Big Project ME February 2015

FEBRUARY 2015

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crossing the sands Al Rosan Contracting moves 130 million cubic metres of sand to build the first international highway between KSA and Oman

ALSO INSIDE why you need a lawyer access control eyes on surveillance qatar’s challenge

It is, without doubt, one of the harshest environments on earth: the Empty Quarter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the largest and most barren sand desert in the world, spreading itself over four Arab nations and covering 650,000 km2 which is comparable in size to France. Temperatures range from 50° to -1°C in the course of a single day and the sand and dust are relentless. The nearest city is 1000 kilometres away. So the construction of a 256 kilometre road cutting through this wildnerness, linking Saudi Arabia to the Sultanate of Oman, called for an extraordinary solution.

The response: a eet of 95 Volvo machines was assembled. Together, they shifted over 130 million m3 of sand just to build the bridge of the road – an extraordinary feat in such harsh conditions, yet the quality and power of Volvo engineering was up to the challenge. The difculties created by the remote isolation of the worksite were answered with excellent customer support from FAMCO, the authorised Volvo dealer in Saudi Arabia, which included the organisation of mobile 24/7 service workshops that moved forward with the construction operation. Discover a new way. www.emptyquarter.volvoce.com Watch video

Exclusive distributor of Volvo Construction Equipment in the UAE and Saudi Arabia Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. LLC United Arab Emirates: 800 32626 Saudi Arabia: 800 1244414 e-mail: famco@alfuttaim.ae www.al-futtaim.com

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CONTENTS

PAGE 18

M

Big Project ME is in The Empty Quarter to report on the development of the Saudi-Oman land bridge.

FEBRUARY 2015 07 the big picture Al jAber group confirms depArture of ceo David Nelson leaves Abu Dhabi giant, says ‘family reasons’ behind decision

12 iN profile the construction counsellor gavin Davids interviews Scott lambert, the new regional head of construction and infrastructure at Al tamimi & co

18 Site viSit crossing the sAnds big project Me enters the empty Quarter to find out how Al rosan contracting is building the Saudi-oman land bridge

24 Sector report fAst trAck to recovery egypt’s long term economic recovery rests on the redevelopment of its ageing railway infrastructure

28 SpeciAl report going with the flow big project Me finds out how ‘people flow’ impacts elevator and escalotor design and installation

32 Sector report: AcceSS coNtrol Accessing A new Age Jerusha Sequeira investigates the evolution of access control technology

36 MArket focuS: QAtAr QAtAr cAlling Jerusha Sequeira outlines what Qatar needs to do to see tangible returns on its massive investments

42 tech focuS: Security SySteMS cAught on cAmerA big project Me reports on the latest trends in security cameras and how manufacturers are meeting the challenges of data storage and efficiency

48 coMMeNt dArk mAtters David Dunn from Mouchel asks if the gcc can light its streets sustainably

56 coNStructive criticiSM5 sAudi

FEBRUARY 2015

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let’s shAre locAl bim experiences Muhammad tariq Shafiq explains why it’s crucial for the construction industry to share its biM experiences

1

At the 2014 Construction Machinery Show we sold 70 units and 100 more units are under discussion. We have delivered a positive message to our existing clients, our competitors, and grabbed new clients.

I think gaining such an appreciation from all members in the construction equipment sector is a great honour and will encourage us to work very hard to keep the same level of style, image, and standards.”

This year the CM Show team delivered an exhibition Saudi deserves. For years, we have seen a vision in this Show and this year the vision was achieved. We wanted quality traffic and we saw equipment and company owners; and we were able to offer some promotions to entice sales.

I saw an increase in our sales immediately.

Our principles, Doosan and Everdigm, really enjoyed themselves. We anticipate the upcoming years to be even better.”

The Construction Machinery Show was perfect from an awareness point of view.

We explained Roots Group Arabia’s capability of covering the construction industry with all of its needs and requirements. The attendance was good especially during weekdays and towards the end of the exhibition. See you next year.”

Al-Qahtani & Sons Khaled El Shatoury, Managing Director

Saudi Diesel Equipment Ahmed Alkooheji, Marketing Manager

Roots Group Arabia Abdulaziz Felemban, Brand Manager

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INTRODUCTION

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Listen to the lawyers

Group Chairman and Founder Dominic De SouSa Group Ceo naDeem HooD Group Coo Gina o’HaRa

puBLiShinG direCtor

Writing up this month’s In Profile allowed me the opportunity to reflect on how different things might have been during the financial crisis if the right legal advice had been available to the industry then.

As Scott Lambert goes on to elaborate during his interview, contractors, especially smaller, more local ones, aren’t exactly the most clued up when it comes to the legal fine points of their contracts.

As he puts it, his job is to spread awareness of the necessity of having that advice on hand at a time when the construction industry is cranking up the gears.

How different the circumstances of the crash would have been if that sort of thinking had been prevalent back in 2008.

We’ll never know now, but it’s safe to assume that the effects would have been far less devastating if people had taken the time to draw up contracts that ensured their legal protection.

We can only hope that the lessons have been absorbed, but I find it hard to be optimistic about that when we look at the makeup of the industry in 2015. How many of the same people from 2008 do we have left in the market? Is the experience still there? Or are we facing the same situation we had back then? A market full of ‘optimism’ and a willingness to get the job done, without thinking through the consequences of our actions?

People say that we learn from our mistakes, but in this case, I’m a little worried that there isn’t anyone left who remembers the bad times. And that could prove to be very costly indeed.

Of course, the major contractors will be fine, as they always are, but it’s the little guys who are most vulnerable.

The most common excuse would be that they can’t afford the legal fees, but as Lambert says, ‘it’s better to spend a little up front than face a major arbitration case down the line’.

Wise words of advice indeed. I sincerely hope that the industry is listening.

RaZ iSLam raz.islam@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5471 editoriaL direCtor ViJaYa cHeRian vijaya.cherian@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5472 eDiToRiaL editor GaVin DaViDS gavin.davids@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5480 reporter JeRuSHa SeQueiRa jerusha.sequeira@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5477 SuB editor aeLReD DoYLe aDVeRTiSinG CommerCiaL direCtor micHaeL STanSFieLD michael.stansfield@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5497

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DeSiGn art direCtor Simon coBon ciRcuLaTion & PRoDucTion dataBaSe and CirCuLation manaGer SuniL KumaR sunil.kumar@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5476 produCtion manaGer ViPin V. ViJaY vipin.vijay@cpimediagroup.com +971 4 375 5713

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Gavin Davids Editor

FEBRUARY 2015

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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THE BIG PICTURE

Al JAber reshuffle The Abu Dhabi-based Al Jaber Group (contractor on the Abu Dhabi International Airport, pictured) is undergoing a management reshuffle.

Al JAber Group confirms depArture of ceo dAvid nelson Family reasons cited as reason For leaving, mike grant appointed interim ceo DaviD NelsoN has left al Jaber Group, the abu Dhabi-based conglomerate has announced, citing ‘family reasons’ for the former chief executive’s sudden departure. a spokesperson for the group confirmed that Nelson had left al Jaber Group and that Mike Grant, the company’s chief restructuring officer, would assume the position of interim Ceo. a source aware of the matter told Reuters that Nelson had actually resigned two months ago.

Grant joined al Jaber as restructuring head in November 2011. al Jaber Group brought in David Nelson in late 2012 as part of a drive to modernise and review business practices following a debt-fuelled expansion that caused trouble for the company.

The group’s main business is construction, but it also has interests in a number of areas, including retail and aviation. in June, it sealed a drawnout debt restructuring agreement

STATS n $4.5 billion – Value of obligations that al Jaber is facing

n $479 million – contract value for abha airport development project

n $545 million – contract value for abu dhabi roadworks

which is said to have set new terms on approximately $4.5 billion of obligations. over the last two years, the familyowned group has seen a number of management changes. Richard hollands, named finance head in November 2011, resigned in april 2013. he was replaced

by Robert Palazzo, who served as interim CFo until the current incumbent, sam Deeb, was appointed in January 2014. in January this year, the conglomerate announced that it had won a $479 million contract for the abha airport development project in saudi arabia.

The firm’s saudi branch has been awarded the project, which includes an 86,000sqm passenger terminal that can accommodate five million passengers annually. The new terminal will be built in the capital of asir Province.

The airport will have 20 boarding bridges, a parking apron and corridors to accommodate 26 planes simultaneously, along with parking

facilities for 2,800 vehicles, according to WAM. Construction is expected to be over a period of 36 months.

Meanwhile, the conglomerate has declined to comment on reports that it has scrapped plans to sell its heavy lift unit.

Three sources close to the matter told Reuters that the sales process for the heavy lift business has been abandoned.

The unit, which provides heavy lifting and transportation of machinery and other projects equipment, would have been the first asset sale since the signing of the restructuring deal.

That deal is predicated on giving al Jaber time for its assets to be sold off to repay its outstanding debts, Reuters said. all three sources added that the deal had been called off by the family due to a reluctance to sell. one source said that low bids for the business were also a factor.

Barclays was appointed by al Jaber in mid-2014 to arrange the sale process..

FEBRUARY 2015

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Big project me talks to scott lambert about why contractors need legal protection – Page 12 7

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ArbitrAtion committee to look into stAlled proJects in riyAdh independent Body to Be Formed in riyadh to prevent Further delays in projects sauDi CoNsTRuCTioN auThoRiTies in Riyadh have formed an independent arbitration body to follow up on stalled projects in order to prevent delays by contractors, it has been reported.

Many government projects awarded to contractors have been delayed or stalled for several reasons, authorities said.

“To ensure success and prevent further delays in its projects, the Commission has formed an arbitration committee from outside the Commission to follow up all its projects and report on each of them regularly,” said Muzahim al Deeb, director of roads and services in the Commission, quoted in the arabic daily al Watan.

Projects in Riyadh and other parts of saudi arabia have stalled due to inefficient management, inadequate resources and technical specifications of some contractors, heavy reliance on subcontractors, and poor studies of projects, Deeb said at a contractors’ seminar in Riyadh.

other reasons include slow resolution of problems facing projects and a lack of coordination between concerned parties.

Fahd al hammadi, chairman of the National Contractors Committee, said at the seminar that almost 40% of government projects have faced delays and the majority of them have been withdrawn from the contractors. hammadi said the contractors in the country are pushing ahead with plans to “put their house in order” through the creation of an autonomous authority to handle the sector.

“The saudi contractors aim to create an authority to look after this vital sector and increase its efficiency so it will be capable of shouldering its responsibilities in executing projects on time and with great efficiency. We will soon sign an agreement among all contracting companies to create this autonomous authority before we have it presented to the Monarch,” he said.

Meanwhile, the saudi Council

STATS n 40% – of government projects have faced delays in ksa

n 1,700 – number of saudi and expat engineers with forged credentials

of engineers (sCe) will release the names of 1,700 saudi and expatriate engineers with forged credentials, as part of a crackdown on unqualified professionals in the country.

The move is part of ongoing efforts by the Council to stem the issue of fake engineers, which has created construction delays and problems with projects, arab News reported. officials say the board is coordinating with governmental bodies like the labour Ministry to compile the list. The Council has been working since 2010 to verify engineering certificates of saudi and non-saudi engineers in the Kingdom. according to sources close to the council, the individuals who will be blacklisted have not yet been penalised, it was reported. “exposing them in a list is the lightest way of punishing them, since they deserve far worse,” said hamad Nasser al-shaqawi, quoted in Arab News.

independent ArbitrAtion The independent arbitration body was set up to prevent delays by contractors.

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Big project me reports from the empty Quarter, site of the saudi-oman land bridge – Page 18

FEBRUARY 2015

THE BIG PICTURE

cAse closed A number of high-profile luxury developments in Dubai have been published on the new list.

dubAi courts publish new list of cAncelled property proJects cancelled project list has Been extended to more than 150 projects a NuMBeR oF Dubai’s most ambitious real estate projects have been included in a new list of cancelled property projects published on the Dubai Courts website.

Cancelled projects include the reigon’s first rotating tower and a luxury development on Nakheel’s The World. The document, which was first published in the summer of 2014, originally included a list of 18 developers and 36 projects. That has now been extended to more than 150 projects.

ReRa’s Cancelled Real estates Projects Committee is currently hearing cases for another 17 projects, the Dubai Courts said in a statement. it added that all those 17 cases were being developed by Reliance Real estate Development.

Two projects by Khyool investment – abjar Tower and Faras 2 – have been liquidated and the money from them has been distributed to investors, the Courts said. another 34 cases are in

STATS cancelled projects that have been liquidated and distributed among investors:

n developer: khyool investment llc

n projects: abjar tower, faras 2 cancelled projects currently under hearing by the committee:

n developer: reliance estate development

n projects: reliance 1 to 16

the process of having funds distributed amongst investors after they have been heard and registered by the committee.

The website added that the remainder of projects listed had been transferred to the committee and would be heard soon. sanali Business Tower, sanali Capital avenue and sanali Business heights by sanali holdings were amongst these.

“The committee for the liquidation of cancelled real estate projects in the emirate of Dubai and settlement of rights related thereof, specialises in liquidation of real estate projects, by which a final decision of cancellation has been issued

by Real estate Regulatory agency (ReRa).

“The judgments, orders and decisions issued by the committee shall be final, peremptory and unappealable by all means of a regular appeal, and shall be executed by the implement Department Dubai Courts,” a statement on the Dubai Courts website said.

however, it warned investors that there was no “specific period for these projects to be seen by the committee and it will be seen direct after finishing the previous list. investors should follow up within Dubai Courts website (www.dc.gov.ae) to make sure that new projects are listed and if it is listed they have to apply electronically.” it added that if their projects were not listed within the Cancelled Real estate Projects list, then investors should check with the land Department, which would inform them about the status of the project and when it would be transferred to the Cancelled Real estate Projects Committee.

Dubai Courts clarified that the Committee could only rely on the lists of cancelled projects sent through by the land Department.

The full list can be found at: www.dubaicourts.gov.ae/portal/ page?_pageid=292,653851&_ dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

FEBRUARY 2015

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Big project me looks at the challenges facing Qatar in the wake of the latest allegations – Page 36 9

THE BIG PICTURE

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FarSighted thinking paul Wallett, area Business director for tekla middle east, explains hoW the Bimsight note app can help improve communication on-site and on the move

taking noteS Paul Wallett says that one of the key features of the app is its efficiency.

What is the BiMsight Note app?

The BIMsight Note app came about as a solution to enable people with handheld mobile devices like smartphones to quickly capture comments from the field and send them through normal media like iCloud and Dropbox.

It enables the quick information feedback from the construction site. The great thing about it is that it’s a very simple and small app and it allows the information to be directly attached to the object. So on the office side, they can see a note is coming in, then they click on it, and it flies directly into the BIM model. There’s a direct associativity between the field and the site and the actual physical model location itself. hoW is the app BeiNg developed further?

We’ve had commenting tools in different guises like this, but the Note app was something we could quite easily get into smartphones. Since then, we’ve acquired a true iPad solution, which allows the full model to be opened.

This is available in the App Store as Field 3D. There’s a professional and a paid-for version.

The professional version gives you a bit more capability in terms of full iCloud

synchronisation. You have the ability to take snapshots from site and the pictures will go through the iCloud. Whatever I do on-site will synchronise with the main iCloud model and you’ll be able to see comments and notes appearing within the model itself.

What are soMe of the key features of the BiMsight Note app?

One of the key features of this solution is how efficient it is. For example, a model of 2GB in size can be opened on an iPad, which is amazing. The technology behind it is very efficient.

Normally, our models run at a few megabytes anyway, but I’ve got copies where I’ve got a whole stadium in Saudi Arabia. That’s thousands of components and parts, and it’s using IFC, so whatever level of information you want is stored within that model, to whatever level or degree.

What aBout accessiBility? does it have offliNe capaBilities as Well?

Even if you don’t have connectivity, you can open up the model and put comments and

notes in there. We have ‘red-lining’, where you can attach the problems that you encounter and put in ‘red-line’ comments. It’s also got measuring tools and a lot of other features in there. Of course, if you’re not connected, some features won’t work – things like uploading pictures and all. But overall, it does give you that on-site/off-site capability.

What are you developiNg for the future?

Well the hardware solutions, applications and tools that Trimble offer are one of the big parts of where we differentiate ourselves from the rest of the market. When we talk about Tekla as a BIM solution, it’s more than the model.

It’s the connectivity to these hardware tools, and there’s a myriad of different solutions that are within Trimble’s portfolio that digitally connect the model to the hardware.

That’s where I see a lot of acquisitions going – moving into the smart applications.

The hardware, we’ve talked about it – the iPads, the smartphones are one sector.

But there’s also the physical measuring devices, which is another avenue.

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Big project me looks at the latest trends in video security surveillance – Page 42

FEBRUARY 2015

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in Profile scott lambert

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The ConsTruCTion counsellor

Scott Lambert is in the midst of setting up a construction practice for the region’s largest law firm, Al Tamimi & Company. He takes time out of his busy schedule to tell Big Project ME why it’s vital that contractors get the right type of legal advice

F

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or the last four years, EC Harris, the Arcadis-owned built asset consultancy, has been keeping an eye on construction disputes across the Middle East, charting the value of these disputes on a regional and global level. During that time, the consultancy has found that the average value of construction contracts under dispute in the Middle East is higher than the global average.

In fact, in 2011 and 2012, the regional figures were amongst the highest in the world.

However, the good news is that after a peak in 2011, the average value of contracts under dispute has dropped, from $112.5 million in 2011 to just $40.9 million in 2013.

These figures represent a natural correction in the market, as disputes rose in 2010, 2011 and 2012, stemming from the market collapse in 2009 and 2010.

The timing of the peak in 2011 was due to larger disputes taking longer to reach the dispute stage, the EC Harris report said.

With the GCC construction market now well on the road to recovery, and another construction boom on the horizon, it is perhaps a good time to take stock and assess where we are in terms of construction legislation and the mood of the industry, when it comes to this most vital of issues.

Big Project ME sat down with Scott Lambert, an Australian lawyer who has just been appointed regional head of Construction and Infrastructure at Al Tamimi & Company, the GCC’s largest law firm.

Lambert has been tasked with building upon

FEBRUARY 2015

the successes of the firm’s Construction and Infrastructure practice, while offering expertise at a time when construction is gaining real momentum across the region.

“I wanted a new challenge, the chance to do something else with my life, to build a team, and at Al Tamimi & Company, the opportunity presented itself,” he says during an interview at the law firm’s plush offices in DIFC. “Culturally, it’s a great fit for me.

This firm is very collegiate; it’s very open and cooperative. It’s got all the systems in place and it feels very much like home to me.”

“ContRACtoRs do not RECognisE BoUndARiEs. thEY will go whERE thE woRk is, And wE’vE got to BE thERE FoR oUR CliEnts. so it’s ABoUt pRoviding thAt oFFERing to thEm, BECAUsE thAt’s whAt thEY’ll BE looking FoR”

Prior to joining Al Tamimi at the end of 2014, Lambert was a partner at Holding Redlich, where he had a top-tier construction practice known throughout the Australian construction industry for its knowledge, accessibility and communication. As part of his responsibilities, Lambert practised across Australia, as well as working in Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. He believes this diverse experience will stand him in good stead in his new role at Al Tamimi.

“Having a regional position is something I’m comfortable with because it’s similar to dealing with a range of states, except you’re dealing with a range of countries.

They’ve got similar laws – with regional differences, of course – but it’s something that I’m used to. The actual position itself is also a natural fit for me,” he says.

“I hope to grow and create a practice that reflects Al Tamimi’s philosophies, and my own personal beliefs. It’s all about being accessible to clients and giving practical advice and developing expertise. My role, as I see it, is really about mentoring the team and helping each lawyer develop.

Through that process, we’ll also grow the client base, grow the work that we do and build the best regional practice – the only truly regional practice – in the Middle East,” Lambert continues.

Although the team currently consists of just five members, Lambert says that there are plans in place to grow it further, but points out that the first 12 months

FEBRUARY 2015

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in Profile scott lambert

13

In ProfIle Scott Lambert

of his reign will focus on profile-raising, marketing and growing the client base. He adds that there are already team members in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, while Al Tamimi has a construction arbitration presence in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, as well as in Muscat, Oman and Doha, Qatar.

Given that Al Tamimi is the largest regional law firm, Lambert says that it makes complete sense to go where the business is, given the opportunities available to them.

“Contractors do not recognise boundaries.

They will go where the work is, and we’ve got to be there for our clients. So it’s about providing that offering to them, because that’s what they’ll be looking for,” he explains.

Moving away from the business itself, Lambert says that having legal assistance instantly available will benefit contractors tremendously, as the current rejuvenation of the Middle East construction market brings pitfalls with it.

“I think that contractors need to focus

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lEgAl AssistAnCE Lambert says that having legal assistance instantly available will benefit contractors immensely.

FEBRUARY 2015

bigprojectMe.com

on the contracts that they enter into and the subcontracts that they write, as well as their contract administration,” he says. “Contractors are contractors the world over. Normally, it takes one good litigation for a contractor to realise that they need to start spending some money at the start of a project. Spending a bit up front saves you the hassle of a big arbitration down the track,” Lambert insists.

“It’s important that contractors get legal advice up front, legal guidance on what they’re signing, or on their contract admin procedures as they go along, just to save them an arbitration – or to give them the right strategy to strengthen their position.

“I’ve often found that the best outcomes I’ve had with clients is when I’m almost ‘embedded’ with the tendering team. I’ll write the legal non-conformances of any tender and I’d be involved – particularly on a large project – and be an integral part of the tendering team, the commercial process and leading up to the tender contract award. I’d

even be involved in training the administration staff afterwards, on what they’ve got to look out for on the contract,” he says.

As part of his plans to increase the profile of Al Tamimi & Company’s construction practice, Lambert says that he’ll be running a series of seminars in 2015, where he’ll be talking to construction firms about hotbutton topics that affect their business.

“We will also have a free workshop offering, which I can send to businesses if they’re interested, where they can choose one of five workshops, get their project team together – the key people in their business – for one hour, and we’ll talk about that topic. And I’ll tailor it to their needs. It will be part of the awareness-raising awareness that you can save money through being more proactive with your up-front contracts,” he says.

The need for this type of education and awareness becomes apparent when you look at the makeup of the construction industry in 2015. For all the talk about the lessons learnt

The closer you look, the better we get.

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In ProfIle Scott Lambert

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sAFEtY mEAsUREs Lambert says that safety measures to protect contractors from a legal angle should be implemented in the regional construction industry.

“it’s impoRtAnt thAt ContRACtoRs gEt lEgAl AdviCE Up FRont, lEgAl gUidAnCE on whAt thEY’RE signing, oR on thEiR ContRACt Admin pRoCEdUREs As thEY go Along, jUst to sAvE thEm An ARBitRAtion – oR to givE thEm thE Right stRAtEgY to stREngthEn thEiR position”

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from the collapse of the Dubai real estate and construction markets in 2009, there has still been tremendous upheaval since then.

“While institutionalised businesses have learnt lessons and will be more cautious, however, I think those firms that have come to the industry more recently, they are less likely to remember the bad times. So lessons may not have been learnt,” Lambert warns.

Keeping this in mind, he says that there could be a few measures put in place to ensure adequate legal protection for contractors operating in the Middle East. “The region has a good practice here, as long as time is set aside to negotiate terms. The UK, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia, they have the facility to have a short-form arbitration that can be enforced, like a court judgment. In some cases, it can be 35 days from claim to judgment. That can really help get cash flow moving, and they’ve also banned ‘paid-when-paid’ and ‘paid-if-paid’ clauses, which really helps subcontractors.”

In addition, he suggests that GCC member

FEBRUARY 2015

states, in particular, could benefit from working together when it comes to legislation and guidelines for the construction market. “I’m not [suggesting] a uniform code – you’ve still got to respect state and national differences – but I think that they could move towards working together.

Most of the states are fairly similar, so they could work towards having almost similar practices, or work off each other in broader principles. That’s something, a goal to be achieved. But at the same time, each state has its own nuances, and I think those nuances need to be respected,” he explains.

“I also think that they can look at other countries when it comes to making easier provisions for obtaining injunctions to stop bank guarantees being pulled. The last thing you’d want is to have a dispute and then what happens is that your performance security gets pulled on you. To get some protection for contractors around, that’s important.

“We also have to continue to look at ways to improve the enforceability of any arbitration decision. If a decision gets respected and

enforced, similar to what they’ve done with the DIFC Courts, it then provides a certain environment. Finally, we also need to look at the security for payments,” Lambert outlines.

Given the circumstances in the current market, Lambert insists that now is the time for contractors of all sizes to have qualified and experienced legal advice. With construction firms chasing business across borders and into less developed markets, he tells them they need to get experienced regional advice.

“The advice I’d give to someone from the UAE doing a project in Qatar is this: Make sure that you get some regional advice and make sure you get people with regional experience.

That’s because everything – all the different permits, approvals, no objections certificates, etc – is different from country to country, from municipality to municipality. And with that, you can take what the contracting practices are, but you’ve also got to nuance it to the situation and the laws of what you can and cannot do in Qatar.

So that’s where we can help,” he concludes.

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ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

bigprojectMe.cOm

Building an international highway through the desert is no easy task, as Big Project ME finds out when it speaks to the contractor behind one of the most challenging ongoing projects in the GCC. Gavin Davids and Stian Overdahl report from the Empty Quarter

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CROS S I N G

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ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

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T HE SA NDS

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ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

bigprojectMe.cOm

FoRBidding sAnds The Rub’ Al Khali covers an area of approximately 650,000 sq km – most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula.

V

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ast. Forbidding. Unforgiving. These are some of the most common words that come up when the words ‘Empty Quarter’ are Googled. Otherwise known as the Rub’ Al Khali, it is the largest sand desert in the world, covering most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula – an area of some 650,000 square kilometres.

This inhospitable place provides a natural border between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. It has also been a major hindrance to trade and travel between the two countries, as it has been an insurmountable barrier to road freight and travellers.

Despite sharing a border that is more than 600km long, travellers from both sides have to take a circuitous route via the UAE to reach each other’s countries. However, that is about to change, following the development of a major land bridge that will link the two countries. The new route will shorten the trip by 400km, reducing transport costs and opening up land-based trade and tourism. Known as the Saudi-Oman Border Port, it will include

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565km of road through the Empty Quarter on the Saudi side, and 160km through Oman.

One could be forgiven for thinking that it’s about time this project was built. But that doesn’t consider the extreme conditions. While building a road project seems simple enough most of the time, in the Rub’ Al Khali, engineers had to deal with temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius during the day, and lows of 1 degree at night. Coupled with harsh winds blowing fine sand that gets everywhere, in a location hundreds of kilometres from civilisation, the project is by no stretch of the imagination easy.

“You can’t imagine a project in the desert!

You cannot imagine a project with no life!

There is nothing around you except sand, mountains of sand. You are moving on sand, you’re constructing on sand. It is a very challenging project,” exclaims Engineer Fayez M Subbaheen, project manager at Al Rosan Contracting, the contractor tasked with bringing the Saudi-Oman land bridge to fruition.

Speaking to Big Project ME over a crackling phone line from the desert, Subbaheen

explains just how he and his team are coping with the myriad challenges, while constantly pushing forward to meet their target of finishing the project within the year.

One of the biggest challenges the team faces is the terrain. Working on sand is complicated at the best of times, but the makeup of the sand in the Rub’ Al Khali makes things even more difficult. The desert consists of tall, wind-swept sand dunes, some as high as 200m, with salt flats or sabkhas (areas where seas have become landlocked and evaporated to form saline deposits) interspersed between the dunes.

“It is the soft enemy,” Subbaheen says ruefully. “Imagine if you have 130 million cubic metres of sand, this must be hauled or moved by humans to construct the road. The sand we’re dealing with is very fine. It’s like water.

Sometimes you feel like it is a stream of sand that is moving. If you use this sand to construct the road… you won’t believe me, but sometimes we’ve found sand that we’ve hauled moved away by the wind. Or we’ve found that some sand has accumulated onto the finished layer.

ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

“This is very challenging and it is the most difficult aspect of this project. It’s fine sand that’s blowing 24 hours a day, it’s a soft enemy like water, but we’re dealing with it. Every day, we’re gaining experience and gaining new techniques of construction so that we can optimise our production,” he asserts.

These clearly aren’t ideal conditions to be building roads. The sabkhas have very low loadbearing capacities, while the dunes shift with the wind, meaning that any road cutting through them would quickly be covered with sand.

So in order to build the 256km road, Subbaheen and his team found that the best solution was to build the road over enormous ‘sand bridges’ that distribute the load over a wide area when travelling across the sabkhas, while also allowing the road to go over high dunes, thereby preventing the accumulation of sand.

However, this required enormous amounts of sand to be excavated and hauled into place. In all, as Subbaheen mentions, 130

million cubic metres of sand cut and fill are being used. In terms of cubic volume, that’s equivalent to more than 50 Great Pyramids of Giza – an apt comparison, since the sand bridges were constructed in pyramidal form.

In order to support a finished road width of 24m, the base of these ‘pyramids’ needs to be as much as 500m wide, rising up in one-metrehigh lifts. Some of the highest embankments have 60 or 70 layers, Subbaheen says.

“The road is being constructed from the bridge, which is the embankment. After that come the careened layers of the subgrades, the aggregate base course and the asphalt layers.

We are constructing the embankments from the sand of the desert, by hauling dune sand from the quarries to the road bed, and then confirming the road bridge by doing it in layers – each layer is one metre high. We’re using the dry compaction method for the sand, as it is very efficient and because the weather conditions are such, it will help achieve compaction very quickly.”

The major part of the 234.5km road consists of a single-lane carriageway in each direction. Although there are sections with steep inclines, due to the road travelling over the towering sand dunes, there are climbing lanes for trucks and slower moving traffic.

In addition to the sand, a further 12 million cubic metres of selected material is being used to protect the embankment from erosion from wind and the very occasional rain shower.

“We are spreading the sand, layer by layer, until we reach the required level of the road.

After that, we are making the side slopes of the embankments. These side slopes should be stable. We’re using 4:1 or 6:1 slopes, depending on the height. After that, we cover these slopes with selected materials to prevent them from being eroded or blown away.

“Of course, we also use very heavy equipment for the compacting. In fact, we use double vibrators that are very heavy and have high oscillation to achieve the compacting

“YoU cAn’t imAginE A pRojEct in thE dEsERt! YoU cAnnot imAginE A pRojEct with no liFE! thERE is nothing ARoUnd YoU ExcEpt sAnd, moUntAins oF sAnd. YoU ARE moving on sAnd, YoU’RE constRUcting on sAnd. it is A vERY chAllEnging pRojEct”

STATS n Length of the highway: 256km

n Completed highway: 170km

n Number of workers on-site: 600

n Distance shortened by new road: 400km

n Contractor: Al rosan contracting

n Number of machines

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on-site: 95

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ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

VolVo To The ReScue For Volvo ce dealer Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery company (FAMco), it was obvious that they also needed to establish a full service centre on the site, since providing after sales support from their dealership branch hundreds of kilometres away in riyadh was out of the question.

“Al-Rosan is one of our important contractors and a loyal customer of Volvo CE,” says FAMCO Saudi managing director Amal Al Mizyen. “When they were awarded this contract, we were left with the challenge of supporting them logistically, as the closest city was nine hours away by road.

“However, from the very beginning Al-Rosan said on-site support was crucial, and so we had to gear our services up to that challenge. With a distance of 1,000km from the nearest inhabited city, we were determined to rise to the occasion and prove that we are worthy of our reputation.”

This was especially important given the harsh conditions and driving sand that take their toll on machines and operators alike. From its Riyadh branch, FAMCO established a logistics ‘bridge’ to supply the Volvo CE equipment and spare parts to the isolated site, while at the project site they constructed a modular maintenance facility, capable of carrying out preventative maintenance as well as all needed repairs, since transportation of any machines would be costly and time-consuming.

In addition to the major workshop, the after sales facility has offices and a parts store, with service vans, technicians and a store keeper on-site.

The on-site workshops run 24/7, and the harsh conditions put equipment under enormous strain. To cope with this, the FAMCO after sales team does routine maintenance and has reduced service intervals on some of the crucial parts, such as engine oil and air filters.

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Rolling on Heavy 13-tonne drum rollers are being used on-site to compact the sand for the road bridges.

FEBRUARY 2015

efforts and the degree of compaction required in a short time,” he adds.

Heavy 13-tonne propelled drum rollers are used for the compaction. A short amplitude oscillation for high repetition means faster compaction, which is what allows the team to quickly achieve the relative density required (70%) with six to eight passes. Natural soils made up of silt and clay, as well as small amounts of marl, are mixed with water and then spread on the embankment wall. The thinking is that the silt and clay will hold the water and prevent erosion.

Another major issue for the site is its remoteness. Situated hundreds of kilometres away from civilisation, it was crucial for Al Rosan’s team to have everything they needed close at hand. To this end, they decided to set up everything they would need, as close as possible to the work sites.

“When we were awarded this project, we decided to establish the complete utilities for the construction of this road. We erected a brand new asphalt batching plant especially for this road, right at the beginning of the project. The capacity of this plant is 240 tonnes per hour and we have used it to asphalt more than 170km of the road,” Subbaheen says.

Since there is no stone in the desert, the contractor also established a quarry 400km from the project site, to provide aggregate to the team. A mobile concrete batching plant is used for the bridges, culverts and slope protection around the culverts. Precast footing for the lighting columns is also being carried out. “This job is completely independent of any other project,” Subbaheen insists.

Another crucial component is the wellbeing and happiness of the crew working on the project. Given the isolation of the site, it is impossible for them to be transported to and from the site daily. Similarly, activities on days off pose a problem. Therefore, the team has established residential areas for the 600-plus

bigprojectMe.cOm

“EvERY dAY, wE’RE gAining ExpERiEncE And gAining nEw tEchniqUEs oF constRUction so thAt wE cAn optimisE oUR pRodUction”

workers, as Subbaheen explains. “We established compounds for the labourers, residential areas where they can stay comfortably, and to protect them from all the weather conditions – the sun, sand and so on. It was very difficult for the employees and the operators, for all the people working on this project. There is nothing around you but mountains of sand.

“So what we did was create housing projects, or what we call ‘moving camps’.

These are prefabricated units for residential

ON SITE Saudi Oman Land Bridge

THE REGION’S LARGEST HEAVY EQUIPMENT EXHIBITION

A homE in thE dUnEs Due to the remoteness of the site, Al Rosan Contracting built ‘mobile camps’ for the workers and operators on the project.

we’ve built very good residential camps for our operators and our employees.”

With approximately 85% of the project finished, the contracting team says that it needs another six to eight months to finish the remaining 15%. Given that the end date is in sight, it’s only natural that attention now turns to the maintenance of the road, so as to ensure that Al Rosan’s hard work doesn’t go to waste.

Therefore, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Transport has said that it will provide 24-hour maintenance groups that will be tasked with removing sand that has built up on the top surface of the road. Al Rosan is also building barriers and sand mitigation walls to prevent sand obstructing the road and keeping it open.

Calling this project a challenge is something of an understatement – it is perhaps the most difficult construction project carried out anywhere in the GCC in recent years. But sometime in Q3 2015, it will have ensured new and closer access between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. And that is something both countries will celebrate.

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purposes. All of the people on-site are living in these prefabricated containers. They are completely isolated from the heat and they are air conditioned so people can live inside.

“In addition, we have provided kitchens and bathrooms so that we will be environmentally safe. Also, we didn’t want to affect the natural environment of the desert. We tried to keep the environment safe from our people, and we tried to provide them everything they needed to live in a safe and healthy way.

Somewhere they could stay and get relaxed so that they could go do their jobs,” he says.

Basketball and football yards, as well as tennis courts, have been installed. There is also a lodge with TVs, so that on weekends the project team can watch movies and have as normal a life as possible in such an extreme environment.

“We also prevent them from working under the hot sun,” Subbaheen stresses. “From 11:30am to 2:30pm, the sun is very hot in the desert. It reaches 55 degrees Celsius in the summer. For almost nine months of the year, you have very hot weather. Thankfully,

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Sector report Rail

bigprojectMe.com

Fast track to recovery Big Project ME looks at the impact railway investment will have on Egypt’s economic revival

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our years after a populist uprising that tore down the Hosni Mubarak regime and two years on from the ill-fated reign of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt has finally begun to put itself back together again after a time of tremendous uncertainty.

With billions being poured into Egypt as it looks to rebuild its shattered infrastructure and economy, there is a definite sense of optimism and positivity returning to the land of the Nile. In January 2015, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi made

FEBRUARY 2015

his first official visit to the UAE, where he urged investors to come and invest in his country.

“We welcome you in Egypt and will provide an appropriate investment atmosphere. There are genuine investment opportunities in Egypt,” he told an audience of businessmen in Abu Dhabi. Pointing out that the Cairo government alone would not be able to meet Egypt’s economic ambitions, he entreated “Egyptian, Arab and foreign investors” to help upgrade the Egyptian economy.

Egypt and its rulers are clearly ready to welcome investors in its economy with open arms, most importantly to help create jobs for its 87 million people (2014 estimates).

The largest segment of the population is the 38.4% between 25 and 54 years of age. It’s easy to see why the Egyptian government is so keen to invest in key infrastructure projects, as they lay the groundwork for an economic recovery that could have huge implications for the entire MENA region.

Sector report Rail

Chief among these investment projects is a $2 billion cash injection at the end of 2014 to modernise and upgrade the Egyptian railway and metro infrastructure. In an interview conducted with Daily News Egypt in November 2014, Hany Dahy, Minister of Transportation for Egypt, outlined the task facing his country.

“The Ministry of Transportation is in a race against time to complete a feasibility study for the high-speed train project to be presented during the economic summit in

March [the Egypt Economic Development Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh]. This includes the construction of one rail line between Alexandria and Aswan and another between Hurghada and Luxor, with an initial estimated cost of $2.5 billion.

“The aims of the Alexandria-Aswan rail line are to link the north Delta with the Nile Valley with high-speed trains that travel up to 350km/h. The line will be constructed on an elevated path on a bridge and will be

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cash injection Egypt’s railway and metro infrastructure received a $2 billion cash injection at the end of 2014.

completely isolated from both sides to ensure the highest levels of safety and security. Five stations will be constructed for the line – in Alexandria, in Giza, Assiut, Luxor and Aswan.”

The project will stretch for more than 1,000km. Each station will have a passenger capacity of 10 million a year, while an electric rail line with speeds of up to 180km/h will also be built under the high-speed rail path. The electric train will link the capitals of the provinces along its track line.

With the Egyptian National Railways having undertaken a programme that will renovate the whole railway line running along the Nile River, this ambitious project will pose major challenges to all stakeholders, as Pascale Grasset, business development director, Alstom Transport North and Central Africa, explains.

“Egypt is a huge country with its population mostly concentrated along the Nile. Therefore, you have this railway line coming from the upper north of the country – from Alexandria – through to Cairo and then down to Aswan in the extreme south of the country,” she tells Big Project ME. “Along the Nile River, the need to renovate the line is huge, because almost the entire network is more than 25 years old, and therefore it has been built with traditional technology. There is a huge need to modernise.

“The objective is to increase the performance of the transport systems. Egypt’s government wants to enhance the comfort, security and safety of the passengers. They also have projects that aim to expand their transport network because the population is expanding and therefore there is a need to transport people in and between cities.”

Alstom has been awarded a $113.26 million contract by Egyptian National Railways to supply signalling equipment for the 240km Beni Suef-Asyut line. The contract will also include maintenance for five years. Delivery is expected to start in 2016, and the system is due to be operational by January 2019.

The French giant will be providing Smartlock, its new Electronic Interlocking System (EIS), to replace the electromechanical systems currently in place. In addition, it will replace trackside equipment, power supplies and telecommunication systems. Alstom says that its systems will help ensure safety for passengers while increasing the number of trains in circulation on the network by more than 80%.

“Signalling is one of the parameters that counts for a lot when enhancing the performance of the line, its capacity and safety,”

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sector report rail

bigprojectMe.com

“along the nile RiveR, the need to Renovate the line is huge, because almost the entiRe netwoRk is moRe than 25 yeaRs old. theRe is a huge need to modeRnise” explains Grasset. “We have the ambition to propose the relevant solutions for the customer’s will to modernise the line. The technology which was implemented on the line is more than 20 years old. A more modern technology will offer better performance, more comfort, a higher number of trains and will save on operating costs,” she adds.

“Therefore, the idea to go to a completely electronic interlocking is the object of this modernisation program. The advantage is that the system is cheaper. That does not represent the cost of investment to install the new one instead of the old one, but the objective is to have much lower maintenance costs.

When you compare the maintenance costs of electronic devices to electromechanical ones [it’s much lower],” she says.

“This better performance means increasing

the capacity of the line. Today, to preserve safety, you have to limit the number of trains when you use the old system. With the new one, the limit will be increased [tremendously].”

Minister of Transportation Hany Dahy adds that his ministry is also studying how to make rail transport account for 10% of all goods transport, instead of the current 1%. Towards this end, three railway lines will be constructed – a Wahat-Imbaba-Itay Baroud line, a TebeenRoubky line and a 10th of Ramadan-Belbeis line.

Alstom is also waiting for the next major decision from Egyptian National Railways, which will be for what is known as the Delta Line, running from Banha to Zagazig. “The tender is ongoing and we’re expecting a decision in the coming months,” Grasset says, adding that Alstom’s bid was submitted in September. “We also are expecting that ENR will issue tenders

for what is missing. That means the railway between Cairo and Beni Suef and the last slice, which will be the line from Asyut to Aswan.”

Interestingly, in April 2014, the Ministry of Transportation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese government and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China for the development of a new $800 million railway project. This 80km two-way railway will be the first to use an electric traction system and will connect Bilbeis City, Sharqeya and El-Salam City in greater Cairo.

It will also link with the third metro line currently under development in Cairo. As part of the MoU, China offered complete designs and final studies for the implementation, as well as the project’s costs and timeframe.

Clearly, President Sisi isn’t the only one confident that Egypt is bouncing back.

Railway netwoRk The Egyptian government plans to link the 1,059km between Alexandria and Aswan with a modernised railway network.

STATS n 87 million – estimated 2014 population of egypt

n 38.4% – percentage of population aged 25-54

n $2 billion – cash injection provided to egyptian railway and metro infrastructure at the end of 2014

n $113.26 million – Value of contract awarded to alstom for Beni suef-asyut line

n 1,059km – Distance

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Special RepoRt ElEvators and Escalators

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w o l F

or k w y he e r s t g w ho s s e n t ou y p a d f i n ma n o t s ei r m h e t t s y s s er ve r o l at e t ter a e s c at b d a n gs t h r o n t v a i ld i e l u e of at e b s rer c re u t o f ac or s t u a n r ac t m to c ont s k t a l s a nd E t t M lt a n c u je r o c on s P Bi g w it h

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Retail ambitions The Middle East is investing heavily in retail, leading to an increase in demand for the elevator and escalator industries.

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hen building huge structures like shopping malls or airports, the focus is often on the brick and mortar elements of the construction process. To a layperson, the most important parts of any building are, in no particular order, the structure, the exterior facades and the interiors – even the MEP systems.

Most people don’t even consider the planning and design that goes into what is known as ‘people flow’ by those in the industry.

The term refers to the phenomenon of masses of people moving around high-traffic areas (such as shopping malls and airports).

With the Middle East investing heavily in retail, we’re likely to see a lot of the concept put into action over the coming years.

According to a report by CBRE Middle East, international retailers – particularly those in the profitable ‘aspirational to luxury’ end of the spectrum – continue to display enthusiasm for the region, especially in countries where the underlying political climate is stable and the economy is buoyant.

Already the region’s most dominant retail market, Dubai’s successful Expo 2020 bid has seen it unleash a wave of shopping mall construction, with the multi-billion-dollar Mall of the World project by Dubai Holdings leading the way. Current plans for the scheme include a retail area of around 700,000sqm, dwarfing the current record holder, Dubai Mall.

Emaar Properties, owners of Dubai Mall, isn’t holding back either, and is in the midst of adding some 100,000sqm of new retail gross leasable area to its luxury shopping offering, while also partnering with Dubai Holdings on yet another blockbuster mall in Dubai Creek Harbour.

While not as bombastic as Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have major retail projects of their own, with Riyadh aiming to add a further 500,00sqm to its existing 1.3 million sqm of retail space by 2016. Doha currently has one of the largest development pipelines in the region, with close to one million sqm of new retail space due for delivery by the end of 2017.

These huge figures present an opportunity to designers and architects, when it comes to people flow. By working with manufacturers from escalator and elevator companies, they can design spaces within these malls that enhance the retail experience, while keeping people safe, comfortable and relaxed.

“Places with continuous heavy traffic need special attention when planning the floor layout and considering the placement of

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Special RepoRt ElEvators and Escalators

equipment, including elevators, escalators and moving walkways (flat or inclined),” says Jani Palkola, marketing and communications manager for Kone (Middle East).

“The requirements for the equipment themselves can also be different to a quiet residential building, as they might have to withstand a heavy load 20 to 24 hours a day, with even thousands of starts and stops per day for an elevator. In high-traffic areas, where high availability is vital, the equipment and its components should be heavy-duty,” he explains.

And this is the crux of planning for people flow. Elevators and escalators play a huge, often underappreciated role in the overall ambience of a shopping mall. Would people want to wander around Dubai Mall if they were being jostled and shoved on packed moving walkways? Probably not.

“The 21st century is the world’s inaugural metropolitan century, with cities prospering in the new global economic order. Today, 600 cities account for 60% of the world’s GDP. Mobility of people in cities and their buildings is a utility as important as water or energy supply, on which the economies of scale of urban conglomerates are heavily dependent,” explains Michael Ridder, head of Media Relations for ThyssenKrupp Elevators AG. “As the move to cities increases at this rapid pace, efficient urban planning and infrastructure development are key factors to ensuring successful urbanisation. The population growth in urban areas translates to the development of mid- to high-rise buildings as the most environmentally protective and cost-effective types of construction.”

Another factor to consider is the preponderance of high-rise and mega-tall buildings in these urban areas; in places like Dubai, they’re almost the norm. Globally, that trend is being extrapolated, with the average height of buildings going from 315 metres in 2000 to 390m in 2013 – a 25% increase in just over a decade. Over the

same period, the total number of 200m-plus buildings increased by 318% from 261 to 830 – 73 of them finished in 2013 alone.

“Efficient mobility in buildings is not a luxury but an absolute necessity. Any megacity would be paralysed if its elevators suddenly stopped moving, and every day it becomes more essential to make improvements in how people move from floor to floor,” says Ridder.

“Elevators, escalators and moving walks are currently as sophisticated as any other high-technology devices, and one of the major contributions of advancements in this field is the reduction of the floor space occupied by elevators. Depending on the size of the building, the elevator-escalator footprint occupies between 25% and 50% of the building’s floor space, resulting in a major detraction from usable areas and rent revenues.”

In answer to the growing demand, manufacturers are stepping up the development of new systems and technologies that will be able to cope with the heavy workload facing them, as Palkola explains. “Today, most low- to mid-rise buildings are designed without a machine room, saving construction and installation costs. Since then, resolute research and development efforts have kept our elevators ahead of the industry, especially when it comes to eco-efficiency and aesthetic design. Some of the other innovations from Kone are the counterweight-less MaxiSpace elevator, pitless walkway Innotrack and, most recently, a light carbon-fibre hoisting rope, UltraRope, enabling far higher travel heights than with traditional steel ropes.”

Ridder adds that the main focus of ThyssenKrupp’s global R&D centre is creating solutions and innovations that support urban mobility. “We have the Iwalk, a pitless and modular moving walkway for distances between zero and 100 metres, with 19 patents.

That was launched in 2011, worldwide. Our latest innovation for horizontal passenger movement is ACCEL, an accelerated continuous

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“Places with continuous heavy tRaffic need sPecial attention when Planning the flooR layout and consideRing the Placement of equiPment, including elevatoRs, escalatoRs and moving walkways”

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Special RepoRt ElEvators and Escalators

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transportation system that is capable of moving 8,000 people per hour to cover distances between 100 metres and 1,500 metres. It’s ideal for urban mobility projects like airports and metros. It uses linear motor technology that is based on the knowledge developed for Transrapid – the levitating high-speed train that ThyssenKrupp has developed, which is capable of running at 570km/hour,” he outlines.

“Our latest innovation in terms of elevators is placing linear motors in elevator cabins, thus transforming conventional elevator transportation in vertical metro systems. We call this new elevator MULTI. The technology increases transport capacities and efficiency while reducing the elevator footprint and peak loads from the power supply in buildings.

“Several cabins in the same shaft moving vertically and horizontally will permit buildings to adopt different heights, shapes and purposes. MULTI will transform how people move inside buildings. By mid-2015, we will have a scaled 1:3 model in our R&D centre in Gijon, Spain,” Ridder continues.

“To get this groundbreaking product onto the market, the new test tower in Rottweil, Germany, provides the perfect test and certification environment. The tower is set to be completed at the end of 2016, and by this time, ThyssenKrupp will have a running prototype of MULTI.” Palkola adds that supplying the technology isn’t really enough for elevator manufacturers anymore. Kone looks to get actively involved during the design and planning stage, to ensure its systems deliver when called upon.

“We also have a number of useful guidelines and tools for designers to use, and we gladly give design assistance for planning different types of buildings, and have access to experts and more sophisticated tools to ensure the right setup for different types of buildings. A detailed traffic analysis can be performed to confirm the right amount of capacity is achieved with the proposed solution. We can also advise on best practices for accessibility and safety, and calculate the energy consumption.

“Understanding the flow of people within the building is essential for the placement and the selection of equipment. In transit centres such as airports and railway stations, passenger routing needs to be studied and understood.

In shopping malls, a balanced circulation and freedom to move ensures an enjoyable shopping experience. In both these building types, good guidance and signage is essential for smooth people flow,” Palkola concludes.

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bigprojectMe.com

Accessing a New age

As the security industry undergoes sweeping changes, Jerusha Sequeira finds out how the technology behind access control is evolving to keep up with 21st-century demands

I

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t’s almost impossible to live in a city in the 21st century without interacting with some form of security system on a daily basis. As the world grows more security-conscious and technologically advanced by the minute, security systems have also had to evolve to keep pace with the demands of this day and age.

One kind of security system undergoing technology shifts is the all-too-familiar access control system. According to Jeremy Kimber, commercial operational marketing leader EMEA at Honeywell Security Group, there are three types of access control systems available in the market: online, wireless and offline.

The online system “is wired into the server and reports back to the central system whether a door is open or closed, who has accessed it and even if the door has malfunctioned or if the wire that connects it to the system has been cut or disabled,” he says.

Wireless systems work in a similar fashion, Kimber notes, but are easier to install as the installation process isn’t hindered by physical wiring. A lower-cost and less secure solution than online systems, wireless systems are used in areas that are harder to wire, and for lower security doors.

The third kind, offline systems, are the cheapest and least secure option, requiring no wiring. “Offline systems are accessed by a card and operate through communication between the card and the reader. It is possible to upload access history to the enterprise server by uploading data on the card,” Kimber says.

An emerging trend in the industry, he adds, is the integration of access control with building management systems (BMS). He notes the example of Honeywell’s ProWatch security system, which integrates access

FEBRUARY 2015

control to air conditioning, lighting and other systems so that temperature and lighting are automatically adjusted in accordance with people’s movements through a building.

“As people badge into the building or badge into different rooms, they’ll get lighting coming on in certain corridors but not in others, the environmental systems coming on, windows – potentially they can all be controlled through the system,” he says. “But mainly the heating and ventilation systems, so that you can make sure [they] are not running all the time when nobody’s in those rooms.

So it’s really to link usage and occupancy of rooms through access control systems in the building management systems as well.”

Another way access control systems are evolving is in the slowly growing dominance of biometric systems. “Technology has

“PeoPle are moving towards smart cards, biometrics, and that is definitely growing here. you’re seeing biometrics Picked uP in the middle east PerhaPs more strongly than other markets as well”

developed very fast over the years, and it went from access card technology to now what we call biometrics, which is the most advanced technology and the most secure,” says Fadi Petro, business development manager at 3M Traffic Safety & Security. “It has a long history, and it’s very safe and secure.”

He admits that at the moment, card-based technology is more prevalent in the UAE, but says that there is a move towards biometric systems now. Kimber also notes the shift towards biometric, adding that another technology gaining prominence is smart cards, which can go above and beyond merely providing access.

“People are moving towards smart cards, biometrics, and that is definitely growing here.

You’re seeing biometrics picked up in the Middle East perhaps more strongly than other markets as well. Historically, access controllers come from pure proximity cards and reading systems. Increasingly now, all systems are smart card-based, where you can use a card and program different functionality that allows it to do other things, such as cashless vending, so it can have multiple uses in addition to providing access. Different parts of a smart card can drive different operations. Part of that smart card development is that you can now store biometric credentials on the card so you can store fingerprints, etc. on the card.

“Pure biometrics are coming in – such as eye scanners, retina scanners, finger and palm scanners, facial recognition – but they tend to be used in very high security environments where the biometrics are checked against the main database, not a card. People are usually looking at smart card and biometric combinations these days, however,” he adds.

Not everyone is as convinced by the magic of

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sPeciAL FOcUs access coNtrol

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SPECIAL FOCUS Access control

biometrics, however. “Every technology has its market,” says Majid Shaikh, area manager, Salto Systems Middle East. “Biometric technology today is not 100% battery-operated, so it requires power, it requires real-time communication with the PC and software. So at that point of time, you really need to depend on a backend network. If it is down, the information that the biometric was holding last is the only information that will be in the terminal.

“So biometric is, yes, secure, but it has its own market. So if you really want to have a really, really secure door... only then you can use this technology. It has a very specific market,” Shaikh points out.

The evolution of the access control industry inevitably means that older technologies will have to be left behind. One example is Wiegand technology, invented in 1970 by John Wiegand. A Wiegand system involves “a wire that can quickly switch its magnetic polarity when exposed to the magnetic information on wires embedded in a card and then accurately transmit this information electrically as a series of on and off signals through the wire to an electronic sensor”, a 3M whitepaper explains.

In a Wiegand system, the ‘key’ isn’t the card itself, but a binary number magnetically written on the card and transmitted through the reader. A control device is attached to the other end of the Wiegand reader, and checks the number against authorised numerical keys for that door. This technology, although still in use, is largely being phased out, experts note, as it is easily intercepted and uses only one-way communication.

“In a lot of access control systems at the moment, the readers talk to the controllers through Wiegand,” Kimber says. “That will change over time as we move towards other technologies which allow two-way communications between the readers and controllers, so that you can start to feed messages between them and have controllers with more complex information. Wiegand doesn’t allow this sort of two-way communication.”

Shaikh agrees that Wiegand’s time is up.

“Wiegand technology is basically technology which is primitive. It dominated an era of

bigprojectMe.com

own market Biometric technology has its own market, which is very specifically geared towards security.

technology of access control at [one] point of time. It was a contactless technology and it was widely used,” he says. However, it can be easily duplicated and thus is “fading out”.

He feels radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is the way forward with access control systems. “RFID is much more secure. We can have many levels of encryption.

It’s not very easy to decode information that you store. We have moved one step ahead.

We have introduced something called a Bluetooth lock.” This technology enables hotel customers with smartphones to be sent their room key on their phones during check-in, via an app they can download.

Additionally, another broad trend in access control is the shift towards IP platforms in access control systems, Kimber says.

Given these changes, how is the role of the security engineer evolving?

“The role has changed because it has become a lot more technical, and now revolves more around information security,” Kimber says. “Security engineering is increasingly an IT-driven and technological-driven role, and in Western Europe at the moment the trend is for companies to hire good engineers with solid technical and IT knowledge.”

Market In MIddle east With the security industry undergoing a paradigm shift, Big Project ME wondered how the region fares in comparison with the rest of the world as far as security systems are concerned.

Ranking among the top countries worldwide for mobile and internet penetration, it’s fair to say the UAe is a pretty tech-savvy market, and this love of high-tech extends to security systems as well. The UAe, and the Middle east region in general, eagerly embrace new advances in security, experts say.

“The consumers here are very demanding, very hungry for new high-tech, definitely.

We had a lot of great opportunities to introduce products here, primarily because of the demand,” says Dr Rida Ray Hamza, general manager, Honeywell security systems Middle east, north Africa & Turkey.

“One of the advantages here is that there’s been a high amount of new projects,” Kimber says. “That allows the use of new technology, whereas in some of the Western european markets, particularly with the recession and difficult economic times, people have been spending less or they’ve been refurbishing their existing systems.

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“technology has develoPed very fast over the years, and it went from access card technology to now what we call biometrics”

FEBRUARY 2015

“Part of that as well, from a product side, we’re actually seeing the Middle east setting a lot of the standards for products,” he adds. “in many ways, the Middle east is setting the standards not just for the Middle east, but for the rest of europe and the Us as well.”

M ARKET FOCUS QATAR

bigprojectMe.com

QATAR CALLING

In the run-up to the World Cup, Qatar can expect to see renewed growth across several sectors. But the country will need to upgrade its tourism offering and address housing shortages if it wants to see tangible results from its investments, Jerusha Sequeira learns

F

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ootball fans in the region had ample reason to rejoice when Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Since the announcement, however, the nation has been dogged by controversy over the mega-event, with many wondering whether Qatar is ready for it.

Human rights groups have slammed the country over mistreatment of workers, while a FIFA official claimed last September that Qatar’s scorching summer might see it losing the right to host the World Cup altogether.

Despite the concerns surrounding the tournament, few can dispute that hosting it will be a game-changer, if you will, for the construction industry in the GCC state. With the World Cup seven years away and the National Vision to be delivered in 2030, the government of Qatar has been investing significantly in capital projects and infrastructure. According to Business Monitor International (BMI), the value of the construction industry in Qatar is expected to almost double, to $15 billion per annum in real terms by 2021.

Like its neighbour the UAE, which is gearing up for Expo 2020, Qatar can expect the World Cup to fuel growth in its real estate market in coming years, particularly in the hospitality, residential and infrastructure sectors, experts tell Big Project ME. “In relative terms, residential and hospitality space are likely to see the most growth, with the latter in particular rising from a relatively low base to provide the required numbers of rooms to meet FIFA’s requirement for the 2022 tournament,” says Jonathan Fothergill, director of Middle East Valuations, Cluttons.

Much of the uncertainty over Qatar hosting the World Cup has dissipated, he adds. “The favourable outcome of FIFA’s inquiry into the 2022 World Cup has

FEBRUARY 2015

added to the positive sentiment locally and removed most of the uncertainty concerning the staging of the tournament.”

Belal Deiranieh also has a positive outlook for Qatar in 2015.

“Projects are moving in full swing in Qatar, in anticipation of the World Cup,” says Deiranieh, who is vice president and Qatar country director at Louis Berger, an American architectural and engineering design firm. He adds that 2014 has been “a groundbreaking year with many construction contracts awarded to set the tone going forward”, and that the World Cup will “certainly elevate Qatar’s profile on a global front in terms of a country which hosts largescale events in and outside the world of sports”.

“Qatar’s real estate transactions witnessed a 24% increase in 2014, year on year, and we anticipate that this augers well for further growth during 2015,” Fothergill says. “We anticipate that investment will remain strong in the real estate sector and should increase as the country

“The favourable ouTcome of fIfa’s InquIry InTo The 2022 World cup has added To The posITIve senTImenT locally and removed mosT of The uncerTaInTy concernIng The sTagIng of The TournamenT”

prepares for the World Cup in 2022, in tandem with ongoing major infrastructure initiatives, major population growth and in conjunction with the government’s 2030 vision programme.”

BoosTing TouRism

On the other hand, Matthew Green, head of research and consultancy at real estate firm CBRE, is more cautiously optimistic about the future of hospitality in Qatar, noting that the sector has not grown as rapidly as those of other regional markets.

“There’s a significant amount of new supply that’ll keep coming in over the next five years and really in the lead-up to the World Cup,” he notes. “[But] that’s certainly a sector that is unlikely to see too significant growth, although there has been an increase in occupancy over the past year. It’s a market where it’s growing slowly, but it’s on a very slow pace compared to many of the other Middle Eastern markets.”

Although hotel occupancy rates have improved in 2014 as compared to 2013, with occupancy rates over 70%, tourism in the country is not as developed as in neighbours like Dubai, he says. This could be a problem further down the line. When asked whether Qatar risks an oversupply of hotel rooms after the World Cup, Green admits that it is a possibility, particularly in the absence of other major leisure drivers.

“It’s a risk for sure, and particularly as well because the leisure side of the market is very immature at this point,” Green says in a phone interview.

“Obviously, that’s part of the strategy.

They are trying to build Lusail with a view to creating future leisure drivers, but at this point it’s kind of inconsequential in terms of the overall number of tourists. So that’s something that they really will have to expand upon and improve upon if they do not want to be left

M ARKET FOCUS QATAR Increased TransacTIons Real estate transactions in Qatar rose by 24% in 2014.

neW supply There is a significant amount of new supply coming online in the next five years, CBRE Middle East says.

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TourIsm shorTfall With occupancy rates of 70%, tourism in Qatar lags behind its neighbour, the UAE.

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M ARKET FOCUS QATAR

bigprojectMe.com

rIsIng resIdenTs Housing stock in Qatar can’t keep up with the rising number of residents, Colliers International says.

stats n 24% – Increase in Qatar real estate transactions in 2014

n 1.2 million – Current population of Doha

n $19.2 billion – Value of Doha Metro Project

Qatar most expensive GCC Country For ConstruCtion, report Finds Qatar is the most expensive country in the GCC for construction, followed by the UAE, a new report has found.

The International Construction Cost Report 2014, released by Arcadis, ranks Qatar 17th among 43 countries surveyed for building costs. The study finds that relative construction costs globally have been affected by commodity prices, currency fluctuations and rising demand for development across recovering economies throughout 2014.

Costs remain relatively modest in the Gulf region, despite high levels of spending on infrastructure projects like the $200 billion GCC rail project, and event-led construction driven by Qatar and Dubai hosting the World Cup and Expo 2020 respectively.

“Investment on social infrastructure, economic diversification investment and event-driven construction are three key trends positively influencing construction spend in the region,” says Christopher Seymour, partner and head of UAE property at EC Harris, an Arcadis company and built asset consultancy firm.

Among OPEC members, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia seem best able to continue to fund budget commitments in the wake of falling oil prices, although the report predicts increased pressure on public spending in 2015.

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“Whether the recent weakness in oil prices has a short- or medium-term impact on construction, spending plans will become clearer in 2015,” Seymour says. “With oil trading hovering around $50 per barrel earlier this month, it is possible that current and capital spending priorities may come under review.”

FEBRUARY 2015

with an overhang of properties when it comes to the end of that event,” he adds, referring to Dubai as an example of how to push tourism.

“Dubai has managed to increase its hotel numbers over the years, but that’s by expanding and improving upon the leisure offers here.

Now, Dubai’s lucky that it has some fantastic beaches and nice hotels, but Qatar hasn’t really expanded or developed that side of the offer.

So there’s quite a lot that I think they need to do to be able to start to compete on more of a level playing field with the likes of Dubai or even Abu Dhabi, to be honest,” he says.

Deiranieh, however, points out that leisure attractions may not be the only way to increase tourism. Qatar is investing in education and healthcare as well, he adds, which could also bring an influx of people into the country.

“Boosting in those two areas will also help fill those hotel rooms. That’s already in the works, but that will help fill up the country,” he says.

Housing sHoRTAges

Apart from giving tourism a push, Qatar has other concerns on its plate, such as addressing a looming housing shortage. The population of the capital, Doha, is expected to rise from 1.2 million to 1.7 million by 2018. The number of households is expected to increase from 727,000 at present to

1 million households three years down the line.

However, housing stock does not seem to be able to keep up with the rising number of residents, says a report by real estate services firm Colliers International. The city’s housing market has been plagued by undersupply for years, with a housing shortage at 37% in 2014. This number is expected to increase to a staggering 85% in 2018, Colliers predicts.

As the market continues to be short on the supply side, rents have escalated and affordability has become an issue, the real estate firm points out. Since 2008, rents have increased cumulatively by about 7%. Average rent for apartments across Doha increased by 14% year-on-year between Q2 2013 and Q2 2014.

High-quality developments close to necessary infrastructure like schools, hospitals and retail outlets show the highest demand, with areas in and around Doha Municipality the most popular. The Pearl Qatar has seen an 11% rent increases in rent, whereas the typically more affordable districts of Al Sadd and Old Airport have seen an increase of 14%.

Green, however, says that less costly options are available for residents, even if they aren’t centrally located. “There’s plenty of affordable locations, I would say as well. You may not be able to find affordability in the area where

“The counTry has accumulaTed such large fIscal reserves ThaT They can comforTably keep sTaTe spendIng aT hIgh levels”

M ARKET FOCUS QATAR

“aT The momenT, all The opporTunITy resIdes on The InfrasTrucTure fronT”

you want to live, but there’s been obviously quite a lot of development, particularly from the likes of Barwa, who have developed a number of communities a little bit outside, certainly not in the central areas of Doha.”

Despite the efforts of local developers like Barwa and Ezdan to meet the demand for mid-market housing, the severe shortage of housing units means that economic forces of supply and demand have pushed rents higher, resulting in an “unaffordable housing market”, Colliers insists.

“It is Colliers’ opinion that offering more government incentive programmes, access to well-located and service land, affordable developer financing options, and Public Private Partnerships will increase the availability of housing units that are affordable to the majority of households,” the report says.

infRAsTRucTuRe

In line with its 2030 vision and the successful World Cup bid, the Qatari government has been investing heavily in infrastructure projects across the country. Among the most significant is the upcoming Qatar Rail, with 750km of track and 100 stations for both passenger and freight. Work on the $19.2 billion Doha Metro project, part of the national railway network, is currently 16% complete, Qatari newspaper The Peninsula reports.

Progress on the Metro is “running full steam ahead”, says Deiranieh, whose firm is currently providing project management services for the network.

Another significant infrastructure project to keep an eye on in Qatar is the $7.4 billion New Port Project. Slated for completion in 2020, the project will cover 26.5 sq km

and is expected to be one of the world’s largest greenfield port developments. It will include a new port, a new base for the naval forces and Qatar Economic Zone 3.

Indeed, infrastructure is the sector that Deiranieh says holds the most promise for Qatar in coming years. “They’re building new cities, enhancing existing [ones]. Right now, at the moment, all the opportunity resides on the infrastructure front,” he tells Big Project ME. Additionally, while all eyes are on the plummeting price of oil across the region, Qatar need not worry on account of abundant natural gas and fiscal reserves, Green and Fothergill note.

“For now, consumers are still spending, companies remain investing and the government continues with record spending budgets,” Fothergill says. “For the foreseeable future, it’s largely business as usual for Qatar; the country has accumulated such large fiscal reserves that they can comfortably keep state spending at high levels.”

But that’s no reason for complacency, Fothergill says. “Qatar has sown the seeds for diversification, particularly in the areas of tourism, leisure and entertainment, culture and sport – but much more is needed.”

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maTTheW green Head of research and consultancy, CBRE.

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TECH FOCUS SECURITY SYSTEMS

FEBRUARY 2015

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TECH FOCUS SECURITY SYSTEMS

Caught on Camer a

Manufacturers of video surveillance equipment are racing to outdo each other with cutting-edge innovations. Jerusha Sequeira looks at the latest trends in security cameras, as well as industry challenges in terms of data storage and efficiency marketing, Video Systems & Products, Bosch Security Systems, notes that security cameras will shift from analog to IP-based, leading to the gradual demise of the analog market.

“What I personally see is that we will shift majorly to ultra HD on the IP side. Nowadays also the analog market is slowly dying. It has a very hard decline currently. IP is really [growing] and this is not a surprise.”

“An IP system is typically a small system,” Toonders elaborates. “It has a network cable plugged into the camera and power already on the cable and data communication, so it’s easier to install. In analog systems, typically you need to have a power infrastructure which you install, and secondly you need to have these analog cables all connecting up to that big DVR.” Moreover, the overall industry is increasingly heading towards open platform solutions, says Eric Fullerton, CEO of Vicon Industries, an American producer of surveillance cameras and video management solutions. Open platform solutions allow consumers to buy security systems from different providers with the assurance that their systems can still integrate and interact with one another.

“The open platform is basically something that’s been going on for about 10 years in the

FEBRUARY 2015

MIDDLE EAST

L

ast December, the UAE watched with bated breath as the tragic events of the Reem Island murder unfolded, a brutal crime that shocked the country. As the perpetrator was eventually apprehended, what emerged clear as day was the crucial role camera footage played in helping the police track her down.

While most people may not enjoy the idea of Big Brother watching them, few can deny the importance of security systems and surveillance in solving crimes or preventing tragedies from occurring.

“The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world. We don’t have the crime or security incidents that drive a heavy use of the security systems,” says David Kimmerly, head of security risk management Middle East at WSP. “That being said, when we do have a security incident, they’re priceless in the value that they’ve added just looking at the recent events in the last few years within the UAE. They’ve allowed us to apprehend criminals very, very quickly.”

With this in mind, Big Project ME decided to examine how video surveillance has been evolving to keep pace with the times and the challenges it raises with regards to data storage, management and efficiency.

Ruud Toonders, regional business unit

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bigprojectMe.com

Integrated solutIons Camera vendors are now developing products that can integrate with video management solutions.

STATS n $116 billion – Estimated value of global security equipment market by 2016

n 5.5% – annual rate of growth in global security market

n 89% – Expected boost in sales by 2016

industry. And it’s driven from the end users.

The end users don’t want to be caught in proprietary solutions, where you have to buy everything from one vendor,” Fullerton says.

“So what you do to create an open platform is you create open interfaces so that other technologies can integrate into your solution.

Camera vendors can integrate into video management solutions and video management solutions can integrate into other cameras. And that means that you don’t become dependent on this one vendor to be able to either implement your solutions or upgrade your solution.”

Jeremy Kimber, commercial operational marketing leader EMEA at Honeywell Security Group, also notes the importance of open platforms in Honeywell’s offerings.

“The BMS, life safety, these are features built on open standard protocols. So that enables our system to be really open for any other third party components as long as they are open standard protocols.

“We are increasing the openness of our platforms as well. We’ve got the open protocols so that if you want to use something else, we have the ability to do that as well,” he adds.

But how do these surveillance systems fit in with the larger picture in building security? How can cameras, for instance, integrate with other security systems like access control, fire safety and so on?

“We have different business units – fire, access control, video – and also the projects division, which we call ESS (Engineering Solutions and Software),” Toonders says.

“ESS also maintains a software that we call BIS, the Building Integration System.

The Building Integration System is a module software system which consists of engines. You can buy a fire engine, a video engine, access control engine. And these things, on a software level, they all intercommunicate to each other.

So as soon as you have that situation that you like to have, for example video and access control, you get a BIS video engine and access engine, combine it together in that overall platform, and your solution is there. It’s really tailor-made and hard-core integration.”

A similar integrated security management platform is offered by Honeywell, Kimber says. “Integrated security management platforms allow firms to easily manage complex

systems that tie together access control, IP video surveillance, intrusion detection and building management technology for tighter security and increased productivity.” effICIenCY and SUSTaInabIlITY

In order to be more efficient in the design and planning of security systems, contractors need to be involved early on in the process, says David Kimmerly, head of security risk management Middle East at WSP. “Contractors typically want to do a good job. There are constraints and demands that they have, and they may not be the most experienced in everything that they do, and that’s where the engineers can support them.

“In regards to access control and other security systems, it is really a partnership.

So being involved in the commissioning is important at the end but if we just come in and deal with the commissioning, we’re very likely to find a significant amount of snags. So being involved during the early installation periods [and during] containment and power and rough locations for equipment, it alleviates the problems down the line when the MEP main

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“[Customers] don’t want to be Caught In what I defIne as proprIetary jaIl. they don’t want to be at the merCy of one vendor that then Can’t delIver what they need”

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TECH FOCUS SECURITY SYSTEMS

contractor may do a lot of the rough work.”

He points out that it is important to ensure that security contractors have a platform to do their job when they come in, so as to avoid them having to do any rework.

“The security contractor comes in later and inherits the earlier works to fit all their duties.

It is typically a bit later because it’s service that relies on the building being built to the point where they can start running containment, as well as the power and other cabling to be put in. So it’s not just working with the security contractor, but it’s working with the main contractor, whoever is responsible for the earlier works, to ensure that there’s a platform for the security contractor to come in and do their work. Otherwise they have a lot of rework to do that starts out as a challenge for everybody.”

Moreover, Kimmerly points out that sustainability is challenging to achieve with security systems, and points out that this calls for more efficiency in the planning process.

“It is one of the biggest challenges for security systems to try to find a way to be sustainable. We’re relatively fixed on the technology, we can’t necessarily make things a lot smaller. What we can do is put in less equipment. More efficient use of equipment.

So a fire alarm that is able to service a larger area with a single speaker, or a camera that can cover a larger area with a single camera.

“Now we are getting more energy-efficient and we are effective in how we distribute the power to devices, so things such as power over Ethernet are coming up as well as other efficiencies. To get a little technical, hard drives for storing data are every year becoming more energy-efficient,” Kimmerly says.

bigprojectMe.CoM

WorTh The InveSTmenT?

davId kImmerly Head of security risk management, WSP.

“It Is one of the bIggest Challenges for seCurIty systems to try to fInd a way to be sustaInable”

“So we’re storing more data on the same size of a hard drive. It’s actually taking physically less energy to do that. And when you’re doing large data centre designs or very significant data storage projects, that can have a very big impact on the energy costs for direct energy as well as for cooling,” he adds.

Additionally, Kimmerly adds it is tough to prove return on investment when it comes to security systems.

“It can be very challenging because security systems are very costly. It’s costly to install and it’s also quite costly to maintain. And we live in a very safe region,” he notes, adding that this makes it hard to convince organisations to invest large amounts in top-notch security systems. “And to prove that you can get a return on investment can be challenging.”

But this can be tackled, he adds, by carrying out a risk management analysis and working with owners and developers to identify and understand risks, after which the need for security planning is better accepted.

So what are customers really looking for in the security systems they’re buying?

When asked, Fullerton reiterates the importance of open platform interfaces. “[Customers] don’t want to be caught in what I define as ‘proprietary jail’. They don’t want to be at the mercy of one vendor that then can’t deliver what they need,” Fullerton emphasises.

“They want to be sure that as new technology evolves that they can actually integrate that into their system,” he adds.

“They want to make sure that they get the value for their money. People are expecting that if they need to have thousands of cameras that it’s more affordable today. But at the same time they’re expecting continuous feature improvement on the software side.

“The important thing is that each company has to listen to the end user and understand what issues the end user has that need to be addressed,” the chief executive concludes.

InTerSec 2015 SeeS 27% IncreASe In UAe exhIbITorS Last month, the 17th Intersec took place.

The trade fair for security, safety and fire protection featured 1,237 exhibitors from 54 countries this year. Organisers said there was a 27% year-on-year increase in exhibitors from the UAE, with 227 local companies taking stands. The exhibition showcased products and services across five core sections: Commercial Security, Fire & Rescue, Homeland Security & Policing, Safety & Health and Information Security.

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MIDDLE EAST

“With Intersec now among the most influential trade gatherings for the global security community, we are glad to see a

FEBRUARY 2015

sustained increase in interest in reaching the substantial Middle East market,” says ahmed Pauwels, CEo of Intersec’s organiser, Messe Frankfurt Middle East. “Intersec is not only an interactive networking and knowledgesharing platform, but it also facilitates some game-changing partnerships.” the global security market is growing at a rate of 5.5% annually, as is demand in the Middle East, as regional governments invest in surveillance systems to tackle threats. this is expected to boost sales of network surveillance systems by 89% by 2016, according to analysts Frost & Sullivan.

Seeking to capitalise on the lucrative Middle

East market, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung were among the big names displaying video surveillance systems at Intersec, with a focus on 4K imaging technology. “there is growth in demand for surveillance technology in the region, as local governments are strongly committed to providing residents and industries with security and protection at all times,” says Shinichi Wakita, managing director of Panasonic Middle East and africa.

“In line with this robust demand, at Intersec 2015 we are showcasing our 360-degree integrated solutions that effectively cater to all indoor or outdoor facilities.”

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COMMENT DAVID A DUNN

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david a dunn

Dark matters – can we light our streets sustainably?

David A Dunn, technical delivery manager – Utilities, Mouchel, says that the sustainable lighting revolution is well underway in the GCC

O

n 19 January, the Abu Dhabi government and others launched the largest sustainability conference in the Middle East – Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Clearly, reducing carbon emissions and the ongoing, viable maintenance of assets is of huge importance in the region, as it is elsewhere. But why?

Well, it would help to start with a clear explanation of the word – what does

48

MIDDLE EAST

“True susTainabiliTy requires an in-depTh look aT The smaller componenTs of lighTing design, insTallaTion pracTice and Those liTTle elemenTs we Tend To overlook”

FEBRUARY 2015

sustainability actually mean? The most widely quoted definition comes from the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Perhaps if we think of it in that way, sustainability becomes a much more understandable idea, perhaps even a priority, and much less a broad and intangible concept.

Sustainability comes from challenging the norm and the phrase “we have always done it this way”. To achieve true sustainability, to set benchmarks, to innovate and become leaders, we must ask ourselves if the traditional way is always necessarily the best, most economical and most effective way of doing things. We can and should apply this thinking to everything we do – the way we live, work, travel, power our homes and businesses, build our buildings and, indeed, light our streets.

Reducing street lighting to more sustainable levels is not overly complicated; however, you must always take into consideration the main rationale for providing lighting in the first place, such as accident savings, dispelling the fear of crime, ensuring ease of traffic flow, health benefits from providing an environment conducive to cycling and walking during darkness hours and social inclusion.

Sustainability in street lighting can take into consideration a comprehensive change of conventional High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting and the more modern Light Emitting Diode (LED) in order to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. True sustainability requires an in-depth look at the smaller components of lighting design, installation practice and all

COMMENT DAVID A DUNN

challenging norms Sustainability comes from challenging norms, says David Dunn.

and cost are realised by using aluminium.

Traditional lighting column materials (such as galvanised steel) are being replaced with aluminium, a material half the weight but still as structurally strong. Aluminium production is currently very energy-hungry, but the production process is being refined.

Once produced, fully recyclable material will only use 5% of initial production energy during the recycling process. Moreover, no additional material is required to produce it. This example highlights the case for taking a closer look at the small parts of the bigger picture so as to easily reduce energy and carbon emissions.

The sustainable lighting revolution has started in the GCC states, primarily in Abu Dhabi, where they have produced detailed guidance on street lighting requirements and actively

reduced the lighting to more sustainable levels.

This transformation must be kept in motion in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the other GCC countries by considering sustainable lighting fully during the design process.

Sustainability can be (and is) achievable by challenging the norms and by being carefully considered by the regulating authorities.

It is as simple as embracing sustainability and looking thoroughly at what is required, where it is required and by what means the end result should be achieved.

We must keep an open mind about embracing change, not for change’s sake but to ensure that there is a world for our children’s children. n David A Dunn is technical delivery manager – Utilities at Mouchel.

FEBRUARY 2015

MIDDLE EAST

those little elements we tend to overlook.

Designers and engineers should consider lighting as a cradle to grave scenario and look at the whole lighting process from raw material excavation through to manufacture, installation and eventually to the dismantling of the lighting network for scrap. Each step has to take into account the amount of energy used and the carbon dioxide emissions emitted, and the total of each step has to be calculated.

Simple lighting installation methods that use mass concrete foundations, as per our regional norm, will need to take into consideration concrete production and the amount of carbon dioxide produced in this phase, for example, to be sustainable. Elsewhere in the world, mass concrete foundations are a thing of the past and massive savings in energy, carbon emissions

49

TENDERS

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400,000 tonnes a year of refined sugar. status New tender

Project MillenniuM square project – Meydan city Budget $820,000,000 Project Number WPR514-u reGIoN dubai, united Arab emirates clIeNt g&CO (dubai) Postal/ZIP code 24633 PhoNe (+971-4) 450 7100 Fax (+971-4) 349 6636 emaIl n.ong@gandco.co descrIPtIoN Construction of semi-detached

Project Master Gas systeM expansion project - phase 2 Budget $1,500,000,000 Project Number MPP1887-SA reGIoN dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia clIeNt Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) Postal/ZIP code 5000 PhoNe (+966-3) 872 0115 Fax (+966-3) 873 8190 / 874 1655 WebsIte www.saudiaramco.com descrIPtIoN engineering, Procurement and Construction (ePC) contract for the second phase expansion of a Master gas System expansion (MgSe) project. status New tender

Project obhur creek crossinG project

Postal/ZIP code 3630 PhoNe (+966-12) 614 2166 Fax (+966-12) 614 0642 emaIl info@jdurc.com WebsIte www.jdurc.com descrIPtIoN design and construction of a concrete arch bridge spanning 380 metres long and 75 metres wide comprising 8 lanes for road traffic, a single railway line and two sidewalks.

Status New tender

Project suGar Factory project Budget $550,000,000

villas, each featuring 4-bedroom & 5-bedroom en-suite options, sprawling living and dining rooms, independent maid’s room, and a garage that can easily accommodate 2 large cars. status New tender

Project basra – al Faw Grand port railway network project Budget $1,000,000,000 Project Number WPR325-IQ reGIoN Baghdad, Iraq clIeNt Iraq Republic Railways (IRR) address West Station PhoNe (+964-1) 537 0011 descrIPtIoN Construction of a railway network spanning 110 kilometres.

Project Number MPP2327-e reGIoN egypt clIeNt Al ghurair group (dubai) address Al ghurair Bldg., Salahuddin

status New tender

Road, deira, dubai

Budget $1,000,000,000 Project Number MPP2947-SA reGIoN Jeddah 21481, Saudi Arabia clIeNt Jeddah development & urban Regeneration Company (Saudi Arabia) address Al Maadey Street

Postal/ZIP code 1 PhoNe (+971-4) 262 3377 Fax (+971-4) 262 3388 eMail : info@alghurairgroup.ae

WebsIte www.al-ghurair.com descrIPtIoN Construction of a new sugar factory with estimated production capacity of

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Project Number WPR481-Q reGIoN doha, Qatar clIeNt Halul Real estate Investment Company (Qatar) Postal/ZIP code 24336 descrIPtIoN Construction of (14 Nos.) nine-storey buildings featuring penthouses and (245) apartments, including a mixed-use podium comprising housing, retail outlets and one of the largest indoor amusement theme parks, a 7-star hotel consisting of 28 floors, six restaurants, a gymnasium, indoor pool and business centre. status Current Project teNder cateGorIes Construction & Contracting, Hotels, Leisure & entertainment, Prestige Buildings teNder Products Hotel Construction, Residential Buildings

Project Number WPR504-u reGIoN dubai, united Arab emirates clIeNt emaar Properties PJSC address emaar Business Park, Bldg. No. 3, Near Interchange No. 5, Shaikh Zayed Road Postal/ZIP code 9440 PhoNe (+971-4) 367 3333 Fax (+971-4) 367 3000 emaIl customercare@emaar.ae WebsIte www.emaar.com descrIPtIoN Construction of a high-end luxury residential tower comprising (63) floors offering (297) apartments of one, two and three bedrooms.

PerIod 2017 status New tender teNder cateGorIes Prestige Buildings teNder Products High-rise towers, Residential Buildings

vIP comPletIoN ceNter Project – dubaI World ceNtral

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clIeNt Falcon Aviation Services (Abu dhai) address Al Bateen executive Airport Postal/ZIP code 62030 PhoNe (+971-2) 444 8866 emaIl sales@falconaviation.ae WebsIte www.falconaviation.ae descrIPtIoN Construction of a VIP Completion Center providing enhanced and customised services to VIP customers, featuring a state-of-the-art hangar equipped to accommodate up to an Airbus A380, in addition to VIP lounges, workshops, offices and an in-house design studio for elite clientele.

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beeah headquarters buIldING Project

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saudI arabIa aNtara resIdeNtIal Project

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WebsIte www.sunmetalgroup.com descrIPtIoN engineering, procurement and construction (ePC) contract to build an integrated steel mill with capacity of 2.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) of liquid steel, which will be converted into finished saleable products such as tMt re-bars, low alloy rounds, carbon construction and low alloy sections, and stainless steel seamless pipes.

PerIod 2017 status Current Project teNder cateGorIes Industrial & Special Projects teNder Products Steel Mills

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budGet $85,000,000 Project Number WPR414-B reGIoN Al Muharraq, Bahrain clIeNt King Hamad university Hospital (Bahrain) address Bldg. 2435, Road 2835, Block 228, Busaiteen Postal/ZIP code 24343 PhoNe (+973) 1744 4444 Fax (+973) 1744 4449 WebsIte www.khuh.org.bh descrIPtIoN Construction of a Cancer treatment Centre at a Hospital comprising (120) beds.

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budGet $100,000,000 Project Number WPR503-J reGIoN Amman 11181, Jordan clIeNt Jordan Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) Postal/ZIP code 2324 PhoNe (+962-6) 445 1134 Fax (+962-6) 445 1136 emaIl dqaia@jcaa.gov.jo WebsIte www.jcaa.gov.jo descrIPtIoN demolition of an old airport terminal building and construction of seven new contact stands along with other support services. status New tender teNder cateGorIes Agriculture teNder Products Airports development

Project Number MPP2954-O reGIoN Ruwi PC 112, Oman clIeNt Oman Power & Water Procurement Company S.A.O.C address Muscat International Centre, 2nd Floor, Suite 504 Postal/ZIP code 1388 PhoNe (+968) 2482 3028 emaIl ahmed.busaidi@omanpwp.com WebsIte www.omanpwp.co.om descrIPtIoN engineering, Procurement and Construction (ePC) contract to build a wind

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clIeNt gulf Related (Abu dhabi) address Al Sila tower, 25th Floor, Sowwah Square, Al Maryah Island Postal/ZIP code 27522 PhoNe (+971-2) 671 6060 Fax (+971-2) 694 2705 emaIl inquiries@gulfrelated.com WebsIte www.gulfrelated.com descrIPtIoN Construction of a premium self-contained residential compound comprising a total of (520) homes.

PerIod 2016 status Current Project teNder cateGorIes Construction & Contracting, Leisure & entertainment teNder Products Playgrounds & Associated, equipment, Residential Buildings

queeN alIa INterNatIoNal aIrPort exPaNsIoN – Phase 2

53

INDUSTRY EVENT THE BIG 5 SAUDI

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INDUSTRY EVENT

YEar-oN-YEar growTh This year, 16,000 visitors are expected to visit the Big 5 Saudi.

5th Big 5 Saudi

milestone year for building and construction show indication of its continued popularity with the saudi arabian construction market

54

MIDDLE EAST

The Big 5 Saudi event celebrates a major milestone this year – its 5th event since first being held, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

First launched in 2011, the event has quickly established itself as the Kingdom’s most popular international construction event. every year since inauguration has witnessed substantial growth – nearly 90% to date.

From 300 exhibitors in 2011 to more than 540 in 2014, from 9,000 visitors in 2011 to more than 15,000 in 2014, and the overall space has grown from 7,000sqm in 2011 to an anticipated size of 20,000sqm in 2015.

Construction has always played a key role in Saudi Arabia’s overall economic development, modernising the Kingdom and providing a platform for house building, employment opportunities for Saudi nationals, and growth potential for local businesses. it is estimated $75 billion in construction projects was awarded in 2014 alone, and an estimated $200 billion in contracts will be awarded over the next couple of years.

The lure of Saudi Arabia is proving strong for international companies as well. Before, they may have considered other gCC countries to base their operations in. Today, they are choosing Saudi Arabia because of its potential.

That is why The Big 5 Saudi international Construction Show has seen such growth since

FEBRUARY 2015

its first year. The event brings together thousands of visitors and exhibitors and exposes them to products that can help deliver a sustainable future. in 2015, we can expect 16,000 visitors and 560 exhibitors and more multi-million dollar deals to be signed. Large companies such as Rajhi Steel and Zamil industrial will also be participating at the 2015 event in March.

But it isn’t just the world’s best and most innovative products that the event brings to Saudi Arabia. it now includes education as part of its core agenda.

Visitors can benefit from educational seminars and workshops which are led by local and international experts giving their point of view on the industry and their predictions for 2015.

Nathan Waugh, event director for The Big 5 Saudi, says: “The construction industry is a crucial pillar of Saudi Arabia’s growing economy. it is widely acknowledged that well-managed and successfully delivered construction projects can improve the delivery of public and private services.

But it needs a strong foundation, which is why The Big 5 Saudi has gone from strength to strength.”

The Big 5 Saudi takes place at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and events from 9-12 March, open 4-10pm. For further information and a full educational programme, refer to: www.thebig5saudi.com.

Happening tHis MontH middle east rail will be held on march 17 and 18 at the dubai international convention and exhibition centre Create the world’s most advanced railways.

From golden railway stations to high-speed lines, the Middle East Rail conference is a catalyst for innovation across freight and passenger travel. Join regional government entities, operators, construction companies and their partners to:

n Use

data as the driving force to

create interconnected, instrumented and intelligent systems

n Create smarter railways for smarter cities n Uncover the next generation of rail travel including the Hyperloop and the Skytran

n Connect

payments and the

customer experience

n Eliminate

inefficiency and create a

seamless logistics supply chain

n Excel

in economic, social and

environmental sustainability

n Find

out the latest project updates –

where is the $295bn being invested?

n Design

the future of passenger

travel for Middle East cities

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MuhaMMad Tariq Shafiq

Let’s share local BIM experiences Muhammad Tariq Shafiq explains why it’s crucial for the construction industry to share its BiM experiences

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MIDDLE EAST

The previous Two articles on BiM (Building information Modelling) adoption in the uAe have attracted healthy feedback from the local industry, mainly enquiring about a simple business case for BiM and what has been achieved locally through the use of BiM processes and technology. This reflects the need to share local BiM experiences, to influence the market and help industry executives understand its value from a regional perspective, instead of relying on international examples of BiM implementation which may not reflect the true potential of BiM in the uAe. There are two main reasons for project cost and time over-run in the uAe: 1. poor design practices associated with lack of clear client requirements. Typically, incomplete and ill-evaluated design and specifications are given to contractors, who then have to deal with problems as they are encountered on-site.

2. Traditional design-bid-construct contracts prevent project partners from working together to produce constructible and error-free design.

This leads to typical site problems that we face every day, such as: A) huge number of requests for

FEBRUARY 2015

information (rFis) due to incomplete design, drawing and specifications.

B) Large reworks and huge waste, often related to design changes during construction and clashes between different building systems.

C) A difficult and lengthy handover process that leads to incomplete submission of as-built drawings, manuals, specifications, etc.

Construction professionals unanimously agree that with traditional contracts, problems are discovered and solved during construction, which entails demolition, reworks, design changes and so on, all extremely costly and time-consuming. on the other hand, if problem are discovered, discussed and solved at the design stage, the cost of change can be negligible. This is where BiM can revolutionise traditional design and construction practices, by allowing construction professionals to perform design coordination and analysis upfront in a project timeline with sophisticated BiM software applications and tools.

Let’s take an example from a uAe project: post office Towers, Abu Dhabi, $95.2 million, 2014. A misalignment of the façade and internal layout was discovered when the client visualised the 3D model at the concept stage. This led to changes of design at an early stage, which saved

the considerable cost and time incurred if such a problem had gone to the construction site. in addition, 18,500 clashes between architectural, structural and Mep systems were discovered and solved during the design phase, saving approximately 20 man months of management time during construction (not to mention costs and delays). An innovative and collaborative procurement process was adopted on this project, backed by a fully coordinated and clashfree BiM model of the project, which helped the client procure the project in 2014 at 2010 prices in a region witnessing a 5% annual increase in cost. in summary, the successful use of BiM saved approximately 3.3% of total project cost at the design and tender stage alone. The client was fully committed to using BiM and played a significant role in addressing design issues by working closely with all parties, using BiM models. As a result of this successful experience, the client has mandated the use of BiM on all of their current and future developments.

BiM is here to stay, and it will be an industry norm in the near future. There is a need to share local BiM experiences and case studies. This will educate and motivate client organisations and project owners in the uAe to play a leading role in driving BiM adoption in the region.

Dr Muhammad Tariq Shafiq is a BIM manager at Imirati Engineering & Consultants (IEC), Abu Dhabi.

Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mansour bin Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

9 – 12 March 2015 1436 ‫ ﺟﻤﺎدى ا وﻟﻰ‬21 – 18

Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY'S KEY DECISION MAKERS WILL BE THERE… WILL YOU?

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