Trimble, a leader in construction technology, is assisting the industry in its transition by integrating the physical and digital worlds with its connected construction solution that unites all stakeholders across construction lifecycle for maximum efficiency.

^{Paul Wallett, regional director, Trimble Solutions Middle East and India}

For this transition to a sustainable economy, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a series of projects to foster a variety of sectors, including construction, to emerge as the most favourable destination for investment, trade, and lifestyle.

The kingdom is presently in a post-oil transition era in which the country’s burgeoning megacities will drive the necessary development to rebalance its economy.

Construction has precisely become one of the most significant businesses contributing to Saudi Arabia’s growth, as the market is flooded with new technology that enables fast delivery and efficiency of projects.

Currently, the sector covers the country’s multiple Giga projects, transit and mobility schemes like the Riyadh Metro, and social infrastructure. Saudi Arabia is currently engaged in approximately 5,200 construction projects totalling $19bn, which constitutes about 35% of the total projects underway in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

^{Paul Wallett, regional director, Trimble Solutions Middle East and India}

Even though the industry has to some extent adopted and utilised technologies such as BIM, 3D modelling, digital twins, mixed reality, AI and robotics – there is a long way to go to ensure 100% implementation, owing to lack of knowledge about connected constructible environments and on the usefulness of these technologies.

Saudi market flooded with new technology
Trimble, a leader in construction technology, is assisting the industry in its transition by integrating the physical and digital worlds with its connected construction solution that unites all stakeholders across the construction lifecycle for maximum efficiency. The company recently presented its viewpoint on connected construction at the BIM Saudi Arabia Conference & Expo 2022, asserting that its solutions minimise cost, complications, and rework, ensuring project completion on schedule.

Every project has its own set of construction and design criteria, all of which contribute to the overall sustainability goals of the project. The ideal outcomes cannot be realised unless the sector advances and has a deeper understanding and expertise in software technology. In the Saudi construction industry, it is vital to adopt innovative practices to achieve the desired outputs as most businesses include sustainability in their construction goals.

Trimble’s solutions are centred on lowering carbon emissions and ensuring that projects are completed on schedule and with the utmost efficiency. Many major projects in the Middle East such as the Riyad metro and The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Saudi Arabia, and the Museum of the Future, the Burj Khalifa, One Za’abeel tower, and Ain Dubai in the UAE, have used Tekla Software solutions.

Tekla software, namely Tekla structures, offers an Embodied Carbon Calculator extension that provides users with dynamic calculations and visualisation of the CO2 effect of structural designs.

To grasp what connected construction entails, one needs to consider its two components, which are stakeholders and data. When data is correctly and easily supplied across all platforms to respective members of a project through a software, the project is certain to succeed. Engineers benefit from connected construction by producing constructible designs and details for fabrication and assembly, while contractors are benefited with cost management and on-time delivery.

Speciality contractors may optimise each phase of the building process to save rework and downtime, while fabricators and manufacturers can gain a better understanding of the product mix to assist customers to improve their supply chain and procurement. Finally, this aids owners in ensuring that all teams are operating efficiently and completing their assigned tasks.

Adopting construction technology is a step toward accomplishing a successful construction project, as the industry is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly competitive.