vacancies have increased from 12% in Q3 2017 to 16% in Q3 2018. Rents and vacancies are expected to remain

under pressure due to the large supply scheduled to enter the market in the next two years.

Hospitality performance A further 1,400 rooms were added to the market in the third quarter of 2018, bringing the total stock of quality hotel rooms in Dubai to almost 88,100 keys. Hotel openings included Hampton

by Hilton (420 keys) in Qusais, Hilton Garden Inn (336 keys) in Jaddaf and Grand Millennium Business Bay (251 keys). A further 4,200 keys are expected to enter the market by the end of the year; however, some projects are likely to be delayed. Major

“Developers are offering shorter and more flexible lease terms to even smaller retailers, taking into account the drop in sales” 14 November 2018

Market Report

Dubai retail unit vacancy rate, 12-month outlook

Dubai retail unit supply, million sqm of GLA Stock

Annual supply

5.0

Q3 2017

12%

4.0

Q3 2018

16%

3.0

Change in average rent, 12-month outlook 2.0

REGIONAL

-17%

1.0

YoY

2015

2016

2017

hotels in the pipeline for this year include W the Palm, Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah and Caesar Hotels in Bluewaters Island.

Dubai is by far the largest hotel market in the Middle East, with one of the highest levels of hotel rooms per capita of any global city.

Major global hotel chains have recognised the importance of the

Q3 2018

2018

2019

-19% YoY

2020

Dubai market as an entry point to the region due to the city’s visibility and connectivity, and are increasing their presence in the city, with a further 25,200 rooms scheduled to complete by 2020.

Hotel performance remains under pressure, with the YT August RevPAR ($127) at the lowest level seen in the last

Dubai hotel supply, number of hotel rooms Stock

SUPER REGIONAL

decade. Occupancy levels declined by 1.3 basis points compared to the same period last year, to 74%.

Similar decreases were seen in ADRs, with YT August recorded at $171, a 5% decrease compared to the same period last year. Dubai is considered one of the top tourist destinations

globally, attracting visitors from all parts of the world. According to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), during the first eight months of 2018 Dubai welcomed 10.4 million visitors, with major source markets including Western Europe (21%), the GCC (19%) and South Asia (17%).

Dubai hotel occupancy, 12-month outlook

Annual supply

115,000

Q3 2017

75%

105,000

Q3 2018

74%

95,000

ADR, US dollar, 12-month outlook 85,000

AUGUST 2018

USD

USD

181

75,000 Source: JLL

AUGUST 2017

2015

2016

2017

Q3 2018

2018

2019

171

2020

November 2018 15

Analysis

Maturing Market Grundfos Gulf Distribution’s Tolga Candan tells Angitha Pradeep that new initiatives can help FMs and organisations better understand energy efficiency Despite the Middle East becoming ever more aware of energy saving, many organisations are still reluctant to retrofit and make changes to existing buildings to decrease their carbon footprint.

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has initiated a vision to retrofit 30,000 buildings by 2030, as part of the goal to reduce energy demand by 30%. This is a move in the right direction, as existing buildings consume more energy than new buildings. In developed countries, residential and commercial buildings account for 20-40% of energy consumption, bypassing industrial and transport sectors, while in the UAE, building emissions account for 60-70% of electricity consumption.

Hence it is becoming essential to retrofit buildings, to not only make them sustainable for the future but also economical in nature.

Tolga Candan, business development manager, Energy Optimisation and Retrofit at 16 November 2018

Grundfos, says: “The retrofit market is fast maturing in the UAE, which is also setting up a role model and benchmark for the neighbouring regions.

People are not yet developing confidence towards the retrofit market, because in today’s business environment many products and solutions are ‘green painted’. This situation makes it difficult for the end users to distinguish the genuine solutions that they can rely on. Thanks to the growing number of success stories, the retrofit market is gaining confidence, hence we are experiencing an exponential growth.”

Various governmental initiatives, like ESCO companies, the UAE Green Initiative and Estimada, have been set up by the government to understand the demands of the retrofit market. Etihad ESCO has a project to successfully retrofit 243 buildings for wasl Properties in different parts of Dubai. The $18.8m project will increase the

Customer awareness The objective should be to optimise the system and save energ y for the end user, says Ronak Monga

Our solution is very simple, we want to save energy for the end user - our objective is not on pumps, our objective is to optimise the system”

energy efficiency of the buildings by achieving annual savings of over $4m by upgrading air conditioning and lighting systems.

Candan adds: “The UAE government established the Etihad ESCO to govern and regulate the market so that more private ESCOs can be established, resulting in increased market confidence and engagement. The main objective of Etihad ESCO is to enable private ESCOs to execute the retrofit projects.”

Advanced HVAC technologies, photovoltaic energy panels, smart meters, efficient BMS, energysaving lighting and replacing or tweaking old pumps are just some of the ways energy efficiency can be achieved. However, the current BMS system tries to control the equipment and manufacturers take control of the product based on the information received from the sensor. An intelligent BMS, should be able to look at the efficiency of the product rather than just sense basic functions.

Analysis

“In this way, BMS can be the brain looking at the overall building. But the challenge to efficiency starts with benchmarking. If there is a standard against which energy consumption can be measured, then the retrofit market will mature up exponentially,” Candan says.

The second issue seems to be subsidised electricity tariffs which don’t reflect the actual savings potential. Candan proposes: “Governmental bodies and regulatory authorities should develop and incentivise retrofit projects not based on the electricity tariff they are charging, but on the actual cost of the electricity.”

Meanwhile, operational costs are borne by tenants while the equipment belongs to the building owner. In this case, building owners are negligent towards how much tenants are charged for electricity.

“But with a building rating system, owners will be more motivated to go with retrofit changing equipment,” presumes Candan.

Costing and return on investment (ROI) are other challenges cited by building owners and facilities managers.

Awareness of how simple solutions can bring about massive savings will help them get a clearer picture. Here is where events like Dubai Retrofit, the Developers Awareness Programme and the Grundfos Retrofit events help attendees to understand retrofitting to achieve energy efficiency and the benefits of energy audits.

Another alternative solution is partnering with ESCO companies, as Grundfos has with Taka Solutions. The partnership is helping finance retrofit projects in a variety of ways, from full

incentivise retro fit proje cts Tolga Candan says that governmen tal bodies and regulatory authorities should develop and incentivise retrofit projec ts based on the actual cost of electricity.

“BMS can be the brain looking at the overall building. But the challenge to efficiency starts with benchmarking”

turnkey solutions like sourcing and installation of products to offering energy consultancy.

“Also, customers are now aware about Capex [capital expenditure] versus Opex [operational expenditure]. They are looking at the lifecycle cost of owning an asset, including the initial costs and maintenance costs for the next 10 to 15 years, and it is the number one criterion in the retrofit market,” clarifies Candan.

Ronak Monga, product manager, HVAC at Grundfos, concludes: “Our solution is very simple, we want to save energy for the end user – it doesn’t have to be through pumps, changing a type of valve or putting a sensor are some of the things we have recommended to companies – so our objective is not on pumps, our objective is to optimise the system.”

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November 2018 17

In Profile

18 November 2018

In Profile

“In other cItIes In the world, If you look at any developer, they provIde 20% of theIr development to low-Income people. I thInk we should encourage all developers here to do the same�

Big Project ME sits down with Issam Galadari, CEO of Ithra Dubai, to hear how the local developer is reshaping the future of the city through culturally and commercially significant projects November 2018 19

In Profile

a

t the start of October, Dubai World Trade Centre played host to Cityscape Global, an annual showpiece event for the regional real estate industry where dozens of the biggest developers show the latest projects in their portfolio.

However, while attention was fixed on the glitz and glamour at the exhibition, one local developer – who has cultivated a reputation for doing things differently – quietly announced the launch of a project that is bound to shape the future of Dubai for many a year to come.

Wholly owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), Ithra Dubai was established to develop and manage strategic real estate assets both locally in Dubai and globally. With the name meaning ‘enrichment’ in Arabic, the subsidiary’s focus is very much on building strategic sectors and enriching society through real estate development and asset management.

Following the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the developer has amassed a portfolio of projects that fulfil its remit of “embracing diversity, shaping happy communities and bringing prosperity to many”. One such signature project is the Deira Enrichment Project, the first phase of which was announced on October 2 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek.

At this symbolically chosen location, Ithra Dubai unveiled its plans for the Gold Souk Extension as part of Phase One 20 November 2018

concern for the community Issam Galadari says that Ithra Dubai’s focus when developing projects is to look at how they can benefit the communities surrounding them, not only from an economic point of view but also socially and culturally.

“When you look at the demographics of Dubai, you realise that 40-45% of the people here are earning below AED 15,000 a month.

That’s why we thought about creating something affordable for people”

of the Dubai Enrichment Project (DEP). Covering an area of 63,619sqm, the extension will be the focal point of the DEP and is expected to open by Q4 2019.

It will consist of 176 retail units and 225 offices, in addition to 289 residences, along with improved and integrated transport services, pedestrian walkways, emergency services and banking and exchange facilities, among other features.

Furthermore, the project will look to incorporate more greenery into the neighbourhood, make use of the waterfront and provide district cooling services, Ithra Dubai said during the announcement. Aside from the Gold Souk Extension, work on the wider project is also well underway. Once it is all completed, more than 840 retail spaces, 400 offices, hotels and serviced apartments will be available, in addition to a total of 2,200 high-quality residences at affordable lease rates.

Speaking during the press conference held for the unveiling

of Phase One, Issam Galadari, CEO of Ithra Dubai, said the first part of the Gold Souk Extension (called District 11 and District 13) will become the foundation of the project.

“The DEP will offer solutions of modernisation and efficiency in the utilisation of space, such that it will improve the movement of goods in and around the Deira area. The Gold Souk Extension, like the DEP, will look to preserve the character and culture prevalent in this established trading neighbourhood, taking into account the distinct heritage of the area as it looks to improve it and help it meet the demands of modern commerce.”

This attention to preserving the character and culture around the project is something that came up regularly when Big Project ME meets with Galadari in Ithra Dubai’s offices in DIFC a few days after the launch of the DEP, for an exclusive face-to-face interview.

“The whole vision is to add value, to develop strategic areas of Dubai, strategic developments that you don’t just look at as a commercial development,” he asserts. “[We look] at it strategically, how a project would add value to Dubai as a whole. Of course, we have a land bank that concentrates on developing areas and creating something that will help add value to communities – these are areas where people can do business, live and be prosperous.

“Any development that you do, the concentration should be on your heritage – the way you live, the way you do business, and how you try to improve and add value. Deira Enrichment Project is one of our major projects, and we felt that it was time to create such a project in Deira. It has always been the foundation – the business heritage of Dubai – where all the business used to take place,

In Profile

“We’ve been thinking about all of this. We want to enrich the community and bring some value to it. We value humanity, the human being, and we really think about what an individual would need” for decades. That’s why we had to give it particular attention.”

As Galadari explains, the Deira area has been in urgent need of expansion, with businesses needing to grow, especially in and around the gold souk area. As such, when it was time to plan out the expansion, Ithra Dubai worked hand in hand with the various stakeholders to ensure their needs and demands were met.

“This development was not created in isolation. It was created in coordination with stakeholders, different traders, etc. We had a lot of meetings with each type of tradesman, with the gold council – who have been heavily involved with us. They have been waiting for the last 35 years for this, and

now it’s finally happening.”

Galadari adds that as a developer, Ithra Dubai was keen to avoid creating similar retail and commercial experiences to those found in modern retail malls in Dubai. One of the charms of Deira is that it has grown and developed organically over its years in operation. Having seen the area successfully hold onto that culture and harmony despite the changing city around it, the developer is keen to ensure that the new extension retains that same sense of evolution.

“We don’t want to create something similar to malls. When we looked at the extension of the gold souk area, there was a demand to extend that part. When

we master planned the project, we created the district adjacent to the existing gold souk and gave them the opportunity to extend the existing souk in that area, creating better facilities, better attractions for customers, tourists and the traders trying to operate.

“For the other areas, we’ve been discussing with traders, but we’ve never dictated who should go where. We wanted to make sure that Deira remains organic.

That’s the most important thing, the heritage of Deira should remain as it is. Of course, some of the areas, we’ve got to get involved – we have to identify F&B areas, for example, because they need different services and we have to make sure that those

services will be available. But the other areas, we’ve left them as is.”

While Phase One will focus on creating an area that is attractive for people to live and work in, Phase Two of the DEP will focus on creating a waterfront community and open spaces that fit in with the fabric of the local community, as well as other developments in the Deira area.

“We’re looking to create that environment for people to come and have space here, for the mother and child to come and walk in this area, to have F&B on the promenade, to have walking spaces. We’ve even brought buildings right to the edge of the creek so as to attract tourists to come and experience how it is to

keeping deira’s identity Ithra Dubai has taken care to retain Deira’s charm and originality when planning out the Deira Enrichment Project, which will retain the same sense of evolution as the existing neighbourhood.

November 2018 21

In Profile

waterfront living Ithra Dubai has been keen to create a waterfront space for Deira, which currently does not exist in the area, Galadari says.

live on the creek. They’ll have a view of Shindagha, which is part of our heritage as well. It’s been there for a long time,” Galadari explains.

“From the Deira side, you’ll have a panoramic view of Shindagha, and from the other side of the creek, a view of the Bur Dubai area. If you see Bur Dubai, some of the buildings are right to the edge of the creek – we want to give something similar on the waterfront area as part of the Deira Enrichment Project.”

Work is now done on the concept for Phase Two and it has been shared with the authorities. Once their feedback has been received and their suggested changes implemented, the design will be completed and work will commence.

“Once we finish the infrastructure in Phase One, then we can start on Districts 14 to 19, which are very important

to us. It’s the waterfront area of Deira, which at the moment doesn’t exist. By creating this, we’re adding value to Deira.

“As part of Phase Two, we’re creating a marina where some people will be able to have a boat and live in that area. We’re creating a lifestyle where all people can live in harmony in this area. It doesn’t matter what sort of income they have. It’s a really good integrated community where everyone can live and work and have fun, while doing good business.”

Furthermore, as part of Phase Two, Ithra Dubai has designed two schools to serve both phases.

In addition, clinics have been planned to supplement two major hospitals in the area. This is all part of the wider plan of creating a development that will serve all the needs of its community, he asserts.

“If you ask any individual, what do they look for? They want

a nice place to live, where they can conduct good business in the area, have good educational and healthcare options. We are lucky, we have two metro stations in our development in Phase One, which is great. Any community which has these facilities in their development, I believe that they are blessed. “[In addition], we are developing, on top of one of these metro stations, a beautiful development. We’re not going to close the metro station, we’re going to let it operate, but in the meantime we’ll develop on top of it. The tender has already been awarded and the contract is with ALEC. We’re just in the final stages of getting NOCs, and hopefully we’ll start that project very soon,” Galadari reveals.

This transport hub will have two blocks, one for offices and one for a hotel. There will also

be a podium and retail outlets, he adds. On the ground floor, there will be a defined area that will operate as a bus station.

“This is a well-integrated transportation hub including a central bus station, as well as a metro station underneath. This is the first time we’ll be doing this. There are a lot of challenges, of course – developing anything on top of an existing metro station is not easy. It will take a lot of time and effort to make sure that it’s done properly – we don’t want to damage the infrastructure of the existing metro – but by creating this, all the buses will go around Deira.

“And we’re working with the RTA, of course. They’ve been working on the routes and how the buses will go and collect people to feed this metro station. Also, in the future when the Dubai Metro expands

“This development was not created in isolation. It was created in coordination with stakeholders, different traders, etc. We had a lot of meetings with each type of tradesman, with the gold council – who have been heavily involved with us. They have been waiting for the last 35 years for this, and now it’s finally happening” 22 November 2018

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everywhere, we’ll be able to nudge people into using more public transportation,” he outlines.

As any resident in Deira will readily attest, one of the main bugbears is a lack of parking.

With the DEP, Ithra Dubai has resolved to provide a solution with the creation of more than 8,500 parking spaces around the development. As Galadari points out, this is 2,500 more than the authorities requested.

“We’ve given particular attention to this and we’ve worked with the RTA very closely to make sure that the infrastructure

is proper, that the traffic flow is properly managed. They have requested many changes to make sure that it works, and we have got all the approvals from them and for all the buildings.”

While the DEP is certainly a major focus for the developer, it is by no means the only project it is working on. Construction on One Za’abeel is moving along rapidly, with Galadari pointing out that the mixed-use, high-end luxury project is set to become an instant hit on the Dubai market, thanks to the level of quality it offers.

However, he is also quick to

assert that while the developer is working on high-end projects, his own personal focus is on answering demand across the board. Over the course of the last 30 years, Galadari has spent time in a variety of roles across a number of real estate developers – real estate director at Investment Corporation of Dubai, CEO of Emaar Properties, managing director of Emaar International – and in that time, he has developed a keen understanding of what the market needs.

“We’ve been studying what sort of demand is needed here for

Dubai, and we’ve been looking at what sort of people are working in Dubai. There are different nationalities in Dubai, and of course they work in different companies, in different positions and roles. When you look at the demographics of Dubai, you realise that 40-45% of the people here are earning below AED 15,000 a month. That’s why we thought about creating something affordable for people, which you don’t really have as a community in Dubai.”

With that in mind, Ithra Dubai’s Jebel Ali project is set to play an important role in the company’s future plans. Designed to be an affordable, high-rise mixed-use community space for families at completion, the development has been conceptualised to international standards, but with consideration for local affordability and the needs of the local population, Galadari says.

“It’s under the master plan stage at the moment, and we’re creating a good mix of different activities and residential attracting people back to the core of the city Developers need to get people to return to the heart of the city, says Issam Galadari.

24 November 2018

In Profile

meeting the needs of the city Galadari says Ithra Dubai is developing a variety of different housing projects, with a range of units that meet the needs of different population segments.

offerings. One of the offerings is affordable housing within that community. Besides that, we’re also offering what we call Single Occupying Urban Living. When we discussed this with many of our colleagues and friends, other people here in Dubai, about where they are living, how they are living and what it’s like sharing accommodation and all that, and how they lack their own privacy, we then found that this Single Occupying Urban Living housing was a requirement.”

In order to fully realise its ambitions on the project, the developer has had to work with the authorities to ensure they are onboard with what it wants to achieve. Therefore, Galadari is quick to acknowledget that the likes of Dubai Municipality, DEWA and RTA have been very helpful during this process, stressing that the authorities realise that a project of this nature will benefit all people living in Dubai, and the city itself.

“You’ve got to create a community where everyone can live and prosper. When you look around, a lot of people have been pushed into living outside the core of the city centre.

We should attract people to come back and live here”

“The housing projects have a variety of different units which will allow people to have their own privacy. It will be part of a bigger community, and we want to make sure that it’s a proper community and that it’s properly integrated. All the facilities will be available for all the people, in terms of security, healthcare, schools, whatever is required by the community.

“We’ve been thinking about all of this. We want to enrich the community and bring some value to it. We value humanity, the human being, and we really think about what an individual would need if he was living somewhere.”

It is this attitude of looking at the individual that Galadari wishes more Dubai developers would embrace. While he acknowledges that there are currently challenges in the local real estate market, he asserts that developers have to start being bold and taking risks.

“At the moment, a lot of the

places that you go to, they have challenges. You can either sit and do nothing, or you can take some risks and do something. It’s better to take some risk. If you leave your home to come to the office, you’re taking a risk. So of course, when you do business you have to be careful and you have to look at the demand and what’s necessary. It should also be reasonable. You’ve got to create a community where everyone can live and prosper.

“When you look around, a lot of people have been pushed into living outside the core of the city centre. We should attract people to come back and live here. In other cities in the world, if you look at any developer, they provide 20% of their development to low-income people. I think we should encourage all developers here to do the same.

By doing so, it really brings a better way of life as people live in the same community and there’s no differentiation,” Galadari says in conclusion.

November 2018 25

Project Profile

how the founder’s memorial was created

Big Project ME profiles the development of The Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, a cultural landmark dedicated to HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayan, the UAE’s founding father

28 November 2018

Project Profile

November 2018 29

Project Profile

t

he UAE government declared 2018 to be the Year of Zayed, as it marks 100 years since the birth of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

In line with the declaration, the country has unveiled several events and initiatives locally and internationally to commemorate the memory of Sheikh Zayed.

One such initiative is the Founder’s Memorial, which was inaugurated on February 26 and fully opened to the public on April 22. It aims to provide

visitors with insight into Sheikh Zayed’s life and legacy, while showcasing how he paved the way for the future prosperity and well-being of his people.

Thomas & Adamson (T&A) was originally appointed to work as a cost consultant on the project during the preconstruction phase in 2015. The firm’s scope was then expanded to provide project management services throughout the two-year construction phase. To win the contract, the firm participated in a competitive tendering process alongside five other international consultancies. T&A was ultimately awarded the project based on commercial and technical analysis, following a multi-stage review process which included technical submissions, commercial submissions and interviews.

expan ded scope Although Thomas & Adamson was originally appointed to work as a cost consu ltant on the projec t during the pre-c onstru ction phase in 2015, the firm’s scope was expanded during the two-year construction phase, says Zander Muego, partner UAE at T&A.

“The project was both challenging and exciting for T&A, due to the bespoke nature of the artwork”

The Project Housed within a 30m x 30m x 30m pavilion, the centrepiece of the memorial, known as ‘The Constellation’, is a specially designed public artwork comprising stainless steel geometric shapes precisely arranged using 1,110 tensioned steel cables. The elements coalesce to provide visitors with a 30m-high 3D representation of Sheikh Zayed. The artwork was designed by American sculptor and public artist Ralph Helmick and boasts more than 1,300 geometric shapes of varying size – platonic solids, shimmering tetrahedrons, cubes, octahedrons, dodecahedrons and icosahedrons.

The artwork weighs 250 tonnes, and the steel structure of the roof supporting it weighs 190t. artistic design Housed within a 30m x 30m x 30m pavilion, the centrepiece of the memorial is an artwork known as ‘The Constellation’.

30 November 2018

Project Profile

a place of gathering The memorial has been designed to be a place of gathering for members of the UAE community, while also providing insight and information about the life of Sheikh Zayed.

More than 5,745 counterweights hold the suspended shapes in place to form a series of profiles of Sheikh Zayed from different perspectives, both within the memorial’s landscape and from outside, along the Corniche, where the project is located.

Illuminated by more than 2,000 lights, the suspended shapes of ‘The Constellation’ shine like stars at night.

The memorial features a walkway that offers a view of ‘The Constellation’, as well as Abu Dhabi’s skyline as it would have been seen through the eyes of the founding father. The Founder’s Memorial is also designed to be a place of gathering for the UAE community to explore and find moments of peace, while providing detailed insight into the life of Sheikh Zayed.

Challenges The Founder’s Memorial is a unique project which had several challenges from a design, procurement and construction perspective. The 30m-high three-dimensional artwork structure was a first-of-itskind piece of construction with numerous elements, each of which had to be installed to exact X, Y and Z coordinates. This created detailing, fabrication and installation challenges, and a significant amount of coordination

between team members across the globe was required. This included entities in Italy, the UK, the US and Australia, in addition to enhanced and extremely detailed QA/QC processes at site level.

“The project was both challenging and exciting for T&A, due to the bespoke nature of the artwork, its very scale, which has never been accomplished before, and the level of precision required to ensure the accuracy of the installation. From the outset of the project on-site, it was incumbent upon us as the project manager to lead by

example and abide by the core project values of integrity, honesty, compassion, humanitarianism, wisdom, tolerance, coexistence and equality. Each stage of the process was approached with these values in mind, ensuring the project was delivered to a high standard,” explains Zander Muego, partner, UAE at T&A. Technology & Sustainability Technology played a key part.

The site was surveyed by drones prior to the start of construction, with the architectural designs embedded onto the videos to

create a life-like fly-through of the finished project. The flythrough video was presented to leadership to ensure they fully understood the design.

The artwork’s 1,350 stars were welded by robots to ensure each one was perfect, while each of the 1,110 stainless steel cables was positioned using lasers. The artist had specified that each of the 1,350 stars had to be within 3mm of his AutoCAD designs, which were achieved on the site.

3D mapping also played a critical part. “The landscape portal’s concrete structure was cast by using polystyrene formwork to obtain its unique shape. After the concrete was cast, we 3D scanned the concrete structure and created a computer model to ensure that natural stone (imported from Oman) was perfectly cut to size, thus reducing wastage and saving time. When the stone arrived (approximately 2,600 pieces of limestone), it fitted perfectly the first time,” Muego remarks.

A large component of the Founder’s Memorial is the memorial park. Its soft

Global cooperation The Founder’s Memorial faced several design, procurement and construction challenges, which meant that there needed to be significant coordination between team members across the world.

November 2018 31

Project Profile

landscaping element consists entirely of local species of plants, the majority from Al Ain, the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed. By using species indigenous to the UAE, T&A has ensured water consumption through irrigation will be kept to a minimum.

Approach to Cost Consulting T&A’s approach focused on identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities throughout the project duration.

This included reviewing and challenging the finishing details and material selection, with active engagement from the leadership, ensuring that all details of the project were in line with expectations.

The project team continuously explored new opportunities to re-engineer structural or utilities solutions throughout the procurement and construction stage, challenging both the design and construction methodology proposed. This enabled cost reductions to be achieved, which offset areas of cost increase and ultimately ensured an appropriate balance of project expenditure which represented a bestvalue solution for the client.

“Every visit to the Founder’s Memorial is an immersive journey of discovery. You will experience a series of uniquely personal encounters with Sheikh Zayed, the man and the leader, exploring his life and legacy, the principles and causes he championed, and the various facets of his visionary leadership. T&A is thrilled to have been involved in a project of this stature and national importance, and the team is proud to have contributed to such an iconic project, thus playing a part in the 2018 Year of Zayed. T&A is also proud to have supported the UAE leadership in realising their vision for the project,” concludes Muego.

32 November 2018

CrEATiNg THE CoNSTEllATioN Designed by renowned American artist Ralph Helmick, the Constellation is a 3D portrait of Sheikh Zayed. The Sheikh’s wellknown likeness was respectfully recreated with a pointillist array of 1,327 ‘floating’ geometric elements anchored to 1,110 strands of 30m-long cables.

These elements comprise varying sizes of the five complex polyhedrons known as Platonic solids. As Sheikh Zayed is much beloved, every single solid had to be placed perfectly.

This is the first time Helmick has designed a public art sculpture of this scale. In fact, this icon counts as one of the world’s largest public art installations. Aurecon’s design goal was to design a buildable solution and engineer the structure, cables and materials to allow Helmick to articulate his masterpiece.

According to Steve Daniels, Aurecon’s Global Facades Leader, the challenge was in creating a structural design solution which could continue in parallel to the artist’s sculpture work. This resulted in a set of rules allowing structural design of the Constellation’s frame to continue while still providing the artist with a blank canvas upon which to work. star alliance In Abu Dhabi, daytime

temperatures can rise above 50°C during summer and the region is subjected to high wind speeds throughout the year.

Imagine the prevailing winds blowing across an array of thin cables placed closely together in a structure near the sea. Under normal circumstances, the wind might funnel across the cables and create humming sounds (known as aeolian sounds).

The challenge was to design to minimise the potential of this sound occurring, so as not to disrupt the visitor experience, while there was the potential for these weighted cables to become entangled, thus ruining the likeness being portrayed.

To overcome these challenges, Aurecon’s engineers studied how the complex interaction of wind, moisture, salinity and heat would affect the performance of the cables and spheres. The objective was to minimise sound, vibration, corrosion, wire fatigue and stresses on the roof structure and foundations. Solutions were also found for the pretension required for the cables to counteract thermal changes.

Aurecon’s engineers also conducted numerous wind studies for the optimum cable material and diameter for design wind speeds up to 40m/s (about 140km/h). More work was put into researching the

ideal material for the solids, to ensure the Constellation would continue to preserve its shiny appearance consistently while transforming the Sheikh’s portrait into a celestial display.

In the end, stainless steel was selected for the platonic solids – for its strength, corrosion resistance and ability to achieve the desired daytime and night-time finishes – and these were suspended on 4mm Duplex stainlesssteel-grade wire ropes.

Despite the many challenges, the team from Aurecon enjoyed the research, model building and analysis to ensure the design would assimilate into Abu Dhabi’s hot, windy and hazy environment – resulting in an outstanding piece of art reflecting the people’s feelings. celestial celebration The Constellation is one of the largest art installations of its kind in the world and is unique in its use of abstract portraiture on this scale. To accommodate evening viewing, 753 downlights and 1,203 uplights were custom made to illuminate the sculpture from above and below. The Constellation is the centrepiece of the 3.3-hectare Founder’s Memorial, which includes a Welcome Centre, a Sanctuary Garden, a Heritage Garden and an elevated walkway.

Technology Predictability and visbility By going digital, project owners can expect to make project performance predictable and improve visibility over the course of the project’s lifecycle.

GoinG DiGital to aDvance infrastructure Delivery

Greg Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems, explains how owners and contractors can share integrated project delivery benefits through a connected data environment Owners and contractors can share integrated project delivery benefits – including digital workflows and increased visibility – on any project through a connected data environment.

To improve upon the unfortunate backdrop of infrastructure capital projects typically being delivered late and over budget, infrastructure owners can reasonably expect the efficiencies and rigours of

34 November 2018

going digital to both make project performance more predictable at the outset and provide greater visibility during their course.

To date, though, the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) have tended to be limited in scope to the work within individual disciplines or phases.

New advances in computing and software now make projectscale improvements possible, from conception through construction

and commissioning. Realising this potential, however, depends not just upon this new level of information technology integration but also, as importantly, upon a change in mindset across the project. Not only the owner but also each participant can benefit to the extent that their own digital work is appropriately accessible to and securely shared with the others, to purposefully enable automated

workflows and digital visibility spanning the overall project.

Consider a project delivery firm whose business model heretofore has been within separate design, bid or build phases, but which becomes party to a contract for integrated project delivery (IPD), assuming or sharing responsibility throughout all phases.

Suddenly this firm’s imperative would be to take full advantage of potential digital workflows in

Technology

Now, imagine the upside if the same project-level digital workflow strategies were to be availed across all participants on any project, regardless of the contracting model. In this scenario, a connected data environment (CDE), provisioned by or for the owner as a cloud service, captures and intelligently shares all digital work packages, enabling participants to automate their collaboration protocols as if they were one project enterprise.

In addition to benefiting from unprecedented visibility into project performance, the owner’s supply chain choices need not be limited to the few (if any) organisations capable of shouldering IPD risks. The result is that the IPD advantages are achieved and even exceeded (synthetically, rather than contractually). This scenario – an open information project – is now possible.

The open information project premise

which its software tools would start from the searchable (not paper) results of software tools used in previous project phases, and then in turn provide outputs to be applied by software tools in subsequent phases, all to maximise synergies and minimise errors.

The risk and reward outcome of the IPD contract would depend upon the extent and quality of this information integration and its robust automation.

Despite increasing momentum within infrastructure project delivery to embrace digital technology, to date most benefits have been constrained to individual BIM deliverables, rather than to their integration for improved overall project performance. Each discipline and trade creates its own idiosyncratic 3D digital models, usually in a format that at best would be inscrutable to other participants, and thus highly vulnerable to mutual inconsistencies.

Project coordination must then rely upon, and be limited to, periodic design reviews entailing the time-consuming and manually orchestrated export, import and translation of incompatible native files, jeopardising intellectual property (IP) in their exchange.

constraine d momentum Despite increasing momentum within infras tructure projec t delivery to embra ce digital technology, to date most benef its have been constrained to individual BIM deliverables.

“New advances in computing and software now make project-scale improvements possible.

Realising this potential, however, depends not just upon this new level of information technology integration but also, as importantly, upon a change in mindset across the project”

Furthermore, the after-thefact corrections necessary to resolve interferences between disciplines or trades may already have been outdated by constant project changes, unless progress is stopped for the duration of each design review.

Significantly, however, advances in cloud computing and software platforms now enable an open information project’s CDE to facilitate continuous digital workflows across the project’s supply chain and throughout its lifecycle phases. Consultants and contractors can apply their preferred digital toolsets, while the CDE collates the contents of these disparate but known file formats into self-describing digital components for semantic alignment across disciplines and trades. Accordingly, 3D visualisation of the project data can be supplemented with visibility into its meaning, including for instance the 4D and 5D attributes supporting digital workflows for off-site fabrication.

Key enabling factors of an open information project, of course, are its security provisions. On the one hand, the CDE leverages industrial-strength cloud services that can be more robust and secure than an end-user organisation’s comparatively vulnerable internal environment. On the other hand, while it is vital that each participant undertakes to deliver and to conscientiously update their digital work packages to be accessed as usefully needed across the project, secure workflow protocols assure that the participant’s transitory work in progress is only locally accessible.

A representative open information project charter

Achieving the potential of

November 2018 35

Technology

going digital at project scale requires both CDE technology and a commitment by the project supply chain to endorse digital workflows. Owners must convince and catalyse all participants to empower, enrich and take full advantage of their open information project.

Based on experience, I believe that virtually every infrastructure project delivery participant, given the opportunity, would be willing and able to contribute to – and gain from – the digital workflows enabled within an open information project. Nonetheless, to overcome pre-digital mindsets, explicit owner leadership is essential in engendering the requisite behaviour changes.

To set expectations and avert misconceptions among contractors, the following collaboration precepts, as an example, should be accepted by all as qualifying conditions for working on a project: All design and construction engineering work, and work packages at every contractual level, are to be maintained in the project CDE. Work in progress need not be sharable, but activity journals (including what shared information has been queried or updated) are to be generally accessible.

Each participant is to regularly update a progressively more complete version of their own scope that is to be accessible to (but cannot be changed by) other participants, for queries and continuous integrated reviews of design and construction status.

Digital models are to be intrinsically geo-coordinated for 3D positioning within the project’s digital context – that is, the digital visualisation of the work-site in the CDE. Each participant is to proactively subscribe to the

36 November 2018

regular updates required As long as participating companies comply with requirements applicable to their project phases, each can independently choose between professionally accepted software tools, Greg Bentley says.

automated notifications of changes by other participants, at such levels of detail as can appropriately inform their own work.

So long as each participating organisation complies with requirements applicable to their project phase (for example, BIM execution plan), each can independently choose between professionally accepted software tools.

Digital access does not confer to any participant, nor the project owner, the right to any IP nor the reuse, beyond the project, of any work product of any other participant.

No CDE access is granted or enabled beyond authorised project participants who have accepted this open information project charter.

How project delivery supply chain participants benefit

The mere availability of projectwide information is made much more valuable by the CDE’s capability to present it in the means most fit for the purposes of project delivery participants, supplementing immersive visibility with digital alignment

“Despite increasing momentum within infrastructure project delivery to embrace digital technology, to date most benefits have been constrained to individual BIM deliverables, rather than to their integration for improved overall project performance”

and change synchronisation.

Indeed, the work of all infrastructure project participants shares a dependency on the evolving conditions at the physical work-site. By way of the CDE, this digital context can be most usefully represented as an engineering-ready, 3-D reality mesh processed from photographs, scanned imagery or both, and then updated continuously through regular drone surveys.

This real-time digital context enables immersive visualisation, including through ever-advancing virtual reality and augmented reality devices, to intuitively locate and query any information within the CDE by spatial reference.

In so doing, the digital context positionally aligns the respective models of each discipline and trade. Accordingly, throughout the project each participant’s work planning and packaging can fully consider the status, sequence and safety factors of other participants’ work.

The advantages of such proactive information sharing would be ephemeral without also making it practical to react in a timely manner to inevitable, unanticipated changes as a project progresses. For this purpose, the CDE journalises changes in work packages and can provide automated notifications to appropriately subscribing participants, for their visual review and (to the extent they deem the indicated changes significant for their own work) potential synchronisation.

In effect, for an open information project, design and construction status reviews thus become continuous and comprehensive. Each discipline and trade can increase its ability to avoid errors and interferences, and gain visibility to improve schedule and safety, with benefits

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Technology

“Advances in cloud computing and software platforms now enable an open information project’s CDE to facilitate continuous digital workflows across the project’s supply chain and throughout its lifecycle phases” compounded for the performance of the project as a whole.

How do project owners benefit?

Among an open information project’s myriad benefits to owners, it naturally preprovisions the completions and commissioning phases, accelerating investment returns from asset performance.

Moreover, the digital context and digital component data, cumulatively populating the CDE from design through construction, can then help serve as the asset’s digital DNA for operations and maintenance. And of course, project owners are the ultimate beneficiaries of the capacity for continuous and comprehensive design reviews during project delivery – improving the owner’s project performance visibility (beyond what is afforded in an actual IPD project) into emerging

problems in time for intervention to avert schedule or cost overruns.

By comparison, owners’ primary project insight to date has been limited to external experts’ post-mortem benchmarking, based on belated survey questions.

And while it is challenging for owners to sustain in-house engineering experience, the capability of organisations to apply business analytics to improve enterprise performance is growing apace. Unfortunately, despite the magnitude of infrastructure capital project risk, the associated engineering information has heretofore been inaccessible – ‘dark data’ beyond analytic comprehension, and in any event not reliably up to date.

In an open information project, the illuminating digital alignment and change synchronisation functions within the CDE now empower owners to fruitfully

deploy analytics for visibility into project performance.

Importantly, analytics do not purport to qualify an owner to second guess a contractor’s substantive engineering decisions.

But it will be possible for owner analytics, through automated monitoring of the CDE, to assay and dashboard the quality and consistency of project information.

For example, analytics could continuously compare scheduled work package requirements against the on-the-ground reality of craft resource availability.

Increasingly, project owners will then also benefit from applying analytic machine learning across a portfolio of open information projects, for instance to establish correlations between completed projects’ realised performance and their information footprints.

The voluminous CDE activity

journals of current projects would be surveilled for patterns (perceptible only with such analytics) to indicate the extent to which a project is on or off track, based on actual experience.

In an open information project, the BIM advancements that individual infrastructure project delivery participants have adopted to improve their own scope are extended, through a CDE, to digital workflows across the project supply chain to advance overall project performance. The supporting technologies are now available, requiring only the initiative of project owners to lead their supply chain to the benefits, for each and to all, of embracing an open information project charter. Accordingly, going digital – provided it is also in mindset – can finally make infrastructure projects more bankable!

Making projects more bankable Going digital can make infrastructure projects more bankable, provided it is also accompanied by the right mindset.

38 November 2018

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Energy

Ghassan Barghout

SynergieS for a more efficient future Ghassan Barghout, president & CEO, Gas Power Systems – Sales, GE Power, MENA, on finding the right regional energy balance The global energy landscape continues to witness dramatic change, as human energy consumption is expected to grow by 28% in the next 20 years alone, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

This dizzying momentum of growing energy demand dictates the agenda of traditional power producers and takes them to the drawing board to devise solutions that are innovative, path-breaking, diverse and more importantly environmentally responsible.

This phenomenon is particularly true in the Arab world, where governments have outlined ambitious energy goals and have pledged to diversify the energy mix to include gas, clean coal, nuclear energy, solar and wind power, and biofuels. A 40 November 2018

case in point is the UAE’s Energy Plan 2050, which projects 38% energy supply from natural gas, 44% from clean energy, 6% from nuclear and 12% from clean coal.

While it is evident that the winds of change sweeping the region have cultivated a deep interest in being part of the renewables revolution, it is indisputable that a diverse energy mix is pivotal to energy security in this region. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), even today traditional energy sources, including fossil fuels and nuclear power, account for 77% of total electricity generation and are expected to continue playing a significant role in the future.

Complementary, not competitive – this ethos must be etched into the global energy

playbook to make fossil fuels and renewables partners in a new era of efficiency; they are two sides of the same coin. This notion is widely accepted in the Middle East as the region faces spiralling demand for energy, which will be predominantly fulfilled by natural gas (approximately 9GW a year in new supply) and solar power (approximately 4-5GW a year).

Despite the acceptance of renewables, the road of transformation is riddled with sizable roadblocks in terms of scope, magnitude and complexity, as well as regulatory and technological conundrums.

A substantial hurdle is the construction of robust power infrastructure to meet the growing demand, but the absence of storage solutions for renewable energy

is a more critical pain point.

From a power infrastructure perspective, governments, utilities and power plant owners in the Middle East have delved into finding actionable solutions for competing priorities such as costs associated with building and operating power generating facilities, access to fuel supplies through transportation networks and the need for reliable uninterrupted power supplies.

However, to address storage issues and provide base load supply when environmental factors invalidate renewable energy, leading energy companies have made noteworthy headway.

For example, GE’s new H-class gas turbine now offers more than 64% efficiency in combined cycle power plants. Notably, this is higher than any competing technology

Energy

a golden future Energy moguls have a role to play in fuelling energy conversations with renewable energy and fossile fuel producers, to discover competencies and carry out collaborative research and development.

available today. The turbines offer an excellent flexible complement to intermittent renewable sources, capable of ramping up or down at 65 MW/minute to help balance the grid, while reducing emissions to levels below those required by international standards.

This flexibility is imperative, as more solar power is being added to the grid, which requires utilities to compensate about 80% of that power in the 20 minutes before sunset; flexible natural gas turbines like the H-class offer the capability to quickly ramp up the load to remain grid stability, while advanced battery storage can help bridge the two sources.

In the future, this flexibility will gain importance as we see a shift of peaks during the day, driven by trends such as the adoption of

“Despite the acceptance of renewables, the road of transformation is riddled with sizable roadblocks in terms of scope, magnitude and complexity, as well as regulatory conundrums�

electric cars, car manufacturing moving to electric car production as mainstream, and users tending to charge their cars at night.

Simultaneously, energy moguls have a role to play in fuelling energy conversations with renewable energy and fossil fuel producers, to discover competencies and carry out the collaborative research and development which will herald a golden future for energy creation and consumption. For instance, last year in Norwalk, California, GE and Southern California Edison (SCE) unveiled the world’s first battery-gas turbine hybrid system.

The system is touted for its ability to balance variable energy supply and demand, including during evening hours when the sun sets and solar power production falls, even as electricity usage surges

as people turn on lights and appliances. The energy storage capacity of the battery has been specifically curated to provide enough time coverage to allow the gas turbine to start and reach its designated power output.

At its core is a groundbreaking control system that seamlessly blends output between the battery and the gas turbine. As a result, the system does not need to burn fuel and consume water in standby mode to be able to dispatch power immediately when demand surges.

The road ahead lies in both diversity and integration. As the power industry works towards serving the evolving needs of customers, it is essential that innovation, exploration and technology pave the way for a stronger energy future.

November 2018 41

Technology

Rob Phillpot

Prakash Senghani

ConstruCtion’s Changing digital landsCape in the Middle east Rob Phillpot discusses the uptake and benefits of technology in the construction industry with AECOM’s Prakash Senghani With the volume of construction output set to grow by 85% to $15.5 trillion by 2030, the Engineering and Construction (E&C) industry is pivotal to the world economy. According to a BMI Research report, the Middle East and North African construction market is expected to be worth $336bn by 2020, up from $235bn in 2016, a net growth of 43%.

Deloitte’s GCC Powers of Construction 2017 report states there are over $2 trillion worth of projects currently in the planning stages in the GCC countries, with construction accounting for more than half the value of the pipeline. However, for an industry of such importance, the uptake of technology has regularly been criticised.

42 November 2018

Is that a fair assessment of the industry, specifically in the Middle East? Are there signs of a changing digital landscape here, and how are companies in the region dealing with the five key challenges identified by the Global Industry Council report earlier this year?

As a reminder, the five key challenges are: • Integration across the Ecosystem: Organisations are grappling with complex digital ecosystems that have multiple platforms creating and duplicating data • Rationalisation and Standardisation: Complex and non-standard processes and systems need to be rationalised across projects • Building Digital Talent: Organisations not only lack

teams of IT experts but also senior leaders who can lead the change, as well as a broader workforce that is digitally savvy • Securing Digital Adoption: Workforce apprehension arises from cultural and technical challenges and can slow IT adoption and value realisation • Establishing Value and Return on Investment (ROI): Organisations find it difficult to measure and communicate the benefits gained from large digital investments AECOM, a member of the Global Industry Council, has consistently innovated, exemplified through its AECOM Teams initiative. It enables more efficient transformation by helping project teams plan for and implement the right tools, take advantage

of innovations and resources elsewhere in the organisation, improve data management by connecting to data lakes, and cultivate digital skills.

Prakash Senghani, digital project delivery lead for AECOM, is based in the Middle East and has seen how the industry is trying to evolve. He says, “Although the industry here still struggles with particular issues – primarily late delivery of projects, cost overruns and adversarial contracting and disputes – we’re seeing positive movements towards digital transformation.”

Senghani feels that as well as helping to tackle these issues, technology is already providing many benefits to projects in the Middle East, including efficiencies from digitising paper-

Technology

innovative culture The Middle East is leading the way in key digital transformation areas, thanks to the development of an innovative culture.

based processes. Removing the need to scan or copy multiple documents multiple times is not only time-efficient but also saves paper. The time saving frees people up to focus on more value-added activities, which is a return on investment of having a single frictionless platform.

He goes on to suggest that having systems that can work together, as well as a consistent approach to data management, enables information to be easily stored and makes the quality of information indisputable.

An unintended benefit is that having a digital twin improves the quality of work from staff because they realise everything is being captured, recorded and monitored. Integration across the ecosystem, as well as

rationalisation and standardisation, are being increasingly addressed in the region, he notes.

“There’s an innovative culture here and the Middle East is leading in some key digital transformation areas. The Dubai 3D Printing Strategy mandates that by 2030, at least 25% of every new building in Dubai will use 3D printing technology. Also, blockchain technology is being heavily implemented by the Dubai government for services ranging from remittances to retail transactions and is an area that Dubai is looking to lead in generally,” Senghani says.

“We’re anticipating that these innovations will inevitably impact and shift over to the construction industry. We just need to take time to identify the best use cases for it,

but already in terms of security, we can see the value of removing that third party to guarantee trust.”

He cites developments in Saudi Arabia where cities such as Neom and Al Qiddiya are being developed from the ground up, which will provide a unique opportunity to embed digital from the beginning.

“With all of this, though, we still see obstacles to digital transformation. Talent is a challenge because it’s rare to find someone with a technology background who also understands the construction industry,” he points out. “At AECOM, we’re bringing in people from places like the gaming industry and other tech industries to help shape the digital skills we have available.

Additionally, we’re observing the way other industries such

as manufacturing and finance have successfully adopted and embraced digital for the betterment of their respective fields.”

The industry needs to encourage people from these backgrounds to see they have a career opportunity in construction, and Senghani believes that’s going to take a concerted effort to invest in technology, eradicating the perception that technology is for every other industry but construction.

“In the Middle East, implementing change can be tough because there are so many hoops to jump through.

Construction is a heavily regulated industry and it can seem quite expensive to implement digital transformation if you don’t look at the long-term value you receive.

To some businesses it can feel like a leap of faith, because the benefits can seem intangible; this is because there are some benefits that are not easy to put a monetary value against.

“But there’s definitely a momentum in the industry and a willingness to change.

The businesses that have successfully implemented digital transformation have been those that have encouraged adoption among their staff from the outset. A lot of this is down to communication. You need to define a plan and communicate this to the business, so everyone knows what is happening and when but also ensures they understand why the change is important.”

Overall, there are a lot of positives to take from what is happening. Globally, it feels like we’re at a tipping point for digital transformation in the industry, and while it won’t be easy, successes that can be seen in places like Dubai and Saudi Arabia will help to encourage this and perhaps change the mindset of those who feel it is too difficult and not worth it.

November 2018 43

Building Technology

Increasing heights By 2050, more than two billion people are expected to live in cities around the world. As a result of severely restricted space, increasing the height of buildings is the only viable solution to housing the globe’s burgeoning population.

44 November 2018

Building Technology

MULTIDIRECTIONAL IN THE SKY Big Project ME speaks to Professor Michael Cesarz, CEO at Multi, to understand how after 160 years, a new age of ropeless elevator systems is set to disrupt tall building construction

Professor Michael Cesarz, CEO of Multi at Thyssenkrupp Elevator, is an architect with extensive experience in creating cutting-edge projects, having worked on both the technological and architectural aspects of buildings. Multi is Thyssenkrupp’s latest innovation, a multidirectional ropeless elevator.

With the technology being tested at the Thyssenkrupp test tower in Rottweil, Germany, Big Project ME speaks with him to find out how Multi is set to disrupt the built environment and make way for taller buildings.

How did Multi come about?

Due to the ongoing trend of urbanisation and urban mobility, by 2050 two billion people are expected to live in cities. With such severe restriction on space, increasing the height of buildings is the only viable solution, the other being to extend city boundaries, which would increase the cost exponentially. Currently, high-rise buildings are at an approximate height of 300m, but Multi is set to disrupt this technology and revolutionise building designs.

Multi makes use of the linear motor technology developed for the Transrapid train. This technology allows the cabins to

move up and down a shaft as well as travel horizontally. These cabins also come down one after another in a continuous loop without any height limitations.

Do you think that Dubai and the Middle East region are ready for Multi? What challenges have you faced?

With the mechanics incorporated in Multi, it is ideal for the UAE since the country is an early adopter of innovative technologies and is at the forefront of realestate development. An example of this is the Twin technology that has already been adopted by structures such as the Latifa Tower in Dubai, Capital Market Authority Tower in Riyadh and National Bank of Kuwait Headquarters in Kuwait City.

But finding the right solutions for every building is important.

There are other solutions in the market today which are more convenient for certain buildings, and we are even providing some of them. Maybe we can make a mixture of Twin and Multi and it would also work quite well.

We have hired architects to work with us and provide their feedback, and we counter

November 2018 45

Building Technology

those with solutions. But certain challenges like increasing the size of the cabins are not possible, since we decided to have smaller cabins that fit in the shaft from the beginning itself. The whole shaft and structural elements have to be taken as they are. This has made certain projects not feasible.

How is the Multi maturing as part of the construction industry?

Multi is definitely a game changer. With multiple cabins in a single shaft, Multi is capable of significantly reducing wait times to between 15 to 30 seconds, which means passengers don’t have to wait for a long period. Another reason is, architects and developers are not going to be restricted by the elevator shaft height anymore, the design possibilities are open in every direction!

With its smaller cabins, Multi helps to reduce the space occupied by lifts and increase the building’s usable area by up to 25%, or help reduce the overall building size and total energy consumption.

In fact, Multi has already been

Game changer With multiple cabins in a single shaft, Multi is capable of significantly reducing waiting times for elevators, meaning passengers don’t waste quite as much time as before.

commissioned. The very first Multi will be installed at OVG Real Estate’s new East Side Tower in Berlin. If everything goes to plan, Multi will be operational by 2022.

In this way, my ambition for Multi is that in the future, out of the 10-20 iconic buildings, if Multi is part of six or seven, it is a win for me. Multi is not a mass project.

With its horizontal-vertical elevator system, Multi is not just limited to buildings. It can be used to open up new directions of travel in underground transport hubs.

Multi can also be used to make

sky bridges, because structurally we can now provide the elevator running in them, and even make them smaller. We can ideally see it as a lift shaft and not as a walkway when it comes to regulation and codes, and it becomes feasible.

Another application of Multi is at the airports. With terminals so far away from each other, the slots between each take-off are longer, so what if we can squeeze the slots by making people reach terminals quicker? But with airports we are thinking of Multi in a different way, we have a

Sensor technology There are a number of sensors in the cabin used to monitor a range of systems, from air quality and cabin noise through to tracking unnatural noises.

46 November 2018

walkway called Accel, running on linear motors as well, that can transport trolleys or luggage to the required gate with Multi.

How is the technology in Multi different from what already exists?

Multi applies the linear motor technology by means of magnetic levitation. This enables the elevators to move in shafts in the same way that trains move in rail systems, with various cabins per shaft and permitting vertical as well as horizontal movements inside buildings. Multi includes new elements such as new and lightweight carbon composite materials for cabins and doors, weighing a mere 50kg instead of the 300kg in standard elevators, resulting in an overall 50% weight reduction as compared to standard technologies.

The cabins move about as if in a traffic overtrain, the software is uploaded with digitisation and there are a ton of sensors in the cabin, not only for technical reasons but for safety and health as well. These sensors can measure the quality of air in the cabin, the noise of the cabin and other unnatural noises as well.

Three levels of braking accompany Multi. The first level is the normal braking on a dayto-day use, it works with linear motors and it brakes to get to a

Building Technology

landing. The other one is in case of an energy blackout, energy is buffered in batteries all over the shaft on a normal day, so that we are independent of generators which are located elsewhere in the building. And lastly, we have mechanical braking, and this is mandatory. Just in case everything breaks down and the sky comes down, it brakes just by the speed of the cabin which goes down.

How will Multi be contributing to the smart city initiative that Dubai is pushing for?

We have designed the Multi to be a thing of the future. One can use smartphones as security access, which would eliminate the need for receptions. It’s a lot of space at the entrance that acts as a barrier. With the smartphone, access to the building will be more

“Architects and developers are not going to be restricted by the elevator shaft height anymore, the design possibilities are open in every direction!�

A thing of the futur e Multi has been designed to be future -proof, says Dr Michael Cesar z, pointing out that the system can interact with BIM mode ls and BMS systems for asset managemen t.

convenient and the doors will open for you when you arrive.

The Multi would be based on building information modelling (BIM), so whatever happens in the later stages of the elevator will be stored in the BIM system for asset management, portfolio management, etc. With the help of this, Multi can measure the behaviour of the building, the cabin and people travelling in it.

Multi is also equipped with glass fibre cables, which are used to collect data. With this, we can provide the building with an IP backbone, which makes the overall project intelligent. For example, if there is a conference on a particular floor, the building would signal lights to avoid confusion, or even individual floors could smarten up, as per the convenience of the building manager.

Levels of braking Three levels of braking accompany Multi, with the first level being normal braking for day-to-day use, which uses linear motors. The second level operates off batteries and is only used in emergencies.

The third and final level is mandatory mechanical braking.

November 2018 47

The Big 5 Preview

DISCOVERING THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION AT THE BIG 5

Big Project ME previews The Big 5 2018 as it returns to Dubai November 26-29 The largest and most influential construction event in the Middle East is coming back on 26-29 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with an impressive array of new features.

Under the theme ‘Shaping the future of construction’, The Big 5 2018 will introduce never-beforeseen technologies and innovative solutions. It will shed light on rising entrepreneurs that promise to disrupt the construction sector, as well as on the women pushing the industry forward. During its 39th edition, the show will once again pave the way for new partnerships, boost investment and connect professionals from

48 November 2018

around the world in Dubai.

Dmg events, organisers of The Big 5, announced a must-attend edition that will address the challenges of today and tomorrow in the built environment, promoting state-ofthe-art solutions across all stages of the construction lifecycle.

Josine Heijmans, portfolio director at dmg events, anticipates: “Technology is quickly reshaping the world of construction.

Today, it offers unprecedented opportunities to work faster, more efficiently and more sustainably. Industry players who embrace innovation in a sector that is widely considered

a late technology adopter can truly go a long way in building success and staying on top in an extremely competitive market.”

The event will feature the first FutureTech Construction Summit on November 26. The conference will be fully dedicated to exploring future trends and technologies through case studies, panel discussions and thoughtprovoking presentations. Under the theme of ‘Empowering Innovation in the Construction Ecosystem’, the FutureTech Construction Summit will unveil how construction industry professionals can achieve higher productivity, greater

sustainability and enhanced affordability in their projects, with the help of technology.

At a dedicated Live Innovation Zone, visitors will be able to discover new products and solutions presented at interactive live demonstrations. A permanent display of all the most innovative products at The Big 5 will also offer a glimpse of what is shaking up the construction industry today.

Next to the Live Innovation Zone, selected start-ups in the construction industry will display the technologies and solutions that will revolutionise tomorrow’s built environment. The Big 5 Start-up City will gather the next

The Big 5 Preview

construction tech disruptors, a selection of rising stars that will soon have an impact on the field. In order to support these innovative entrepreneurs, The Big 5 will offer a prize to the most innovative start-up, selected by a panel of judges through an exciting competition.

Bringing the industry forward also means changing the popular misconception that construction is a man’s job.

This year, The Big 5 will therefore launch the Big 5’s Women in Construction Seminar and Awards, which will offer strong, powerful and successful women an international stage to share their experiences on how they are changing the game and having an impact.

Addressing the need to reinvent gender diversity in the workspace, The Big 5’s Women in Construction Seminar and Awards will pave the way to overcome today’s challenges and advance the

“Industry players who embrace innovation in a sector that is widely considered a late technology adopter can truly go a long way in building success and staying on top in an extremely competitive market”

entire industry together. Cynthia Corby, Audit partner & Middle East Construction industry leader at Deloitte & Touche Middle East and one of the Middle East’s Most Influential Women in 2018 according to Forbes; Shorouq Hamawi, Regional Communications and Marketing manager at Mott MacDonald; and Marcus Taylor, managing partner at Taylor Sterling, will be part of a dedicated panel discussing this topic on November 28.

A wide education agenda will also come back this year.

The popular CPD-certified free workshops will run in four dedicated theatres as BIM Talks, Architecture Talks, Project Management Talks and Design Talks. Moreover, beyond the FutureTech Construction Summit and the Women in Construction Seminar, the ‘How to Do Business in the UAE’ seminar will provide terrific value and business intelligence to

exhibitors and visitors interested in navigating the burgeoning UAE construction market.

Covering an area as big as 16 football pitches, The Big 5 will showcase thousands of construction products and solutions from around the globe. Over 2,500 construction companies will take part in the exhibition, clustered in five dedicated sectors: MEP Services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Building Envelope & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Construction Technology & Innovation.

The Big 5 Solar, the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Concrete and The Big 5 Heavy will run as part of The Big 5 this year, creating one mega construction event 26-29 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

To find out more, visit www.thebig5.ae.

November 2018 49

SKYROCKET your bid-wins. STOP guessing costs.

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One of the common misconceptions when it comes to Business ERP is: that one size fits all!

The truth of the matter is that ERP moguls are mainly appreciated from an established track record in IT installations followed by an extensive network of local support partners. They all offer a range of tools starting from finance, to procurement, to manufacturing all the way to enterprise performance management. These ERP systems have a long time-to-market period as they require extensive customization services in order to fit specific business type and logic.

For industries such as manufacturing, energy, banking, transportation, hospitality and government where IT governance and industry trends are aligned and mostly globalized, these ERP prevail. Depending also on the size of business and the internal IT transformation roadmaps, companies vary their preferences, selecting different ERP for different flavors.

There are however, industries, such as: Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) where processes and business interaction are so unique that … One-Size-Does-Not-Fit-All and where several wellknown ERP systems maybe be considered: ‘an elephant in the room’.

Initial investment in money, IT infrastructure and people are always a

draw-back for switching to anything different and the most common solution is to enhance business-specific functionality via separate applications as add-ons.

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ProjectView ERP is a Cost Control software and Construction Management Solution that is seamlessly connected with any BIM and integrated with Oracle Primavera, providing a holistic, 360 degrees view, of Cost-Time-Resources by comparing the Budgeted vs Actual Progress of Works and by bridging Site Personnel and Office users. The only system where Accounting and Construction speak under the same terms and where collaboration and knowledge diffusion is the underlying layer for all daily works.

ProjectView is: A Construction-Specific ERP supported by certified construction managers, planners and engineering economists (English and Arab speakers) that can setup, train and deliver ProjectView ERP within 4-6 months, tops.  A system that maps your company’s departmental users and roles with specific modules such as: 

y y y y y y y y y y y y

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 A system that uses databanks and e-tendering for materials’ cost comparison and enhanced transparency, suggesting the ‘best’ supplier and avoiding local cartel situations  A system that triggers an efficient and transparent e-purchasing cycle based on multi-attribute assessment of vendors’ quotation both in qualitative and quantitative terms. An add-in, e-auction feature roll outs an open price bidding for selective vendors to filter the most valuable offer.  A System that fits bilaterally (import-export) XLS tender BoQ templates to a dynamic multi-versioning of cost estimation and resource planning  A System that integrates with any BIM provider (BIM agnostic) embedding 5th dimension in project planning  A system that has an AI module for bidding optimization, using advanced analytics and big data algorithms, per region, per market and per type of project  A bridge of constant communication between site and office for daily monitoring of labor productivity, material requests, machinery utilization and project progress.  A system that offer a trilateral view of cost control along the project baseline by integrating BoQ lines with WBS and accounting cost centers. System is seamlessly connected with primavera.  A system that benchmarks your budgeted costs and schedule and compares real-time progress of works and exploitation of resources.  A system that manages your companies with client’s relationships and transactions.  A system that associates qualitative (record keeping) and quantitative (cost centered) attributes to each deliverable, expediting the Payment Certificate procedures and fine tuning the payments to suppliers and subcontractors (cash flow).

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The Big 5 Preview

HVAC R EXPO PREVIEW

Big Project ME previews the first edition of the HVAC R Expo, which will run as part of the 2018 edition of The Big 5 The first edition of the HVAC R Expo will host more than 200 exhibitors from around the globe, organisers dmg events have announced. The only event dedicated to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry in Dubai, HVAC R Expo will run as part of The Big 5, the largest construction event in the Middle East, 26 to 29 November 2018 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Launching with broad industry backing including partners Fawaz, SKM Air Conditioning, Trox, Finpower, Khansaheb and Technalco, HVAC R Expo also enjoys the support of leading associations like ASHRAE Falcon Chapter, AHRI, BSRIA and REHVA. 52 November 2018

Josine Heijmans, portfolio director at dmg events, says: “We are extremely glad and proud of the huge support we are receiving from the HVAC R industry at a regional and a global level for the launch of HVAC R Expo. We look forward to promoting best practices in the region while providing a vital platform for industry professionals to do business, network, learn and source innovative energy-efficient products.”

Dr Omar Abdelaziz, ASHRAE Global Training Centre Instructor, comments: “HVAC R Expo brings a much-needed exposure of the state of the art to the GCC HVAC R industry. It provides an opportunity to learn about the newest commercial HVAC product offering for the GCC

market with a special emphasis on hot climate conditions, while offering free learning.”

Indeed, 20 CPD (continuing professional development)certified workshops will run alongside the exhibition. The complimentary HVAC R Talks will be delivered by some of the most prominent industry names and decision-makers, the likes of Faisal Rashid, director Demand Side Management at the Supreme Council of Energy; Stephanie Taylor, MD of Harvard Medical School; and Chris Muller, Technical Director of Purafil.

Also, training sessions delivered by the ASHRAE Global Training Centre for Building Excellence will run at the event, providing participants with continuing

education credit and a certificate of attendance from ASHRAE. These continuing education hours can be applied to maintenance of LEED professional credentials as well.

HVAC R Expo will put the theme of energy efficiency centre stage this year. According to Faisal Rashid, “HVAC R accounts for heavy usage of energy, whether in buildings or industries. Representing 70% of the total energy consumption of a building on average, HVAC R usually puts pressure on energy generation systems and energy needs, with both an environmental and a financial impact.”

The event will also explore the way forward to overcome some of the challenges posed by the GCC region’s environment, through its

The Big 5 Preview

“Many opportunities come from the large regional market. Also, the GCC market has committed to the Kigali amendment exception, which allows for a better transition towards lower global warming potential refrigerants” educational programme. Pramod Kumar Jha, senior mechanical engineer at Atkins, explains: “The Middle East climate being very hot, humid, dusty and corrosive imposes many challenges to engineers. The cooling requirement per square metre area is much higher in the Middle East than in any other part of the world.”

Dr Abdelaziz, who will present a session on ‘New Developments in Lower GWP Refrigerants (MENA)’ that also provides ASHRAE continuing education credits, adds: “Many opportunities come from the large regional market potential. Also, the GCC market has committed to the

Kigali amendment exception, which allows for a better transition towards lower global warming potential refrigerants.”

Major players like Zamil Industrial, TROX and Coolex will be among the over 200 companies exhibiting their most innovative products at the show in November, and ODE Insulation from Turkey will announce the launch of its environmentfriendly green glasswool product, ODE Starflex ECO Acoustic.

Global market leader Belimo Automation will also present its most innovative products at HVAC R Expo. Visitors will be able to discover and source the

Belimo Sensor Range, ZoneEase (a new advanced VAV system), the Three Way Butterfly Valve and Belimo Energy Valve with cloud connectivity. This last one is an advanced IoT-capable control device with integrated logic to manage circuit performance, save money and improve efficiency.

“Our energy valves give total visibility to circuit and system performance in chilled water and heating applications, by monitoring and storing data then making it available for recording, analysis, trending reports, delta T management, precise flow control and measuring energy use – all from a single data point,” says

Business Development director Colin Bridges. “We believe we lead the field in this groundbreaking use of technology.”

With the HVAC R market in the UAE expected to reach a value of $1.5bn by 2019, the launch of the HVAC R Expo promises to help the construction industry move toward a greener and more sustainable future. It will run as part of The Big 5 along with The Big 5 Solar, the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo, Middle East Concrete and The Big 5 Heavy.

To find out more about HVAC R Expo (26-29 November, Dubai World Trade Centre), visit www.

HVACRexpodubai.com.

FRENCH PAVILION BIG 5 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION SHOW MEP SERVICE / BUILDING INTERIORS & FINISHES HALL 1-4

SIMONIN: 3 E 147

BUSINESS FRANCE: 3 F 146 CEMOM MOATTI: 3 E 149

CONSTRUCTION TOOLS & BUILDING MATERIALS HALL ZABEEL 1-3

FLOVEA - FRANCE PREFA CONCEPT: 3 F 142

ACTIVSKEEN: Z 2 C 194

GV2 VEDA FRANCE: 3 E 151

A RAYMOND: Z 2 B 191

GUARD INDUSTRIES: 3 E 159

BUSINESS FRANCE: Z 2 C 194

ISPO GROUP: 3 F 154

CDH GROUP HAERMMERLIN: Z 2 B 199

KEMICA COATINGS: 3 F 148

CONTROLAB: Z 2 C 194

MANTION: 3 F 150

FRANCEM: Z 2 B 193

MARBRES DE FRANCE: 3 F 146

GYS: Z 2 B 198

MAT INTER: 3 F 146

OCAI: Z 2 C 190

PLATRE.COM: 3 F 158

THIRARD: Z 2 A 199

SAF ACADE: 3 E 141

TUF-FIX: Z 2 C 196

Sidi ACHOUCHI Head of Industries & Cleantech sidi.achouchi@businessfrance.fr

BIG PROJECT ME 194x122mm.indd 1

TECOFI: 3 F 140

Miryem OUKAS MESSIDI Head of Communication miryem.oukasmessidi@businessfrance.fr

@BF_MiddleEast

26/10/2018 11:04:41

November 2018 53

The Big 5 Preview

The Big 5 SOLAR

Showcasing solar energy solutions to Dubai’s $279.4 billion urban sector After a successful launch edition in 2017, The Big 5 Solar will return under the patronage of the Ministry of Energy & Industry, UAE, to showcase solar energy solutions for the construction industry at Dubai World Trade Centre from 26-29 November 2018.

The Big 5 Solar will display the latest solar innovations and solutions from top brands, offer free access to industryleading education sessions and host the high-profile Global Solar Leaders’ Summit.

Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Director at dmg events, comments: “We are excited to kick off the second edition of The Big 5 Solar this year with a unique focus on bringing solar innovations closer to the wide opportunities in the Middle East construction industry.

Buildings account for 40% of energy consumed in cities, and with over 5,000 active projects worth $279.4bn ongoing in Dubai’s urban construction sector alone, there is no better time than now to showcase solar solutions to construction professionals.”

The Big 5 Solar will display the latest in solar innovations for the construction industry across four of the most prominent product sectors: Photovoltaics (PV), Solar Thermal Technologies, Energy Storage, and Solar Technology and Related Services.

“Construction is a very big market for us because of the logistical difficulties faced on project sites,” says Thair Al Fararjeh, GM for Enviro Cooling Systems. “We are currently working on a joint project to develop a smart caravan offering workers the complete off-grid solution for all electronics, we will cover the AC solution in this case.”

54 November 2018

industry support The Big 5 Solar is supported by leading associations, including MESIA and CEBC, as well as fresh backing from several major industry heavyweights.

Aside from off-grid air conditioning solutions, at The Big 5 Solar the company will showcase mixed-grid units that generate zero cost during daylight, only using power in the evening.

Exhibitor NeOn Energy also looks forward to providing solar solutions for the urban sector with its compact modules. “Space saving properties are unique to our photovoltaic and thermal combined (PVT) module, making them ideal for residential and commercial applications,” says Sanjayan Marat, Executive Director MENA region for NeOn Energy.

More than just an exhibition, The Big 5 Solar will also bring together industry pioneers to host four days of free-to-attend CPD (continuing professional development) certified education sessions. The Solar Talks will cover popular topics such as Commercial and Industrial Solar Growth, Building Integrated

Photovoltaics (BiPV), Solar Hybrid Systems in the UAE Market and Technological Innovations in Solar Panel Manufacturing.

Inviting architects, engineers, sustainability specialists and developers to his session, Imad Kayyali, Head of the Architecture Department at Mimar Emirates, says: “The integration of solar energy systems in architecture and urban planning presents exciting trends right now, including more flexible, variable and easy uses of solar panels for places such as parking shades and building facades.”

Belén Gallego, CEO and co-founder of ATA Insights, adds: “It has never been more important for the solar and construction industries to come together, as distributed solar markets are raising through the ranks to be an important part of the climate change solution.

This event is a great opportunity

for these two industries to meet, discuss and do business.”

On 27 November, Belén Gallego will sit with over 25 high-profile regional and international speakers at the Global Solar Leaders’ Summit. Speakers will include HE Dr Matar Al Neyadi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy (UAE); HE Dr Nasser Saidi, Chairman of the Clean Energy Business Council (MENA); Turki Al Shehri, Head of the Renewable Energy Project Development Office at the Ministry Of Energy, Industry & Mineral Resources (Saudi Arabia); Rabia Ferroukhi, Head of Policy Unit and Deputy Director of Knowledge, Policy And Finance at the International Renewable Energy Agency; and Paddy Padmanathan, CEO of Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia).

The Big 5 Solar returns with existing support from leading associations including the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) and Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC), and welcomes fresh backing from industry heavyweights: the GCC Association for Renewable Energy and Sustainability – Green Gulf; the Architectural Solar Association – ASA; the British Photovoltaic Association – BPVA; the Solar GCC Alliance, Jinko Solar, Campion, S5, We Link Group, Sumec, Noor Solar, Sunew, Verditek, Heliatek, EnviroSmart, NeOn Energy and Enerray.

The Big 5 Solar is free to attend and will run from 11am to 7pm daily at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event runs as part of The Big 5, alongside The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVACR Expo and Urban Design & Landscaping Expo.

To find out more about the event, visit www.thebig5solar.ae.

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Show Review

The Big 5 ConsTruCT egypT First edition of show featured more than 200 companies from 24 countries Over 11,300 construction industry professionals attended The Big 5 Construct Egypt, 18-21 September 2018 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre (EIEC).

The first Cairo edition of The Big 5 construction show was officially inaugurated by HE Eng Amr Nassar, Minister of Trade and Industry.

More than 200 companies from 24 countries brought hundreds of innovative products to Egypt’s booming $335bn construction market. The event featured 15 country pavilions from countries such as Italy, the UK, Spain and France, including official government-funded pavilions from Germany, Greece, Turkey, China and India.

products to market Hundreds of innovative products have been brought to Egypt’s booming $335bn construction market.

The Big 5 Construct Egypt also offered 44 CPD-certified, free-toattend workshops presented by prominent experts. With average participation of 120 delegates per seminar, the workshops covered a wide range of hot industry topics including BIM and Project Management, Sustainability and Technology, New Policies and

Reforms, Architecture & Design, and Contract Management.

With the goal of changing the popular misconception of construction being a man’s job, the event launched its first Women in Construction seminar on September 18. Promoting the diverse experiences of some of Egypt’s

pioneering female construction executives, the seminar proved to be an eye-opening and inspirational experience for all professionals in the industry.

The launch edition of The Big 5 Construct Egypt was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and supported by the Egyptian Federation for Construction and Building Contractors (EFCBC) and the African Federation for Construction Contractors Associations (AFCCA), while some of the largest industry players in the country also partnered with the event.

To find out more about the event, visit www. thebig5constructegypt.com.

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$10.5bn worth of projects from five exhibitors out of 300 at Cityscape Global Taking advantage of the region’s largest gathering of real estate professionals, developers took to the halls of the Dubai World Trade Centre to announce and showcase projects worth billions of dollars.

Out of the 300 companies at Cityscape Global, five local developers exhibited projects worth a total $10.5bn, making up a large portion of the total value of projects on-site.

One key project was Nakheel’s Dragon Towers, a $194m twin building highrise apartment complex. The project will be built at Dubai’s rapidly-expanding Dragon City mixed-use community.

Aldar Properties showcased its $2.7bn Alghadeer, which 56 November 2018

Local focus Five local developers exhibited projects worth a total of $10.5bn, making up a large portion of the total value of projects at Cityscape Global 2018.

features more than 14,000 units. The master-planned development is located on the border of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Arada talked up its $6.5bn Aljada development and showcased the development’s focal point, the Central Hub, which was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Arada is one of many Sharjah developers joining the freehold movement in the emirate, allowing foreigners to invest their money in the real estate industry, following a change in the law in 2014.

Other major developments and projects launched on the opening day of the show include Marsa Meydan by the Meydan

Group, a Newport Beach style residential and lifestyle community in Jebel Ali, which features a climate-controlled marina and waterfront villas with private pontoons, a first in Dubai.

Meraas’ Port de la Mer was also announced during the first day of the event and is set to be a beachfront master-developed project in the heart of Jumeirah.

Cityscape Global returned in 2018 with support from Foundation Partners Dubai Holding and Nakheel, and Platinum Sponsors Eltizam Asset Management and Marjan Island. Its Silver Partners were Noyanlar and Tamleek Real Estate, while the show’s Strategic Partner was Dubai Land Department.

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Helping you make the smartest decisions

evolving to remain competitive Balmoral Tanks has evolved to remain competitive while still retaining the highest levels of production, specification and design standards.

ReinfoRcing the need foR quality

Big Project ME talks to Simon Scott, export sales director for Balmoral Tanks, about why quality is key for the UK-based tank manufacturer

Balmoral Tanks has been providing tank installations across the Middle East and beyond for almost 40 years.

With this depth of experience, BPME was keen to find out more about a company whose brand is synonymous with quality, service and after-sales support.

We spoke with export sales director Simon Scott, a wellknown figure in the industry.

Here’s what he had to say.

58 November 2018

Why does quality matter in a challenging market environment?

Quality is key because it’s the one thing that remains after price and everything else is forgotten.

Good customer service and front-end support is essential, but ultimately you are judged by the hardware you deliver and how this performs on-site.

When you work in a fastpaced environment such as the Middle East, there is always

someone snapping at your heels to fulfil any areas where you fail, and it’s this competitiveness that reinforces the need to provide quality products and services on every project.

How do your tanks stand out from the competition, and why is it worth investing in them?

Investment is the key word here; most investments return value over the long term and with almost

40 years of development and some of the most stringent specifications coming out of the UK, Balmoral Tanks has evolved to remain competitive while retaining the highest of production, specification and design standards.

We are audited every six months

by BSI and LPCB, and annually by FM, and carry testing approvals from TUV Sud alongside full approval from WRAS (drinking water storage approval). With

For more information, please visit the Balmoral Tanks website at: www.balmoraltanks.com

state their product has WRAS approval, but in reality it is only one component of the overall tank kit that is approved. The misleading definition leads customers to believe the entire tank is certified, when in fact it is just one of the component parts. At Balmoral, our approvals cover every item in the tank kit, from the panels through to the sealants and fixings.

Have lessons been learned by the market regarding quality over price?

We like to think so, but we often hear the phrase ‘x or y company is cheaper’ when we know they are not offering a like-for-like product. The reality of this situation is that if you pay too much for something, you stand to lose a little money.

If you pay too little and the project quality is compromised, you stand to lose everything.

What new product ranges will Balmoral be focusing on in the coming year?

this heritage, our products have proven that they stand the test of time in relation to longevity, design and operation on-site.

What pitfalls and traps should customers keep an eye out for when it comes to tanks?

Always look for certification, and in particular be aware of phrases such as ‘in accordance with’ and ‘designed to the principles of’. We know several tank manufacturers

We recently made an exciting and strategic decision to add a glass fused to steel tank product line to our already comprehensive range – these tanks will be designed and produced at our new facility in south Yorkshire, England. This latest development supports our long-term strategy of positioning Balmoral Tanks at the very forefront of the global industry.

As I speak, construction work on the facility to house the new process is well underway and our R&D teams are working with key suppliers to bring the product to market in the very near future. Further updates on this exciting development will follow to keep customers, potential customers and the wider industry up to speed on progress.

We are also working on an export specification hot pressed GRP tank kit that comes in both internally and externally supported forms, to push the range from basic water storage into industrial water storage.

How can customers benefit from your experience as a supplier on multiple projects over many years?

Seen all scenarios With almos t 40 years of experience in the UK and overseas, Balmoral has seen practi cally all scenarios that a customer might face.

“When you work in a fast-paced environment such as the Middle East, there is always someone snapping at your heels to fulfil any areas where you fail, and it’s this competitiveness that reinforces the need to provide quality products and services on every project”

The benefits of dealing with a company like Balmoral, with almost 40 years’ experience in the UK and overseas, are that we have seen practically all scenarios that a customer might face. These range from simple projects that run smoothly to projects where site conditions are difficult, detailed inspections are required, a high level of technical documentation is needed or where the end users become more demanding after the PO is issued.

Anyone can manage a project where everything is textbook, but the real skill is delivering a quality product on time, in full and to budget when the parameters of the project change along the way.

What issues can you help customers identify and pre-empt?

Always understand the full project specification and be prepared to request more information if there is any ambiguity. Wherever possible, get as much information on the project site and logistics; tanks are frequently installed in rooms or in remote locations where clear access is essential, and provisions should be made to allow for lifting of equipment and tools into place if access is restricted.

Finally, make sure you stand to make a profit. It’s easy to lose money in contracting, and that begins with your bottom line margin.

November 2018 59

Data and construction The connection between big data and construction work will be through the development of a digital twin model, which provides the possibility of creating a virtual mock-up of the physical entity.

Technology

Pedro Rey Antón

The fuTure of BIM wIll noT Be BIM

Pedro Rey Antón, Middle East BIM Coordinator for ACCIONA, explains how future BIM usage will be affected by the evolution of technology A decade ago, talk about BIM was only found in very specific research and development groups, as well as some pioneer companies. However, now the term BIM has spread throughout the construction sector and the building information modelling concept has become essential.

BIM manager, parametric objects, common data environment, 4D, 5D, asset lifecycle management, LOD (level of development) and LOI (level of information) are day-today terms in the AEC industry.

During these last years, we have witnessed how the BIM methodology has progressively been implemented in many countries. This demand, which was before the desire of a particular developer or a 60 November 2018

contractor enhancement, is now a requirement and a reality in most complex projects, in addition to being requested by public administrations and employees.

Developing a project with BIM has evident, well-known benefits. BIM provides an increase of the productivity and an improvement of a project´s workflow, a cost reduction in the construction process and a cut-down of execution times.

Furthermore, BIM minimises human error and potential clashes, allows easy analysis of the different stages of the project and improves communication between the different stakeholders.

BIM is a reality today. The BIM market is forecast to grow from $3.58bn in 2017 to $7.64bn

by 2022. In a short while, projects will be fully developed with the BIM methodology in a common and routine mode, in the same way that no one thinks of detailing drawings by hand – it is done with CAD software. This will take us to a point where, by default, projects can be analysed in advance, giving rise to an industrialisation of construction work.

What will be the next step once BIM methodology is fully implemented as a construction process?

From my point of view, once this is achieved, the B (building) and the M (modelling) will be dissolved, and the I (information) will be the great strength of this methodology. The idea of modelling will be totally integrated

in the construction process and the information will be the valuable point, already known as big data.

Nowadays, big data is developed in all the different business sectors.

It is a key concept. As has been said, data is the new gold. And this is also true for the construction sector. We are all accustomed to industries such as banking or marketing using big data to set up their commercial strategies.

For example, based on bank accounts and movements, financial companies offer specific banking packages. Depending on consumer choices, specific discounts are offered for different products for supermarket shoppers.

This connection between construction work and big data will be through the development

Technology

“Training users for the tools and the BIM methodology, along with its possibilities, is a key factor for the achievement of the project goals�

of a digital twin model. This model will be conceived as the result of integrating 3D images, construction and design data, i-model, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, etc.

The digital twin provides the possibility of creating a virtual mock-up of the physical entity.

Once this twin model is created, the amount of information linked will be enormous from the first establishment of the work and the early design. This data collection and its subsequent use will be of the utmost importance.

The model will be developed in parallel to the building and will be fed by all agents throughout the construction of the building, as well as its subsequent use.

In addition, and at the same

time, it will be updated by sensors in the buildings. The sensors will send information about work performance, for example based on monitoring how materials are affected by climate and the passage of time.

They can provide information about changes in energy efficiency or a structure’s behaviour.

However, what is going to be the change in the AEC Industry?

Based on the digital twin, simulations are carried out to make analyses and predictions.

This will improve productivity, with a real impact on costs, and provide an opportunity to generate new business models.

In other words, big data will allow us to deal with a large volume of data, both structured

and unstructured. With this information, we will perform predictive and advanced analysis, helping us to make strategic decisions based on a prediction of behaviour as well as real data.

This will allow us to minimise the error threshold and allow the possibility of making crucial decisions in real time.

Furthermore, processing this huge volume of data will allow a more strategic view of construction projects and their status. The collection and analysis of this data will be really useful for construction companies to improve efficiency levels.

Last but not least, this huge knowledge will also be an opportunity to optimise processes and improve outcomes

in the construction sector. For instance, AI-enabled processes could be used in planning and scheduling activities, since they have the potential to evaluate endless combinations and alternatives based on similar projects, optimising the best route and correcting themselves throughout the project stages.

So what will happen when we reach that point? At that moment, the model will not be the working model as we know it today. The construction project will be developed with massive data schedules from data management software such as Excel, SAP or Oracle.

The model will be just a photograph of that information, visual confirmation that the data makes sense and what we are creating is optimal. It will provide the proof that the data represents the desired viaduct, tunnel, complex structure or amoeba-shaped roof. It will be a digital pre-construction.

The model will be the way to coordinate that huge amount of information between the different disciplines in the project.

To sum up, in future construction will be developed in BIM methodology, because it will be the only way to develop complex projects. However, nobody will talk about BIM itself anymore. Each one in his role will see the information identified as important for that defined role, so that they can identify the strengths and weaknesses and achieve their objectives.

It is important to emphasise at this point that training users for the tools and BIM methodology, along with its possibilities, is a key factor for the achievement of the project goals. The value of the users will be how they analyse and use this information.

As a result, HR will never again look for pure BIM profiles.

November 2018 61

Expert Voice

Market leaders provide valuable insights and opinions for the construction industry

The IndusTrIalIsaTIon of ConsTruCTIon

Neil Shackleton, project director at ALEC, discusses how changing global demographics are creating opportunities for innovative contractors

Take a moment and consider what is happening on our planet. There are global and industry issues creating human challenges that will be amplified in the future.

There is also the opportunity of our industry benefiting from innovative ways in buildings being delivered. There is a pathway for our construction sector to make a difference to our future.

Global Perspective Population growth – The UN predicts there will be over 10 billion people alive by 2050. In the next 30 years, we will grow our population by 30%, after being on Earth for thousands of years.

Urbanisation – Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion

62 November 2018

expected to increase to 70% by 2050. 3.85 billion people live in cities now. In 2050, 7 billion people will live in cities. Cities will need to double in size and many cities will need to be created.

Dubai has arguably been created over the last 20 years.

Is this going to happen in other parts of the world with as much vision, vigour and commitment?

If so, how? The same way we have delivered buildings historically?

These global occurrences will have vast impacts globally: on fiscal policies, foreign policies, agriculture, infrastructure, housing, hospitals, schools, transport systems, old age homes, food prices – in fact, on everything.

How people live– What about the millennial, going forward? The

young people who do not want to own a car or own an oversized home with a garden, swimming pool and lawnmower? Are these going to become trophies of a past generation that prioritised different things? Perhaps renting an appropriately sized apartment will become the norm, mostly dictated by necessity and need rather than now antiquated motives.

Industry Perspective Inefficiency – Our industry is still incredibly labour-intensive and notoriously inefficient.

McKinsey and many other adept organisations and industry experts have succinctly highlighted how inefficient we are as an industry compared to others; we are often termed the laggard industry

(Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity, McKinsey).

Skills shortage – Younger people are looking for jobs that are less physical with more reasonable working hours. Our industry is known for being hard and intensive. Tradesman are becoming harder to find and more expensive to pay.

The industry bad habit – get the design right up front: This dog just will not hunt!

Probably the worst habit we have managed to incubate in our industry is starting a construction project when the information is not ready. Tender documents are issued but the drawings and specifications are not complete, and may be a hybrid of a few projects

For more information, please visit the ALEC website at: www.alec.ae

Globally, labour-productivity growth lags behind that of manufacturing and the total economy Construction

Total economy

Real gross value added per hour worked by persons engaged, 2005 $

Manufacturing

Compound annual growth rate, 1995-2014 3.6%

$200 2.7% $160

1.0%

$120

Sources: OECD, WIOD, GGC-10, World Bank, BEA, BLS, National statistical agencies of Turkey, Malaysia and Singapore, Rosstat, McKinsey Global Institute analysis

1995

2000

developed over time. The client may have pushed the consultant’s fees to the point of failure, whereby it doesn’t have the budget or time to produce an all-encompassing set of project documents; or a substandard design document may have been floated to the market. Contractors price the works off the tender documents issued, the prices are returned, and they are invariably too high.

We then begin the dreaded value engineering sortie. VE decisions are made, not really well documented, no revised IFCs (drawings Issued for Construction) are issued, and before we know it we have kicked off a multi-million (or billion) dollar venture with two left feet. The project starts its life in a world of grey with the wrong information at hand, and the unfortunate experience of a combat project kicks off (Raising the Bar in Construction Project Teamwork: Combat Project Teams, Jim Eisenhart).

A project of this nature goes against our very DNA: we contractors are delivery-based souls who want to deliver a project on time, on budget and at a profit.

The most successful projects I have worked on over the past 25 years have been facilitated by delivery-focused teams. Projects

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succeed in an environment of timely good decision-making and leadership, coupled with an excellent design team.

“How and where people live in the future is going to come under more and more pressure. We need to be looking at the right products”

The Opportunity – What can we do 1. Complete the design in BIM – The project does not start until the design is complete and signed off.

2. Design for manufacture and assembly-DFMA – Use this as the basis for concurrent engineering input, to simplify the product, reduce manufacturing and assembly costs, and speed up the process. DFMA is applied in order to eliminate waste or inefficiency, and is a component of lean manufacturing.

3. Manufacture off-site – Execute a vast majority of the work in a factory. Productivity is increased and resource up-skilling is facilitated.

The design is 100% complete before manufacturing starts.

This makes everyone do their job up front, and changing once manufacturing starts is not a simple instruction – it has a mission-critical impact and the factory process is critically affected.

Would you start manufacturing the chassis for a car before you had designed the engine, doors, wheel sizes and hubs, fuel tank capacity, wiring, exhaust and

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safety features? In construction, we do this all the time.

Conclusion Our buildings need to become more similar, and unfortunately the bespoke once-off iconic design so many clients want needs to become the exception, not the rule. We have a responsibility as an industry to become a lot better in how we deliver a product to the market. How and where people live in the future is going to come under more and more pressure.

We need to be looking at the right products and construction delivery mechanisms to provide solutions.

Singapore has mandated modular construction methods and created standards for this sector in our industry, driving the industrialisation of construction.

This method of construction is a solution that needs government support and commitment to succeed. There are most definitely firm barriers to entry and the risk profile is convoluted, but construction has never been easy and we are slow to adopt change.

The naysayers may continue to be laggards, but we need to remain visionary and innovative, and navigate a path into the future that overcomes some of our global and industry challenges.

November 2018 63

Tenders

Top tenders Oman-IndIa multI-PurPOse PIPelIne PrOject Budget $5,600,000,000 Project number WPR3773-O territory Oman client Fox Petroleum Limited (Oman) address CPO Seeb, Postal Code – 111 Postal/Zip code 89 Phone (+968) 2249 3760 Fax (+986) 2249 1478 email foxoman@foxpetroleum.net Website www.foxpetroleum.net description Construction of a multi-purpose pipeline.

Period 2022 status New Tender tender categories Gas Processing & Distribution, Oilfields & Refineries tender Products Gas Exploration & Production, Gas Processing & Separation, Storage

64 November 2018

al jurF develOPment PrOject Budget $4,000,000,000 Project number MPP3190-U territory United Arab Emirates client Imkaan Real Estate (Abu Dhabi) address C1 Tower, Al Bateen Street city: Abu Dhabi Postal/Zip code 32932 description Development of Al Jurf mixed-use scheme.

Period 2021 status New Tender main consultant Ramboll Middle East Ltd (Abu Dhabi) tender categories Leisure & Entertainment, Marine Engg. Works & Seaports, Construction & Contracting, Education & Training, Hotels tender Products Hotel Construction, Marina Development, Villas Construction

KIng aBdulaZIZ InternatIOnal aIrPOrt exPansIOn PrOject (Phase 2) Budget $2,000,000,000 Project number WPR3751-SA territory Saudi Arabia client General Authority of Civil Aviation – GACA (Saudi Arabia) address King Abdulaziz Centre for National Dialogue city Riyadh 11552 Postal/Zip code 47360 country Saudi Arabia Phone (+966-11) 525 3333 Fax: (+966-11) 525 3222 / 525 3111 email gaca-info@gaca.gov.sa Website www.gaca.gov.sa description Carry out expansion of an international airport to accommodate 43 million passengers per year.

Period 2025 status New Tender tender categories Airport tender Products Airports Development & Management

salWa canal PrOject Budget $750,000,000 Project number WPR3520-SA territory Saudi Arabia client Ministry of Defence & Aviation address Airport Road city Riyadh 11165 Postal/Zip code 1003 Phone (+966-11) 478 9000 Fax (+966-11) 402 6457 Website www.moda.gov.sa description Construction of a canal.

Period 2019 status Current Project tender categories Marine Engg. Works & Seaports, Public Transportation Projects tender Products Waterways

crude OIl stOrage dePOt PrOject – jasK POrt Budget $705,000,000 Project number MPR1567-IR territory Iran client National Iranian Oil Company address Central Bldg, 5th Floor, 8 Johmouri Avenue, Yaghma Alley city Tehran 15837 Phone (+98-21) 890 1051-9 Fax (+98-21) 890 1051-8 email nioecpr@nioec.org Website www.nioc.org description Construction of a long-planned new 10 million barrel crude oil storage depot.

Period 2021 status Current Project main contractor Petroleum Engineering & Development Company (PEDEC) – Iran tender categories Gas Processing & Distribution, Oilfields & Refineries tender Products Crude Transportation/Storage & Distribution

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Tenders

Middle East tenders residential towers, each with a ground floor and 35 floors.

Period 2020 status New Tender main consultant Zaki Farsi Group tender categories Prestige Buildings tender Products High-rise Towers, Residential Buildings

UAE aYKOn hOtels BY rOBertO cavallI PrOject – duBaI marIna Budget $100,000,000 Project number WPR3723-U territory United Arab Emirates client Damac Properties (Dubai) address 4th Floor, Al Moosa Tower II, Sheikh Zayed Road city Dubai Postal/Zip code 2195 Phone (+971-4) 332 2005 Fax (+971-4) 332 1874 email info@damacgroup.com Website www.damacgroup.com description Construction of a 5-star hotel with 220 guestrooms.

Period 2023 status New Tender tender categories Hotels, Prestige Buildings tender Products Hotel Construction

WOllOngOng unIversItY exPansIOn PrOject Budget $50,000,000 Project number WPR3660-U territory United Arab Emirates client University of Wollongong (Dubai) address Blocks 5, 14 & 15, Dubai Knowledge Park city Dubai Postal/Zip code 20183 Phone (+971-4) 278 1800 email info@uowdubai.ac.ae Website www.uowdubai.ac.ae description Carrying out expansion

66 November 2018

hOtel aPartments PrOject – haI al jamaa

of an existing university featuring state-of-the-art facilities housed in a modern architectural design spread over an area of 18,580sqm.

Period 2019 status Current Project main consultant Khatib & Alami Consolidated Engineering Company main contractor Bu Haleeba Contracting Company (Dubai) tender categories Construction & Contracting, Education & Training tender Products Educational Developments

Saudi Arabia FarsI eIght tOWers PrOject – jeddah Budget $60,000,000 Project number WPR3668-SA territory Saudi Arabia client Zaki Farsi Group (Saudi Arabia) city Jeddah Phone (+966-12) 653 4385 Fax (+966-12) 651 1039 email info@zakifarsigroup.com Website www.zakifarsigroup.com description Construction of 2

Budget $10,000,000 Project number WPR3760-SA territory Saudi Arabia client Private investor (Saudi Arabia) description Construction of a hotel apartment building with a ground floor and 5 additional floors.

Period 2019 status New Tender main consultant Khalid Ghoneim & Partners Engineering Consultant – KGP (Saudi Arabia) meP consultant Khalid Ghoneim & Partners Engineering Consultant – KGP (Saudi Arabia) tender categories Construction & Contracting, Hotels tender Products Hotel Construction

InFrastructure develOPment PrOject – KIng aBdullah ecOnOmIc cItY Budget $10,000,000 Project number WPR3767-SA territory Saudi Arabia client King Abdullah Economic City (Saudi Arabia)

Tenders

address 2338, Bay La Sun, Juman Street Unit No. 1, King Abdullah Economic City 23964-6992 city Jeddah Phone (+966-12) 510 6600 Fax (+966-12) 510 6900 Website www.kaec.net description Development of necessary infrastructure over a sprawling 836,000sqm area. status Current Project main contractor Creet Contracting Company (Saudi Arabia) tender categories Communications, Roads, Bridges & Infrastructure, Sewerage & Drainage, Water Works tender Products Infrastructure

Oman BuIldIng materIal manuFacturIng Plant PrOject – sInO-Oman IndustrIal cItY (Phase 1)

alOFt hOtel PrOject – Bausher Budget $41,000,000 Project number WPR3765-O territory Oman client Al Adrak Trading & Contracting Company LLC (Oman) address Office No. 24, Ground Floor, Al Omran Street, Bowsher city PC130, Al Azaiba, Boushar Postal/Zip code 1840 Phone (+968-2) 200 1300 Fax (+968-2) 200 1301 Website www.aladrak.com description Construction of a hotel building.

Period 2019 status Current Project main contractor Al Adrak Trading & Contracting Company LLC (Oman) tender categories Construction & Contracting, Hotels tender Products Hotel Construction

Bahrain al mOallem mall PrOject – dIYar al muharraq Budget $30,000,000 Project number WPR3758-B territory Bahrain client Al Moallem Mall WLL (Bahrain) city Manama description Construction of a building for commercial purposes.

Period 2019 status Current Project main consultant Salah Kooheji Engineering (Bahrain) main contractor Al Taitoon General Contracting Company (Bahrain) tender categories Construction & Contracting, Leisure & Entertainment tender Products Retail Developments

cOmmercIal BuIldIng PrOject – shuWaIKh

Kuwait

Budget $15,000,000 Project number WPR3597-K territory Kuwait client Ministry of Awqaf & Islamic Affairs (Kuwait) city Safat 13001 Postal/Zip code 13 Phone (+965) 2246 6300 Fax (+965) 2244 9943 email info@awkaf.net Website www.islam.gov.kw description Construction of a commercial building with a ground floor and 8 additional floors.

Period 2020 status Current Project tender categories Construction & Contracting tender Products Commercial Buildings

Budget $138,000,000 Project number WPR3775-O territory Oman client Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority – SEZAD (Oman) address Bareeq Al Shatti city Muscat PC 103 Postal/Zip code 25 Phone (+968) 2450 7500/7545/7558 Fax (+968) 2458 7400 email sezadtenders@duqm.com Website www.duqm.gov.om description Construction of a building material manufacturing plant.

Period 2020 status New Tender tender categories Industrial & Special Projects tender Products Building Material Plants

November 2018 67

Last Word

Autonomous Vehicles: Rethinking Traffic Congestion Solutions in Cities AVs are only part of the solution to addressing congestion in cities, says Parsons’ Hamid Iravani Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be the next technological leap for urban mobility. AVs themselves will not relieve traffic congestion and in fact could exacerbate traffic and increase vehicle miles travelled (VMT), unless clear regulations and policies are adopted.

To ensure progressive environmental social and economic ends are achieved, the four conventional tools to address traffic congestion require overhauling in the light of AV technology: Land Use Measures Land use measures, including mixed-use, compact and high-density developments, bring origins closer to destinations and thus reduce the VMT. A risk is that the convenience provided by AVs will result in urban sprawl by increasing the distance that passengers are willing to

68 November 2018

travel, leading to greater traffic congestion, more pollution, greater energy consumption and higher cost. Policies to promote stronger measures to protect a city’s growth belt are proposed.

Transportation Demand Management TDM measures emphasise the mobility of people rather than cars, such as walking, cycling, ridesharing, public transit and telecommuting.

AVs will allow people to work and rest while travelling and remove the inconvenience of searching for parking spaces. Moreover, AVs serve those who cannot drive, such as the young, elderly or disabled. Comfort and convenience play an important role and could encourage the use of private AV modes rather than public transit. Highquality, subsidised, publicly

“Segregation of AVs from humanoperated vehicles entails a wider rightof-way, wider curb radii at intersections and potentially the provision of crash barriers, underpasses or bridges”

shared AVs, over the private model, are proposed as a key policy measure for commuting, reducing the need for car ownership and overall VMT. Transportation System Management TSM relates to measures that optimise existing infrastructure performance.

AVs will optimise the use of existing roads and intersections by shortening gaps between cars, coordinating platoons and employing more efficient route choices. However, cities may experience drawbacks when cars are left on their own to look for parking after they drop off passengers. Policies to promote technology that reduce traffic delays, increase safety and allow AVs to coexist with regular traffic are proposed.

Roadways and Parking Conventional traffic

engineering often leads to wider roads as a solution.

In addition, segregation of AVs from human-operated vehicles entails a wider right-of-way, wider curb radii at intersections and potentially the provision of crash barriers, underpasses or bridges. However, widening roadways and adding segregation can compromise the walkability and livability of a city.

Policies are proposed for avoiding road widening, addressing best practice parking requirements and allowing the coexistence of AVs and pedestrian in low-speed urban areas.

In conclusion, the challenge for municipalities and city leaders is to implement policies that bypass conventional transportation planning thinking, to ensure that the advantages of AVs outweigh their potential disadvantages.

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