MAY 2015 ISSUE 2
published by flip flop media
CONTENTS
government 4th Arab Future Cities Summit held in Doha
The Sections
Construction, Development and Infrastructure
Food and Agriculture P.06
Tiny Revolution shaping the Future of Food and Agriculture
Atkins appoints new Middle East property MD
P.70
P.10
Health and Community
SUSTAINABILITY
Tissue Engineering offers hope for failing body parts
Guiding Construction to Achieve its Green Goals
P.68
P.26
smart Technology
Energy Efficiency and Management For a more colourful world, we all need to be a little greener
Touch: The InternetĂs Final Frontier
P.58
P.40
Transport Dubai Metro cruises on to Expo 2020 site with a colourful, artistic touch
P.50
FUTURE CITIES ME
CONTENTS PAGE MAY 2015 ISSUE
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contents
Government 06
4th Arab Future Cities Summit held in Doha
Construction, Development & Infrastructure 10 Atkins appoints new Middle East property MD
Sustainability 26
guiding Construction to Achieve its Green Goals
Energy Efficiency & Management 40
For a more colourful world, we all need to be a little greener
Transport 50
Dubai Metro cruises on to Expo 2020 site with a colourful, artistic touch
Technology 58
Touch: The Internet’s Final Frontier
Health & Community 68
Tiny Revolution shaping the Future of Food and Agriculture
Food & Agriculture 70
Tiny Revolution shaping the Future of Food and Agriculture
Tenders 76
Top 25 Tenders in GCC
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publisher’s note Welcome to the latest edition of Future Cities M.E. A key mandate is to provide a common platform for the private sector and governments to come together and exchange views on how to best plan and develop the sustainable and successful cities of tomorrow. This was demonstrated beautifully at the Arab Future Cities 2015 Summit held in Doha last month with its focus on urban planning in Qatar and the development of smart cities in the GCC region. Future development requires leaders with a clear future vision. In this issue we speak with Saeed Alabbar, Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council. Mr Alabbar is from the new generation of leaders in the Middle East and in this exclusive interview, he talks about working with industry, academia and government departments to develop collaborative solutions to some of the region’s greatest challenges. With the Expo 2020 on everybody’s mind, in this issue we also take a look at some of the major infrastructure development projects in the region including the massive GCC rail projects, expansion of the Dubai Metro and the completion of Emaar’s eco-friendly sustainable transport system. Finally, we sit down with Amer Bin Ahmed, Managing Director of Knauf Middle East who is a key supporter of Future Cities M.E. and champion of sustainable industrial production and development strategies in the Middle East. Mr Ahmed tells us about his journey with Knauf and how he has made his company a shining example of LEED compliant manufacturing of eco-friendly products. We would like to thank our readers, critics and supporters for the intense and immense response received by our premier edition. We look forward to your continued support and feedback as we continue on this fascinating journey together into the future!
Liam Williams CEO & Publisher
F UTURE C ITIES ME . VOLUME 1 NUMBER 2 THE G A ME C H A NGER ISSUE / 2 0 1 5 M A Y
Publisher & CEO Liam Williams liam@flipflopmedia.ae Managing Director Harry Norman harry@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9062 Editorial sunil Thakur sunil@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 Katy Elliot info@flipflopmedia.ae Commercial Director Sam Khan skhan@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9062 Design Head of Design Marlou Delaben design@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 circulation & Production Circulation and Distribution Manager Antonio de Marco circulationdm@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 Database and Circulation Manager Aaliya Khan databaseandcm@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 Production Manager Juan Vasquez productionmanager@flipflopmedia.ae +971 4 369 9063 Digital webmaster@flipflopmedia.ae Published by
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© Copyright 2015 FlipFlop Media All rights reserved While the publisher has 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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GOVERNMENT
arab future cities summit
Eng. Abdulla Abdulaziz T. Al Subaie, Managing Director, Qatar Rail, addressing the audience at the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar 2015.
4th Arab Future Cities Summit held in Doha In the true spirit of public private partnership dignitaries from various GCC governments interacted, closely with experts from academia and industry to find solutions for creating sustainable and successful future Arab cities
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mart city development in the Middle East with special focus on Qatar and its key initiatives was showcased successfully at the recently concluded 4th Annual Arab Future Cities Summit, produced by global conference organizers, Expotrade. The event took place on 13-14 April, 2015 and was held at the RitzCarlton in Doha, Qatar. The summit lived up to its reputation of being the premier smart cities event in the region, with over 400 participants. The summit featured over 25 presentations, networking sessions and a panel discussion creating the ideal environment to discuss efficient management of resources, developments and ways to make future cities work better in the Middle East. The summit was inaugurated by Eng. Abdulla Abdulaziz T. Al Subaie, Managing Director, Qatar Rail, who outlined the projects undertaken by Qatar Rail, especially the Doha Metro project. An integral part of the Qatar Rail Development Programme, the Doha Metro project will play a critical role in bolstering Qatar’s sustainability objectives. The opening session was attended by dignitaries such as H.E. Deddy Saiful Hadi, Ambassador, Indonesian Embassy to the State of Qatar; H.E. Shingo Tsuda, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in the State of Qatar; H.H. Sheikha Athba Bint Thamer Al-Thani, Chief Support Services Officer, Q.D.V.C.; H.E. Mohammed Nasser Al-Wahaibi, Ambassador, Embassy of Sultanate of Oman - Doha; H.E. Waheed Mubarak Abdullah Sayyar, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain - Doha, Qatar; H. E. Eric Chevallier, Ambassador, French Embassy
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in Doha; H.E. Nurmakhmad Kholov, Ambassador, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the State of Qatar. The agenda for the first day saw interesting sessions presented by speakers from the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), (QCERT) ICT Qatar, Masdar Institute, AEB, and premium sponsors Huawei, Accenture, Ooredoo Qatar, Cisco, Intel, Alfardan Properties, Esri, Schneider Electric, Microsoft and EMC, speaking on topics spanning the range from the regulator’s role in facilitating smart cities; Lusail city; IoT in smart cities; future connected cities and security for smart cities to enabling the urban information economy through smart cities; laying the foundation for a smart Qatar; smart living solutions, urban energy management, ICT innovation, GIS as location platform; people-first approach to innovation and research towards smart cities. The panel discussion of the day sponsored by ITS focused on the e-government initiatives taken up for building smart cities in the GCC. Day 2 saw sessions on ‘Dohaization’ and branding Qatar; district cooling, IoT, mobility and big data, sustainability in transportation, smart and sustainable mobility services, smart energy and efficiency, intelligence and analytics for urban security, sustainability ratings and frameworks, and the ‘SunRise Project’. Speakers included experts from QNMP, QMIC, Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi, Arup, Vienna University of Technology, the Environmental Engineering Research Laboratory, France, and premium sponsors Qatar Cool, B+B SmartWorx, Proteco LLC (Al Nasr Holding) and Selex ES. Other sponsors included GE Lighting, malomatia, TexEnergy and Almana Motors Company. The networking sessions on both days saw impressive participation from
arab future cities summit
Doha as model of Knowledge based Smart Urbanism
Dr. Ali Abdul Rauf, the Professor in Architecture, Urbanism and Planning Theories, coordinator of Capacity Building Research and Training in the “Qatar National Master Plan” in the Urban Planning Department, delivered an opening lecture on the second day of the conference. The lecture was called: “Doha as a Model: Branding Qatar via Doha’s Emerging Knowledge-based Smart Urbanism” The lecture discussed the idea of Qatar’s growth and the global position of Qatar emerging from the formulation of its role as a centre for comprehensive development based on knowledge. Dr Rauf also discussed, analysed, and presented illustrative examples for the transformation in policies, urban and planning strategies in the State of Qatar, under the adoption of the idea of a cognitive city and its relationship to the cognitive economy as adopted by the Qatar National Vision (QNV) for the development of Qatar up to year 2030. The lecturer linked the current developments, especially the decrease of oil prices and the rapid approach to the beyond carbon era, and the impact of this on the necessity of a new economic pillar that overcomes dependence on oil. This pillar is a knowledge-based economy adopted by the State of Qatar and reflected on scenarios for its future architecture and urbanism. Dr. Abdul Rauf offered a comparative study of models of Arab and regional cities, which concluded that the city of Doha is the most creative city in the Middle East in embracing smart urbanism based on knowledge. The participation of the Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning in this conference comes within the framework of the continuous communication with the architectural, urban and planning activities that take place in the State of Qatar, and the creation of awareness among the community and a specialists on the urban and planning issues, and strengthening the ties between the external partners and representatives of the Qatar National Master Plan project and the Planning Department.
The summit was inaugurated by Eng. Abdulla Abdulaziz T. Al Subaie, Managing Director, Qatar Rail, who outlined the projects undertaken by Qatar Rail, especially the Doha Metro project.
delegates, while the Future Cities Lounge was a top draw. A host of innovative products and solutions were showcased by over 30 exhibitors including smart city solution providers such as Kodak Alaris, Kansai Paint, Technoserve, FOSS, Manateq, Avtech, Cambium Networks, MDT-tex, W-Locate, WifiActiva, FCC Aqualia, Dassault Systèmes and HERE. The prize draws on both days added to the excitement, with prizes such as smartphones, smart watches, tablets, mini projectors and complimentary stays at the venue given away to lucky winners. The event was appreciated by attendees, with the quality of delegates coming in for special praise. Safder Nazir, Regional Vice President, Smart Cities & IoT, Huawei, said, “We are glad to be back here at the Arab Future Cities in Doha. We find a very well-attended event with a high quality of guests here. We have been able to interact with a lot of people and share our vision and thought for the future of smart city development not only within Doha and Qatar but across the region as well.” Anas Sawaf, Smart+Connected Communities Business Lead, Cisco, said “This is the second year for Cisco as a major sponsor of this event. We believe that having a large presence from the private and public sector at this event really shows the commitment in Qatar and the commitment from the private and public sectors to develop smart cities. What we have seen today is really amazing in terms of the diversity of individuals, representatives from the private and public sector across different industries like transportation, real estate, security, education etc. It is a collaborative effort and we are very pleased to see this commitment from all parties involved.” Mohannad Khader, Vice President - Commercial, Qatar Cool, said, “Every year when we come here, we listen to new ideas, we get to know more people and great strategies from other wellreputed companies. It has been valuable for sure.” Brad Hariharan, Regional Director, Expotrade Middle East, organizers of the conference, said “We are delighted that the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar has been such a success and has achieved its core premise of showcasing sustainable smart city development in Qatar and the Middle East. We would like to thank all our sponsors, delegates, speakers and partners for supporting this event. We are honoured to have been able to offer a meaningful platform to our speakers, sponsors and delegates that has afforded tremendous scope for networking and knowledge sharing.” l
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GOVERNMENT
UAE Pavilion Expo 2015
Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life: UAE at Milan Expo 2015 H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee, unveiled the Green Economy Status Report 2016 at the UAE Pavilion in Expo Milan 2015. The report is titleD ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.’ Images courtesy: www.dexigner.com
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he ceremony was attended by H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, H.E. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Dubai Ruler’s Court, H.E. Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), H.E. Hussain
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Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, H.E. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and other UAE officials. “The State of Energy Report supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the UAE Vision 2021. It establishes a collaborative platform to enable a knowledge economy to spur growth of a green economy and sustainable development,” said Al Tayer.
UAE Pavilion Expo 2015
Different parties related to green economy participated in preparing the report, which focuses on public-private partnerships. It highlights the latest research and innovation from United Nations organisations and includes articles authored by national and international experts in green economy. Meanwhile, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry stand in the UAE Pavilion attracted 7,500 visitors in the first three days of the Expo. As part of its efforts to attract FDIs and to promote Dubai as a global business hub as well as to highlight the emirate’s lucrative business environment, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is participating with an attractive stand within the UAE Pavilion at the Milan Expo 2015 under the theme, Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. Volunteers welcomed visitors with a backdrop of stunning audio-visual perspectives on a young country’s history. The pavilion, shaped like shimmering sand dunes surrounded by native plants, quickly attracted the attention of camera-wielding tourists while promoting Dubai’s business appeal and its competitive advantages to the business community as well as the benefits in establishing business in the emirate. The pavilion provided visitors with “revelations” and tied in with the UAE expo slogan of “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”. The pavilion and the UAE delegates’ aims were to give a very strong message that individuals can make a difference. The Chamber will also be leading trade missions and delegation visits comprising of business leaders and representatives of Dubai’s private sector to meet their global counterparts in Italy during the Expo. H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, stressed upon the importance of the Chamber’s participation in this global gathering of businesses as part of the emirate’s preparations to host the Expo 2020 in Dubai. For its part, Dubai Chamber, will be making the best use of its stand to promote the benefits offered to Dubai investors, he said. He also stressed that the Chamber will be going out full force to organise events and meetings in Milan between the private sector representatives of Dubai and their global counterparts to network and discuss the potential of setting up new business partnerships and joint ventures. H.E. Buamim further stressed that the World Expo is one of the most prominent international business shows and the Chamber ‘s participation in Milan Expo is a great opportunity to promote Dubai as a world-class business destination. He added: “It’s heartening to note that the Chamber stand has attracted more than 7,500 visitors in the first three days of the show. This also supports our resolve to organise different activities and events throughout the next six months of the exhibition to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global business destination while promoting the competitiveness of its business community by organising business meetings between Dubai and Italian businesses.” The President and CEO of Dubai Chamber informed that the Chamber representatives at the stand will showcase the services provided to the private sector including the business-friendly initiatives launched, especially during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Dubai Chamber, which, as part of its mission, continues to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai. l
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
ATKINS
Atkins appoints new Middle East property MD Atkins is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies, employing some 18,000 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. The company philosophy is to build long term trusted partnerships in order to create a world where lives are enriched through the implementation of ideas
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tkins has appointed Tom Hasker as managing director for its 750-people strong property division in the Middle East. Tom has been with the Atkins group, as Middle East director of project management for Faithful+Gould, since 2013. Prior to that, he was regional managing director for project management consultancy Confluence until its acquisition by Atkins. Tom will be responsible for spearheading Atkins’ strategic growth in the property sector across the Middle East, with a focus on the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. He has more than 18 years’ experience in client and design management, project management and property development. “Atkins is synonymous with some of the Middle East’s most iconic and important building projects, so it’s a massive privilege to be able to lead such a high performing and talented team,” said Tom.
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ATKINS
“We’re proud of our history, but we’re also incredibly excited about our future and the continuing role we’re playing to shape the region’s urban environments. Our challenge today is about helping clients with the next phase in the region’s transformation, which involves using our creativity to design and engineer fantastic, peoplefriendly and sustainable places which compete with the most advanced cities in the world. Atkins’ current property projects include the new Dubai Opera, which will be the centrepiece of The Opera District in Downtown Dubai; Al Habtoor Residences, a high profile 395,000 m² development in Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road; and Prince Sultan Cultural Centre in Jeddah, which will support and encourage “social wellness” among its residents. Simon Moon, chief executive for Atkins in the Middle East, added: “Our property division has been at the heart of our success in the Middle East for the last 40 years, so we needed an outstanding individual for this role. “I’m really pleased and confident that Tom fits this mould perfectly. He’s established a fantastic reputation in the market and is a natural leader who understands how to inspire and motivate talented teams.” Atkins is among the foremost multidisciplinary designers in the Middle East property sector, having delivered an enviable portfolio of projects which includes the Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, The Address Downtown (all in Dubai), Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and the Bahrain World Trade Center. In total, Atkins employs around 2,500 staff in the Middle East across the property, rail, infrastructure and energy sectors. l
“Our challenge today is about helping clients with the next phase in the region’s transformation, which involves using our creativity to design and engineer fantastic, people-friendly and sustainable places which compete with the most advanced cities in the world.”
Tom Hasker has been appointed as managing director of Atkins’ 750-people strong property division in the Middle East.
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
qatar cool
Qatar Cool leads the way in a Surging District Cooling Market I
n line with its National Vision 2030 in which it aims to achieve an advanced, sustainable and diversified economy, Qatar has continued its rapid growth and transformation. Having one of the highest GDPs in the world and playing host to many major events, one being the frequently discussed 2022 world cup, the country is also seeing growth in its population, which currently sits at a little over two (2) million as well as its commercial and
industrial markets. This growth, although contributing to the development of the country, has also led to an increase in the demand for water, power and cooling. West Bay already boasts a comprehensive district cooling system delivered by Qatar District Cooling Company, also known as Qatar Cool. However, the country’s ambitious development programs, particularly the large residential and commercial developments in the West Bay area, are expected to continue to drive demand for district cooling services. Qatar Cool also serves The Pearl Qatar with District Cooling from its Integrated Disrict Cooling Plant, the biggest district cooling plant in the world. The combined capacity of Qatar Cool’s three currently operational plants totals to 197,000 TR which has helped the company win the International District Energy Association’s award for ‘The Best District Cooling System in the World’ in 2012 and 2014 in addition to many other awards. Recognized as the most efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly solution to satisfy Qatar’s growing cooling demands, Qatar Cool has been leading the focus on eco-friendly technologies in the region. As a result, the company’s operations have been steadily growing over the past few years, with it completely selling out the capacity of its two plants in West Bay area which currently serve more than 50 towers. To satisfy this overwhelming demand, Qatar Cool is preparing to open its third plant in the West Bay area which will provide residential and commercial towers with nearly 40,000 TR of cooling, once complete. Already experiencing a rapidly growing waiting list for its services, the company has been overwhelmed by the response from the developers, attracted by the numerous benefits of district cooling. District cooling is significantly more cost effective over the long term than conventional solutions. The production of cooling energy supplied to Qatar Cool’s three plants, has saved over 880 million
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Kilowatts of electricity which translated into the elimination of around 490 million KG of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere since 2010. This is equivalent to removing over 93 thousand vehicles from the roads or planting 13 million mature trees. As well as working toward the wider community’s good, centralizing the cooling systems in remote locations frees significant leasable and sellable areas in all buildings, which could be utilized for leisure amenities such as swimming pools and gardens. In a typical residential unit, for instance, a district cooling system can cut energy usage by 40-45%, compared to traditional climate control systems. Looking at it from a different perspective, in high density areas such as West Bay using traditional air conditioners will cause a lot of noise. With district cooling, it is quiet, centralized in one place and there is zero noise pollution. Currently, there are approximately twelve district cooling systems implemented around the capital city of Doha, with their total capacity being close to 320,000 Tons of Refrigeration (TR). The application of the system in major developments proves that district cooling is gaining popularity amongst developers. An initiative of Qatar Foundation, Education City upon its completion will be served with District Cooling supplied from nine plants of which three, totaling a capacity of 50,000 TR, are already operational. The development covers an area of approximately 14 square kilometers and houses educational facilities, from school age to research level and campuses of some of the world’s leading universities in addition to several staff housing complexes, the Qatar Science and Technology Park, Qatar National Convention Center and the currently under construction Sidra Medical and Research Center. Other developments currently utilizing district cooling as the primary source of air conditioning include Barwa City, Khalifa Olympic City, Emiri Diwan Compound, State Mosque, College of North Atlantic City and Al Gassar Resort. The implementation of district cooling in such developments proves that the system can be a success when applied in projects of various uses. We should expect to continue to see a surge in the country’s district cooling market as the application of the system is being considered and in many cases, already selected as the method of air conditioning for several upcoming major projects, in the country. Developments such as Msheireb, a 31 hectare mixed-use development, will be supplied with district cooling from two central plants, with a total capacity of approximately 29,000 TR once completed. Others projects such as Lusail, the New Doha International Airport and several sports stadiums are all considering, or in the process of implementing district cooling systems to serve their respective developments. Due to its energy efficiency, reduction in carbon emissions, ease of operation and maintenance, reduction in electric distribution demands, environmental benefits and many more, the continued implementation of district cooling systems in Qatar will play an influential role in the country’s vision, towards a greener future through efficient and sustainable energy. l
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
KNAUF
Amer Bin Ahmed Managing Director, Knauf Middle East and India
Human Values are Vital for a Sustainable Business Amer Bin Ahmed is the Managing Director of Knauf Middle East and india. he is responsible for establishing a sustainable business operation in the Middle East, East Africa, and the India region. With more than 17 years of industry experience Mr. Bin Ahmed has been instrumental in developing a differentiated business strategy for Knauf that has propelled it to become the fastest growing and only fully ASTM certified gypsum board systems solution provider in the Middle East and Asia region. here he talks to katy elliot about knauf values and the reasons for his company’s success 14
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Knauf UAE has been in the Middle East for over a decade and the journey has been quite spectacular so far. What are the reasons for your success and where do you see Knauf UAE ten years from now? Knauf is a family owned company with a performance based culture. We don’t just make products; our aim is to provide comfortable and sustainable living environments for people. Our core industry is dry wall which people live with in their homes and offices every day. Dry wall was not a known concept in the 70s but today it has become a commodity. We have an innovative approach whereby we keep adding value to the quality of our products to ensure performance and reliability of solutions for the building inhabitants. Another reason for our success is the quality of our after sales service, technical and maintenance support. One of the core values at Knauf is Menschlichkeit -- or humanity.
KNAUF
“We are the equivalent of “Mercedes Benz” in the dry wall industry and are proud to be “Made in the U.A.E.”
People come first! This not only includes our customers and end users but also our own employees. Our team comprises people from 26 different nationalities and we have the highest staff diversity in the whole of the Knauf Group. We ingrain human values in our staff from the start and always keep them highly motivated at all times. This reflects in all of our product and service offerings. Other core values of Knauf are Partnership, Commitment and Entrepreneurship. Finally, another philosophy we believe in here at Knauf is to Never Give Up. Success never comes easily and there are bound to be failures on the way. But we learn from our failures and keep
innovating our products, systems, services and human resource development. Our vision is to be customer preferred solutions provider with an umbrella of “Knauf Hause” product offerings comprising: Knauf Interior Drywall Systems with Fire and Acoustic performance for Earthquake resistant light weight construction solutions. Knauf Aquapanel Cement Board Interior Tile backing walls and exterior structural solutions for building facades. Knauf Heradesign Wood Wool based acoustic ceiling tile system. Knauf Integral Raised Flooring Systems. Knauf Danoline Acoustic Ceiling Tile System. Knauf AMF Mineral Fibre Ceiling Tile System. Knauf Reissler Decorative Panels Knauf Ecose Technilogy Glasswool Insulation etc.
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
KNAUF
Tell us about Knauf’s production facilities in the UAE and your plans for new products and capacity expansions? Knauf is one of the fastest growing companies in the Middle East region. Our production plant was set up in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE in the year 2011. Today we are already running at full capacity and producing 30 million square meters of gypsum boards of different types and standards and the market is demanding still more. With the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020 we see a lot of future growth and under the visionary leadership of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum we are gearing up to be a part of this growth. We have invested a lot of resources in new products development and have ensured consistent quality control at all levels. We are the pioneers in the region’s dry wall industry to have Intertek Certified Plant with ASTM partition and ceiling systems. We are the equivalent of “Mercedes Benz” in the dry wall industry and are proud to be “Made in the U.A.E.” Tell us about Knauf’s project businesses and why you are chosen as partner in so many big projects? We have secured some land mark projects in the GCC region. With our innovative solutions and customer service approach, we successfully execute projects from design stage to completion and handover. With a focussed and dedicated approach to all projects we secure, we ensure complete satisfaction and loyalty of our clients.That’s why we have the same developers and contractors coming back to us for each one of their new projects. Sustainability and high performance are generally perceived to be contrary goals in the gypsum and cement board industry. How does Knauf manage to successfully achieve both these targets at the same time? Our Gypsum raw materials are procured from our own mines within the limits set by LEED Green Building codes in our region. We strive to use recycled materials in our production processes. Recycled water is used for all landscaping activities. Even for individual transport within the plant, we use bicycles. We have always made a conscious effort to ensure we leave the smallest energy footprint for our products whether they are gypsum boards or access panels or steel profiles. Even in delivering to customers we stay within the LEED limits. Another important factor is minimising logistics costs by reducing weight of our boards with more quantity delivered per vehicle. Lastly, all Knauf UAE products are 100% traceable as per the latest ASTM standard guidelines. All the way from sustainable mining of the gypsum rocks and other raw materials, certification of machineries, to the end products conforming to international environmental standards, production is monitored at every step. Our adherence to ASTM Standards ensures consistent quality at all levels backed up by random audits by Third Parties. A single non-conformity can
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lead to the halting of the whole production line. The Knauf philosophy states: “Sustainable products of the utmost quality with no compromise.” Describe some of the trainings offered by Knauf? At Knauf we believe in leading by example. We provide onsite and offsite training. Our Training Academy is based at Knauf Dubai offices. When we supply premium products, we ensure the installation and maintenance of the products and systems is undertaken by Knauf trained applicators. In the UAE our Dealers, installers, consultants and contractors routinely undergo Knauf trainings to enhance their knowledge and skills. By providing specialised training courses we are creating value for individuals by transferring the knowledge and expertise that we have gained over several years and creating potential employment for unskilled and semiskilled workers from the construction industry. Green Building is the region’s construction trend today. Does Knauf have a strategy in place to ensure contractors and stakeholders of these projects continue to choose your products for their future projects? Earlier Green Building used to be a concept but today, in
KNAUF
One of the core values at Knauf is MenschliCHkeit -- or humanity. People come first! the UAE it has become a norm and building certification criteria in the construction industry. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dubai Municipality and related Government agencies that have ensured eco-friendly practices in the building construction sector. This is a positive development for Knauf whereby our innovations are inspired by the regulations from the LEED and the Green Building Council. Are there any noteworthy on-going or future projects you would like to talk about? We are doing a very interesting project “Al Tilal Tower KSA” where we are not only providing interior dry wall solutions but also exterior wall fibre cement aqua panels for high rise buildings of 33 Floors. Even in the extreme weather of the Gulf our products are proving their durability.
Another prestigious project we are supplying full ASTM Systems is to “The Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi”. Knauf has been approved by the consultants to supply full ASTM systems for fire rated partitions and ceilings. We have offered a tailor made solution for this project for wall partitions, linings and ceilings. In Sharjah we are involved in the construction of a 220 bed hospital where we are supplying ENBS dry wall partitions and ceiling systems. l
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
natrans
NATRANS 2015 TO FOCUS ON GCC TANSPORT PROJECTS WORTH US$ 422 BILLION ALL OF THE GULF REGION’S INTEGRATED AND SUSTAINABLE RAIL, ROAD AND MARITIME TRANSPORT PROJECTS TO BE SHOWCASED AT THIS MAJOR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE EVENT TO BE HELD AT ADNEC IN ABU DHABI THIS OCTOBER
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natrans
T
he GCC’s integrated transport strategy will receive a fillip with NATRANS Arabia 2015. This is a first-ofits-kind event bringing together the Gulf region’s various transportation infrastructure projects in the rail, road, and maritime sectors. According to Fleming Gulf Research these projects are worth an estimated US$ 422 billion and will be completed within the next five years. The conference-led exhibition which is being held in partnership with the UAE Federal Transportation Authority – Land and Maritime and under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority - Land and Marine, will highlight the UAE’s position within the region as a country leading the charge in transport infrastructure development. “The event will discuss and showcase proven, deployed schemes, pioneering research and development solutions that are intended to solve real world problems which are critical regional imperatives,” said Alex Heuff, Exhibition Director, NATRANS Arabia which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on 19-21 October 2015.
“By creating an event which covers the industry as a whole, NATRANS Arabia is set to deliver a unique networking platform for the region’s entire land and maritime transportation sector,” added Heuff. NATRANS Arabia consists of three distinct conference streams, incorporating the region’s established rail conference – the 6th Middle East Rail Opportunities on the 19 – 20 October plus two dedicated one-day conferences, first addressing road issues on 19th October and the second addressing maritime issues on 20th October. During the 6th Middle East Rail Opportunities Summit, designs of nearly US$ 200 billion in network projects will be presented, running from the Gulf coast in Kuwait, through Saudi Arabia, to the UAE and Oman, with branches linking Bahrain and Qatar. These projects are slated to start before the end of the first quarter 2016. “Construction is already in progress and will be fully operational in 2018. Abu Dhabi is spearheading the GCC rail network with its AED 40 billion (US$ 10.9 billion), Etihad Rail link project, which stretches for 1,200 kilometres, from Ghweifat on the Saudi border to south of Fujairah on the Omani border,” said Heuff
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
natrans
“Some of the key focus sessions include developing a competitive, sustainable and future-proof rail network for the GCC and effective interoperability among the new railway systems of the Middle East”
The Middle East Road Conference will examine the progress of the region’s mega road projects which is set to grow at a rapid pace over the next 5 years, valued at an estimated US$ 32 billion. The conference will also cover international traffic management, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), parking, road safety and maintenance of transport infrastructure projects, such as multimodal systems. It will also highlight management systems to help decrease accidents and the use of ITS technology in road safety. The third streamed seminar, Middle East Maritime Conference, will take an in-depth look at the different investments in the maritime industry, which are expected to reach US$66 billion in the next three years, with the UAE contributing 30 - 35% of the Middle East’s projected total investment valued at US$190 billion over the next three years. With the global significance of the Middle East’s ports and facilities now more important than ever before, delegates will be presented with the latest industry developments. The conference will also feature international case studies about how operational and logistical challenges and complexities can be overcome. Distinguished speakers at NATRANS Arabia include: Dr. Abdelgader Elshabani, Department of Transport, Abu
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Dhabi, Senior Transportation Planning Specialist, UAE; Mohammed al-Mudharreb, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), Director of Rail Operation, Rail Agency; and Loay Ghazaleh, Ministry of Works, Advisor To H.E Under Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Bahrain. Top level transport delegations representing the UAE including government bodies such as the Department of Transport, The Road Transport Authority, Etihad Rail, Abu Dhabi Ports, DP World and the Ministry of Public Works, will be attending the conferences. “In addition, over 50 ministers including key government decision makers will be attending this year’s conference to discuss the potential partnership opportunities available right across the region,” added Heuff. Some of the key focus sessions include developing a competitive, sustainable and future-proof rail network for the GCC; effective interoperability among the new railway systems of the Middle East; integrated public transport for sustainable urban development; traffic management and surveillance; the role of automation in efficient port operations; the use of geospatial technologies in port security, plus a series of country transport project updates. Running alongside the conferences is an exhibition accommodating over 100 exhibiting companies that is divided into four themed zones compatible with the conference streams, plus an extra zone showcasing intelligent transport systems. The exhibition is likely to attract in excess of 2,500 trade visitors. The exhibition has already attracted key support from the European Parking Association (EPA) and MAFEX, the Spanish Railway Association plus sponsors Laborex and LGW. l
Interview: HE Helal Saaed Almarri
Low operation costs Cooling meters designed for a long life with a minimum of maintenance
We launched the first ultrasonic meter in 1991. Time has shown that the ultrasonic technology has been extremely reliable in terms of accuracy over time. Through research and development we have focused on improving measuring stability over the entire product lifetime. We can therefore now document that our BTU meters measure correctly and deliver reliable consumption data still after more than 15 years in operation.
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
MOUCHEL
Kier to acquire Mouchel The deal follows the transformation in Mouchel’s performance during the last three years
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MOUCHEL
I
nternational infrastructure and business services group Mouchel has announced that it has reached an agreement for the sale of the group to Kier, the integrated property, residential, construction and services group, paying ÂŁ265m, in cash, for the entire issued share capital of the business. Mouchel provides design, managerial, engineering and operational services which support communities around the world, round the clock. The company manages and maintains highways, marine works and major utility projects in the Middle East. Kier Group is a leading property, residential, construction and services group, which invests in, builds, maintains and renews the places where we work, live and play. They operate across a range of sectors including defense, education, housing, industrials, power, transport and utilities. It employs over 15,000 people in its operations in the UK, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
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Construction, Development & Infrastructure
MOUCHEL
The transaction follows a transformation in Mouchel’s performance during the last three years which has seen the group grow underlying operating profit to £27.7m on turnover of £617m in the financial year ended 30 September 2014. Revenues for the three months ended 31 December 2014 have increased by 38 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. Since the end of the period, Mouchel has continued to experience similar growth and has maintained margins at historic levels. The Mouchel Board believes that Mouchel and Kier together will provide even greater opportunities for our staff and clients. The combined company will be a sector leader in the growing UK highways management and maintenance market, servicing Highways England, Transport for London and local authorities. The transaction will also enhance the range of Facilities Management (FM) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services that the enlarged group can offer to local authority clients, as well as those in the Water and Regulated industries market. Kier is funding the acquisition through raising additional equity and the transaction will require the approval of its shareholders. This process is expected to take approximately five weeks. As a result, the acquisition is expected to complete in June. On completion of the transaction, Mouchel Chief Executive Grant Rumbles will stand down. Haydn Mursell, the CEO of Kier, will be CEO of the expanded group. Grant Rumbles, Mouchel’s Chief Executive, commented on the deal saying, “Kier and Mouchel are an excellent fit. The enlarged company will enable us to improve our offer to customers and to enhance the career opportunities of our employees.” “This deal is testimony to the successful turnaround of Mouchel following its 2012 restructuring. Refocusing the business on its core strengths and targeting profitable growth has brought us to a position where our order book is now more than £2.8bn. For that I thank my excellent management team and all of our staff for their hard work and determination over the last few years.” “I will remain in the business until the transaction completes. Although I will be sad to be going, I am pleased to be leaving the business in such great hands.” Meanwhile Haydn Mursell, CEO of Kier plc stated: “Over the last three years, Mouchel has been transformed into a strong business with market leading positions. The combination of Kier and Mouchel, particularly in the provision of UK highways maintenance services, creates a leader in a growing marketplace. The Acquisition is consistent with and accelerates the delivery of our Vision 2020 strategy and will provide compelling value to shareholders.” l
“Kier and Mouchel are an excellent fit. The enlarged company will enable us to improve our offer to customers and to enhance the career opportunities of our employees.” GRANT RUMBLES
“Over the last three years, Mouchel has been transformed into a strong business with market leading positions. The combination of Kier and Mouchel, particularly in the provision of UK highways maintenance services, creates a leader in a growing marketplace.” HAYDEN MURSELL 24
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SUSTAINABILITY
EGBC
Saeed Al abbar Saeed currently serves as Chairman of the Emirates Green Building Council and is the Vice Chairman of the World Green Building Council MENA Network. In this capacity, Saeed actively works in promoting the advancement of sustainable building in the UAE and MENA region by working with industry, academia and government departments to develop collaborative solutions to some of the region’s greatest challenges. Saeed is also a Director at AESG, a firm specialising in the provision of energy and sustainability consultancy in the Middle East. He holds a First Class Masters degree with honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath and is a Certified Energy Manager, LEED Accredited Professional and Estidama Pearl Qualified Professional.
guiding Construction to Achieve its Green Goals “With a change in regulations we are seeing a significant movement towards sustainability in the region’s construction industry.”
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What changes do you see happening in the construction industry and facilities management landscape by 2021? A key trend we are seeing in the construction industry today is a move toward greater sustainability and energy efficiency defined by the construction of green buildings along with a greater focus on energy and water efficiency in existing buildings. This is a key thing we see happening which really complements Dubai’s plans for 2021 -- to develop Dubai as a smart and sustainable city of the future where the environmental element is one of the key factors. Also, sustainability is one of the sub-themes for Expo 2020. With preparations for the same on-going, we see a perceptible shift among the construction and FM companies to focus more and more on sustainable development. The UAE has one of the biggest per capita carbon footprints in the world, with energy consumed by buildings being a significant part of that footprint. What can be done to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings in a cost effective manner? In existing buildings there is a huge opportunity for savings. Just through low cost measures alone such as improving operational efficiencies, there can be savings of 10 to 15%. These low cost measures have a payback period of less than two years which can extended to
EGBC
The investment cycle is relatively short and initial investments are paid back for within as little as 2 and maximum up to 5 years savings of 20 to 30% in the longer term. Then there are more capital intensive measures like retrofitting where savings of up to 50% are definitely achievable. We have taken a number of steps forward to change consumption patterns and minimize our carbon footprint by using cleaner fuels and implementing environmental conservation strategies. Approximately how many retrofitting projects have been planned in the UAE in the future? Etihad ESCO, a subsidiary of DEWA, has identified 120,000 buildings in Dubai and found 30,000 of those suitable for a retrofit. They want to see that by 2030, all of them have undergone retrofitting. With regard to the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Program, convincing existing building owners to make investments for retrofitting of their buildings has been difficult. How do you advices on overcoming their resistance? We saw that one of the barriers to retrofitting buildings was the initial financing. Fortunately energy efficiency projects are self-financing. The investment cycle is relatively short and initial investments are paid back for within as little as 2 and maximum up to 5 years. After
that the project begins to generate profit for itself. One of the popular approaches to financing such projects is Performance Contracting where the Energy Services Companies or ESCOs will finance the retrofit themselves and then take a share of the savings generated. In this way the owners don’t have to make the initial investment themselves and at the end of the day everybody profits from the project, including our environment. Are banks and financial institutions responding well to these kind of programs? Banks are clearly showing an interest in these programs. But this is still a new industry so their approach is a little cautious. However, the shorter payback periods and the reliable nature of investment in the industry, has made them sit up and take notice. So definitely they do see sustainability projects as a profitable and reliable market for future investments and they are steadily coming out with a number of innovative financing options. What has been the hotel industry’s response to the Green Key Program? How many hotels are operating in a sustainable manner today? Most hotels in the UAE today, look at sustainability as more than an image building exercise. This is because it does make a significant impact on their bottom lines in terms of operating costs. All of them are looking at savings in energy and water. There are currently 24 hotels certified
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SUSTAINABILITY
EGBC
We have the Annual Congress and the Annual Awards that recognize companies making the greatest efforts in executing sustainable projects and constructions
under the Green Key program. The more environmentally conscious tourists can have a look at the list on our website. Then there are other sustainability programs such Green Globe and ISO. A number of hotels are certified under these as well. What about the construction for new hotels? Are there regulations in place to ensure their environmental sustainability and what role is EGBC playing to make these regulations more effective? The EGBC is an independent body and does not set regulations itself. However, we do work with the government by advising and assisting them with regulations. Definitely there are regulations in place. For example the Dubai Municipality has the Green Buildings Code which is applicable to all new constructions in Dubai. Abu Dhabi has the ESTIDAMA for all new construction activity. These are two organizations that we have a strong and on-going dialog with.
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EGBC
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SUSTAINABILITY
EGBC
One of the reasons for setting up the EGBC was to conduct sustained awareness campaigns. Can you briefly describe some of the on-going awareness activities of the EGBC in the UAE? The council has been serving as a sector platform for integrating different disciplines related to the building supply chain which includes the financial and legal institutions, developers, planners, consultants and contractors. Since 2006 membership has grown very quickly. We now have over 160 companies who are members of the council and who fully support the sustainable building movement. We have a number of initiatives that go a long way to create awareness in the industry. For example we have networking events that tackle specific issues. We have technical workshops which take place on a monthly basis. We have the Annual Congress and the Annual Awards that recognize companies making the greatest efforts in executing sustainable projects and constructions. And we have created the Energy Efficiency Program that looks to specifically drive energy efficiency in the industry. We have also created technical guidelines and
“Since 2006 membership has grown very quickly. We now have over 160 companies who are members of the council and who fully support the sustainable building movement� designed a number of training programs that since 2006 have definitely had a strong impact. What about programs to make the general public more aware of their role and responsibility in created sustainable living spaces? We have done something along those lines as well. We have created tools for homeowners that help them make better decisions on the energy efficiency of their houses. Whether gauging the sustainability of design and construction while choosing a new home or while building their own homes, we help them make better and informed choices. We are also conducting programs in the media in terms of news articles and special features that make the public more aware on the issues affecting the environment and its sustainability. We also have a media department that conducts outreach campaigns for industry and private citizens. EGBC was among the first 8 members of the World Green Building Council. How do you co-ordinate with other building councils across the world? Yes we co-ordinate closely with other councils around the world. There are now over 100 green building councils across the world. We sit on the board of directors of the World Green Building Council and are active members of a number of committees where we provide our inputs for a more global sustainable buildings agenda. We do that alongside other green councils in Europe, America, South America and Africa. As a pioneer of Green Building Councils in the region how do you see EGBC help and promote other councils in the region? We have helped in establishing a lot of green councils in the region under the aegis of the World Building Council’s MENA Network. There are common challenges and opportunities in the region so there is a close collaboration between the various countries. At present more than 12 countries in the MENA region have independent green councils that are established and running smoothly. We have been integral in setting them up and thereby creating a leaner and more effective regional network. The Emirates GBC 2015 Awards are scheduled in May this year. How would you assess the entries this year compared to previous years? We have been seeing an improvement in the entries and projects year on year. Even in 2006 the standard of the entries was high. This year the level of innovation is outstanding and people are pushing the envelope further and further with each passing year. Even the quantity of entries is increasing every year which reflects a strong interest from industry and government in terms of innovation in green buildings and the creation of a healthy, sustainable, environment. l
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SUSTAINABILITY
KONE: expert opinion
Giuseppe Bilardello
Anne Stenros
Sustainability at the core of future cities TEXT BY: Eveliina Linderborg
For more than 100 years, KONE has been in the business to innovate and imagine the future. In anticipation of another successful century, KONE R&D executives take an in-depth look at complex trends poised to drive change and shape tomorrow’s urban environments
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mart urbanization, household atomization, a purpose economy, new geography of life, human-tohuman experience. These concepts surface when KONE’s head of Technology and R&D Giuseppe Bilardello and Design Director Anne Stenros envision the prospect of sustainable cities. But what are the trends behind these terms? Do they serve as a source of innovation for KONE and how can they be harnessed to build sustainable urban environments of the future? UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY The megatrends driving KONE’s business are urbanization, demographic change, concern for the environment and safety. However, the evolvement of future cities is influenced by more complex and interlinked developments. For KONE, these global macrotrends need to be followed very carefully. According to Stenros, the complexity begins with urbanization. “We must understand that what’s happening in Nairobi is different from what goes on in Sao Paolo, Shanghai, Los Angeles or even Paris.”
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In the US and Europe, for example, the rise of sololiving is emerging as both young and elderly people move out from suburban areas to live in city centers. As a result of this changing household landscape, the population density gradually increases. The pace of growth in Africa and Asia is significantly faster. Stenros notes that continuing population growth and urbanization are projected to add 2.5 billion people to the world’s urban population by 2050, with nearly 90 percent of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa. Bilardello suggests that the complexity of changing demographics should not go unnoticed either. In addition to aging populations and the growing number of middleincomers in today’s cities, more attention should be put on the shifts happening around education, employment and changing lifestyles. “The working environments of tomorrow are transforming. People travel more and remote working is becoming popular,” he says. “The future of work will change dramatically with less office workers and more telecommuters. This has direct implication when planning for office buildings”, he points out. In addition to “geography of life”, meaning and purpose is playing a bigger role for urban dwellers. The work-life choices that employees make prioritize family and relationships over status and materialistic values. “People are seeking higher meaning at work and in their personal lives. This will impact the success of sustainable business practices,” Bilardello comments. ADDING THE HUMAN FACTOR For Bilardello, one thing is clear when understanding future scenarios. “Technologies will always adapt to future environments; the key to sustainable growth is for humans to be at the heart of everything we do.” Stenros agrees:
KONE: expert opinion
“In elevator and escalator design, we identified the shift away from B-to-B toward a human-to-human user experience. We’ve noticed that so called ‘first movers’ or young people are already sending signals of moving away from living in a hyper-connected and a monitored world. Instead, these early adapters want to be more out of reach and they are seeking a life where personalization and human touch have a central role.” MULTI-DIMENSINAL THINKING For KONE’s R&D, the emerging macrotrends call for a somewhat new approach to monitor the surrounding world. This translates into finding ways to listen to the customers and end users. “Once a year, KONE organizes a People Flow Day in more than 30 countries with the aim to keep our finger on
the pulse of the needs of our customers and building users. This is a great opportunity to better sense the future directions and individual aspirations and we see ourselves taking a more active role in these events,” Bilardello says. BEING THERE FOR SOCIETY Competition is expected to continue and the industry bar will be high for future innovations. According to Bilardello, winning means truly being there for society and creating innovations in a sustainable way. “To me, profitable growth equals sustainability,” he says. Enhancing life results in the need to rethink R&D. “Instead of focusing too much on R&D management as such, one crucial focus area is to secure versatile talent within our teams,” Bilardello says. Cultural and educational diversity will become an asset. “In the future, our teams will consist not only of engineers but also of human scientists, futurists and sociologists. These interpreters of society are capable of thinking horizontally and seeing bigger trends.” l
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SUSTAINABILITY
KONE: green buildings interview
Elevators with Efficiencies Designed at Every Level katy elliot spoke with Kone about the company’s continued focus on efficient people flow and the leading role Kone continues to play in the development of innovative products for future cities Kone does not simply build machines but deals with the science and technologies of people flow. How and why is the user experience different while “flowing” through a Kone elevator as compared to that of the competition? Although the basic characteristics are pretty much similar for elevators and escalators of all makes, it is the planning, design, maintenance and life-cycle considerations that ensure smooth people flow. There are advanced technological features that enhance the traffic capacity and performance of the equipment, such as access and destination control for elevators. KONE has the expertise to assist in the planning stage when the placement and specification of the equipment is outlined. We believe that our cutting-edge design offering and focus on ride comfort also account for a smooth people flow experience. Kone is considered a pioneer in energyefficient people transport. What are your current product strengths that you feel will enable Kone to remain a leader in energy-efficient people flow in the future? Resolute R&D efforts have resulted in up to 70% energy savings for our volume elevator products from 2008 to 2012. KONE now offers the best A-class energy efficiency rating for its entire volume elevator range. The certifications are based on German Engineer’s VDI 4707 guideline, and have been achieved on actual installations at customer sites,
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with measurements conducted by third parties. In 2014, KONE included being the leader in sustainability to its strategic targets. This guarantees continued focus to our environmental excellence program, aiming at continued reduction in energy consumption and eco-efficiency of our products, and minimizing the carbon footprint of our operations. Green buildings are the emerging construction trend of future cities. What measures is Kone taking to ensure that its elevators, escalators and auto walks remain relevant in the sustainable future that we all hope to live in? Buildings account for 40% of the world’s energy consumption, and elevators and escalators can represent from 2 to 10% of energy use in a building. Therefore choosing energy efficient equipment plays a significant role when aiming for sustainability, and lower life time costs. Green building certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and Green Star are helping drive the demand for energy efficient solutions. The recently introduced Green Building Regulations & Specification from Dubai Municipality, and efforts of Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) will hopefully drive demand locally. Tell us a little bit about Kone’s modernizing services and how retrofitting can benefit older installations. What current modernization projects are being undertaken by Kone, particularly in the Middle East? Modernizing your elevator or escalator is an investment that pays off by reducing maintenance and energy costs and
KONE: green buildings interview
by improving reliability, safety and aesthetics. This can range from minor repairs, to modular modernization of one or more components, to full replacement of all the equipment. As a leader in the construction industry, what role does Kone see itself playing in the development of Future Cities? The global megatrend of urbanization necessitates efficient construction, often building upwards to greater heights. Until recently, one of the limiting factors for building upwards was the maximum travel height for elevators, imposed by the weight of steel ropes. This limitation was removed with the introduction of UltraRope, a durable lightweight carbon fibre rope, enabling travel heights of up to 1 kilometre, instead of about 500m on conventional steel ropes. At the same time, this new innovation delivers significant energy savings in all high-rise applications over 300 meters. It is innovative products like this that will ensure that Kone will continue to play a leading role in the development of future sustainable cities. l
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SUSTAINABILITY
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
Jane Boyle, Head of Sustainability & Energy, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Jane is a sustainability consultant bringing more than ten years of experience designing and delivering sustainable buildings and communities throughout the world. She is a qualified BREEAM Assessor (commercial, education, international, multi residential and other buildings), BREEAM Accredited Professional, Estidama PQP and LEED AP. She has also developed bespoke sustainability strategies tailored to specific client and climatic needs. Jane has a Masters of Applied Science degree in Sustainable Community Development through the Findhorn Foundation College and Heriot Watt University. She has carried out extensive research work in the field of embodied carbon of buildings and products and has a keen interest in the circular metabolism of cities. She also holds an honours degree from the Queen’s University of Belfast in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Jane has delivered some of the highest rated BREEAM buildings to date, was awarded BREEAM Non Domestic Assessor of the Year 2011 and has spoken at UKGBC, Ecobuild and Greenbuild events on environmental assessment methods and sustainable development.
Integrating sustainability into the DNA of businesses What is the roll WSP is playing in inspiring green, sustainable construction in the Middle East? “We believe we are a catalyst for change in relation to green buildings in the region – we have been involved with developing the green codes with Dubai Municipality for the UAE as well as in other regions around the globe. Sustainability is a key area of focus across our whole business, it is embedded in the way that we work and we offer in-house training and certification to our designers and project directors to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to apply sustainability best practice on every project. Our aim is to turn developments perceived as sustainable into a norm.”
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“We believe we are a catalyst for change in relation to green buildings in the region – we have been involved with developing the green codes with Dubai Municipality for the UAE as well as in other regions around the globe.” WSP is working closely with Dubai Municipality. Do you have similar relationships with other Municipalities in the UAE or the GCC region? “Yes, we do, for example we are working on various projects that involve the Sharjah Municipality including a groundbreaking development which aims to be the first BREEAM (the UK environmental assessment method for buildings which was developed in 1991) certified development in the Middle East.” How is WSP using its global expertise to create sustainable buildings and infrastructure in the Middle East? Can you illustrate with some examples in the UAE and Qatar? “WSP l Parsons Brinckerhoff has a very strong and well developed system of sharing global knowledge. We can utilise project experience and employees from other regions of the
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
globe to help support our efforts, meaning that we can deliver local solutions with the backing of our global expertise, 32,000 people. Recently we worked with specialists in the UK to fine tune a bespoke tool for maximising thermal comfort in the UAE, a project that has just been shortlisted for the Emirates Green Building Council Green Research Project of the Year award.” 2014 was the year of acquisition for WSP. With Parsons Brinckerhoff being the most recent and noteworthy of these. How has this changed or enhanced WSP’s service offerings, particularly with reference to the Middle East? “This has significantly strengthened WSP l Parsons Brinckerhoff’s offerings in terms of the number of services we can offer as well as the range of project experience we have.
Specifically in relation to the Environment & Sustainability team in the Middle East, we are now around 60 people and we have gained a new offering in Health & Safety, a specialist team that provides H&S advice on projects, but also internally to ensure it is a priority in everything we do. From a wider business perspective we are now 1500 people in the Middle East, one of the leading consultancies in the region.” As something of a global champion of sustainable construction in the industry what is WSP doing to build greater eco-awareness among various project stakeholders and the general public in this region? “We are working as an integrated design team to achieve local, national and international sustainability goals by ensuring our projects attain the highest sustainability recognition i.e. LEED certification, ESTIDAMA and BREEAM. But we are also pushing boundaries by investigating and proposing strategies that have yet to be implemented in the UAE. “Our advice and input into regional projects is improving the quality of the overall final product for our client. We also have influence through our own 1500 employees via an internal programme that encourages people to make changes to the way they work and live in order to reduce our impact on the environment. Last year we managed to reduce our energy consumption by 12 per cent year on year, so we are not only preaching the benefits of sustainability we are living it.” l
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SUSTAINABILITY
EMAAR
EMAAR ROLLS OUT WORLD’S FIRST HYDROGEN-POWERED DUBAI TROLLEY TRAM The region’s first-of-its-kind, zero-emission hop-on hop-off transit system travelling at 10 km/hour, Dubai Trolley offers easy access to The Dubai Mall, Souk Al Bahar and three landmark hotels in Downtown Dubai
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maar Properties adds another feather in its cap with the inauguration of the Dubai Trolley, the world’s first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission street trolley tram. Dubai Trolley is the region’s first-of-its-kind hop-on hop-off transit system that will offer easy and free access for visitors and residents to several iconic attractions in Downtown Dubai. As part of the initial phase, the driver-operated Dubai Trolley will traverse a distance of 1 km, offering a relaxed transport experience for people and enhancing access to landmarks such as Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building; The Dubai Mall, the world’s most-visited and largest retail and entertainment destination, and Souk Al Bahar, an Arabesque shopping and dining destination.
Apart from being environmentally sustainable and enhancing the convenience of the public, it is designed to be another compelling tourist attraction in Dubai 38
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“Dubai Trolley is another innovative addition to Downtown Dubai that also redefines the concept of urban mobility” Ahmad Al Matrooshi Managing Director of Emaar Properties
Dubai Trolley also offers convenient hop-on hop-offs at three world-class hotels – The Address Downtown Dubai, Vida Downtown Dubai and Manzil Downtown Dubai, thus adding to the convenience of the hotel guests, assuring them a memorable holiday experience through the vibrant thoroughfare of the world’s most stylish square kilometre. Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of Emaar Properties, said: “Dubai Trolley is another innovative addition to Downtown Dubai that also redefines the concept of urban mobility. By integrating the unmatched aesthetics of a trolley tram with a stateof-the-art locomotive system, Emaar is presenting a sustainable transport mode for visitors and residents in Downtown Dubai. “Apart from being environmentally sustainable and enhancing the convenience of the public, it is designed to be another compelling tourist attraction in Dubai. Just as a visit to the city is not complete without a
EMAAR
“The flagship development of Emaar Properties, Downtown Dubai welcomed over 80 million visitors in 2014, and is also the most sought-after residential and commercial property destination” tour of Downtown Dubai, a trip on Dubai Trolley will become a must-do in the tourist itinerary.” Operational from 4pm to midnight on weekdays and from 3pm to 11pm on weekends, the double-decker trolley tram can carry 50 passengers and is developed to the highest safety standards. The trams have been specially designed for Emaar, and are resplendent in bright red with aesthetic gold pin-stripes and green trim colours, featuring Arabesque design elements. Three marvellously styled Dubai Trolley stations have also opened, where visitors can relax in air-conditioned comfort. The stations, with an aesthetically appealing façade, are located near The Address Downtown Dubai, Vida Downtown Dubai and Manzil Downtown Dubai. The Trolley Terminus near Old Town Island will feature F&B offerings.
When fully operational, Dubai Trolley will eventually span 7 km across the entire breadth of Downtown Dubai. Several crossings have been provided along the tramway for safe pedestrian traffic. Downtown Dubai is also linked to the Dubai Metro through an air-conditioned travellator. It is well-serviced by public transport including Roads & Transport Authority’s buses and taxis. The flagship development of Emaar Properties, Downtown Dubai welcomed over 80 million visitors in 2014, and is also the most sought-after residential and commercial property destination. Fascinating attractions also include The Dubai Fountain, which offers a spectacular waterfront for The Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar, and the recently opened At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY, the highest outdoor observatory in the world. l
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Energy Efficiency & Management
Jotun
For a more colourful world, we all need to be a little greener Jotun’s greatest contribution to the environment and society is its premium coatings system’s protection of property against decay and corrosion
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Jotun
to industry, and is to be completed by 2018. Jotun has carried out a research project together with suppliers, customers, universities and research institutes, financed by the Research Council of Norway, and taken an active part in the regulatory process in the EU. Jotun is working actively to contribute to good REACH solutions and easy-to-use customer information that will enhance safe use. Carbon footprint The carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our dayto-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation, etc. The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tons (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent. Jotun has a number of strategies to reduce its carbon footprint including: Less stocking points Less double handling, less total stock and less obsolete goods for destruction More direct transport Closest supplier to market
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s leading manufacturer of sustainable paint products Jotun has always taken proactive steps to better protect the environment by offering high-quality products and solutions. In fact they even have an in house program to achieve their environmental sustainability goals. They call it Jotun GreenSteps - steps that make a significant difference to the world we all share. Steps like product innovations that reduce energy usage, creating more products with lower volatile organic, waste and hazardous material reduction and new processes that lower our carbon footprint and compound emissions. Energy Consumption When building new premises, or maintaining or extending existing ones, energy consumption is a main focus area. In addition Jotun chooses raw materials and develops products that can save energy for its customers and end users company’s. Company’s current energy savings program is reducing use of electricity by 3% per ton produced per year. Volatile Organic Compounds Jotun are committed to offering customers greener products that at the same time maintain high product quality and reliability standards. That includes making a large part of their products VOC-free. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are traditionally used as solvents in paint products. These substances can give chronic health effects and contribute to high levels of ozone and smog at ground level, and they are therefore regulated in many countries. Over recent decades, Jotun has put much effort into developing products that reduce the VOC content of our products, so that today we can offer products with low VOC content in all product categories. Hazardous Materials Jotun is actively working both internally and with industry peers and raw material suppliers to reduce the concentration and quantity of hazardous substances in its products. While doing this Jotun shall ensure that high product quality and reliability standards continue to be met. REACH is the new chemical regulation in the EU and EEA, shifting responsibility for risk assessment and registration of chemicals
Recycling Jotun’s key objectives are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, to be applied in all its operations, including waste from offices as well as production waste. Reducing and disposing of chemical waste is a major focus area. Obsolete goods are a major contributor to chemical waste at Jotun. Therefore they work continuously on how to rework and dispose in a more environmentally-friendly way than just scrapping them. Jotun has reduced its amount of waste from 2.5 to 2.3% of the production volume in 2011-2013. Supplier contracts and audits Jotun has harmonized contracts with suppliers with its GreenSteps program by including GreenSteps objectives in its supplier audit schematics. It has also introduced “Rapid plant assessment” where GreenSteps focus areas are introduced into supplier manufacturing facilties. Jotun recognizes sustainability as a longterm competitive advantage Jotun has always used maximum resources in developing product ranges for customers that often exceed the mandated requirements of international environmental standards. As an industry leader in the Middle East region, Jotun are ensuring their commitment to the environment by enforcing manufacturing procedures that focus on solid waste and energy reduction, recycling and the implementation of the ISO 14001 and OHSAS certification at their factories. Jotun’s global R&D team is constantly developing and innovating advanced coatings to help reduce harmful emissions and developing coatings that require fewer coats and repaints. l
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Energy Efficiency & Management
griffin
Omnia Halawani co-founded Griffin Consultants, an energy-focused engineering consultancy. Omnia is a highly qualified professional with multiple international certifications in high-performance buildings and leadership in energy and environmental designs. Omnia knew that G.C. could only achieve its vision by building a team that is professional, enthusiastic, and who shares the company’s aim of making a difference towards more sustainable cities. In this article she emphasises that there is a pressing need for a comprehensive database of local energy efficient building benchmarks that can act as the reliable platform for assessing buildings’ performances in the UAE and the region.
More Local Efficiency Benchmarks required
There is a pressing need for a comprehensive and local database of energy efficiency benchmarks that can act as A reliable source for assessing buildings’ performances in the UAE and the region, says Omnia Halawani, Managing Partner, Griffin Consultants
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hen you are looking to improve anything, two basic questions are always asked: “How are you doing it?” and “How do you know?” When it comes to improving buildings’ energy performance, you ought to assess how your building is doing and how its performance compares to other similar buildings. Any successful energy reduction implementation strategy that aims to lead to a sustainable green economy should be based on an integrated and data-driven approach. Assessing a building’s need for an energy audit starts with calculating the Energy Utilization Index (EUI), which is basically an indicator of the annual energy usage per unit area (kWh/m2/year) as derived from utility bills and the area of the building. But this figure alone serves no purpose if not compared to the energy usage in other buildings with similar use. From here arises the need to establish a benchmark metric. A high EUI, when compared to the benchmark, will mean that there is room for improvement and that a building energy audit should be sought to determine the energy conservation measures required and the savings anticipated. A successful benchmark database helps identify how a building’s energy
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performance compares to other buildings of its type, if it matches its potential, and the gap in performance, if any. The process of establishing a benchmark involves measuring and recording the total energy usage (may be across multiple sectors like electricity, water, and gas) consumed in multiple buildings forming a large sample of existing buildings in a city or a country. The records are then adjusted for essential factors like building type, area, and geographical location. Other factors like year of construction, number of occupants and/or users, and operational data may also be used for adjustment and have proven to be valuable additions. The most successful energy benchmarks use the median EUI as a metric for all buildings. This value will basically represent the middle of the database population meaning that half of the buildings use more energy and the other half uses less. Ideally, a benchmarking database is accompanied by a tool to provide an easy, fast and consistent way to benchmark any facility. A user would be required to enter basic information on the building as well as energy usage data over a period of time to generate the benchmarking report associated with the building under study. Facility owners and managers are always encouraged to consistently benchmark their buildings. A benchmark measurement at a single point of time is not going to drive the optimum energy reduction plan. After all, and you’ve definitely heard it before: You cannot manage what you do not measure. BENCHMARKING DUBAI In today’s marketplace and given Dubai’s aspiration to be the Green Economy Capital of the World, there is an immense need for a comprehensive and local benchmark that can act as the reliable source for assessing buildings’ performances in the UAE and the region. So far, such a database that is made available to public is non-existent with undocumented and unpublicized efforts to get it created. In some cases, where the energy audit is conducted for large developers who naturally have access to the energy data on all of their developments, internal benchmarks comparing buildings of different ages and similar types have been used to gauge the value of the energy retrofits being studied. But generally speaking, energy experts have been relying on benchmarking data that are established in the USA and the UK; being the ones generally endorsed by international specifying organizations and certifying agencies. A locally generated benchmark will better capture the buildings performance in the unique local and regional weather conditions of the UAE and the GCC as well as being adapted to the regional buildings construction practices. With the ongoing buildings energy retrofits efforts and by constantly updating the benchmarking data, the median of the database will continue to change raising the performance expectancy and injecting more pressure on the low performing buildings to improve their operations. A successful benchmarking strategy will also help prioritize energy audits and retrofits, monitor buildings performances over time, improve operations and maintenance, and assess retro-commissioning activities; all of which are main contributors to energy use reduction in buildings, and hence the city. Not only that, but new constructions may also benefit from energy performance databases to set energy goals during pre-design phases and to evaluate and refine designs on the go. Such a move to establish a reliable and comprehensive energy buildings benchmarking database in the Emirate of Dubai will positively contribute to the energy use reduction efforts and the underlying Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy (DIES) 2030. Etihad ESCO, which is a DEWA venture whose mission is to “make the Dubai built environment a leading example
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Energy Efficiency & Management
griffin
of energy efficiency for the region and the world”, has taken it onto their responsibility to analyze energy data and create an energy benchmark for selected buildings in Dubai to which they have an agreement with the owners/facility managers to study. This database is, however, not made public (up to the date of this article). The need to establish a public and reliable buildings energy benchmark will involve a number of key success factors. A disclosure policy needs to be put in place that identifies the frequency of disclosure and, if made mandatory by authorities, the phasing of buildings types and areas to disclose their usage. Informative campaigns will have to be activated to encourage disclosure of energy usage and educate developers on the benefit of doing so. Those campaigns should also include training facilities on what to disclose and how to extract the required data. Furthermore, establishing benchmarking tools that are easy to use yet can ensure accuracy of the data disclosed is essential. Established International Benchmarks Several international benchmarking efforts and movements have been performed and done successfully. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has developed benchmarks for commercial buildings based in sixteen climate zones covering the United States of America. The commercial buildings covered are of sixteen types like schools (primary and secondary), large to medium offices, retail, restaurants, warehouses, healthcare facilities, hotels, and supermarkets. They are separated into pre-1980 construction and post1980 construction. The database is compiled under CBECS, which stands for “Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey”. The survey to update CBECS is conducted on a quadrennial basis. This benchmark was complemented by a benchmarking tool created by the US Environmental Protection Agency: EPA’s Portfolio Manager. The Portfolio Manager relies on the data gathered by the CBECS and is an online tool to measure, benchmark, and track energy and water consumptions. It is said to be the leading benchmarking tool for commercial buildings in the USA with 40% of the commercial buildings space already benchmarked on it. The Canadian government, spearheaded by “Natural Resources Canada”, is also now using the Portfolio Manager for a national energy benchmarking initiative. The EPA Portfolio Manager has its own building rating labeling system called the ENERGY STAR. The ENERGY STAR recognition label is awarded by the US EPA for top performers in the commercial buildings energy consumption sector when benchmarked and assessed using the Portfolio Manager.
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On a smaller scale, in 2009, New York City adopted a set of energy efficiency requirements for existing buildings as a part of the city’s plan “PlaNYC”, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by the year 2017. A vital component of the plan is a requirement for public buildings over 10,000 square feet (929 square meters) and private buildings over 50,000 square feet (4,645 square meters) to benchmark their energy use on an annual basis. In 2011, NYC had already benchmarked over 2,700 buildings of multiple types and usages including healthcare facilities, educational facilities, community centers, police and fire stations, libraries, courts, and offices. This is considered a vital part of and contributor to the city’s adopted Greener Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP); a plan created to help the city achieve its aggressive sustainability goals. In the UK, the most relied on benchmark database is the CIBSE Guide F- Energy Efficiency in Buildings, after which its publication in 2004, the UK government has set targets for reducing energy usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions that are legally binding. The Guide’s latest edition in 2012 includes a section on developing energy strategies to reflect the changes in the governmental planning policies. A related publication by CIBSE is TM46: 2008- Energy Benchmarks. It was published to complement a governmental move named “Display Energy Certificates” which requires public or institutional buildings that are greater than 1000 square meters to display, in a prominent position, the grade rating which reflects the actual carbon dioxide emissions generated by the building. The benchmark covers 29 building categories for electrical and fossil fuel energy use. Final Thoughts One of the most common barriers facing building owners and developers to invest in energy efficiency and retrofit projects is the lack of accountable information and benchmarks to assist energy experts and consultants in creating a clear-cut financial case to demonstrate that investing in energy reduction measures can provide profitable growth. It is difficult for developers to make the right decisions when it comes to energy efficiency projects as long as established and widely adopted benchmarks are not in place. Developers simply are reluctant to invest in energy efficiency projects in the fear of missing out on other more straightforward growth opportunities. Benchmarking is a key tool that cannot be overlooked when adopting a city or nation wide energy performance improvement plan. Not only is it necessary for effective planning for energy retrofits and carbon emission reductions, but a readily available benchmarking tool would encourage the private sector to assess the performance of their buildings, engage in energy efficiency projects, and to positively contribute to the overall reduction in energy usage. If anything, benchmarking will drive action. l
Energy Efficiency & Management
saint gobain
Saint-Gobain 350th Anniversary celebrations in Abu Dhabi focus on environmental issues As part of a global year of special events to mark the company’s 350th anniversary, Saint-Gobain is underlining the increasingly crucial role that the environment will play in the future of the Middle East construction industry through a series of high level seminars held on 14th and 15th April
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art of a conference and dinner event being held on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s new state-of-the-art leisure and entertainments venue, the agenda included presentations from the region’s leading industrialists and environmental experts, as well as technical experts from Saint-Gobain companies around the world who flew in to be a part of the unique event. Following an opening speech by Ahmed Abdulmuttaleb Baharoon, Acting Director of Abu Dhabi’s Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI), the two-day programme focused on four key areas of particular concern to the Middle East water, the environment, comfort and well-being and the efficient use of energy. Parallel sessions were held on Environmental impact, the multi-comfort building model, and energy savings in both buildings and industrial processes. A high profile line-up of
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presenters represented, amongst others, the materials manufacturing industry, building consultants, the Middle East Acoustics Society, Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Masdar Institute. Gyproc Middle East’s very own technical and production specialists, who themselves celebrate the 10th anniversary of their operation in Dubai, this year presented on the newly launched site waste recycling service. The special seminar event was the latest in a programme of events around the world to celebrate the anniversary of the Saint-Gobain Group, world leader in the habitat and construction markets. Other events include futuristic traveling pavilions to showcase the group’s capacity for innovation and exceptional expertise in construction materials; a virtual exhibition in 5 languages, charting the company’s history and development; a special anniversary book; a free digital ‘World 350’ game that will challenge players to build houses on planet World 350; and lastly, an anniversary day that will be celebrated worldwide by the group’s 160,000 employees on October 15th. l
escos
Al Futtaim, Honeywell and Philips get ESCO Accreditation The Supervisory Bureau for Electricity & Water in Dubai (RSB) has accredited three new energy service companies (ESCOs) in Dubai, bringing the total to nine. The move comes one year after implementing the accreditation scheme, which supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, and the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, launched by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030. H.E. Ali bin Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the RSB, presented certificates of accreditation to Al Futtaim Technologies, Honeywell, and Philips Lighting, at a ceremony in the RSB’s offices
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e are pleased to see new companies join the accreditation scheme. This supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the leading countries in green economy, while preserving a sustainable environment that supports economic growth in the long term. It also supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a sustainable city whose environmental elements are clean, healthy, and sustainable, as well as the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030. The new companies will help increase energy efficiency to reduce consumption, support sustainability, and make Dubai a role model in energy-efficiency contracts by strengthening partnerships between the
public and private sectors,” said H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. “We congratulate the new companies and commend the efforts of the nine companies on our roster so far. These companies have demonstrated their technical capability and financial strength to offer energy-saving services to clients. Their work will be a vital element in improving energy-efficiency in Dubai, contributing to achieving the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030. Two of the nine companies, MAF Dalkia and Philips, have already demonstrated their capability, securing the first contracts let by Dubai’s Super ESCO, Etihad Energy Services, to improve energy efficiency at DEWA’s premises. I wish Philips, Honeywell and Al Futtaim Technologies every success in helping deliver a thriving energy services market in Dubai,” said Al Owais. RSB operates under the auspices of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy as regulator for Dubai’s electricity and water sector, as well as accrediting ESCOs. Its responsibilities include licensing of new players in the power sector. ESCOs, or energy service companies, provide energy performance contracting to their clients. They estimate possible savings from upgrading air conditioning systems, more efficient lighting, improved building controls, insulation measures, etc. and are rewarded on the basis of energy savings achieved. The nine companies accredited so far are Al Arsh Facilities Management, Al Futtaim Technologies, Emrill Energy, EMS, Green Technologies, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, MAF Dalkia, and Philips Lighting. Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy has building retrofits as a key programme to improve energy efficiency. Savings of 1.7 terawatt hours per year are targeted to come from retrofit activities by 2030. l
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TRANSPORT
VOLVO
Electric roads can provide energy for vehicles on the move Researchers in Germany and Korea are working on ways to overcome current electric vehicle limitations of short battery lives and low speeds. The solution is simple: Let the road be your energy. Electric bus systems designs are being successfully tested in two cities by: katy elliot
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lectric cars have been around for some time now but they have not yet gained widespread acceptance due to their limited travel range and speeds. Also, you can pull into a gas station and fill up your tank in a few minutes while recharging electric vehicles takes hours at a time. The folks at Volvo have come up with an innovative solution to these problems: Let the road provide the electricity as you drive. Taking a cue from wireless trams that have been operating in France for the last ten years Volvo is now applying the same technology to roads. This overcomes present day electric car driver’s fears of getting stranded by a dead battery—a major hurdle to people's willingness to buy an electric vehicle. The Volvo Group is now taking the next step in the development of sustainable transport solutions. In collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration, the Volvo Group is studying the potential for building electric roads, where city buses can be charged from
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electricity in the road at the same time as the bus is in operation. The benefit is quieter and more climate-smart public transport. A 300- to 500-meter electric road has been built for the on-going test operations. Sections of the road are equipped with wireless charge technology and vehicles automatically charge their batteries when passing over such a road section. The road has been built along a suitable bus line in central Gothenburg and is being tested for public transport. Experience from such a test track is providing valuable knowledge for future political and industrial decisions for establishing electric roads. Led by Mats Alaküla, researchers are looking at two types of "conductive charging," where vehicles would stay in continuous contact with the power supply. One method charges via lines overhead; the other, like the French trams, uses two metal bars in the road. Alaküla says the important part of the second system is "the pick-up": The connector between the vehicle and the ground. It needs to compensate for drivers who
VOLVO
“There are a handful of technologies. Volvo is not going to sell electric roads. We are contributing to society to make traffic independent of oil supply. If it turns out there is a better technology than the one we are working with, then we’ll support that instead.” move about the lane (unlike trams that stay in a fixed position). He describes the set-up as an "industrial robot sitting upside down—it adjusts to movements, one meter each way, and retracts completely if drivers move outside the lane. "If you imagine two lanes, the power system would be in the right lane," he says. "The pick-up keeps in contact with the supply, until you keep moving sideways. Then, the truck will go to the battery. When you go back, it automatically identifies the track, and reconnects." The road is safe for pedestrians, he says. The system only electrifies sections of the track when vehicles pass at a certain speed. To electrocute yourself, you'd need to step out in front of a fast-moving vehicle, which is a bad idea anyway. Behind the research is the assumption that batteries will never give the required range—especially not for long-haul trucks. As Alaküla says, batteries are "necessary, but not enough." They could provide enough power for driving in cities or getting from one major road to another. But highway driving requires something more. Volvo is testing the two conductive methods at a 400-meter track near Gothenburg. Its trucks have gone up to 50 mph so far. Alaküla expects the work to continue another year before his team takes the concept to a full road. Eventually, he thinks the concept could be used for anything bigger than a motor-bike: cars, buses, and different types of trucks. Separately, Volvo's rival Scania is testing technology based on inductive charging—where the charge is transferred via an electromagnetic field and does not require physical contact. Alaküla thinks the conductive solution could be cheaper. But he's open to the possibilities: Volvo isn't committed to either option at the moment, beyond its research effort.
"There are a handful of technologies. Volvo is not going to sell electric roads. We are contributing to society to make traffic independent of oil supply. If it turns out there is a better technology than the one we are working with, then we'll support that instead." On the other side of the world the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's (KAIST's) in the city of Gumi has developed and is currently testing the wireless Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) system, in which electric cables embedded in the asphalt provide power to vehicles traveling on its surface. Cables in the road produce magnetic fields, which receiving devices in the vehicles’ undersides pick up and convert into electricity. It can be a continuous process, or cables can be placed in separate locations along the road, providing on-going top-ups to a relatively small battery within the vehicle. Typically, only about 5 to 15 per cent of the road surface needs to be excavated for the embedding of the cables. The buses run a 24-km (15-mile) round trip route in Gumi’s inner city between the train station and the In-dong district. They will maintain a 17-cm (6.7-in) gap between their under bodies and the asphalt the whole time, receiving 20 kHz and 100 kW (136 horsepower) of electricity at a maximum power transmission efficiency of 85 per cent. EMF (electromagnetic field) levels within the buses are reportedly well within safe limits, plus the cables in the road only switch on when they detect the presence of one of the buses overhead – this should minimize pedestrians’ and other vehicles’ exposure to the magnetic fields, and will also save power. Although the technologies are still in the testing phase if they can make a successful transition to commercial applications, electric roads will go a very long way in reducing CO2 emissions while making smart vehicles economically feasible and environmentally sustainable for the foreseeable future. l
Behind the research is the assumption that batteries will never give the required range—especially not for long-haul trucks. They could provide enough power for driving in cities or getting from one major road to another. But highway driving requires something more 2015 May n FUTURECITIESME.COM
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TRANSPORT
expo 2020
Dubai Metro cruises on to Expo 2020 site with a colourful, artistic touch The project will extend the Red Line to the Expo 2020 site, adding 15 kilometres of track and seven stations
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expo 2020
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n the near future by 2018 the Dubai Metro will be extended another 14.5 kilometres, branching out from Nakheel Harbour and Tower station to the Expo 2020 site near Al Maktoum International Airport, the Roads and Transport Authority has announced. The extension has been approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and has been christened ‘Route 2020’. Route 2020 will pass through several densely populated localities and industrial zones on its way to the Expo 2020 site, including Discovery Gardens, Dubai Investment Park, Furjan and Jumeirah Golf Estates. With a major section of the new route running along Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, 10.5km of the extension will be elevated, while four kilometres will be underground. Of the seven stations, five will be elevated and two will be underground, while one more station will be built but will not be operational. Shaikh Mohammad has directed starting the construction of the project immediately, with the tender for the construction of route to be issued in July and the project expected to be ready by 2018. “The construction of the ‘Route 2020’ project conforms to the strategic vision of the Dubai Government for achieving sustainable development, and developing world-class infrastructure and services. It also comes as practical implementation of RTA’s Master Plan for providing multiple options of integrated mass transit means comprising the Metro, Tram, buses and water transport towards realising RTA’s vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for all,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA. The Route is also expected to connect with Etihad Rail which will pass through Al Maktoum International Airport. The route passes through communities with populations totalling about 240,000 people,
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TRANSPORT
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connecting a major chunk of the city’s commuting public directly with the mass transit system. “The RTA examined different options for Route 2020 and assessed their effectiveness and impact on the surrounding neighbourhoods based on a host of technical perimeters that include the enhancement of the development plans in Dubai. It also serves the largest possible number of residents as well as current and future projects, easing snarls on some congested road sectors, providing top-class service to targeted communities, and integrating with public transit systems and roads network in the emirate,” said Al Tayer. Adding that the RTA has designed an integrated plan for infrastructure projects to serve Expo 2020, highlighted by the Route 2020 project. “The plan is meant to achieve sustainability of the project and, accordingly, the path is planned to link the Expo site with a number of vital projects and locations in the area. In this regard, the RTA has coordinated with all developers and government entities in working out the proposed paths of the Metro to ensure that Route 2020 will support vital areas in the present and future.” The new route will stretch the total network of Dubai Metro to 90km, while the entire rail network, including the Dubai Tram, will extend to 101km. Currently, the Red Line journey time from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali is around 60 minutes. The new route will have an additional journey time of 16 minutes. RTA is set to hold a workshop for consultants and contractors specialised in rail projects where it will exhibit various components of Route 2020 project before inviting tenders for the project. Apart from Route 2020, two more extensions have been proposed, which are currently being studied. The proposals include a 3.5km extension from Rashidiya to Mirdif on the Red Line and a 20.6km extension on the Green Line from Jaddaf to Academic City, passing through Festival City, Ras Al Khor, International City, Silicon Oasis and Academic City. In a parralel development the metro carraiges are due to get an aesthetic makeover. Artworks by local and international artists will adorn the Dubai Metro carriages. The first art-wrapped Metro carriage has already been unveiled, featuring a photograph taken by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. The initiative is being organised by Dubai Culture, in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Dubai Metro art wraps complement the Dubai Arts Season, the umbrella initiative by Dubai Culture that incorporates citywide activation of arts and cultural events. Some of the artists whose works adorn the Metro carriages are Abdul Qader Al Rais, Rachid Koraichi and Safwan Dahoul. Regarded as the UAE’s national treasure and a visionary who is emulated by many young Emirati artists, Abdul Qader is best known for his striking abstract artworks. His works have evolved over time from his early figurative works that explored his culture, identity and surroundings.
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Dahoul’s work is part of the dream series he has been working on over the past 20 years where he mirrors the corporal and psychological effects of alienation, solitude, and longing that punctuate the human experience at various stages in life
Koraichi’s works reflect his fascination with signs, symbols and ciphers illustrated with intricate Arabic calligraphic script. His densely detailed design is defined by the universal language of signs accessible to people from all over the world, whether or not they understand Arabic. Dahoul’s work is part of the dream series he has been working on over the past 20 years where he mirrors the corporal and psychological effects of alienation, solitude, and longing that punctuate the human experience at various stages in life. Saeed Al Naboudah, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture, said: “The wrapping of Dubai Metro carriages with accomplished works of art reiterates the cultural soul of the city and reflects the Dubai Open Air Museum initiative announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This path-breaking initiative highlights the city’s cultural identity with the wider audience of Dubai residents as well as visitors. The Dubai Metro project also inspires established and aspiring artists to explore innovative methods for showcasing their art.” “Route 2020 project will offer safe and smooth mobility to visitors of Expo 2020 and residents of the neighbourhoods as well. It stands out as a vital transit corridor linking various Dubai districts with Al Maktoum International Airport, an icon of new developments in the history of Dubai, and a symbol of sustainability, advancement and creativity for current and future generations,” concluded Mattar Al Tayer. l
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smart technology
autodesk
10 Steps to BIM: How AEC Firms Can Prepare for Coming Mandates By: Louay Dahmash, Head of Middle East, Autodesk
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ver the last decade, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has transformed design and construction projects, helping to drive time and cost from the building process. Governments around the world have noticed the advantages of BIM, and increasingly are mandating the use of BIM on public projects. For instance, by 2016, public projects in the UK “will require fully collaborative 3D BIM.” Other countries, including Brazil, China, Korea, Singapore, and the United States, have issued similar BIM mandates of varying scope. And the European Union recently issued a directive to its 28 member states recommending the use of BIM on public projects Here in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai Municipality was the first to decide and mandate the use of BIM for architectural and MEP works for all buildings 40 stories or higher; facilities/buildings that are 300,000 sqft or larger; all hospitals, universities and other similarly specialized buildings and all buildings that are being delivered by/through an international party. The announcement also states that the decision to mandate BIM is based on the (proven) ability of BIM tools and workflows in improving construction quality, enabling collaboration between project participants across project phases, lowering cost and reducing time. It’s not just governments looking to BIM, however. As the public sector mandates BIM, private industry has shown more interest in working with BIM-ready teams. Increasingly, lead contractors “mandate” BIM on particular
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projects – even in countries where government mandates are not yet in the works. For example, Qatar Rail awarded the BIM services contract to Autodesk. Under the terms of the agreement, Autodesk will provide BIM implementation, consultancy and advisory services to Qatar Rail, which is responsible for the design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the entire rail network and systems within Qatar. Private industry wants to realize the benefits of BIM on projects, and it’s easy to understand why. BIM helps project teams explore designs before they’re built. The intelligent, 3D models and data that drive the BIM process make critical aspects of projects, such as coordination, communication, and collaboration, easier. Better visualization of projects speeds approvals. The proactive sustainability analysis BIM enables also helps teams to reduce the environmental impact of projects. Making the move All over the world, design and construction firms that have yet to adopt BIM are planning their move. Many of these firms worry that their ability to compete will suffer if they don’t transition sooner rather than later. But some firms are also concerned that adopting BIM will prove difficult and disruptive. This could be holding them back—or leading them to over-plan their moves. At Autodesk, we’ve talked to many firms about how they successfully adopted BIM. While there’s no one right way, we’ve identified 10 common steps that help to both accelerate the process and reduce the disruption that can accompany change. 10 steps to BIM Step One: Get to know BIM. Designate one or two people at the firm to learn more about how BIM will affect the way your team works. For instance, in the 2D world, many firms leave the details to the later stages of the design process. With BIM, many design details need to be worked out much earlier. Step Two: Communicate the change to your people. High-level firm leaders should take a leading role in letting people know the firm is definitely transitioning to BIM. The message is “we are moving to BIM because it’s critical to our future” not “we’re trying BIM.” Be sure to communicate the anticipated benefits of BIM for your firm and clients. It will be easier to
autodesk
Louay Dahmash, Head of Middle East, Autodesk
rally the team around a compelling future vision than by talking too much about mandates. Step Three: Account for software and hardware needs. BIM isn’t software; it’s a collaborative process that relies on intelligent 3D models. But you’ll need software to create those models. Take the time to explore available software, and consider whether your current hardware has sufficient processing power. Some older, less powerful hardware may need to be transitioned to team members outside the design department. Step Four: Develop a change management plan. This plan should document at a high level how your team anticipates BIM changing established workflows, who needs training and when they’ll get it, and how you’ll support people when they have questions and issues. Support is probably the most important item; organizational change happens faster
and more successfully when you help people adopt new ways of working. Step Five: Start a pilot program, and provide training to the pilot team. For most firms, it makes sense to run a BIM pilot. If you do dozens of small projects each year, you might consider completing one pilot and capturing lessons learned before running several more pilot projects. A firm with just a few massive multiyear projects might prefer to capture lessons learned from an initial pilot as it happens, while also initiating all new projects in BIM. Step Six: Document preferred processes. As your pilot project (or projects) progress, have the team document BIM processes. Consider your preferred outputs and how your team needs to do BIM to support them. It’s tempting to try to create standards during or before running a pilot. But your ideas about standards will evolve as you use BIM. Starting with standards could slow your team down and complicate the BIM adoption process unnecessarily. Step Seven: Cultivate BIM champions. You’ll find that some people in your firm are excited about BIM—perhaps they even learned about BIM as part of their education or while working at another firm. Try to put BIM champions on every pilot project, and provide them with the additional training and support they need to help teammates adopt BIM. Step Eight: Train and transition other teams. It is important to provide training to people who are about to begin a BIM project. A common mistake is to train the whole firm at once, but then transition to BIM project by project over the course of a year or two. People on later projects will have forgotten much of what they learned in training. Step Nine: Integrate with other models. You’ll see the most benefits from BIM when you share models with other firms that are also working in BIM. Many firms find that integrating models into
a single, shared model accelerates the coordination process and opens the door to a new level of collaboration. Step Ten: Expand and innovate with BIM. As you use BIM, you’ll find that it enables new visualization, coordination, and analysis capabilities. Look for ways to turn these new capabilities into value—and new service offerings—for clients. Communicate the value of BIM to current and potential clients in your marketing, and let them know you’re at the ready to meet the requirements of looming BIM mandates. Start Today Refer to the steps above to get started, but don’t view them as rigid suggestions. Follow the steps in the order that makes the most sense for the types of projects you do. Many steps will overlap, and you may decide to skip or alter some. When facing a mandate, the important things are to get started with an adoption plan that firm leaders support—and keep focused on your goal even if you need to modify the plan along the way. l
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smart technology
cloud seeding
UAE at the forefront of artificial precipitation technology efforts
This April 13, 2013, file photo shows a NASA Global Hawk robotic jet in a hangar at Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The Federal Aviation Administration announced six states on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the march of the unmanned aircraft into U.S. skies. (Source: AP Photo/ John Antczak, File)
By Sunil Thakur
Rainmaking has been in the folklore and cultural practice of many cultures around the world since ancient times. Rain being essential to human survival, man has tried to use many ingenious practices and devices to coax, cajole, plead and force this blessing from the heavens
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n the 21st century attempts continue except we don’t beat drums or chant hymns to please rain gods. Instead, we fire rockets or send aircraft into the sky. Cloud seeding, the process employed to artificially create rain or snow has been in practice off and on with varying degrees of success since the 1940s. Very simply put, the usual practice is to disperse silver iodide or a similar chemical into a cloud. This super cools the cloud forcing the formation of water or ice within them that later fall towards earth. The method of placing chemicals within clouds is varied: from firing rockets from the ground with flares containing the chemicals or sending up aircraft that disperse the silver iodide as they fly through the cloud. Up until now the most economical method was to fire rockets. But the effectiveness of this method is not always assured. Drone technology has provided the artificial rain business a much needed fillip. The smaller size of the drones, and the fact they are not manned, provides potential opportunities for drones to fly below cloud base and seed there as well as at cloud top. Drones are far lighter and unmanned thus saving on fuel and manpower costs that made conventional aircraft a financially unfeasible seeding mechanism in the long term.
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The People’s Republic of China presently has the largest cloud seeding system in the world with the government trying to increase rainfall in the most arid regions of the country. In the United States, cloud seeding is used to increase precipitation in areas experiencing drought, or to reduce the size of hailstones that form in thunderstorms, and to reduce the amount of fog in and around airports. Cloud seeding is occasionally used by major ski resorts there to induce snowfall. In Russia after the Chernobyl disaster cloud seeding was used to remove radioactive particles from clouds heading toward Moscow. So as we can see cloud seeding has a number of different uses besides inducing rain. One region that is strongly promoting the technology to ensure future water security is the Middle East. In the United Arab Emirates, cloud seeding is being conducted by the weather authorities to create artificial rain. The project, which began in July 2010
cloud seeding
“The method of placing chemicals within clouds is varied: from firing rockets from the ground with flares containing the chemicals or send up aircraft that disperse the silver iodide as they fly through the cloud.” and cost $11 million, has been successful in creating rain storms in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi desert. The UAE officially unveiled the ‘UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science’ earlier this year. The aim of the program is to enhance the country’s water security through international cooperation in scientific research and development. Organized by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, the program invites innovative research and technology proposals from domestic or foreign, public or private, non-profit or for-profit organizations and, even from individuals. The US$5 million dollar
programs supports up to five awards annually. It is anticipated that the awards will be valued up to US$1.5 million each, and dispersed over a three year period. All awards will be selected by a two-stage merit review process, and announced in January 2016 following which a new cycle will commence. All entries for the 2016 program have been received and the awardees will be officially announced at the awards ceremony later this month. With all its pros and cons, cloud seeding appears to be promising technology for bringing water in a sustainable fashion to the driest regions on earth – the Middle East being one of them. Towards this the UAE government is making every effort to explore all possible technologies to reduce the dependence on desalination plants and ground water basins for its future populations. l
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future communication
This means we could control objects anywhere in the world, in real time, from a mobile device and get the sensation that we were controlling something right in front of us.
Touch: The Internet’s Final Frontier By Sunil Thakur
The internet of things is here; the internet of feels can’t be far behind. Online communication of the future will be so real that you can touch it
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ith smartphones and their touchscreens, today we have the ability to interact with the internet like never before - we can touch, pinch, and zoom in on webpages. However, apart from the occasional popups and notifications, we don’t get much of a human response in return. The next generation or 5G wireless devices could change that. In perhaps 10 years, we could have a wireless network that would send and receive vast amounts of data in less than one millisecond. At that speed, we would be able to match the reaction speed the human
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body has to touching or feeling something. The next generation of wireless technology with download speeds in gigabytes per second could be fast enough to support a “Tactile Internet.” The internet we can touch - and which touches back - is based on haptic feedback technology. Haptics uses force upon the skin to deliver real-time tactile feedback. These physical sensations are created by tiny motors called actuators. Done right, haptics can mimic the feeling of a pin prick by a wearable that tracks your blood sugar, simulate the plucking of virtual guitar strings on a tablet screen, or re-create the physical recoil of a phaser from your favourite game controller. This means we could control objects anywhere in the world, in real time, from a mobile device and get the sensation that we were controlling something right in front of us. Virtual Classrooms. Educationists are eagerly looking forward to this technology. Students could stop struggling in classrooms trying to pay attention to dull teachers and actually walk the streets of ancient Rome
future communication
Haptic technology provides tactile and resistance feedback to surgeons as they operate the remote robotic device. As the surgeon makes an incision, they feel ligaments as if working directly on the patient or be there as Graham Bell making the first phone call and touching what’s in front of them (or so it will seem). Virtual training rooms. We could learn new skills, like flying or skiing, from life-like simulations in our own living rooms, without setting foot on a cockpit or a ski slope. Immersive conversations. The next generation of video chatting could make two people feel as though they actually were in the same room as each other—you could potentially shake hands with or give a comforting hug to someone on the other side of the world. Telemedicine. Doctors would be able to diagnose and operate on patients, wherever they are, using “tele-robotic technologies”. Doctors would be able to feel your wrist and measure your blood pressure over the internet. Haptic technology provides tactile and resistance feedback to surgeons as they operate the remote robotic device. As the surgeon makes an incision, they feel ligaments as if working directly on the patient. Imagine a doctor treating an Ebola patient without ever placing himself in harm’s way. No traffic lights. 5G could allow us to have fully automatic, self-driving cars that can react in an instant to changes in the road, and to other 5G-enabled vehicles and pedestrians, eliminating the need for traffic lights. How likely is the possibility of an instant-reaction internet? “It is happening already, creepingly,” says
Gerhard Fettweis, a professor at the Dresden University of Technology. Robots on modern factory floors can already interact with each other and their surroundings almost instantaneously, for example. But we’ll need more powerful devices and a much faster wireless network before we see a truly tactile internet. Fettweis, who has worked with Vodafone and the International Telecommunication Union (the United Nations’ telecommunications arm) on his theories, says we’ll need a data network 100 times faster than the current 4G network—and it will probably take another decade or so for telecoms companies to start investing seriously in a new network. “We see big steps happen every 10 years,” Fettweis says. “If people see that it’s an opportunity that could be missed, they won’t want to miss out.” Feeling is believing. Early one morning last year Hiroshi Ishii, associate director of the MIT Media Lab, placed his hand on one of two identical assemblies of wooden bars. A volunteer puts his hand on the other, a few feet away. As Ishii rolled his hand over the one assembly, the volunteer simultaneously felt his movements in the bars under his own hands. The experiment, dubbed InTouch, translates movements into a form of communication that typically requires us to share the same physical space. But they were not; it just felt like they were. Seeing the technology is amazing. But in this case only feeling is believing. This could change the hundreds of digital interactions we have every day. Take texting: With
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the absence of information like voice or body language, we sometimes struggle to truly understand what a text means. The only thing we can interpret is the text itself and perhaps that ellipsis that pops up on our iPhone while someone is typing. Ishii wants to unpack all the emotive information hidden in those ellipses. “I’m a calligrapher,” says Ishii, “before the ink drops on paper, [there’s] the study, the motion.” Ishii and his team maintain that their prototypes are, by design, meant to add to our ability to express ourselves remotely. Today, our notion of telepresence—the ability to feel present in another location—has been generally confined to our visual and audio senses. Breakthroughs like virtual reality hint at a more cinematic experience, but you can’t feel someone’s heartbeat using Oculus Rift. “You can see [its] surface,” says 58-year-old Ishii, combining a Japanese accent with an unweathered, wide-eyed curiosity. “But you can’t feel it.” A slew of new companies—including Lumo BodyTech, MEMI, Ringly and Artefact—integrate haptic feedback to correct our posture and alert us to important calls. Apple’s forthcoming smart watch will allow us to do things like physically feel one another tap on a screen and feel each other’s heartbeats. And if you think getting poked on Facebook is annoying now, well, it’s only a matter of time before moms use any of these products to invisibly nudge their kids (of all ages) to stand up straight. In MirrorFugue, one of more than 140 experiments credited to Ishii’s group, PhD candidate Xiao Xiao combines the haptic feedback concept embedded in InTouch with visual and audio elements to create what she dubs as “ghost presence.” In the experiment, a young girl was recorded playing on a grand piano. The visual recording of her hands playing is later superimposed on the piano keys, as the keys are triggered to play by her original movements. Live music emanates from the piano, with the pianist at once present and absent. Later, a woman sits at the same piano and plays alongside the ghost hands, seeing and feeling the younger girl’s hands physically trigger sound as she simultaneously sees and hears her own on the same piano. MirrorFugue’s capability could lead toa number of scenarios, from an instructor remotely teaching a pianist how to play to a faraway friend’s footsteps walking alongside me as we share an afternoon stroll. “Different streams of interface broaden our meaning of a physical world,” Ishii says. Remote Teamwork. Take working remotely: “It’s not just the presence of the person; there’s the space and the tangible objects you interact with,” says another PhD candidate on Ishii’s team,
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“InForm’s shape display can give me more hands and even transform the shape of my hands to be any object or shape needed” Sean Follmer. Those objects can be anything from, say, a car two mechanics repair to a ball soccer players “bend” to a product collaboratively created, like a handbag. Last year, Follmer and fellow PhD candidate Daniel Leithinger unveiled project InForm, which allows video conference goers to interact. Using InForm, one can copy the shape of one’s hand and its movements into a 3-D rendering that exists on a remote workspace. The prototype consists of identical workspaces with depthsensing cameras and sensor-based pegs that move up and down in reaction to one’s movements. The MIT team is focused first and foremost on communication. “A lot of the time when we think of telepresence, the person who is remotely located is at a disadvantage,” Follmer says. “They are at a lower resolution, you can’t hear them very well, they’re flat, etc. But now
we’re starting to think about what we can do to help them be better than the person who’s there.” InForm’s shape display can give me more hands and even transform the shape of my hands to be any object or shape needed. So I can turn my hands into a bucket, for instance, to move something like a large collection of golf balls. The newness of the technology still leaves some unanswered questions particularly related to user experience and acceptance. For instance for many viewers watching an old film’s original cinematography can better convey a director’s intent than watching that same film in high definition. Similarly, feeling someone’s fidgeting movements during a virtual business meeting with hapto feedback may be more distracting than illuminating. Hence as with technology breakthroughs in communication, we’ll just have to feel it out its future usefulness. l
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smart technology
the science fair
Inspiring the next generation of Emirati scientists UAE’s top scientific minds display latest innovations at Think Science Fair 2015, the region’s biggest student science exhibition
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mirates Foundation, an independent philanthropic organization set up by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private partnerships for empowering youth across the UAE, organized Think Science Fair 2015 this month. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister and Chairman of Emirates Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Abu Dhabi Education Council, the fair is one of the biggest events of its kind in the region, attracting thousands of school and university youth, parents, academics, investors and private sector representatives. This year’s event, which was held from May 5-7, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, was officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Dhiab bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Board Member of Emirates Foundation, who welcomed students and participants to the fair. The Think Science Fair comprises a large exhibition of youths’ innovations participating in the competition, and interactive hands on activities in Science, Engineering, Oil and Gas, Energy, Aviation and Technology sectors showcased by leading companies and organizations from the science and technology fields. Speaking at the fair, His Highness Sheikh Dhiab Bin Mohammed said: “I am pleased to see the Think Science program grow year after year and evolve in its unique contribution towards improving the capabilities of the Emirati youth. I have seen how the program is building the next generation of scientists and Emirati scientific talent who will contribute towards building the future of our nation.” Highlighting the importance of 2015 as the year of innovation, he added: “Innovation is the major goal
that drives the Government’s work. I think this Fair, with its innovative scientific projects, and with its ability to embrace such a large, growing number of creative youths, is an important platform and a forum that helps drive the government’s efforts in this field. “This Fair can enhance the culture of innovation in all aspects of life and can translate the Government’s vision and goals into real achievements.” Launched in September 2012, Think Science is an interactive program aimed at sparking an interest in science among the Emirati youth. Targeted towards young people between the ages of 15 and 24, it aims to inspire, encourage and empower Emirati youth to follow their passion for science with interactive, hands-on activities in the fields of engineering, energy, aviation and other technological industries. The Minister of Education said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Emirates Foundation on this extremely important initiative, which plays such a pivotal role in helping the UAE youth make an active contribution to their country’s development. By bridging the gap between the youth and business sector in the UAE, Think Science is paving the way for the next generation of scientists who will hold the future of our great nation in their hands.” Clare Woodcraft-Scott, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said the organization was committed towards providing sustainable, long-term initiatives that empower the youth. She said: “Think Science is a vitally important programme for empowering the youth. We want to encourage talented young people to take an interest in science to support the UAE’s progress and development into a knowledge-based economy. “This year’s fair will feature some of the UAE’s most promising scientific talent who will have the unique chance to connect with leading private sector companies and
“Think Science is a vitally important programme for empowering the youth. We want to encourage talented young people to take an interest in science to support the UAE’s progress and development into a knowledge-based economy.” institutions specialised in the fields of science and technology. We look forward to welcoming a wide selection of budding scientists to attend what promises to be a highly educational and informative event.” More than 200 projects representing the work of more than 550 Emirati youth are displayed at the Fair, which aims to encourage UAE youth from public and private schools and universities to participate in an innovative national level science competition. The participating projects have been entered in
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the science fair
the competition under the guidance of 160 mentors and supervisors from educational institutions across the UAE. The judging committee for the competition — made up of more than 52 scientific experts and professors from universities and private corporate entities — will review and evaluate the projects to determine the winners at a ceremony, which is due to take place on May 25. Maytha Al Habsi Chief Programmes Officer at Emirates Foundation, said bridging the skills gap in the science sector was a top priority of Think Science. She said: “The path to a sustainable future for the UAE lies in the power of talented youth. Emirati scientists are needed now more than ever to fill positions in diverse sectors such as nuclear engineering, aeronautical engineering, energy and IT. “The event aims to provide youth with that critical spark with a view to encouraging them to both study science and technology and embark on an exciting and rewarding career in this key area.” The Think Science Competition includes the schools competition that focuses on Applied Physics, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Environmental sciences and Management, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Energy, Safety systems, Smart Systems and Transportation. The universities competition is centered around three main categories: Energy and Electrical Systems, Smart Industrial Systems, and Applied Sciences & Engineering. The fair also acts as a platform to connect youth with experts through motivational sessions that focus on key areas in education and innovation. Discussion panels allow participants to hear from scientist who have made careers out their passion. There are also 37 companies, organisations and institutes at the fair to offer career advice to those in attendance. The event will be a heightened engagement initiative connecting
“The event aims to provide youth with that critical spark with a view to encouraging them to both study science and technology and embark on an exciting and rewarding career in this key area.” young people with a strategic scientific network. The Fair also offers individual companies, academia and government institutions the opportunity to showcase their work and connect directly with UAE youth. Think Science comprises three interrelated projects designed to help realise the potential of the UAE youth in the field of science – Think Science Competition, Think Science Connect and Think Science Ambassadors. The Think Science competition was launched in October 2012 by Emirates Foundation as part of its Think Science programme, which aims to motivate, encourage and empower Emirati youth to consider a career in the science sector. Think Science Connect is a platform for young people to meet with leaders and prominent figures from various scientific sectors while Think Science Ambassadors aims to provide youth with that critical spark by introducing them to role models in the field. Think Science Ambassadors aims to provide youth with that critical spark by introducing youth to role models in the field, connecting them with mentors, and exposing youth to different extracurricular activities in science. l
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Health & Community
NORA Flooring
Steven McFadden Regional Manager MENA of nora systems GmbH
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NORA Flooring
Healthy Floorings make for Brighter Minds In this passionate discussion with Steven McFadden, Regional Manager MENA of nora systems GmbH, we learn how the quality of flooring affects school environments; from better health to more interactive classrooms. After all, our children spend more than six hours a day, five days a week in school. Find out how better flooring can better their experience
“The number one reason why nora products are preferred by schools is due to its low levels of chemical emissions which helps keep indoor air quality to the highest possible standards�
How are your products suited for projects within the education sector? Nora produces unique rubber flooring products for all areas in an educational facility. This can start with standard flooring for the reception area to special products for kindergarten, classrooms, corridors and multipurpose halls. We have two product ranges one called noraplan and the second is a high performance premium product which is in tile format called norament. The number one reason why nora products are preferred by schools is due to its low levels of chemical emissions which helps keep indoor air quality to the highest possible standards. This is largely due to their minimal emission of Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. These emissions at high levels and in other products are proven to cause respiratory and developmental problems among children. nora products have the lowest level of VOC emission compared to any of its competitors making it the preferred product for flooring in schools by organizations like Estidama in Abu Dhabi and Greenpeace across the globe. Another reason nora is the flooring of choice is because of its low maintenance and its complete independence from waxing and polishing chemicals. Thanks to our advanced technologies nora flooring does not require any coating and uses only water for cleaning. The vast majority of other rubber, Linoleum and PVC flooring products from other companies come with a superfical coating. This coating is necessary for these products to contain their VOC emissions and to avoid direct contact of footfall with the PVC or linoleum flooring material which is prone to abrasion. However, this coating does not last for more than a year. After that the floor needs to be waxed and polished. But waxing and polishing
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NORA Flooring
have their own problems causing floors to lose their bacteriostatic and slip resistance properties. Over a period of time the wax itself releases particulate matter in the air creating respiratory problems. Nora flooring eliminates the need for any additional coating or waxing chemicals and simply requires water for cleaning and maintenance thus having negligible negative impact on indoor air quality. Lastly, its nora Flooring’s aesthetic value. All other equivalent products available in the market are dimensionally unstable. That means their width and length tends to reduce over time. This is again connected to the VOC content of the flooring that is gradually released over a period of time causing the tiles and sheets to shrink in size and create unsightly gaps in the flooring and creating areas for micro-organism growth. This never happens with nora. For regular schools noraplan is most suitable. The latter comes in rolls and sheets where we can minimize the number of joints. We have many different types of colours and patterns including reflection breaking surfaces that have been specially developed for school environments. This technology hides surface dirt untill it is cleaned. We also supply material for stairs called the nora Step Tread system where the nose, the tread and the riser are incorporated in a single piece. This makes it easier to install. These stairs are specially preferred in the educational community as they are incorporated with a “forgiveness” feature so falling in them doesn’t hurt quite as much as conventional stairs. Other features like anti-slip technology, and accessories like custom built skirting details make them a better choice. Another new product from nora is the noraplan nTx. This revolutionary product is being launched next month. noraplan nTx combines the entire range of attractive noraplan sheet flooring design options with a pre-applied, solvent-free adhesive for quick, easy installations. How important is continued Research and Development when it comes to manufacturing for your industry? Continuous research and developments efforts are extremely important in providing the best possible product to end users. All our products can match
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all major quality standards across the world, be it Australia, Europe, Asia or the US, whatever the project is we can match the requisite quality standards. At nora we have developed flooring products that offer the best possible indoor air quality in the world. Particularly our new product the noraplan nTx. This is our most technologically advanced product to date and is the result of the tireless efforts of our R&D teams. What more can be done to ensure future educational facilities give the best environment for learning? It is the corporate social responsibility of any developer to offer the best possible learning environment in an educational facility. Ultimately, the final flooring product being used for schools, should not be determined by the cost alone; which unfortunately is the deciding factor on many of our nation’s schools regardless of any negative health impacts. The decision of the flooring should not be left in the hands of contractors. One of the best ways to ensure high quality future educational facilities is to
NORA Flooring
“All our products can match all major quality standards across the world, be it Australia, Europe, Asia or the US, whatever the project is we can match the requisite quality standards” help those developing the projects to understand the differences in products. If you walk into any school you will find that the flooring is one third of your visual area and it is 75 to 80% of the contact area. The average school here has about 10,000 square meters and you need those 10,000 square meters to be healthy as humanly possible. At nora we have been working for over sixty years to provide just that! Another area we are developing to help schools with is teaching aids. Thanks to our ability to inlay our flooring with any conceivable design we offer teachers the ability to control student movement with the flooring. For example in a multipurpose hall we can include lines and different shades of colour in the flooring allowing teachers to effortlessly control movement in the teaching area. The colours we offer are well researched and according to the principles of colour science. In this way our products offer much more just flooring. In the UAE as educational infrastructure is still being built we have a tremendous opportunity to create better learning environments for schools. How does Nora’s international expertise and experience help when working with the education sector in the GCC? nora’s international experience helps us tremendously. At the end of the 1990s we saw a great influx of designs by
American and European architects and without our international expertise we would not have been able to offer customized products for these different environments. For example, we have completed over 5000 school projects in the United States. With that came a lot of end user experience. So far, healthcare has been our largest market in the region but education is fast overtaking that in the Middle East and we are using our vast education experience to help build classrooms and multi-use common spaces for more and more schools in the Middle East every year. How can manufacturers work closer with the architects and end users to create the best finished projects? Our products are widely known and accepted by contractors and architects because they understand what’s best for an educational facility. Our products are premium products and add a lot of commercial and aesthetic value to every project. We work very closely with architects and they understand what is best for an educational institution. We also spend a major portion of our time talking with end users. We have also designed a number of programs with architects and end users to educate them on the benefits of our products. The number one benefit being health and safety, number two being hygiene and maintenance. We also participate in several round table talks with architects, contractors and end users to make them aware of the advantages and health benefits of using Nora Flooring. l
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Health & Community
tissue engineering
Tissue Engineering offers hope for failing body parts As lifespans get longer wear, and tear of body organs in daily use is likely to become a common problem. While you may still not have a spare kidney or heart valve tucked away in your bathroom cabinet, Sunil Thakur describes how stem cell research and tissue engineering is already making rapid strides towards addressing this medical issue of the future by Katy elliot
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he idea behind tissue engineering is that you take plastics, add cells to it, and if you use the right kind of plastics and the right structure and add the right media to the mix, then you have the ability to make skin, bone, or any tissue or organ in the body. There’s been significant progress in this field, says Robert Langer, professor in biomedical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We can already make skin for patients with burns or skin ulcers, and others like corneas and liver are in trials. Langer hopes we will be able to do this for all tissues. Immune rejection and integration are big challenges, though. Langer’s team are working on creating new materials that are better for stem cells to grow on, they are working on ways of synthesising thousands of new chemicals that may perform better, and they are creating new imaging techniques. In June 2011, an Eritrean man entered an operating theatre with a cancer-ridden windpipe, but left with a brand new one. People had received windpipe transplants before, but
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Andemariam Teklesenbet Beyene’s was different. His was the first organ of its kind to be completely grown in a lab using the patient’s own cells. Beyene’s windpipe is one of the latest successes in the on-going quest to grow artificial organs in a lab. The goal is deceptively simple: build bespoke organs for individual patients by sculpting them from living flesh on demand. No-one will have to wait on lengthy transplant lists for donor organs and no-one will have to take powerful and debilitating drugs to prevent their immune systems from rejecting new body parts. The practicalities are, as you can imagine, less straightforward. Take the above example. The process began with researchers taking 3D scans of Beyene’s windpipe, and from these scans built an exact replica from a special polymer and a glass mould. This was flown to Sweden, where a surgeon seeded this scaffold with stem cells taken from Beyene’s bone marrow. These stem cells, which can develop into every type of cell in the body, soaked into the structure and slowly recreated the man’s own tissues. The team at Stockholm’s Karolinska University Hospital incubated the growing windpipe in a bioreactor – a vat designed to mimic the conditions inside the human body. Two days later, Macchiarini transplanted the windpipe during a 12-hour operation, and after a month, Beyene was discharged from the hospital, cancer-free. A few months later, the team repeated the trick with another cancer patient, an American man called Christopher Lyles. Macchiarini’s success shows how far we have advanced towards the goal of bespoke organs. But even researchers at the cutting edge of this area admit that decades of research lie ahead to overcome all obstacles.
tissue engineering
“A good way to think about it is that there are four levels of complexity,” says Anthony Atala from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, one of the leaders of the field. The first level includes flat organs like skin, which comprise just a few types of cells. Next up are tubes, like windpipes or blood vessels, with slightly more complex shapes and more varied collections of cells. The third level includes hollow saclike organs, like the bladder or stomach. Unlike the tubes, which just act as pipes for fluid, these organs have to perform on demand – secreting, expanding or filtering as the situation arises. Growing your own solid organs is a little different Scientists have fashioned lab-grown organs from all three of these categories. Surgeons have implanted artificial skin and cartilage into thousands of patients. Synthetic windpipes are now a reality. Artificial blood vessels are going through clinical trials for patients on dialysis and children with congenital heart problems. Atala himself has transplanted lab-grown bladders into several patients, the first of whom has now been living with her new organ for over a decade. It is the fourth level that presents the greatest challenge: the solid organs like the kidneys, heart, lungs and liver. They are thicker than most of the others, and each has a complicated architecture, featuring many different types of cells and an extensive network of blood vessels to provide them with oxygen and nutrients. Incorporating these vessels into growing organs, especially at the microscopic scale required, is a particularly vexing problem. Without cracking it, lab-grown organs will always stay small and simple. But whether it is “level one” or “level four” organs, the basic premise is the same. You need a source of the patients’ own cells, and you need to coax them into growing in the right way. That means getting the right balance of temperature, pH, hormones, and more. It also means exposing growing tissues to the forces they would normally experience inside the body. Engineered arteries need to experience pulses of pressure that simulate the blood that normally pumps through them. Engineered muscle needs to be stretched. Engineered lungs need to feel a regular flow of air. “Every cell has the right genetic information to create the organ. You just need to put them in the right environment,” says Atala. Other research focusses on the potential organ-building capabilities of three-dimensional (3-D) printers. These devices are modified versions of everyday inkjet printers that squirt living cells rather than drops of ink. Layer by layer, they can make threedimensional structures such as organs
“Even after scientists successfully devise ways of growing organs, there are many logistical challenges to overcome before these isolated success stories can become everyday medical reality.” and, as of September last year, the blood vessels they contain. Atala is developing this technique – he wowed the audience at a TED conference last year by printing a kidney on stage (although not a functional one). He says, “For the level four organs, it’s just a matter of time,” says Atala. “We’re still a long way from full replacement, but I do believe that these technologies are achievable.” Even after scientists successfully devise ways of growing organs, there are many logistical challenges to overcome before these isolated success stories can become everyday medical reality. “Can you manufacture them and grow them on large scales?” asks Robert
Langer, a pioneer in the field. “Can you create them reproducibly? Can you preserve them [in the cold] so they have a reasonable shelf-life? There are a lot of very important engineering challenges to overcome.” But advance they will, driven in part by a substantial and growing medical need. “We’re doing a better job of keeping people alive longer, and the more you age, the more your organs tend to fail,” says Atala. “The number of patients on our transplant lists continues to increase, but the number of transplants performed remains flat. The need is only going to become more prominent as time goes on.” l
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Food & Agriculture
nano tech
Nanotechnology In Agriculture
Tiny Revolution shaping the Future of Food and Agriculture by: sunil thakur
The importance of agriculture to all human societies is characterized more than ever today with increasing world population. In these post green revolution years with the dramatic decline in the ratio of agricultural production growth to world population growth, agriculture industries all over the globe need to employ new technologies more than ever before in order to feed their populations in a sustainable manner. Nanotechnologies could play an important role in increasing production and improving the quality of food produced by farmers 70
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nano tech
T
hough nanotechnology is a term used more and more often today, many people struggle to define what it really means. Consumers can be particularly baffled by the term. The difficulty is that nanotechnologies involve structures and substances so small that they challenge our ability to conceptualize their size. A nanometer is onebillionth of a meter. The typical nanotechnology utilizes structures under 100 nanometers in size. By comparison, a human hair is 100,000 nanometers wide. Most people have a hard time visualizing something that is tens of thousands of times smaller than a hair. Suffice it to say that things at the nanoscale not only are too small to be viewed by the human eye but also require powerful, cutting- edge technology, such as transmissionelectron or scanning tunneling microscopes, to be seen at all. Nanotechnologies exist today because scientists have developed sophisticated instruments and processes that allow them to take microscopically small structures—down to individual atoms and molecules— and use them as individual building blocks with which to construct a new generation of substances and materials.
Farm applications of nanotechnology are many and diverse. Nano materials are being developed that offer the opportunity to more efficiently and safely administer pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers by controlling precisely when and where they are released. For example, an environmentally friendly pesticide is in development that uses nano materials to release its pest-killing properties only when it is inside the targeted insect. In another application for livestock, the ability of certain nano materials to control dosage could reduce the amount of growth hormones needed to boost livestock production. There also are nano materials in the late stages of development that can detect and neutralize animal pathogens in livestock before they reach consumers. Another major role for nanotechnology-enabled devices will be the increased use of autonomous sensors linked into a GPS system for real-time monitoring. These nano sensors could be distributed throughout the field where they can monitor soil conditions and crop growth. Ultimately, precision farming, with the help of smart sensors, will allow enhanced productivity in agriculture by providing accurate information, thus helping farmers to make better decisions. In general, precision agriculture is a new attitude in farm management . With the use of nano sensors we can determine for every small part of the farm exactly which and how much fertilizer and chemical pesticide is required. Therefore, use of inputs will be optimal. Use of safe products and economic efficiency is increased. Nano-sensors help farmers in maintaining the crop with precise control and timely reports on the needs of plants. Nano sensors and nano-based smart delivery systems could also help in the efficient use of agricultural natural resources like water, nutrients and chemicals through precision farming. Through the use of nano materials and global positioning systems with satellite imaging of fields, farm managers could remotely detect crop pests or evidence of stress such as drought. Once pest or drought is detected, there would be automatic adjustment of pesticide applications or irrigation levels. Nano sensors dispersed in the field can also detect the presence of plant viruses and the level of soil nutrients. Nano fertilizers will be absorbed by plants rapidly and completely. Nano encapsulated slow release fertilizers have also become a trend to save fertilizer consumption and to minimize environmental pollution. Super water adsorbents made
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Food & Agriculture
led farming
cells where they previously could not reach. In addition, scientists believe nano materials can be designed to block certain substances in food, such as harmful cholesterol or food allergens, from reaching certain parts of the body. Today, many of the world’s leading food companies— including H.J. Heinz, Nestlé, Hershey, Unilever, and Kraft— are investing heavily in nanotechnology applications. ON THE OTHER HAND… … there are concerns that nano materials now in development are “unnatural”; that is they are different from anything that exists in nature. Anybody remember Genetically Modified or “GM” foods? And the hullabaloo they caused over a decade ago? As many observers point out, the reason nanotechnology is causing so much excitement is
“In the food industry, nanotechnology is being used to create better packaging and healthier foods. For example, researchers are working on creating food packages embedded with tiny materials specifically designed to alert consumers that a product is no longer safe to eat”
by nanotechnology, has an important role in storage and protecting water in arid and semiarid regions. Nanotechnology has many applications in the field of agricultural machinery such as: Application in machine structure and agriculture tools to increase their resistance against wear and corrosion and ultraviolet rays; producing strong mechanical components with use of nano-coating and use of bio-sensors in smart machines for mechanical-chemical weed control; production nano-cover for bearings to reduce friction; The use of nanotechnology in production of alternative fuels and reduce environmental pollution. Nanotechnology has also shown its ability in modifying the genetic constitution of the crop plants thereby helping in further improvement of crop plants. In the food industry, nanotechnology is being used to create better packaging and healthier foods. For example, researchers are working on creating food packages embedded with tiny materials specifically designed to alert consumers that a product is no longer safe to eat. Food scientists also are creating nano materials whose small size gives the ability to deliver powerful nutrients to human
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precisely because it allows people to create products that do things that natural particles cannot. And when it comes to human consumption this is definitely thin ice that we are venturing out on. For example, consider the use of nano materials to improve the body’s ability to absorb nutrients by making them so small that they can slip through cell walls that ordinarily would prohibit their passage. While there can be benefits to breaking down that barrier, such as quicker and more efficient uptake of nutrients into the bloodstream, could there also be unintended consequences? We need to understand the potential side effects before these products come into mass use. Achieving this understanding will require research that focuses specifically on the nanotechnology aspect of the product. Current information—if it even exists—can be of limited value in understanding potential risks. Overall, the point is that new research is needed to fully understand the individual risks posed by products that use nanotechnology. If this research is not done, consumer and environmental health could suffer in two ways: By being exposed to potentially harmful products or, by unfounded fears slowing approval processes or leading to over-regulation thus depriving us of what could be very beneficial innovations. Therefore, a thoroughly scientific and balanced approach is what this calls for without feeding irrational euphoric or alarmist fears on either side. Nanotechnology safety research’s purpose is to anticipate and deal with the pressure points that, if ignored, will prevent the industry from reaching its full potential benefits - whether those benefits involve something vital to humanity, such as safer and more nutritious food, or something merely convenient and commercially lucrative, such as a plastic bottle that uses nano materials to keep beverages fresher tasting. The jury is still out on this one. So when you visit your local supermarket in the very near future, how are you going to vote? l
tOM SWEENEy ASSOCIAtE - BUIldING SERVICES
www.wspgroup.com I www.pbworld.com
#iamWSPPB
I AM WSP PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF
I AM PARt OF tHE WORld’S MOSt ICONIC PROJECtS
New Projects in GCC Durar 2 Hotel Apartments Project Jumeirah Village South Project Number: WPR580-U Territory: Dubai Client Name : Durar Al Emarat Properties L.L.C (Dubai) Address : Office No. 118, Bldg. No. 4, EMAAR Gold & Diamond Park, Sheikh Zayed Road City : Dubai Postal/Zip Code : 181501 Country : United Arab Emirates Phone : (+971-4) 341 8558 Fax : (+971-4) 341 8668 eMail : info@durar.ae Website: http://www.durar.ae Description: Construction of a hotel apartments building comprising 3 basements, a ground floor and (19) upper floors. Budget $: 55000000 Status: New Tender Remarks: The Durar 2 Hotel Apartments project will be located at Jumeirah Village South in Dubai. Unparalleled amenities include an Olympic swimming pool, kids pool, Jacuzzi, fully-equipped gymnasium and health center, steam and sauna, luxury spas, restaurants, coffee shop, retail shop, panoramic view towards the racecourse of Motor City and Cricket Stadium of Sports City. The scheme is currently under planning stage. Main Consultant: QHC - Architects & Engineering (Dubai) Design Consultant: QHC - Architects & Engineering (Dubai) Tender Categories: Hotels Leisure & Entertainment Prestige Buildings Tender Products: Hotel Construction Residential Buildings Al Khiran Mixed-use Development Project Project Number: NPR045-K Territory: Kuwait Client Name : Tamdeen Real Estate Company (Kuwait) Address : Souk Al-Kuwait City : Safat 13079 Postal/Zip Code : 21816 Country : Kuwait Phone : (+965) 246 8881 Fax : (+965) 246 8882 Website: http://www.tamdeenrealestate.com Description: Development of a mixed-use scheme comprising a shopping mall, two freehold residential towers, a serviced apartment building and an upscale hotel. Budget $: 700000000 Period: 2019 Status: New Tender Remarks: This project involves development of Al Khiran mixed-use scheme, located 85 kilometers from Kuwait City and will be part of the 6.4 million square meter Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City. Apart from featuring Kuwait’s first outlet mall concept (75,000 square meters), Al Khiran is to have two freehold residential towers (for Kuwaiti nationals), a serviced apartment building and an upscale hotel. It will also incorporate an extensive marina component, with berths for as many as 900 boats. Funding needs will be met primarily through self-finance and sourcing from institutions. UK-based RTKL, part of the Arcadis Group, is the architect, while Freeport Retail will provide consultancy on the outlet mall deployment. The project is scheduled for opening in late 2018 or early 2019. Main Architect-2: RTKL-UK Limited (UK)
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Retail Consultant: Freeport Retail (UK) Tender Categories: Construction & Contracting Hotels Leisure & Entertainment Marine Engg. Works & Seaports Prestige Buildings Tender Products: Commercial Buildings High-rise Towers Hotel Construction Marina Development Residential Buildings Retail Developments Ras Al Barr Resort Development Project Project Number: WPR572-B Territory: Bahrain Client Name : Kuwait Finance House - KFH (Bahrain) City : Manama Postal/Zip Code : 2066 Country : Bahrain Phone : (+973) 1722 1666 Fax : (+973) 1722 8666 Website: http://www.kfh.com Description: Development of a Resort, which will be spread over several islands housing theme hotels, resorts and souqs, residential units, schools, park-lands, public waterfront and sports facilities. Status: New Tender Remark: The Ras Al Barr resort will cover an area of 1.5 million square meters and developed on 110,000 square meters of reclaimed land to the south of Durrat Al Bahrain resort, close to Ras Al Barr in Bahrain. The company responsible for delivering the project is PH Development Company. The scheme will be completed over two phases. Phase 1 will include three islands containing an open, gated development with smaller residential communities, waterfront apartment blocks, the souk, a yacht club, four hotels, schools, a commercial area, mosque and a beach area. Phase 2 will contain some bigger residential schemes
spread over 14 different islands. Kuwait’s SSH International Consultant has been appointed as the main consultant. It won the contract in a competitive tender process. The scope involves master planning, architecture and engineering consultancy services. Main Consultant: SSH International Consultant (Kuwait) Main Architect: SSH International Consultant (Kuwait) Master Plan Consultant: SSH International Consultant (Kuwait) Tender Categories: Construction & Contracting Education & Training Hotels Leisure & Entertainment Marine Engg. Works & Seaports Tender Products: Educational Developments Hotel Construction Marina Development New Doha Zoo Project Project Number: MPP2846-Q Territory: Qatar Client Name : Public Works Authority - ASHGHAL (Qatar) Address : Al Faisal Tower, Al Corniche Street, Dafna City : Doha Postal/Zip Code : 22188 Country : Qatar Phone : (+974) 4495 0077 / 0749 / 0743 / 0758 Fax : (+974) 4495 0777 eMail : contracts@ashghal.gov.qa Website: http://www.ashghal.gov.qa Description: Construction of a new Zoo, covering an area of 750,000 square metres. Budget $: 63000000 Period: 2017 Status: New Tender Remarks: This project involves construction of the New Doha Zoo in Qatar, which will be about seven times larger than the old zoo. It will be divided into three regions. They are an Africa Safari Zone, an Asia Woodland area, and a South American rainforest. The design also incorporates three hotels for these three theme areas. Local Aswan Trading & Contracting Company has been awarded a contract worth more than $12 million to carry out enabling and demolition works on this project. It will prepare the site for main construction and also ensure the protection and maintenance of the trees and natural environment onsite during excavation works. Local Medgulf Construction Company has been awarded a contract, valued at more than $20 million, which involves the design and construc-
tion of temporary housing facility for animals in Rawdet Al Faras. The one-year contract also includes design and implementation of the temporary facility in Rawdet Al Faras where animals are housed during construction of the new park until they are able to return to the new zoo. The facility also includes residences for caretakers and a veterinary clinic. Construction work is currently in progress on the temporary housing facility for animals in this development. Design Consultant: KEO International Consultants (Qatar) Project Manager: Mace International (Qatar) Design Consultant-2: HHCP Design International Inc. (USA) Design Consultant-3: PJA Architects (USA) Landscaping Consultant: Consulting Engineering Group (CEG) - Qatar Specialist Contractor: Aswan Trading & Contracting Company (Qatar) Specialist Contractor(2): Medgulf Construction Company W.L.L (Qatar) Tender Categories: Construction & Contracting Leisure & Entertainment Tender Products: Construction & Addition Works Theme Parks Development Abu Dhabi Light Rail Network Project Phase 1B (Green Line) Project Number: WPR582-U Territory: Abu Dhabi Client Name : Department of Transport (Abu Dhabi) Address : C2 Towers, 6-11th Floors, Bainunah Street, Al Bateen City : Abu Dhabi Postal/Zip Code : 20 Country : United Arab Emirates Phone : (+971-2) 656 6666 Fax : (+971-2) 635 9666 eMail : info@dot.abudhabi.ae Website: http://www.dot.abudhabi.ae Description: Construction of a 13-kilometer railway line comprising (21) stations. Budget $: 300000000 Period: 2018 Status: New Tender Remarks: This project is part of the Abu Dhabi Light Rail Network - Phase 1B (Green Line). The line will run from Central Bus Station to Saadiyat Island. The scheme is currently under detailed design stage. Design Consultant: Parsons Brinckerhoff International (Abu Dhabi) Design Consultant-2: AECOM Middle East (Abu Dhabi) Design Consultant-3: Deutsche Bahn International GmbH (Abu Dhabi) Tender Categories: Public Transportation Projects Tender Products: Railways Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plant Project - Jizan Economic City Project Number: MPP2964-SA Territory: Saudi Arabia Client Name : Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco)
City : Dhahran 31311 Postal/Zip Code : 5000 Country : Saudi Arabia Phone : (+966-13) 872 0115 Fax : (+966-13) 873 8190 / 874 1655 Website: http://www.aramco.com Description: Construction of an industrial waste water treatment plant with capacity of 40,000 cubic meters a day. Status: New Tender Remarks: This project will be located at Jizan Economic City in Saudi Arabia. Client is expected to tender the main contract in November 2015. It is understood that process design works are currently underway. Tender Categories: Industrial & Special Projects Sewerage & Drainage Tender Products: Waste Water Network & Treatment Plants Abu Dhabi Science Center Project - Masdar City Project Number: WPR579-U Territory: Abu Dhabi Client Name: Technology Development Committee (Abu Dhabi) City : Abu Dhabi Postal/Zip Code : 131304 Country : United Arab Emirates Phone : (+971-2) 651 1200 Fax : (+971-2) 651 1201 Website: http://www.tdc.gov.ae Description: Development of a 6,500 square meter stateof-the-art Science Center featuring an interactive outdoor space and seven galleries with over (200) hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and a robust program of informal science education activities. Budget $: 30000000 Period: 2016 Status: New Tender Remarks: The Abu Dhabi Science Center (ADSC) will be developed at Masdar City. The project aims to establish a vibrant Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) base in Abu Dhabi. It is being implemented in partnership with Aldar Real Estate Services LLC. ADSC will serve as both a prestigious local project, as well as a major attraction for the people of UAE and visitors from around the world. It is targeted for youths aged 6-11. ADSC will include the following galleries: - Outdoor Exhibits (Architectural Design, Water Exhibits) - Welcome Hall (Big Science Stage) - Land, Sea and Sky Gallery (Geology, the Environment and Weather Patterns) - Natural Resource Gallery (Oil and Gas Formation, Exploration and Extraction) - Science in Motion Gallery (Mechanics, Aerodynamics and Building) - Sensing Your World Gallery (Light & Vision, Hearing & Sound and the Human Body) - Making Gallery (Engineering, Technology, Electricity, Magnetism) - Universe and Planetarium Gallery (Astronomy, the Moon and Sun). Apart from the galleries, the project will include (3 Nos.) 225 square meter classroom spaces that are used on
weekdays for school-focused workshops and classes, and host family and children’s programs on weekends. The classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art teaching media. It will also include a 100 square meter Teacher Learning Center dedicated to helping teachers develop their pedagogical skills in science education and refine their classroom practice. ADSC teacher support materials are distributed through the Teacher Learning Center. It is understood that the main construction contract is expected to be awarded in second quarter of 2015. Netherlands’ NorthernLight Amsterdam has developed the visitor experience planning, gallery design and building integration, and designed the 200+ exhibits. Design Consultant: AECOM Middle East (Abu Dhabi) Specialist Consultant: NorthernLight Amsterdam (Netherlands) Tender Categories: Construction & Contracting Education & Training Leisure & Entertainment Tender Products: Educational Developments Museums/Art Galleries Desalination Plant Project - Jizan Economic City Project Number: MPP2967-SA Territory: Saudi Arabia Client: Name : Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) City : Dhahran 31311 Postal/Zip Code : 5000 Country : Saudi Arabia Phone : (+966-13) 872 0115 Fax : (+966-13) 873 8190 / 874 1655 Website: http://www.aramco.com Description: Design-and-Build contract for the construction of a reverse osmosis desalination plant with capacity of 55,000 cubic meters a day. Status: New Tender Remarks: This project will be located at Jizan Economic City in Saudi Arabia. Client is expected to tender the main contract in November 2015. It is understood that process design works are currently underway. Tender Categories: Water Works Tender Products: Water Desalination Plants
Courtesy : MiddleEastTenders.com Tel : +9712-6348495 Email : sales@MiddleEastTenders.com
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Top 25 Tenders in GCC Road Intersection Construction
Construction of Intersection of Othman Bin Affan Road Ministry of Transport (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 26667 Post Date: 4/23/15 Closing Date: 6/17/15
Customs Unit Construction
Construction of Customs Unit for Passengers in a Port Ministry of Finance (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 20000 Post Date: 4/16/15 Closing Date: 7/5/15
Criminal Investigation Building Construction Works
Construction, Completion, Maintenance and Furnishing of the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation Building. Ministry of Public Works (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 17857 Post Date: 4/28/15 Closing Date: 6/2/15
Cyclotron building construction
Design, construction, maintenance and operation of a new Cyclotron building and installation, maintenance and operation of the new Cyclotron device and ITS accessories Ministry of Health (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 12500 Post Date: 4/9/15 Closing Date: 5/5/15
Office Building Construction
Construction of an Office Building Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 12500 Post Date: 4/9/15 Closing Date: 5/12/15
Construction Works
Construction of a security wall and a building Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 11667 Post Date: 4/29/15 Closing Date: 5/26/15
Residential Units Construction
Construction of residential units Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 8933 Post Date: 4/6/15 Closing Date: 5/10/15
Housing Units Construction
Construction of Housing Units Royal Commission for Jubail & Yanbu (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 8933 Post Date: 4/2/15 Closing Date: 5/10/15
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Residential Facilities Construction
Construction of Residential Facilities in the Bases With Utilities Ministry of Defence & Aviation (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 6667 Post Date: 4/30/15 Closing Date: 5/26/15
Afeed General Hospital Construction
Construction of a General Hospital comprising 200 Beds Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 5333 Post Date: 4/30/15 Closing Date: 6/8/15
Platform Construction Construction of a platform in Debaa port Saudi Ports Authority - SPA (Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 5333 Post Date: 4/1/15 Closing Date: 6/1/15
Courts Complex Completion
Completion of Courts Complex and Notaries Public Ministry of Justice (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/30/15 Closing Date: 6/2/15
Towers Construction
Construction of 2 Additional Towers for a Ministry Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/30/15 Closing Date: 6/30/15
Top 25 Tenders in GCC Construction, Development, & Furnishing Works
Construction and development of buildings, centers, and laboratories along with furnishing Aseer Municipality (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/23/15 Closing Date: 5/19/15
Educational Complex Construction
Construction of an Educational Complex for Girls Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/20/15 Closing Date: 5/10/15
Park Services and Facilities Completion
Completion of Services and Facilities in a Park Al Baha Municipality (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/19/15 Closing Date: 6/7/15
Marine Studies College Construction
Completion of Construction and Furnishing of a Marine Studies College King Abdul Aziz University (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/19/15 Closing Date: 5/21/15
Buildings Repair and Restoration Works Repair and Restoration of Buildings Ministry of Finance (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/16/15 6/22/15
Scientific Institute Building Construction
Execution of a Scientific Institute Building Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia Tender Cost (USD): 4000 Post Date: 4/9/15 Closing Date: 5/5/15
School Demolition Works Demolition of a School Ministry of Education (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3571 Post Date: 4/27/15 Closing Date: 5/24/15
Sport Stadium Rehabilitation & Development
Rehabilitation, Development and Maintenance of a Sport Stadium Kuwait University Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3571 Post Date: 4/21/15 Closing Date: 6/7/15
Palestine High School Building Construction
Demolition, Design, Licensing, Construction, Completion and Maintenance of a School Building Ministry of Education (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3571 Post Date: 4/20/15 Closing Date: 6/14/15
New Casualty Building Construction
Construction, Completion and Maintenance of a New Casualty Building Ministry of Health (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3571 Post Date: 4/15/15 Closing Date: 5/26/15
Shooting Ranges Construction
Construction and Completion of the Shooting Ranges at a Camp National Guard (Kuwait) Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3571 Post Date: 4/9/15 Closing Date: 5/19/15
Department Construction & Maintenance Construction and maintenance of a department Kuwait University Kuwait Tender Cost (USD): 3333 Post Date: 4/28/15 Closing Date: 5/26/15
Courtesy : MiddleEastTenders.com Tel : +9712-6348495 Email : sales@MiddleEastTenders.com
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Godwin Austen Johnson Architects
SHAPING A NATION’S VISION
THROUGH DESIGN
Our expertise lies in providing exceptional design and project management services across all stages of development, from concept design right through to the delivery of a built project. Our portfolio of work is a reflection of our ability to accurately incorporate the vision of our clients through contextual and innovative design. Our ability to successfully manage projects effectively, on time and within budget is one of the many reasons we receive repeat business from our clients.
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