“OUR RATIONALE IS BOUND TOGETHER BY GROWTH” ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2021 • ISSUE 772 WSP MIDDLE EAST CEO, GREG KANE, REVEALS THE COMPANY’S DIRECTION FOR 2021CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2021 • ISSUE 772 We sit down with WSP Middle East CEO, Greg Kane, to discuss exclusively about the rm’s 2021 outlook and management appointments CO V ER S TOR Y 24 SPECIAL REPORT CW’s formwork knowledge partner, RMD Kwikform, on “heightened activities” in KSA and Qatar INTERVIEW US-based Altec talks to Disha Dadlani about maximising durability for its equipment INDUSTRY INSIGHT Peikko Gulf highlights the use of its DELTABEAM® product across two projects in the region FIRE SAFETY Tenable’s Sam Alcock and Sultan Al Maskri on the challenges facing re consultants in the Middle East EDITOR’S LETTER Ashley Williams outlines the three trends set to shape the construction sector in 2021 IN CONVERSATION Amana Investments’ Riad Bsaibes chats to Ranju Warrier about working on gigaprojects in KSA and the role of BIM in modular construction 10 14 16 18 20 30 STAT OF THE MONTH “LIFTING RAK’S 36M BRIDGE” Details behind the fabrication of the longest suspended bridge in RAK’s Al Marjan Island QUOTE OF THE MONTH “THE HUGE ROLE OF DRONES” ACCIONA’s Jesus Sancho on the shift to digitisation and ‘aerial opportunity’ of drone technology 08 06 FEBRUARY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 3 SITE VISIT Construction Week tours Expo 2020 Dubai’s Terra - The Sustainabilty Pavilion and gains exclusive insights from Ahmed Al Khatib and John Bull 424 CONSTRUCTION WEEK FEBRUARY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM PUBLISHED BY AND © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. PO Box 500024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates TEL +971 4 444 3000 WEB : www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi MANAGING DIRECTOR Alex Reeve EDITORIAL CW EDITOR ashley.williams@itp.com CW DIGITAL EDITOR ranju.warrier@itp.com CW MULTIMEDIA REPORTER disha.dadlani@itp.com MEP EDITOR anup.oommen@itp.com PMV EDITOR dennis.daniel@itp.com FM EDITOR rajiv.pillai@itp.com ADVERTISING COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Saraswati Agarwal TEL +971 4 444 3352, EMAIL saraswati.agarwal@itp.com SENIOR SALES MANAGER Moutaz Gadelhak TEL +971 4 444 3177, EMAIL moutaz.gadelhak@itp.com ITP LIVE GENERAL MANAGER Ahmad Bashour TEL +971 4 444 3549, EMAIL ahmad.bashour@itp.com STUDIO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra, Fritz John Asuro PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION GROUP PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR Kyle Smith PRODUCTION MANAGER Basel Al Kassem PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Mahendra Pawar SENIOR IMAGE EDITOR Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION DISTRIBUTION & WAREHOUSE MANAGER Praveen Nair MARKETING DIRECTOR OF AWARDS & MARKETING Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies WEB www.ConstructionWeekOnline.com SUBSCRIBE online at www.itp.com/subscriptions NOTICE The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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MEDIA WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The most important project, contract, and tender information, updated every week To have your copy of Construction Week delivered to your doorstep, subscribe by logging on to www.itp.com/subscriptionsREGISTER NOW Saudi Arabia, the burgeoning land of some of the most prolific projects, is going through a sustained period of infrastructure expansion and regeneration. Construction Week's KSA Infrastructure Summit will bring together government representatives, construction industry experts and leaders to address the issues and opportunities surrounding KSA’s infrastructure development requirements. Virtual Conference For sponsorship enquiries: Saraswati Agarwal Commercial Director E: Saraswati.Agarwal@itp.com T: +971 4 444 3352 Tuesday 2nd - Wednesday 3rd March 2021 Register to attend for free: www.itp.events/KSAInfrastructureSummit GOLD SPONSOR: For speaking enquiries: Ashley Williams Editor E: Ashley.Williams@itp.com T: +971 4 444 3302 For event enquiries: Sherdil Babar Conference Producer E: Sherdil.Babar@itp.com T: +971 4 444 3223QUOTE OF THE MONTH WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM6 CONSTRUCTION WEEK FEBRUARY 2021 “DRONES PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN THE PLANNING & ANALYSIS OF A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME” The construction sector across the globe is at a pivotal point in history, with the shift to technology dramatically changing the way projects are delivered. From digital twins to drones, artificial intelligence (AI) to robots, the adaption of technology, especially during the pandemic, has augmented efficiency and helped reduce operational and capital costs. ACCIONA, a Spanish multinational conglomerate that develops and manages infrastructure and renewable energy projects, has embraced the digital twin technology, building information modeling (BIM), and drones for its desalination, tunnelling, mining, and metro projects. Talking to Construction Week about how digitisation has changed the game for the company, Jesús Sancho, ACCIONA Middle East’s managing director, said: “There are two or three things that have passed in the last few years. The adoption of technology has improved energy efficiency per cubic meter of water. “It has also helped in reducing the consumption of energy, while we have been able to introduce renewable energy sources.” According to Sancho, there have been several projects and software tools that use AI to improve projects, which in the end benefits both customers and client support teams. In November 2020, for the first time, ACCIONA tested and commissioned Saudi Arabia’s Al-Khobar 1 Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plant using the digital twin technology. The company’s specialist team in Madrid remotely commenced testing and commissioning at the plant, following travel restrictions due to COVID-19, and completed it on schedule, with only minimal staff on-site. “One of the major impacts that COVID-19 has had in the industry is the restriction of movement. Our experts and technicians from Spain and across the region were unable to visit the actual project site. “However, ACCIONA, as part of our investment in research and development (R&D) and the adoption of technology as well as our 4.0 standard — where we have been developing our own AI tools such as digital twins — we were able to cope with the challenges caused by the outbreak of the pandemic,” added Sancho. He further explained: “The digital- twin technology allows us to keep track of the condition of the plant. We have used advanced machine learning and AI to control all types of equipment as well as the Control C programmes. Meanwhile, water and electrical circuits were operated through remote supervision.” Sancho told Construction Week that another “major” innovation that has helped the construction industry is the use of drones for mining and tunnelling projects. Explaining about drone technology, he said: “Everybody has used a drone here or there as a toy, but when it comes to a professional environment, they play a huge role in the planning and the analysis process of any construction programme. They [drones] give you aerial and underground views of any site at a comparatively smaller amount of cost than other traditional methods. Not only do they assist in the planning and analysis process they also give you the actual data on how the construction has advanced.” ACCIONA, which has worked on Dubai Metro’s Route 2020, has been replicating the drone technology in all of its tunnelling projects. Sancho stressed that drone technology is here to stay. “I can envision that new software and more sensors will be incorporated into drones in the near future that will further increase their capabilities.” In conversation with Construction Week, Jesús Sancho, ACCIONA Middle East’s managing director talks about the company’s shift to digitisation and the rise of drone technology ACCIONA’s Al-Khobar 1 desalination plant in Saudi Arabia was tested and commissioned remotely, using digital twin technology, by its team of specialists in Madrid. [Image: ACCIONA]Constructive. Credible. Connected Construction Week is the leading industry brand delivering exclusive multimedia content that matters to the Middle East. Site Visits Experience hands-on access to the region’s construction sites through our multimedia platforms. Exclusive columns Get daily insights from the industry experts shaping the cities of the Middle East. Lists Read our comprehensive annual ranking of the Middle East’s most powerful names from the built environment. Multimedia platforms Be the first to hear our weekly podcast series, world-renowned webinar series and thought-provoking range of videos. Events Get early bird access to be first in line for our industry-leading conferences and awards. Tenders Learn about the latest tenders from the most exciting projects and developments throughout the Middle East. MEDIA AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATIONSTAT OF THE MONTH TAKE A LOOK AT THE LONGEST SUSPENDED BRIDGE AT 36 METRES INSTALLED AT MÖVENPICK IN RAS AL KHAIMAH R as Al Khaimah-based hotel developer, RAK AMI Hotel, has revealed that the under-construction $147.8m (AED543m) Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island has marked the installation of the longest suspended bridge at 36m, thereby connecting the two buildings of the resort. The suspended bridge serves as a connection for the hotel and will feature eight hotel rooms and is supported by four main trusses, each with a weight of 55 tonnes. Each truss is 4m high and installed at a height of 44.2m. With intermediate beams and composite floor deck, the bridge structure was assembled at the ground floor in two pieces comprising two trusses each, and lifted in place using a 650-tonne crawler crane. The bridge has been fabricated using 310 tonnes of structural steel. The bridge project – from design to installation – was completed in approximately 65 days by more than 55 professionals and skilled workers. The installation process of the suspended bridge has been completed successfully following all safety procedures including traffic management, to ensure the safety of the public and staff. All COVID-19 precautionary measures were followed during the construction and installation process. The bridge will also offer vantage viewing points opening to views of Al Marjan Island and its settings for the residents in the hotel rooms located within the bridge. It is expected to become a leading tourist landmark and add economic value to Al Marjan Island and Ras Al Khaimah. Commenting on the milestone, chairman of RAK AMI Hotel, Arch Abdulla Al Abdooli, said: “The suspended bridge is designed to be one of the iconic features of the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island that will not only add to the aesthetics of the project but also create an inspiring architectural marvel that will delight visitors to Al Marjan Island. “We are progressing with the construction of the hotel as per schedule, with an international team of professionals on-site. The suspended bridge will be a 36 METRES INSTALLED AT MÖVENPICK IN RAS AL KHAIMAH Standing at 44.2 metres, the suspended bridge serves as a connection for the hotel, and is supported by four main trusses, each weighing 55 tonnes value-add for the hotel and support the emirate’s tourism sector.” Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island is expected to be delivered as per schedule by September 2021. The hotel, located within Al Marjan Island, is set to add 418 hotel keys, all with direct sea views. Al Marjan Island has over 1,600 operational five-star hotel keys, including Rixos Hotels, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Accor Hotels brands, and more than 2,000 residential units including Bab Al Bahar residential and Pacific by Select Group. Speaking with Construction Week in an exclusive interview in 2020, Arch Abdooli said about the Mövenpick Resort: “The uniqueness about the project is that both sides of the resort offer a sea-facing view, owing to its strategic location.” NSCC, which was awarded the excavation, piling and enabling works for the project, completed work in February 2019. RAK AMI Hotel awarded the construction contract to Al Ali Construction & Development in February 2019, following a tender with three other contractors. 8 CONSTRUCTION WEEK FEBRUARY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM With intermediate beams and composite oor deck, the bridge structure was assembled at the ground oor in two pieces [Image: Supplied]A SPECIAL REPORT FROM CONSTRUCTION WEEK ON FORMWORK ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS FEBRUARY 2021 • ISSUE 772Next >