Interview: Maro Puljizevic, acoustics section manager, Al Mana & Associates, on acoustic building designs
issue 1.2
October 2014
tackling TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN DOHA Improving Qatar’s road infrastructure
MSHEIREB DOWNTOWN building tOWARDS
SUSTAINABLE REGENERATION
Plus:
Technology
Monitoring the structural health of buildings in Qatar
Does Hamad International Airport already need a second terminal? Are more women needed in Qatar’s construction sector?
Currently under construction, Msheireb Downtown is planned to open doors for the public and tenants as part of the project’s first phase in 2016. (Image Corbis)
contents October 2014 www.qatarconstructionnews.com
Cover Story Building on the idea of sustainable regeneration, Msheireb MSHEIREB Downtown Doha DOWNTOWN strives to revitalise building tOWARDS SUSTAINABLE REGENERATION old Arab architecture while incorporating green credentials. In an exclusive interview with QCN, Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb Properties, discusses the inspirations, details and prospects of the project. INTERVIEW: MARO PULJIZEVIC, ACOUSTICS SECTION MANAGER, AL MANA & ASSOCIATES, ON ACOUSTIC BUILDING DESIGNS
issue 1.2
October 2014
tackling TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN DOHA Improving Qatar’s road infrastructure
Plus:
Technology
Monitoring the structural health of buildings in Qatar
Does Hamad International Airport already need a second terminal? Are more women needed in Qatar’s construction sector?
Regulars
16.
From the Editor - 5 Construction News - 8 Guest Column - 14 Legal - 42 Qatar Tenders - 44
32. 24. Technology Maintaining structural health of buildings through advanced architectural technology The longevity of buildings can be increased through regular inspections. Structural Health Monitoring can help realise this goal. Dr. Eun Gyu Choi, a Ph.D in Structural Engineering, explains the concept while underscoring its importance for Qatar’s construction sector.
26. Interview Qatar is starting to realise the importance of acoustics
Feature story Traffic Congestion in Doha: Causes and Solutions
In an exclusive interview with QCN, Maro Puljizevic, acoustics section manager at Al Mana & Associates – an acoustic consultancy firm – speaks about the importance of building acoustics for occupants, and the technology’s key aspects, scope and progress in Qatar.
Traffic congestion on roads is an everyday reality for Doha’s residents. Carlos Riera Planells and Iain Griffin of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) discuss causes behind current road congestion while offering suggestions on how to best deal with it, and unveil some of the road expansion plans Ashghal is carrying out to this end. QCN | October 2014
2
section
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October 2014 | QCN
5
editor’s letter
In its 2014 report, the World Wildlife Fund ranked countries for their ecological footprints. Not surprisingly, Qatar has the second highest ecological footprint globally. Ironically, it is also number two among countries most attractive for infrastructure investments, according to Arcadis’ Global Infrastructure Investment Index. With a budget exceeding USD140 billion (QAR510 billion) for transport and other development projects over the next five years, Qatar’s infrastructure market will likely maintain its attractiveness. This, however, will also translate into a rise in the country’s ecological footprint. Excessive use of hydrocarbons, increasing pace of construction and the resulting rise in the number of expatriates moving to Qatar are collectively working to damage the country’s natural environment. A study by Qatar National Bank forecasts Qatar’s labour force to reach 1.7 million by the end of 2014, leading to 120,000 new jobs this year. Add to this the number of family members accompanying many professionals, and we can expect an increasing number of vehicles on roads and, inevitably, higher levels of carbon emissions. That said, all is not bad. Growth of Qatar’s labour force certainly earns economic success for the country, which
is also taking steps to improve its green credentials. On page 30, Carlos Riera Plannels and Iain Griffin discuss how Qatar plans to deal with the problem of traffic congestion by revealing some of Ashghal’s scheduled plans to expand Doha’s existing road network’s capacity. This, of course, complements the country’s ambitious transport plans for rail and metro networks aimed to encourage shared means of commute and hence reduce residents’ reliance on personal vehicles. Within the construction industry, organisations such as Qatar Green Building Council aim to spread awareness about environmentally-friendly buildings. One such example earning global reputation for Qatar is the ongoing development of Msheireb Downtown Doha, featuring the world’s largest collection of LEED certified buildings. On page 18, CEO of Msheireb Properties, Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi discusses some inspirations and scope of this project, building on the idea of sustainable regeneration. Eventually, what Qatar needs is a balance between economic gains and preservation of its natural habitat through smart choices. For more on recent happenings in the country’s construction scene, continue reading QCN.
Farwa Zahra Editor
QCN | October 2014
Construction 6
section
News
Qatar to defend its share in region with plans for a second terminal A A recent report reveals Qatar’s plans for a second terminal at Hamad International Airport (HIA). Infrastructure and aviation experts believe the expansion will help Qatar defend its share in the region’s aviation market as Dubai stands set to welcome a far greater number of passengers at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2022. by Farwa Zahra.
“Hamad International needs to establish its market position quickly so that airlines find no advantage in moving their hub and spoke activity to [Dubai’s] enlarged Al Maktoum International Airport.” – Anthony Holmes, director, Institute for Infrastructure Studies.
October 2014 | QCN
construction news
nal aviation scene AT HIA
Plans for the second terminal of Hamad International Airport come soon after its passenger operations started earlier this year. (Image Ameer Abdul Razak)
7
According to Economic Insight: Middle East Q3 2014, Doha is considering an extension of the new airport with the construction of a second terminal. “In Qatar, plans are already being prepared to construct a second terminal at the recently-opened Hamad International Airport, if passenger growth exceeds current projections,” the report states. If the feasibility study turns out in favour of this new development, the country’s infrastructure spending will continue to rise. When asked about the need for the second terminal, Anthony Holmes, director, Institute for Infrastructure Studies, said, “Had the new airport been completed according to its original schedule, its capacity would have exceeded the old terminal by circa two million passengers per annum. Because it was years late, the number of people passing through Doha continued to increase.” According to Holmes, with the number of passengers continuing to increase, if the new terminal is not to encounter the same congestion problem as the old building, phase two needs to be brought on line as soon as possible. “Hamad International is a hub and spoke airport with over 70 percent of the passengers using the terminal to connect to other flights within 90 minutes of landing,” said Holmes, adding that if the transfer time at Doha’s new airport becomes greater than 45 to 60 minutes, the benefit of the hub and spoke business model will disappear and passengers will move to airlines using more efficient regional airports. The need for a second terminal becomes more stark considering the fact that Dubai has announced the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport to accommodate 120 million passengers a year when its operational in 2022, and could expand to accommodate 200 million passengers annually. “Hamad International needs to establish its market position quickly so that airlines find no advantage in moving their hub and spoke activity to the enlarged Al Maktoum,” said Holmes. However, Martin Rivers, commercial air transport expert, does not see an imminent need for a second terminal. “A second terminal at HIA had always been in the long-term plan,” he said. So, now that Dubai has upped the ante with Al Maktoum by targeting 200 million passengers annually, it’s inevitable that Qatar will want to talk up the prospects of an even bigger, even grander Doha gateway.” Eventually, Rivers added, the new terminal is not something Qatar will carry out in the near future. “Airport infrastructure development is an ultra-long game; it takes decades for plans to bear fruit; and in the intervening years, any number of geopolitical bombs can explode and upset your original vision.” In a recent announcement, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has confirmed that it has enlisted British architect Sir Norman Foster for finalising design plans for an expansion of the recently opened HIA passenger terminal. He added that once the design is set, construction firms would be invited to bid on the extension project. QCN | October 2014
Construction 8
section
News
Industry Views
QCN approached a number of construction professionals in Qatar, asking about their key concerns in the industry right now. Here’s what they had to say.
key concerns in Qatar’s construction SCENE: manpower, materials and time The biggest issue facing Qatar’s construction scene is related to resources in terms of manpower availability and materials’ procurement required to tackle the challenge of the limited time available to deliver both infrastructure and private development projects concurrently. Qatar’s developers have two key players, public and private. The public division is driven by the strategic goals and national vision; it focuses on time and quality with lesser concern for cost, different from the private division’s usual concern that is mainly driven by profitability. The public division has the capital
strength and power to secure construction resources, while the private sector is facing the challenge of securing construction resources under the current
“Qatar has yet to offer more attraction to international resources in order to mitigate difficulties for existing construction sector players.”
legislation and scarcity of infrastructure that is not yet enough to host the rapidly increasing demand of expatriates and material procurement. The challenge in hand is that both divisions are taking an integral part in achieving the final deadlines of 2022 to host the FIFA World Cup. An additional constraining factor affecting Qatar’s construction sector is the neighbouring construction markets in the region booming at a similar pace. In my opinion, Qatar has yet to offer more attraction to international resources in order to mitigate difficulties for the existing construction sector
“The concerns are many but for contractors, it is the tough competition between companies to win new bids and the expected changes in labour law.”
“The architects trying to execute ambitious visions encounter challenges in overcoming the subsequent engineering demands.”
Ahmed Fouad, planning and risk management coordinator, Consolidated Contractors Company, also mentioned expected bids for the 2022 World Cup stadiums and major infrastructure projects as other key issues.
Tariq Shehadeh, managing director, Swansea Surveys, said that such engineering demands often lead to compromising radical and audacious designs due to a lack of expertise and specialist companies capable of executing ground-breaking concepts.
October 2014 | QCN
players, such as contractors and consultants, and to boost their capability to support Qatar’s construction sector’s demand for resources.
Ali Naji is senior project manager at Hamilton Project Management in Qatar.
“[A top issue in Qatar’s construction is related to] adequate resourcefulness to meet the workload and maintain quality.” Engineer Khaled Awad, chairman for Advanced Construction Technology Services, also mentioned issues of sustainability of the current growth in view of the debate about 2022 World Cup, obtaining the needed skilled manpower in light of the current work visa restrictions, and avoiding over-inflation of cost of labour and materials.
construction news
Projects and infrastructure survey:
95%
Key issues facing MENA’s construction industry
of respondents said their projects have been delayed
71%
Primary causes of delay: Owner’s view
of respondents said their projects are over budget
63%
Contractor or subcontractor performance
Expected construction cost escalation as a result of upcoming mega events
6%
9
51%
Changes in scope
41%
Scope definition
27%
Contracting strategy and risk transfer
24% 22% 15%
Realism of overall timescales Performance of material and equipment suppliers
6%
Project team capability Force majeure events
5%
41% 47%
Primary causes of delay: Contractor’s view
55%
Changes in Scope
45%
Performance of material and equipment suppliers
40%
Contractor or subcontractor performance Between 1% & 15% Between 15% & 50% Between 50% & 100% No escalation
35%
Realism of overall timescales
25% 20% 20%
Project team capability Scope definition Contracting strategy and risk transfer Force majeure events
10%
Threats to attracting and retaining talent
42%
30%
27%
Competition with other countries in the MENA region
Competition with countries outside MENA region
Competition with other companies or divisions within your group
Source: PwC’s Building beyond ambition: Middle East Capital Projects & Infrastructure Survey, June 2014.
QCN | October 2014
Construction
NewsEvents section
18 -19 November 27 - 28 October 26 - 28 October
Qatar Plastic, Printing & Packaging Exhibition Qatar National Convention Centre
Future Landscape and Public Realm Qatar
9 -12 November
7 Annual Bridges and Highways Middle East Summit Hilton Doha
10 - 11 November
6th Annual Middle East District Cooling Summit The Ritz Carlton, Doha, Qatar
QATAR INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW Lusail Marina, Doha, Qatar
10 -11 december
Acoustics Tech qatar Doha, Qatar
2 - 4 February 2015
Interiors qatar QNCC Doha, Qatar
October 2014 | QCN
Qatar’s planned smart city, Lusail, is currently under construction. (Image Flickr Paul Trafford)
The third edition of the Annual Middle East Smart Cities Summit will be held at Intercontinental Doha - The City. The event will be focusing its efforts in getting the attention of municipalities and government authorities, public services and sectorial authorities, urban planners, architects and consulting firms, universities and research institutes, banks and investment hubs, system integrators network infrastructure and technology providers who are involved in the master planning and development of smart and intelligent infrastructure projects in the region.
th
11 - 15 November
3rd Annual Middle East Smart Cities Summit
Doha’s current landscape features a mix of modern and traditional architecture. The Future Landscape and Public Realm Qatar will share perspectives on Qatar’s landscaping and outdoor design industry. (Image Corbis)
To be held at Intercontinental Doha - The City, the Future Landscape and Public Realm Qatar – organised by Project Qatar – will provide an opportunity for landscaping and exterior design professionals, urban planners and high-level decision makers to gather together and discuss opportunities in Qatar’s landscaping and outdoor design industry.
3 - 4 December
Future Drainage Networks Qatar Future Drainage Networks Qatar is designed to meet the requirements of designing, constructing, refurbishing, operating and maintaining effective sewerage and drainage networks in Qatar. Bringing together the responsible government authorities, project management consultants, general engineering consultants, contractors, sub-contractors, and materials and machinery suppliers, the event will provide an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practice and shape future plans and strategies.
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construction news
12
Awards
Key recent contracts awarded in Qatar • Mercury MENA, a Qatar-based engineering firm, has announced that it has signed a contract for the complete MEP works for Package 2 of the second phase of the Barwa Al Baraha project located in the Industrial Area. The scope of services will include plumbing and drainage, electrical works, ELV installations, HVAC works and life safety works. Once completed, this package alone will accommodate nearly 24,000 workers. • Gulf Drilling International (GDI), a subsidiary of Gulf International Services (GIS), has signed a construction contract worth QAR825 million with Keppel FELS, a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore
& Marine, for the delivery of a new jack-up drilling rig in the first quarter of 2016. Upon delivery in 2016, Halul will join the Qatar Petroleum offshore operation as the fourth jack-up rig supplied by GDI. • Drake & Scull International (DSI) has announced that its engineering (MEP & Water and Power) business Drake & Scull Engineering (DSE) has won a contract worth USD 29.9 million (QAR109 million), for a district cooling plant at Lusail City in Qatar. Under the terms of the agreement, DSE Qatar will design and build a district cooling plant of 14,250 tonnes of refrigeration that will supply chilled water to the completed buildings in Lusail City
OCTOBer’s big Number
Project Qatar to return with its 12th edition
USD
14 0 billion
Project Qatar will be back from 4 – 7 May 2015, at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The 12th International Construction Technologies and Building Materials Exhibition will bring together local, regional and international companies as exhibitors to showcase their latest products and services which meet the needs of the local and regional markets.
Amount allocated for Qatar’s infrastructure projects According to HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, the Minister of Transport, Qatar has allocated a budget exceeding QAR510 billion for transport and other development projects in the country over the next five years. “Qatar ranked first in terms of development projects in GCC countries,” he said while speaking at Global Infrastructure Conference in South Korea. October 2014 | QCN
Project Qatar 2014 attracted new global exhibitors with 2100 companies from 47 countries. It welcomed 48,953 local, regional and international visitors.
by July 2015. • Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company has awarded the consultancy services for its mixed-use tower project to Arab Engineering Bureau, to be located in the West Bay area. The new project includes three towers, joined at the base, planned for hospitality, commercial and residential use. The podium that connects three towers is intended for a retail space which complements the 23-storey grade A office tower, 29-storey hotel tower and 38-storey residential tower. The project is valued at QAR1 billion, with a total build-up area of 120,000 square metres, and is slated for completion in 2018.
2
Qatar: second most attractive market in the world for infrastructure investment According to EC Harris, Qatar ranked second globally and first regionally for its strong business environment, healthy pipeline of development work and growing economy, making it an attractive country for investors including pension funds and banks. The findings come from the second ARCADIS Global Infrastructure Investment Index, which ranked 41 countries by their attractiveness to investors in infrastructure. The study looked at various issues including the ease of doing business in each market, tax rates, GDP per capita, government policy, the quality of the existing infrastructure and the availability of debt finance. The report also forecasted 20 percent construction inflation in Qatar between 2016 and 2019.
14
guest column section
Breaking Barriers: Women in the GCC’s construction sector Women can effectively fill the talent shortage and nurture growth, writes Vasanth Kumar, chief executive officer, Arabian MEP Contracting.
M. Vasanth Kumar is the chief executive officer of Arabian MEP Contracting.
In construction, harsh site conditions may be a deterrent for many women to pursue careers in direct field operations.
October 2014 | QCN
In the United States, women make up about half of the total workforce. Almost 40 percent of men have female supervisors. Twenty percent of middle management levels are female executives. Twenty four of S&P 500 companies have female chief executive officers. By contrast, women remain underrepresented in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and more specifically in the engineering and construction sector. Unless conscious efforts are taken to encourage women to join the industry, the issue of gender inequality in the workplace will prevail. While significant numbers of women are already in the GCC’s construction industry in various supporting functions such as human resources, training, administration, accounts and secretarial assistance, technical areas of engineering and construction still have a very small share of female representation. In construction, harsh site conditions may be a deterrent for many women to pursue careers in direct field operations. However, there are a plethora of other functional areas for female engineers to work in a controlled office environment such as design, engineering, building information modelling, computer-aided drafting, project planning, progress monitoring, quality assurance, document control, quantity surveying, contracts management, estimation, tendering, procurement and logistics, etcetera. In general, young female engineers in the region lack female role models who have flourished in their domain. They need inspiring figures such as Christine Lagarde of IMF, Mary Barra of General Motors, Ginni Rometty of IBM, Susan Wojcicki of Google, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, and Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo to name a few from the West. Research studies on the GCC construction industry highlight that there exists an acute shortage of skills and talent at all levels. Since women represent a highly educated segment of
the society, they can offer assistance and relief to the construction industry not only over the short term but also in the medium to long term. This could be an effective permanent solution for the region as a whole. There cannot be a better time to have women on board as the entire Gulf region is currently undergoing a massive construction boom wherein women can actively fill vacancies across all subsectors. In fact, women can bring much needed dynamics to a project team in terms of culture and diversity, which in turn leads to creativity and innovation. They can foster cooperation, team building and better communication. According to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s report The GCC in 2020: The Gulf and its People, “The recent and ongoing expansion of education for women, and their generally high levels of educational attainment, suggest that female employment will continue to rise in the medium to long term.” If proven true, the trend will work in favour of Qatar’s construction sector, where the contribution of women can not only improve the company’s bottom line but also create more diversity and equality in the workplace. While considerable progress on gender inequality has been made during the past decade, hurdles still remain. Subtle barriers include unconscious statements suggesting that women lack confidence, proaction and assertiveness, and challenges arising due to motherhood, and work-life imbalance owing to other priorities such as raising family. Ensuring that women realise their full potential and increase their numbers in the construction industry is not just a question of equality but is also essential for a growing economy. To make it happen, employers have to provide equal opportunities; authorities have to issue required work permits, and finally women on their part have to come out of their comfort zone.
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Towards sustaina
October 2014 | QCN
cover story
Downtown 17
able regeneration Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, chief executive officer of Msheireb Properties, says that the company has tried to maximise the use of local materials wherever possible.
Msheireb Downtown Doha, a development currently under construction, has gained international attention for Qatar. Building on the idea of sustainable regeneration, the project strives to revitalise old Arab architecture while incorporating green credentials with 100 LEED certified buildings – one of the largest collection of buildings with LEED’s gold and platinum rating. In an exclusive interview with QCN, Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, chief executive officer of Msheireb Properties, discusses the inspirations, details and prospects of Msheireb, writes Farwa Zahra.
QCN | October 2014
18
cover story
Msheireb Downtown Doha attempts to reincarnate Arab’s traditional architecture. Pictured here is a street in Katara Cultural Village which features fabric shades and wooden work inspired from Arab architecture. (Image Flickr Paul Trafford)
According to Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, chief executive officer of Msheireb Properties, the central location of Msheireb Downtown Doha development adds value to the project’s overall attractiveness for tenants.
“The attractiveness of the project has been seen from day one, you have the location, you have a lot of unique selling points to this project and a lot of people are interested in being a part of it.”
October 2014 | QCN
L
ooking at the old Arab architecture, one finds examples of low-carbon cities utilising passive energy sources adjusting to the region’s climatic conditions. While wind catchers and wind towers were designed to create a ventilation path for natural air into indoor spaces, thick walls were designed to maintain cooler temperature inside. As narrow thoroughfares helped increase the airflow, the fabric shades were used to design shelter points. Within Doha, to some extent, Katara Cultural Village provides a modern reincarnation of old Arab. On a much larger level, however, Msheireb Downtown demonstrates the idea of sustainable regeneration. Currently under construction in central Doha, Msheireb Downtown project with its traditional design stands in stark contrast to much of Qatar’s recent urban development comprising Western inspired skyscrapers. According to Ventures Middle East’s report Focus on Sustainability in Construction, once completed, Msheireb will be the world’s largest collection of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings. In an exclusive interview with QCN, chief executive officer of Msheireb
Properties, Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi reveals the origin of the idea behind this project. “The whole idea of regenerating the heart of the city Doha came from Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser. The idea was to bring something back to the centre, create a centre for the city of Doha,” he says, adding that when the decision was made, there were also some considerations on challenging construction and development principles in Qatar through green buildings aimed at being LEED certified. Hence, the ideas of regeneration and sustainability were at the back of Msheireb’s masterplan.
The problem with regeneration With plans to open doors for the public and tenants as part of the project’s first phase around 2016, Al Mehshadi says the project could open as early as the end of 2015, “Once we announce that we are good to go, people should start coming in, but before that we need to allow the tenants to come in and do all the fit-out work.” However, despite best-laid plans, like any large-scale project, a definite answer on delivery date depends on pace of work throughout the construction phase. What brings added uncertainty to Msheireb’s scheduled date of completion
section
is its core feature of regeneration which makes it different from most projects. When asked about the challenges of rebuilding an existing development compared to building a new development from scratch, Al Mehshadi tells QCN that Msheireb poses a number of unique challenges in addition to the common engineering and architectural issues facing any construction project, “We had to remove the earlier development including all old buildings, that created a challenge. Constructing inside the city itself is another challenge. Coming up with a new idea and showing people something entirely different is also a challenge.” While Msheireb’s design lends inspiration from early Arab architecture, the project could not be entirely regenerative. Considering the modern demands of Doha, there had to be a crossover between traditional and contemporary styles. To this end, the project features a strategic mix of tall and flat structures. “There is a sort of harmony that was created and the principle we have followed,” says Al Mehshadi, explaining the logic of the masterplan, “was to allow the wind to blow through the roads in Msheireb as we have kept the majority of high-rise buildings at the back side. So the front or the north
side of the project is always open to wind with the higher buildings at the back side or the south side of the development.” Whether at the back or front of the development, taller buildings within Msheireb can help increase the occupants’ capacity, and attract expatriates belonging to non-Arab ethnicities. Speaking about the attractions available for people in Msheireb, Al Mehshadi says, “Expats will also have attractive components within the project. We have a mix of everything, we have cinemas, we have theatres, we have restaurants in all levels and we have flats as well. The commercial buildings will have offices. So all of these will act as a magnet for different types of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.”
19
“We have tried to maximise the use of local materials but unfortunately the Gulf states do not have a lot of local materials used in construction.”
Sustainable development As Qatar’s leading development adhering to LEED certifications, Msheireb Downtown at completion has to tick the boxes of resource efficiency, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, water conservation and maintenance of indoor air quality. According to Al Mehshadi, Msheireb is the only development that has a regeneration development of 100 buildings, all LEEDcertified with minimum gold grade, while some also aim to attain the highest
100
The number of LEED-certified buildings in Msheireb Downtown Doha.
QCN | October 2014
20
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Msheireb Downtown project will blend Arab architecture with modern construction technology. Pictured here is an exterior view of Msheireb’s Eid Prayer Ground. (Image Msheireb Properties)
“The prices will be under pressure because of the exponential growth and construction in this area.”
October 2014 | QCN
certification level of platinum. Some of these systems supporting Msheireb’s green credentials include the use of district cooling, smart metering, and photovoltaic power generation. “The LEED requirement is stringent when it comes to air quality, impact on the environment, utilisation of power, wastage of power and water, and so forth. All of these are integral package of the LEED certification and the principle of design that we have adapted,” says Al Mehshadi. While the impact of Msheireb can be controlled through sustainable construction practices, the central location of the project makes it prone to air and noise pollution. Speaking about making sustainable choices when it comes to building materials, Al Mehshadi tells QCN that wherever possible, the project is utilising locally-manufactured products, “We have tried to maximise the use of local materials but unfortunately the Gulf states do not have a lot of local materials used in construction…We obviously have
production by local companies such as Qatar Steel and Qatar Readymix but I cannot classify those as purely local.” As most of the natural resources Qatar owns are not feasible for the construction industry, import of necessary building materials is inevitable for the Gulf state. Making smarter choices, however, can lower down the costs of imported materials. One way of doing this is by establishing trading alliances with countries located close to Qatar. Another approach is to import raw materials and later process them locally. “One should distinguish between raw material naturally available and the way that we process that raw material to ensure that we have a good product to go into the infrastructure project. From a manufacturing capacity, I think Qatar is doing extremely well. On the availability of raw material, this is natural, just like we have a lot of gas and oil and others do not have it,” says Al Mehshadi. Regardless of the nature of building materials Qatar imports, the country’s dependency on imported products makes it prone to international price pressures. Qatar has already been forecasted to experience increasing construction inflation because of escalating material prices, shortage of labour and immovable deadlines among other factors. Summarising the trend, Al Mehshadi says, “The prices will be under pressure because of the exponential growth and construction in this area,” adding that another challenge would be that of sourcing, “We will also have a sourcing challenge. So, we have to ensure that we have a good control on the material supply and the supply chain altogether. It is not only material that will be somewhat challenging, but also the availability of right resources and right calibre of people to help us running all the projects.”
Doha’s architectural legacy Once the project’s first phase is near completion, Msheireb Properties will have to delve into the real estate details of the property for tenants and possibly, buyers. When asked about the
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Construction progress at Msheireb Properties – Phase 1A (as of JulY 31, 2014):
Work Progress Phase 1A includes Diwan Amiri Quarter (Diwan Annex, Amiri Guard and National Archive), heritage buildings, mosque, amenities and infrastructure (district cooling plant, substations and service corridors).
Scope: The Eid Prayer Ground located \ at Msheireb Downtown Doha development opened doors for the public for prayers on the occasion of Eid Al Adha in early October.
Source: Msheireb Properties
opportunities for buyers, Al Mehshadi says the company has all the options open until a final decision is made as part of the company’s sales strategy that will be announced around 2015. Hinting that Msheireb Downtown will have a rental range comparable to Doha’s existing rent band, Al Mehshadi says, “We are evaluating the numbers now, so I cannot tell you exactly. But I think Msheireb is a project within Doha and it will be matching the prices in Doha.” With a combination of tall and flat structures, where does Msheireb Downtown stand on Doha’s architectural map? “You don’t expect the city to be totally flat. Certain areas are high and some areas are flat. This should be part of the urban planning of a city,” says Al Mehshadi, who foresees
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Stone installed
142,255m3 (100% only for Façade) Concrete poured
251,205m3 (100% Complete)
Excavation
1,389,878
`Power On’ achieved in
(100% Complete)
substation
cubic metres
66KV
Msheireb Downtown project is designed in such a way that the flat buildings are at the front, while the majority of high-rise buildings are at the back. Pictured here is a model of Msheireb Downtown project displayed at Cityscape Qatar 2014.
QCN | October 2014
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“Msheireb is a project within Doha and it will be matching the prices in Doha.”
Doha expanding further outwards. Explaining the ongoing evolution of the city, he says, “Doha is starting to grow. In the old days, we used to have a distance between Wakrah and Doha. Now it is more or less connected. Similarly, you will see things changing towards Al Khor. Salwa Road is also being developed…We have a lot of land available to further develop.” Just like Msheireb is a mix of tall and flat structures, Al Mehshadi imagines Qatar’s ideal urbanisation with a variety of structures. “Qatar is not fully filled with buildings. We still have ample room to grow, expand and construct. And I don’t think that it is fair to have a full country flat in this modern life that we are living,” says Al Mehshadi, adding that similar projects are being planned across Qatar, “We are evaluating options on projects. The design is being looked into, the development is being looked into, we don’t want to announce yet because the definition of the project is not yet final.” Regardless of where Msheireb Downtown falls on the rental range, or how it fits into Doha’s architectural map, Al Mehshadi is positive about Msheireb’s prospects once it opens doors for tenants. “The attractiveness of the project has been seen from day one, you have the location, you have a lot of unique selling points to this project and a lot of people are interested in being part of it,” he concludes.
October 2014 | QCN
With work in progress day and night at the construction site of Msheireb Downtown Doha, the project is planned to open doors for public around 2016 as part of its first phase.
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technology
Maintaining structural health of buildings through advanced architectural technology Just like regular checkups help maintain good human health, longevity of buildings can also be increased through regular inspections. Structural Health Monitoring can help realise this goal. Dr. Eun Gyu Choi, a Ph.D in Structural Engineering, explains the concept while underscoring its importance for Qatar’s construction sector.
Structural Health Monitoring will not only increase the lifespan of Qatar’s projects but will also help position the Gulf state as one of the leaders in advanced architectural technology.
October 2014 | QCN
The primary purpose of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is to keep buildings in their best shape, while providing a safe and optimised environment to the building users at all times. To this end, many kinds of sensors are utilised to measure the loads and responsive behaviours of buildings in real time. SHM providers can promptly repair or handle the situation by real-time measuring. The process is especially required for largescale structures. Responsibilities of SHM providers include installing these sensors, measuring building behaviours, analysis and management. Sensors commonly installed for this purpose include anemometer, anemoscope, thermometer, seismometer, accelerometer, clinometer and strain transducer to name a few. Based on the findings of structural analysis, the sensing devices are installed at main points across the structure to measure subjected loads such as those arising from wind, earthquake, temperature and blast near or within the building, and at the same time study the building’s reactions such as deflection, leaning and strains. Once the initial measurements and analysis have been done, engineers evaluate the state of the
structure to figure out damaged locations. A report drafted from the above process also supports better management of the building. The application of SHM for building maintenance not only strengthens the safety conditions but also makes economic sense. An early detection of damages within buildings saves costs resulting from potential future hazards. The levels of safety related to building structures are divided into four stages and include healthy state, partial damaged state, emergency stage and evacuation stage. The prepared manuals for each stage give notice to the engineers and building users what they should do if in that situation. In the case of partial damaged state, the system would give notice to the engineers in charge of rapid repairing to make the buildings keep healthy state. In the case of an emergency and evacuation, the system would issue a warning to the building users for the quickest and safest evacuation. In the normal state, the regular data is accumulated on a daily, monthly and yearly basis and is used to establish the database for structural analysis. With time, SHM will gain more popularity in various parts of the world.
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In Korea, SHM regulations were recently established according to which any building featuring more than 50 stories or any structure accommodating more than 5000 people has to fulfill the SHM requirements in the enabling stage. In addition to large-scale buildings, longspan bridges are also forced to monitor in real time. Hence, the scope of SHM goes beyond buildings and can also be explored in infrastructure and transport projects. A number of large-scale buildings, stadiums, and bridges are currently under construction in Qatar, while many more are planned to be launched in the near future. Considering the capacity of these projects, a number of lives can be at stake in the future if SHM is not effectively executed. A serious consideration for SHM will not only increase the lifespan of Qatar’s projects but will also help position the Gulf state as one of the leaders in advanced architectural technology.
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Considering their growing number and capacity, maintenance of Qatar’s buildings is inevitable. Through advanced methods such as Structural Health Monitoring, the country can increase the longevity of its projects while maintaining optimum safety conditions for people living or working in these buildings. (Image Corbis)
The application of SHM also makes economic sense because an early detection of damages within buildings saves costs resulting from future hazards.
Dr. Eun Gyu Choi has a Ph.D in Structural Engineering. She is the general manager at CS Structural Engineering International’s Qatar office.
QCN | October 2014
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interview
Qatar is just starting to realise the importance of acoustics In an exclusive interview with QCN, Maro Puljizevic, acoustics section manager at Al Mana & Associates – an acoustic consultancy firm established in 2008 and a pioneer of building acoustics in the country – speaks about the importance of building acoustics for occupants, its key aspects, and its scope and progress in Qatar. What is building acoustics design? How is its market in Qatar? Acoustics design helps minimise sound pollution. Sitting in an acoustically designed building means you are not aware of your neighbours’ activity; not disturbed by the noise of an air-conditioning system; do not spend sleepless nights due to traffic or construction noise, and you can enjoy a lecture or a concert in an auditorium. Compared to Qatar’s market three years ago when the role of an acoustic consultant was still not clear to many and only a handful of suppliers and contractors were ready to answer the challenges of building acoustics, today’s market is better with acoustics getting recognised as an important discipline adding value to a project with numerous specialised companies offering various solutions.
How does acoustic design affect the quality and performance for people in the buildings?
“The biggest challenge and the thing that makes Qatar stand out from the crowd is the extremely tight time schedule and a galloping speed of construction.”
October 2014 | QCN
The easiest way to explain how acoustics affects us is music. Our mood and behaviour can easily shift just by changing the tune. It is similar for good and bad acoustic design. It makes all the difference, whether we are considering the residential or commercial sector. People are often surprised when I tell them that noise is problem number one in offices and severely impacts our productivity and wellbeing. It raises our level of stress which all of us ultimately take home and let it spill over to our personal lives.
What is the usual process of designing acoustic systems of a building? Although the process of the acoustic design depends on the nature and purpose of the building itself, it generally has three key stages: • Analysis of a building’s existing acoustic environment. Acoustic design will drastically change if the building is located in a remote area or just next to a highway.
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Standing in Doha Convention Center, an engineer specialised in building acoustics measures Speech Transmission Index for Public Address System. According to Maro Puljizevic, acoustics section manager at Al Mana & Associates, the main exhibition hall of Doha Convention Center has one of the best acoustics in Qatar.
• Setting the goals, acoustic criteria and requirements. • Executing solutions by working closely with the entire project team to incorporate required acoustic solutions, constructions and systems into the overall project vision and ultimately fulfill previously set goals.
As acoustic consultant, what is the role of Al Mana & Associates in the overall project development? What are some key services the company provides? Generally, the role of an acoustic consultant is two-sided. On the one hand, we make sure that the development itself does not introduce additional noise to the existing environment. It is very important to consider nearby areas with their own particularities and quiet zones. Quite often, developers concentrate only on their own projects and do not pay attention to the surroundings. On the other hand, we create a pleasant and quiet environment for the end-user within the project itself. We provide professional guidance and advice on appropriate sound isolation, means of noise and vibration control, interior acoustic design, as
well as carry out various acoustic surveys and noise measurements.
What are some projects you have worked on in Qatar? Which ones do you find most interesting? We have been involved in numerous landmark projects such as Hamad International Airport, Al Wakrah Hospital, Doha Convention Center, Texas A&M University, Regent Hotel, Millennium Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, Falcon Tower, Al Kass Studio, Al Jazeera Studio, Sout Al Khaleej Studio and Jean Nouvel’s Burj Qatar. What I find tremendously interesting is that numerous television and radio studios are being built around here. For a relatively small country like Qatar, it is almost unbelievable to see the quality at which these studios are being QCN | October 2014
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delivered and the level of services they offer.
Pertaining to acoustic design, are there any unique demands or challenges you have observed in Qatar? Good acoustic design is universal, placeless and timeless; and the only difference between Qatar and the rest of the world is in the scale of things being built here. However, the biggest challenge and the thing that makes Qatar stand out is the extremely tight time schedule and a galloping speed of construction. When driven by time, the main goal is usually to make sure a building does not collapse. In such an environment, raising the importance of acoustic design, and seeing it recognised and implemented is quite a challenge.
Can you tell us about sound masking system? What is its scope in the Middle East? There is a general misunderstanding when discussing sound masking systems. It is not a system that completely cancels noise or spreads music throughout the room. Sound masking system is a system composed of an array of loudspeakers that actually produce noise in order to cover up sounds, which might be annoying to the occupants. As worldwide, in both the Middle East
“In Qatar, we don’t have a single metre of noise barriers installed along any of the major roads in Doha, let alone noise barriers around the construction sites working round the clock.”
and Qatar, it is most widely used in offices. Unlike in residential areas, low noise levels in offices are not welcomed as you can hear private conversations more clearly diverting focus on things such as fax machines and printers, etcetera. Certain levels of introduced noise, covering all of these, add to the wellbeing and productivity. Sound masking systems are not installed in Qatar on a significant scale. People are reluctant to install them as they are often unsure on the duration of their stay in a certain space and do not want to invest in anything but bare necessity.
What are some unique aspects of designing acoustics for a stadium? The best stadiums in the world are famous for the atmosphere generated
October 2014 | QCN
within. It is of utmost importance to give fans a feeling that they can contribute to their team’s performance, which is achieved by a correct acoustic design. I am not talking about the monster sound systems. Magic is in the pure unplugged ambience of the venue itself. When the match starts, it is just you and your voice that create the atmosphere. No other building provides the sense of being part of the show on that scale. Even in the world’s best concert and opera halls, you are an observer, not a part of the orchestra. As a part of the bigger project teams, we are bidding for several stadiums planned to be built for the upcoming 2022 World Cup, hoping for the best. It would be a shame leaving all those beautiful stadiums without a ‘soul’, without that ground-shaking experience that football is all about.
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Good acoustic design is universal, placeless and timeless, says Puljizevic. Pictured here is Al Jazeera Studio in Doha – a client of Al Mana & Associates in Qatar. (Image Corbis)
Maro Puljizevic, tells QCN that correct acoustic philosophy and favourable composition of noisy and quiet areas can set the project at the right course from the concept stage itself.
a bigger scale and impact more people than the construction of buildings. Unfortunately, Qatar has completely succumbed to the high development pace as noise impacts related to the infrastructure projects have been completely neglected. We do not have a single metre of noise barriers installed along any of the major roads in Doha, let alone noise barriers around the construction sites working round the clock.
At what stage of project development should acoustic design companies get involved? At what stage do they usually get involved in Qatar? An engineer assesses the level of noise pollution from the construction activity at Msheireb Downtown project. Besides maintaining sound quality within buildings, an important part of acoustic design is to maintain noise pollution created by the project, particularly during construction phase.
How is acoustic designing for buildings different from that of infrastructure projects in Qatar? The main goal of a building’s acoustic design is the end-user’s satisfaction, hence interior acoustic comfort. On the other hand, acoustic design of infrastructure projects focuses more on controlling the noise and preventing the propagation towards nearby noisesensitive areas. Infrastructure projects introduce significantly more noise to the community, especially during the long construction periods. They are done on
Acoustic consultants should be an integral part of the project team immediately from the start. Correct acoustic philosophy and favourable composition of noisy and quiet areas can set the project at the right course from the concept stage itself. In Qatar, almost as a rule, we get engaged at the end of a construction stage or when complaints are filed. Making things right at that stage is very expensive and usually requires serious design changes, which is rarely accepted by the client. In the end, you can just make things ‘not that bad’. I live for the day when all of us as tenants and end-users start punishing the developers and walk away from poorly-built homes or ask for a serious discount. It is not fair to pay a five-star price for a home or a hotel room where QCN | October 2014
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you cannot get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, having in mind the particularities of Qatar’s real estate market, we are still not in a position to do that. With all due respect to exceptions, people are usually happy to find anything bearable.
From an acoustic point of view, what are some of the most successful projects in Doha? I have to highlight Doha Convention Center in West Bay which is close to completion. Acoustics of the main
“In Qatar, almost as a rule, we get engaged at the end of a construction stage or when complaints are filed. Making things right at that stage is very expensive and usually requires serious design changes.”
October 2014 | QCN
exhibition hall, having in mind its purpose and size, is quite remarkable as exhibition halls usually tend to be highly reverberant and get noisy as it gets crowded. Another interesting one is surely Sharq Village and Spa. Being close to the airport, it is severely impacted by the aircraft noise, and being outdoors for a long time is unpleasant. On the other hand, attention was paid to the construction details and interiors are very quiet and cosy. However, the hidden gem is definitely Sout Al Khaleej studio in Katara, coming close to its completion as well. From the room acoustics, quality of used materials, interior design to the audio systems themselves, it is something that Qatar has to be proud of. Do not be surprised if you see some of the big names in the music industry coming to record an album here.
Which sector in Qatar’s real estate hires acoustic designers and consultants the most? That would definitely be hotels. Big names in the hotel industry have highly developed awareness about the building acoustics and they understand how a poor acoustic design of a single room can turn your profits upside down. I am disappointed that Qatar’s residential sector completely neglects
According to Puljizevic, it is important for sports facilities such as stadiums to have correct acoustic design. Pictured is an exterior view of Qatar’s Aspire Dome housing Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. (Image Flickr Tonypet Montemayor)
acoustics. Finding a suitable place to live, where you would not be disturbed by noise, is like winning a lottery.
What are some latest trends you see in the acoustics industry globally and in Qatar? Globally, acoustics is merging with design. More and more solutions combining acoustics, industrial design and illumination, etcetera, are emerging. If you cannot provide a solution that is interesting and catchy, you are falling behind. The era of simple fabric and wooden acoustic panels is over. Qatar is just starting to realise the importance of acoustics; unfortunately at the expense of residents’ quality of life. However, it is not all that bad. There is a huge shift in making performance spaces more acoustically correct. Meeting rooms, sport halls, conference halls, etcetera, tend to get better and better. Still, we need to move forward and start making our homes and offices better, that is where we spend threefourths of our lives.
Q a t a r ’s B u s i n e s s M a g a z i n e
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TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN DOHA CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS
Ongoing construction works to improve qatar’s road infrastructure Traffic congestion on roads is an everyday reality for Doha’s residents. With an influx of expatriates, the lack of sufficient and efficient public transport system, and ease of affording personal cars, the situation is only going to become exacerbated unless corrective measures are taken to ease pressure on Doha’s roads. Carlos Riera Planells and Iain Griffin of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) discuss causes behind current road congestions and offer suggestions on how to best deal with it, while unveiling some of the road expansion plans Ashghal is carrying out to this end.
October 2014 | QCN
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The Salwa Highway project's first phase has been completed and the rest is expected to be expanded and upgraded.
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F
or Qatar, one of the most challenging issues in city management in the present decade is traffic congestion - a very common phenomenon in many other cities around the world. Rapid and ongoing urbanisation in Qatar has resulted in extreme levels of congestion on roads and hence extraordinary demands for infrastructure and service provision within the country’s urban areas. With the lack of ample resources invested for the development of transport facilities in the past, the rapid population growth and limited space available for new roads have only made the situation worse. Other factors exacerbating Doha’s traffic conditions include the rise in transport demand, the high number of current vehicles on roads, and the lack
Improving the design and safety features of new roads through the review of highway design standards can help avoid congestion issues and can also enhance pedestrian safety. Pictured here is a shot of Corniche road that recently underwent road expansion. (Image Fotoarabia)
QCN | October 2014
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Road closures and deviations due to ongoing construction activities is one of the major causes of traffic congestion in Doha. (Image Fotoarabia)
Data suggests that the highest proportion of casualty crashes in Doha occurred in the Industrial Area followed by Al Khlaifat, Al Mamoura, Musaimeer, Al Sudan South, Al Waab, Al Rayan, Al Dafna, Old Airport and Bani Hajar.
October 2014 | QCN
of application of adequate traffic management schemes. Worsening situations of traffic congestion in streets and sufferings of Doha’s residents due to vehicle emissions demand extensive research in this field. With an estimated population of 1.4 million within an area of 132 square kilometres, the demography of Doha is unique because of a high number of expatriates, with Qatari nationals forming a minority of about 15 percent. The largest portion of expatriates in Qatar is from South-East and South Asian countries, mainly India (24 percent), Nepal (16 percent), Philippines (11 percent), Bangladesh (five percent), Sri Lanka (five percent) and Pakistan (four percent). Another majority of expatriates come from the Arab countries (13 percent). The country’s population has tripled in the decade leading up to 2011, up from just over 600,000 people in 2001. Projections indicate that the total population of Qatar could reach 2.8 million by 2020. This increasing influx of people often means a standstill for city dwellers on the roads of Doha during rush hours of morning and evening due to traffic congestion, leading to frustration, road rage and accidents.
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has widened various roads in Doha. However, as some research indicates, the expansion has not created a significant difference. Roads in busy areas such as Al Sadd remain congested particularly at peak hours of the day.
Reasons behind traffic congestion A number of factors have led to the current traffic situation in Doha. The growth rate of Qatar’s population and traffic is approximately 7.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively. However, the rate of road expansion is not proportionate to these high levels of growth. According to the Ministry of Interior‘s (MoI) figures released in June 2013, 876,000 cars, 1533 school buses and 153 public
10%
The growth rate of Qatar’s traffic.
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buses use the roads and highways in Qatar every day. Due to tax-free income and higher purchasing power of citizens in Doha, personal transportation is more affordable leading to an increased number of vehicles on the roads which are not expanding proportionately, thus resulting in traffic congestion. With thousands of taxis operating in the capital, the Mowasalat Company operates the primary taxi network in Qatar under its Karwa brand. The current numbers, however, are still not sufficient to meet the demands of Doha’s growing population. Karwa’s bus system currently operates in Doha, and is mainly used by lower-income groups, and does not attract many from the higher-income groups in the city, resulting in an increased number of personal cars and private cabs. To develop a robust public transport system, Doha has been undergoing an expansion of its transportation network, including the addition of new highways and a metro system. With the ongoing construction works across Doha, traffic disruptions due to diversions and road closures are also inevitable. With its current road structure, Doha has a variety of road environments with varying speed limits, ranging from small low-speed residential roads to large multilane distributor roads where speeds can be much higher. Data suggests that the highest proportion of casualty crashes in Doha occurred in the Industrial Area
followed by Al Khlaifat, Al Mamoura, Musaimeer, Al Sudan South, Al Waab, Al Rayan, Al Dafna, Old Airport and Bani Hajar. Further exacerbating the situation is the issue of traffic violations. Vehicles’ lane management is an important factor in traffic management. Many roads in Doha can accommodate three to four lanes, but drivers do not always maintain them on main roads, while street encroachments have narrowed down the space on many interior roads in Doha, leading to traffic jams in such locations. The average width of Doha’s city roads falls between 3.3 and 3.65 metres. Taking action against encroachments can be the most costeffective way of expanding the capacity of these roads. Similarly, illegal parking often unnecessarily disrupts the traffic flow, particularly at places such as Al Dafna, Msheireb, Najma, Al Mansoura, Al Ghanim and Industrial Area.
Solutions to resolve traffic problems A strategic approach to the existing causes of Doha’s traffic congestion can improve the situation. Legal action Special lanes for buses have been planned across Doha to ease the city’s traffic movement. To this end, the first project will be launched on Salwa Road. For better lane management, lanes for
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As one of the key routes to Doha’s business district, the main road through West Bay is among the most congested roads in the city. (Image Corbis)
With the ongoing pilot projects on road infrastructure, transport networks and communications, the problem of Doha’s traffic congestion will soon be a thing of the past.
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Al Waab Street, according to Doha’s traffic data, has one of the highest rates of accidents in the city. (Image Corbis)
Proper traffic management system along with appropriate implementation of traffic rules is necessary to mitigate the problems of traffic congestion Doha is facing today.
October 2014 | QCN
different types of vehicles should be marked on roads and financial penalties should be imposed to encourage drivers to abide by the lane rules. Another area demanding legal action is encroachments of roads particularly in residential areas. MoI’s Traffic Department can take such legal actions against lane violations. Increasing the effectiveness of policies on wrong overtaking, one-way driving, and breaking traffic signals, can also ease congestion on roads. Similarly, introduction of mobile court to fine the truck drivers for disobeying traffic laws and driving unfit trucks can set a good precedent for Doha’s drivers. Such implementations of law can mitigate traffic jams in the short term. In the long run, however, people should be involved in creating awareness and being more responsive to the needs of society. In the context of putting legal restrictions on the number of cars, the amount of tax paid on imported cars and other private vehicles can be increased in order to reduce the amount of private transportation on Doha roads. However, a policy like this is only justified once the city builds an efficient public transport system. Supply vs. demand Congestion on roads can be reduced by either increasing road capacity (supply) or by reducing traffic (demand). Road capacity can be increased in a number of ways, such as adding more capacity over the whole route or at bottlenecks, creating new routes, and improvements for traffic management. Reduction of demand can include parking restrictions, park and ride options, congestion pricing, road space rationing, incentives to use public transport and introduction of e-education,
e-shopping, flexible work hours and homebased working options to reduce the number of people travelling at a time. On the supply side, road widening is often advocated as a way to reduce traffic congestion. Roads of Doha are narrow in places such as Industrial Area, Al Muntazah, Al Mansoura, Najma, Al Ghanim and Umm Ghuwailina, etcetera. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has carried out road widening at C-Ring Road, Corniche Street, and Al Rumeilah Street, etcetera. However, some research indicates that widening provides only slight reductions in urban traffic congestion. Other modifications of current road features can also lead to positive results. For instance, improving the design and safety features of new roads through the review of highway design standards can help avoid congestion issues at least in the near future.
Expansion of Doha’s road network Considering the repercussions of road congestions, Doha has begun carrying out the expansion of its transportation network, which includes construction of new highways, new Hamad International Airport, and the planned construction of a metro system. As it is, Doha has a comprehensive road network made up primarily of twoand three-lane dual carriageways. Being a relatively young city, Doha’s roads are wide and usually include service roads and large central dividers. While
feature story traditionally, roundabouts were used as intersections in the city, this has recently changed as a result of huge load on road networks. Many major roundabouts have been removed and replaced with either traffic light junctions or underpasses or overpasses. Moreover, many major thoroughfares in the city are being converted into highways in order to accommodate the increasing traffic on roads. • Doha Expressway (D-Ring Road/ Al Shamal Road): Al Shamal Road was traditionally connected to the D-Ring Road in Doha, a three-lane dual carriageway that connects Doha with the north of Qatar. However, as a result of congestion, the D-Ring Road is being converted into a major highway through the city, and its name has been changed to the Doha Expressway. Several phases of the expressway have been completed, including the Al Shamal Bridge, the Landmark Interchange, the Gharaffa Interchange, and the Midmac/Salwa Road Interchange. Al Shamal Road is also undergoing significant expansion as part of the Doha Expressway project. Furthermore, the new Doha Expressway will connect Doha with the planned Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge at Al Zubar. • Lusail Expressway: The Lusail Expressway is expected to connect
the new city of Lusail, currently being constructed north of Doha, to central Doha, while connecting the Pearl-Qatar to the mainland. The expressway is expected to take the path along the former Istiqlal Road, and will be a four-lane dual carriageway through the city. • Dukhan Highway: The Dukhan Highway connects to the west of the city. The existing Dukhan highway has been undergoing a reconstruction project for several years. In the future, it is planned to expand the highway so that it connects directly into Doha through a system of underpasses and overpasses, with plans to replace the Markhiya Roundabout and the TV Roundabout, and all other major roundabouts in Doha, with underpasses and overpasses. • Salwa Highway: Salwa Road runs through south Doha and connects the city to the Saudi border, a fourlane highway with grade-separated interchanges. The Salwa Highway project’s first phase has been completed and the rest is expected to be expanded and upgraded, from the recently completed Industrial Interchange to the Jaidah flyover, including the construction of an underpass at the Ramada signal, Doha’s busiest traffic light intersection. • F-Ring Road: The F-Ring Road will be the sixth ring road in Doha,
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A major reason behind Doha’s traffic congestion is the lack of effective and efficient public transport. Mowasalat Company operates Karwa bus service, usually availed by low-income workers. (Image Flickr Richard Messenger)
Doha is carrying out the expansion of its transportation network, which includes the construction of new highways.
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feature story and is being constructed as part of the transportation network leading to the new Hamad International Airport. The new highway will connect the airport to the Corniche at the new Ras Abu Aboud interchange, currently under construction, and will involve a new ring road south of the E-Ring Road.
The problem of traffic congestion is not limited to Qatar. In fact, it is one of the most important problems of modern time. In Doha, various infrastructure and managerial projects are granted to reduce traffic jams. However, there are no quick solutions to this problem. Guided by its National Vision 2030, the State of Qatar has a plan under implementation, which will come up with a solution within three to four years. Looking at the ongoing pilot projects on road infrastructure, transport networks and communications, the problem of Doha’s traffic congestion will soon be a thing of the past. For Doha, traffic congestion constraints can be ameliorated by embarking on various strategies such as road capacity expansion, improved road infrastructures, financial penalty to traffic law violators, building bus and metro systems, special lanes for buses and development of flyovers, overpasses and underpasses. But, most importantly, a proper traffic management system along with appropriate implementation of traffic rules is necessary to mitigate the problems of traffic congestion Doha is facing today.
Carlos Riera Planells is a senior roads engineer of the Traffic Diversion Plan Approvals Office at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). Iain Griffin is the team leader in Ashghal’s Traffic Diversion Plan Approvals Office.
October 2014 | QCN
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40
special promotion
Enertech Qatar:
Revamped to further excellence Completing a decade of services in Qatar’s various sectors, Enertech Qatar – Middle East’s fastest growing health, safety, and environmental (HSE) training provider expanded its operations with a new facility including classrooms to cater to the requirements of construction and affiliated sectors. Being in Qatar’s fastest growing industry of construction requires expansions of its current training facilities as the number of delegates are bound to increase. Currently, about 3000 workers are trained every month at Enertech. Speaking with QCN about some recent expansions to cater to the construction industry, Shareef P. Mohammed, managing director, Enertech Qatar, said, “There is a boom in the construction industry and the requirements for quality HSE training are increasing. Enertech Qatar has invested in a new facility, equipment and simulators for boosting practicalbased training along with having experienced multilingual male and female instructors.”
Construction safety training To cater to the increasing number of trainings from construction sector, the new purpose-built facility enables the delegates to have hands-on experience in areas such as scaffolding, working at heights, confined space, rigging and slinging, and heavy equipment October 2014 | QCN
Some of the most common areas of training demanded by construction companies in Qatar include scaffolding, rigging, confined spaces, and working at heights, says a representative of Enertech Qatar.
operations of cranes, forklifts and manlifts, etcetera. Similarly, the new fire ground at Enertech is equipped for practising different types of extinguishers, and pressured firefighting systems. While many of the training sessions are done within the training centre’s premises, Enertech also provides trainings at client sites enabling delegates to experience a real-life situation.
Educating the workforce When asked about the most common issue resulting in safety hazards on
Simulating the real-life setting, Enertech trains oil and gas professionals in various scenarios of off-shore emergency.
special promotion
41
Shareef P. Mohammed, managing director, Enertech Qatar, says the company also provides customised and on-site training. A trainer gives instructions to delegates prior to a simulation of real-life situation involving fire.
A part of HSE training includes theory classes. Enertech has recently introduced two new classrooms to it’s training centre in Doha.
sites in Qatar, Shareef said, “It’s mostly lack of awareness among the workforce that we have. They come from different nations where health and safety is not a primary requirement.” Educating the workers, hence, is an important part of safety trainings. Considering that most workers on site have very low level of education on average, one cannot expect them to have a good understanding of foreign languages such as English. To fill the gap, Enertech conducts training in different languages such as English, Arabic, Hindi, Tagalog, Nepalese, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu and French. Instructors at Enertech are qualified and approved by various international bodies,
The fire training facility at Enertech Qatar trains delegates in fight different training facility Enertech types ofThe firefire such as liquid andatelectrical Qatar fire. trains delegates to fight different types of fire such as liquid and electrical fire.
specifically trained to assess the learning requirements of delegates and follow a teaching method which suits their learning requirements. Similarly, the trainings are sometimes customised to meet the requirements of a particular client’s worksite. Quoting an example, Shareef mentioned that “confined space entry and rescue training was conducted at a client’s site and response from them has been great so far”. Being in the market for long, Shareef said, Enertech understands the vibe of Qatar’s construction industry as the company strives to bring best practices in developing the workforce in par with internationally accepted standards.
“[A main issue behind site accidents is the] lack of awareness among the workforce. They come from different nations where health and safety is not a primary requirement.” - Shareef P. Mohammed, MD, Enertech Qatar. QCN | October 2014
42
legal
Novation of a consultant in a design and build project In a design and build procurement, it is common for an employer to appoint a consultant to prepare a design brief or concept design and then by novation, ‘break ties’ with the consultant and transfer the design and responsibility for the design to the main contractor, who is best-placed to develop the design with buildability of the design a natural by-product of this risk transfer, writes Adam Balchin of Al Tamimi & Company. Novation of a design consultant to a main contractor is often seen in a turnkey project and it offers potential benefits to project participants. A novation needs to be properly documented and if possible, when an employer engages a consultant, and a contractor, the parties should be required to agree entering into a novation agreement if the employer elects to novate. A design consultant’s novation occurs when a consultancy agreement, signed between an employer and consultant for initial design services, is replaced with a new contract on the same terms (usually), under which the contractor engages the consultant as if the contractor had originally contracted with the consultant. A novation agreement documents this relationship change between the parties. Novation of a design consultant is often a desirable strategy for an employer, given that: • The employer has control of the early design and choice in the consultant that will complete the design; • The contractor assumes a single point of contractual responsibility for construction, as well as design; and • It is hoped that the transfer to the contractor of the responsibility for the design will promote a more buildable design, without undesirable document discrepancy risk being retained by the employer. At the same time, the contractor will have the comfort that as the novation assumes that the contractor and consultant had entered into the novated consultancy agreement before any design had commenced, the contractor would have recourse against October 2014 | QCN
the consultant if it turned out that the consultant had made any errors in the design prepared before its engagement with the contractor.
Documenting the novation
In an ideal world, the form of the novation agreement, including the agreement of the consultant (and the contractor) to any novation at the employer’s discretion, will be included in the initial agreement appointing the consultant and the construction contract appointing the contractor. Articles 381 to 386 of the Qatari Civil Code deal with novation, and require express approval of the parties prior to a novation taking effect. Thus, the consent of all parties is required to effect a novation of the design consultant in the scenario discussed above. The novation agreement achieves this purpose. A clause inserted in the original consultancy agreement and construction contract that requires the consultant and contractor to enter into a novation agreement, if the employer decides to pursue the novation option, will go a long way to facilitate that the novation will occur in the smoothest manner possible. If an employer does not obtain agreement to a potential novation from the consultant and contractor as part of their original agreements with the employer, there is no pre-agreement by these parties to the novation at a later stage. Ensuring that parties are ‘on board’ with the possibility of such a novation when they are originally engaged, will minimise the hardship that is likely to be encountered if the employer attempts to ‘force’ a novation. The drafting of the novation agreement should ensure that:
• Care is taken to avoid creating unnecessary conflicts of interest between the parties; • Separate lists of services that the consultant will perform for the employer and the contractor are incorporated; and • The contractor and the employer are granted a suitable warranty by the consultant for any losses arising out of services performed pre-novation. For an employer seeking to prepare and enter into a novation agreement, it is critical that the agreement is drafted in clear terms, as the absence of an obligation on the consultant, or the contractor, may defeat the employer’s intended transfer of obligations. It is also important that the novation agreement imposes only specific acceptable obligations and liabilities on the consultant and the contractor, without seeking to impose illogical duties on these parties. A clear and simple agreement will give the employer the best chance of having the agreement signed by the parties, if that is what the employer wants once the project is up and running.
Adam Balchin is the regional head of Construction & Infrastructure, Al Tamimi & Company.
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section
www.QatarTenders.com Tender Name
Description
Client
Development & Construction Works
Development and construction of an industrial area comprising of warehouses
National Property Development (Al Ijarah Property)
687
10/30/2014
Professional Consultancy Services
Provision of pre-contract professional consultancy services for five new mosques at various locations
Public Works Authority - Ashghal
137
10/27/2014
Geometric Drawings & Designs Services
Implementation of geometric drawings and designs for a fish farm.
Ministry of Environment, Qatar
41
10/26/2014
Integrated Flare and Gas Recovery System
Engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning services for integrated flare and gas recovery system
Qatar Petrochemical Company Limited
275
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Multi-Level Structured Car Parking
Design and build a multi-level structured car park
Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar
55
10/20/2014
ELV Systems Maintenance
Carrying out maintenance of ELV systems for a government authority
Qatar Petroleum
N/A
10/20/2014
Heavy Duty Equipment
Supply of heavy duty equipment
Qatar Petroleum
137
10/20/2014
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Supply of personal protective equipment for a fuel company
Qatar Fuel Additives Company
82
10/19/2014
Consultancy Services
Provision of consultancy services for supplying electricity to a site
Qatar Museums Authority
137
10/16/2014
HVAC Package Unit
Engineering, procurement, supply, performance testing, site testing, installation and commissioning of HVAC package unit with ducting for UPS Room
Qatar Fertilizer Company
55
10/16/2014
Pumping Station EPC Works
Construction of Pumping Station no.2 at RPS & Associated Pipelines
Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa)
1099
10/16/2014
Infrastructure Works
Carrying out infrastructure works for villas on an island
Lusail Real Estate Development Company
N/A
10/14/2014
October 2014 | QCN
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