RIYADH: A major infrastructure forum convened in Riyadh this week to examine ways in which to improve quality of life and minimize disruption during development works.
The CEO of the Infrastructure Projects Center in the Riyadh Region, Fahad Al-Badah, spoke to Arab News about how the center plans infrastructure work to reduce disruption to residents.
“The comprehensive planning methodology that the center is currently working on has taken into account specific regulations for the placement of services. The services are arranged from bottom to top.
“Water services, for example, are the deepest compared to the rest of the services, and they always take priority, followed by electricity and then telecommunications.
“This methodology is primarily aimed at preventing disruptions when implementing additional services. We start with water, then electricity, then telecommunications, and finally, the street is fully asphalted.”
The CEO emphasized the importance of securing stable and high-quality infrastructure to ensure the longevity of construction projects.
“Projects cannot succeed without a strong, sustainable and robust infrastructure that can withstand the coming years.”
More than 25 nations are participating at the expo, including companies from China and Russia, as well as another 300 exhibitors such as the Saudi Fund for Development, Eastern Province Municipality and the Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control Company (Tahakom).
The three-day event is billed as an opportunity to exchange knowledge on smart cities through conversations on water management, artificial intelligence, transportation, energy and green alternatives.
Mujahid Al-Abden, general manager of digital strategy at Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, described how the center is working to tackle the negative impact of infrastructure development: “The causes of traffic, the pollution, safety measures around the construction zones.”
“RIPC try to go through the full cycle, identify the key points and try to address each one of them,” he said.
A number of MoUs were signed at the event, including one between RIPC and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Agency and another with King Salman International Airport.
Sponsored by Riyadh region Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, the Global Infrastructure Forum and Expo took place from Sept. 15 to Sept. 17 in Riyadh.
