A New Era Of Sustainable Geotechnics In The GCC
The value of GCC’s ambitious mega structures exceeds USD 2 trillion. Saudi Arabia leads the region in mega construction projects, with a string of mega cities’, super tall buildings, and infrastructure projects currently in various stages of planning and design. At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s USD 725 billion megacities project is the Line – a 170-km long, 500m tall mixed-used structure. Following closely on its heel is the UAE, with scores of new mega projects spanning from the Burj Binghatti, expected to exceed 472m in height, to the Palm Jebel Ali among others.
Considering the desert, arid, and semi-arid soil conditions found in the GCC, the deep foundations, underground excavations, and geotechnical aspects associated with the construction of these megaprojects present significant challenges. The International Geotechnical Innovation Conference (IGIC 2024), taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 6-7 May 2024 aims to delve into the deep foundation design and construction requirements imperative for enabling the safe, cost-efficient, and timely completion of projects.