Smart cities and construction in Saudi Arabia

Smart Cities – A Brave New World

Posted by Editorial Team Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on

Innovation and technology are transforming the urban environment. The information age is upon us and whole industries, indeed economies, are adapting to reflect this. Within the construction industry, this is particularly evident through the emerging concept and reality of smart cities.

About Smart Cities

Smart cities represent an evolving idea and ideology to create a truly sustainable urban environment. They are not designed to be governed in the traditional ‘top down’ way. Instead, they bring officials and citizens together through the strategic use of technology. This is made possible through the internet.

By gathering data from electronic devices and various forms of information and communication technology, it becomes possible to manage a city more efficiently using the insights that are gained. This approach is both interactive and highly automated. It reduces running costs and helps fuel growth and development in a sustainable way. Communities are empowered and become valuable stakeholders who are able to influence the management of their city through the data they contribute. There is a strong sense of cohesion and as more data is gathered, it becomes increasingly possible to optimize the performance of the city’s infrastructure and services. This filters down into many aspects of a citizen’s everyday life. Transportation systems can be monitored and improved, emergency response times are reduced and all manner of public services can be made more user-friendly.

Neom, a brand new mega-city spanning 10,230 square miles. That’s 33 times the size of New York!

Neom: The world’s most ambitious project

Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this new vision with the proposed construction of Neom, a brand new mega-city spanning 10,230 square miles. That’s 33 times the size of New York! Neom will encompass all the core values of a state of the art smart city, with a strong focus on economic progress and taking care of its citizens. The city will be an independent zone with its own governmental framework. It promises to attract massive investment and innovation, creating a truly sustainable economic model. Just imagine a highly automated city with focus on a strong economy, built around advanced manufacturing, sustainable energy, biotech, and the best food & entertainment in the world. Thanks to solar and wind power, the city aims to be entirely zero-energy; a self-sufficient metropolis. The ambition and magnitude of Neom has captured the imagination of the world and places Saudi Arabia firmly at the forefront of the smart cities agenda.

Smart Cities and the Construction Industry

The construction industry is adapting faster than ever before as new technology is seemingly around every corner. Smart cities bring these technological advancements together and provide a clear direction for the future. At the center of it all is information and communication technology. It’s now possible for project team members to collaborate more efficiently using smart devices and mobile applications. Management strategies can be effectively implemented remotely and stakeholders are able to access data and maintain an ongoing interest more easily.

Additionally, the sustainability agenda has been gaining momentum for some time now. It’s becoming fully integrated into the processes, materials and overall management of construction projects. It’s reached the heart of the industry, fueling decision making and strategy. The concept of the smart city epitomizes this shift and provides a blueprint for the future of urban environments. The construction industry will need to continue to evolve and adapt accordingly.

The Future

Now more than ever, societies the world over are embracing a new model for growth, both economically and socially. The need for sustainable development is being recognized at the highest level and technological advancements are opening new doors and helping make this vision a reality. Sustainable urban environments such as smart cities are at the heart of this global revolution. It’s an exciting time for the construction industry and nowhere more so than in Saudi Arabia.

 

Saudi Arabia’s construction landscape is evolving fast. Falcon continues to build for private clients throughout this shift — see our luxury villa and residential construction services.

Image of Team of engineers working on drawings

What do you do prior to construction?

Posted by Editorial Team Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on

In construction, almost every project presents special requirements. However, the methodology rarely changes. We recommend the below steps to be followed prior to construction. The guideline below is taken from our training manual.

Pre-Construction Plan

Project Analysis & Studies

  • Initially we study and analyze all factors of the project segmenting it into different phases to ensure that proper understanding takes place. This enables us to do better planning and to provide more accurate time-management.

Site Investigation

  • At this stage, we arrange a site visit to the work location. Our manager and the project engineer attend a meeting and a site survey with the contract representative to clarify any points in a job explanation meeting.

Temporary Structures

  • The preparation of a temporary facilities takes place to avoid hazardous situations and ensure that the work shall be implemented accurately. This includes fencing requirements, site offices, restrooms, shoring, temporary power and lighting, and other requirements.

Equipment Requirements

  • A clear plan is set to define the required equipment relative to the application; careful specifications are selected for each job.

Manpower Requirements

  • A manpower plan is set up to ensure that all required personnel are enlisted for the project and supporting third party personnel allocated if necessary.

Time Management & Work Schedules

  • To ensure proper management and implementation of the project takes place, we utilize a computer-based project management (CPM) system. Gantt charts are utilized to display a clear time-line for every phase and task involved. This enable us to provide accurate time estimates and provides a better control on the project until completion.

Cost Estimation & Bidding

  • Utilizing the data collected with the previous six steps, we evaluate the project and estimate the complete costs involved and the time-line required.
  • A proposal is then drafted and submitted to the client in form of a formal proposal or a sealed-bid whichever applies.

Planning your own build in Jeddah? See how these pre-construction steps come together on a real project with our luxury villa and residential construction service.

How To Build A Construction Plan

Posted by Editorial Team Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on

Learn how to market your contractor business professionally. In depth knowledge of attracting clients with online marketing strategies and deep thinking about who you want your clients to be.

The housing industry has proceeded at a red-hot pace for several years running. An all-time record was set in 1998, when 886,000 new-site single family homes were sold. That represented a 10% gain from the robust total of 804,000 homes sold in 1997, and an 8.1% rise from the prior record of 819,000 units in 1977. Single-family housing construction accounted for $48 million of the total $125 million generated in the industry.

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