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THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS SEPTEMBER 2020 THE LATEST ON ITHRA DUBAI'S DEP PROJECT PROJECT CONSTRUCTION TITAN Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC Discussion AUTOMATING CONSTRUCTION P36// CCS AND RIB SOFTWARE PARTNERSHIP CULMINATES IN RIB CCS REBRAND
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 3 NEWS COVER STORY SOFTWARE PROJECTS REBRANDING LAUNCH MACHINERY REAL ESTATE 12 22 28 32 36 38 40 42 12 22 32 // CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2020 // ISSUE #67 S U B S C R I B E subscriptions@bncpublishing.net CEO Wissam Younane wissam@bncpublishing.net Director Rabih Najm rabih@bncpublishing.net Group Publishing Director Joaquim D'Costa jo@bncpublishing.net +971 50 440 2706 Business Development Director Rabih Naderi rabih.naderi@bncpublishing.net +966 50 328 9818 Deputy Editor Kasun Illankoon kasun@bncpublishing.net Art Director Aaron Sutton aaron@bncpublishing.net Marketing Executive Aaron Sinanbam aj@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 For all commercial enquiries related to Construction Business News ME contact sales@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved © 2015. Opinions expressed are solely those of the contributors. Construction Business News ME and all subsidiary publications in the MENA region are officially licensed exclusively to BNC Publishing in the MENA region by Construction Business News ME. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher. Images used in Construction Business News ME are credited when necessary. Attributed use of copyrighted images with permission. All images not credited courtesy Shutterstock. Printed by UPP
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// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 6 // EDITOR'S NOTE MITIGATING ONGOING CHALLENGES According to Maximiliano Development Management Services, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt in major industries in the region, including the real estate market, where developers are eyeing a reduction in unit prices by as much as 25% and company mergers to minimize business risks and significantly increase the ease of doing business. As uncertainty continues, real estate de- velopers are deploying a range of measures and policies to mitigate the ongoing chal- lenges, succeed in strengthening their po- sition and deepen their relationships with their employees, investors, end-users and other stakeholders. Eng. Marwa A. Murad, Managing Di- rector of Maximiliano Development Man- agement Services (MDMS) says: “One of the major risks facing the real estate mar- ket is the inability of buyers to pay the instalments so strategies must be adopted such as the reduction in unit prices by 25% in the event of cash sales and small developers who may face the risk of bank- ruptcy might consider merging with an- other developer to protect its business.” Since the virus outbreak, there has been a stiff competition between real es- tate developers and it will intensify as the unprecedented crisis has created a supply- demand imbalance in the sector. Murad adds: “The risk facing the real estate market is the inability of customers to pay the instalments, thus causing a de- lay in the construction work. As a result, developers may require a shorter period for the instalments which eventually leads to an oversupply of units, thereby creating a negative business cycle.” EDITOR’S NOTE Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com ON THE WEB
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// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 14 FOR NEWS, FEATURES AND MORE, VISIT WWW.CBNME.COM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FOR BREAKING NEWS: @CBN_ME FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE BREAKING NEWS AN UPDATE FROM AROUND THE REGION CONTRACTS UPDATE // Bahrain awarded 769 tenders in the first half of 2020 worth a total of US $1.7 billion according to new data released by Bah- rain’s Tender Board – the country’s government pro- curement regulator. The construction and en- gineering sector took the li- on’s share of contracts in the first six months of the year, with awarded tenders total- ling some US $588.3 million, emphasising the Bahrain Government’s continued commitment to its extensive pipeline of infrastructure projects. The construction and engi- neering sector was followed by the oil and gas sector; the materials and equipment sector; and then the services sector, which saw a total of US $416.3 million, US $292.6 million and US $202.4 mil- lion of awarded tenders re- spectively. The aviation sec- tor brought up the rear, with awards worth US $172.2 mil- lion in the same period. Commenting on the new data, the Chairman of Ten- der Board, Shaikh Nayef bin Khalid Al Khalifa said: “Bahrain awarded a total of 47 public tenders worth a combined US$ 21.8 million to Small and Medium Enter- prises SMEs as per the Cabi- net decision to assign some public spending to the SME sector.” In terms of tenders value, Tatweer Petroleum topped the list for the awarded tenders, worth a total of US $396.5 million followed by the Electricity and Wa- ter Authority with awarded bids worth some US $305.3 million and subsequently the Ministry of Housing awarded tenders worth US $238.6 million in the first six months of the year. The Min- istry of Works, Municipali- ties Affairs and Urban Plan- ning followed by Gulf Air awarded tenders standing at US $165.2 million and US $156.4 million respectively. The total value of awarded tenders for other public enti- ties stood at around US $410 million. Some of the key service projects that were settled by the Board and have a direct impact on the liveli- hoods of citizens and resi- dents include wrapping up several tenders to carry out construction and mainte- nance works at residential units under the Ministry of Housing, worth a combined US $238 million, as well as some US $297 million worth of awarded bids in the fields of sewage works, infrastruc- ture and electricity and wa- ter services. BAHRAIN AWARDS US$1.7bn CONTRACTS IN H1 2020
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 15 REAL ESTATE Recent reports indicated a visible increase in relocation amongst tenants across the UAE. The movement includes families moving to larger units and even cross emirate move- ment due to reduced rents. However, even with lower rents, moving houses can be an expensive proposition if you add on costs like commissions, deposits and advance rentals. To ease the process and Move-In overheads, Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Es- tate has introduced a 90 day campaign dubbed ‘Smart – Move’ for new tenants across its 3000+ properties across UAE. The campaign offers flexible rent payment plans, Zero Percent Com- mission and tenants can move in before the payment of any security deposit. The Company specifical- ly develops properties for rent, and owns and man- ages a portfolio of over 3000 properties across the UAE is known for its emphasis on its long-term rental ethos and retention of residential tenants exceeding 20 years. “Moving houses can be a daunting task, even if we leave out the financial out- lay involved, which can be filled with unaccounted for charges like commissions and deposits. While the wellbeing of an entire sec- tor is dependent on some of these fees, organizations need to assume a responsi- ble stance during such chal- lenging times. Smart-Move is our small contribution to en- sure the industry’s buoyancy and support individual cir- cumstances,” said Haleema Al Owais, CEO, Sultan Bin Ali al Owais Real Estate During the course of this year and the limitations that the pandemic has brought about, homes have turned into a place to also work from, study and relax in. Tenants are now seeking homes that are suitable for all purposes and everyone occupying it. The weeks during the lockdown saw a visible increase in searches for more accessible loca- tions, large apartments with balconies and villas and townhouses with outside space such as gardens and balconies and pools. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate was established in 1972 and has grown to become a prominent real estate company since. The company operates as a ho- listic conglomerate with all functions of rental real estate like Facilities Management and Security under its own umbrella through its offices in Dubai and Sharjah. SULTAN BIN ALI AL OWAIS REAL ESTATE INTRODUCES THE ‘SMART-MOVE’ PLAN FOR NEW TENANTS
// NEWS // CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 16 CONTRACTS Modon Properties, mandated by the Government of Abu Dhabi to develop integrated tourism destinations and sustainable residential com- munities, has signed a long- term lease agreement with LuLu Group International for the operation of retail outlets at the Courtyard Mall complex in Riyadh City. The agreement is the result of Modon’s ongoing coop- eration with leading retail- ers as a part of its efforts to meet the needs of residents of Riyadh City and ensure the steady progress and on-schedule delivery of the Courtyard Mall. The 25-year lease covers the rental of an area of 3,661 square metres within Riyadh City’s Courtyard Mall com- mercial complex for the op- eration of the LuLu Hyper- market chain of stores. The development of the commercial complex in Ri- yadh City is in line with Modon’s objectives and the Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy of building vibrant residential communities that incorporate the highest stan- dards of sustainability and cater to the needs of citizens and residents by offering an integrated range of commu- nity facilities. The commercial complex extends over an area of 8,683 square metres at lot 23 within the North of Riyadh City. Upon its completion, the project is slated to in- clude seven restaurants, 13 shops, and a supermarket. The assortment of outlets is designed to meet the needs of residents when it comes to shopping for groceries and household items, further enhancing the integrated na- ture of the community. Mr. Saifee Rupawala, Chief Executive Officer of LuLu Group, said: “We are proud to launch our first ever full- fledged hypermarket in Ri- yadh City. It has always been our goal to make the highest quality products both afford- able and accessible to shop- pers in metropolitan areas as well as in residential com- munities, so no one needs to drive a long distance. Fol- lowing the express store that we opened last year, we are delighted to make this new shop possible in partnership with Modon, in order to ful- fil the growing demand for lifestyle essentials within the vicinity.” Upon completion, the en- tire Riyadh City project will include 28,574 residential plots, 26,696 villas, 2,693 townhouses, four universi- ties, 33 schools, 27 nurseries, one hospital, 33 medical clin- ics, 182 mosques, eight civil defence centres, 18 fuel sta- tions, 16 government facili- ties, 60 social service centres and 213 commercial plots. MODON SIGNS LONG-TERM LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LULU GROUP INTERNATIONAL FOR COURTYARD MALL
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 17 INVESTMENTS Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, announces its plans to invest over AED 3.5bn in the next 2-3 years to develop 14 and 22 buildings in Riviera Phase 3 and 4 respectively, its three Avenue buildings in MBR City, two projects in Dubai Health- care City, and four projects in Al Furjan. This announcement comes in light of it having sold over 80 per cent of its current ongoing projects and inven- tory, and demand projected to surge, especially in MBR City, DHCC and Al Furjan – the three most sought-after residential destinations in all of the UAE. The construction of the Al Furjan and Dubai Healthcare City projects, which will fea- ture around 645 and 973 units respectively, Riviera’s Phase 3, comprising approx- imately 3,700 units, Phase 4, with around 5,400 units, and the 423 Avenue units, will commence between August and December of this year. CEO of Azizi Develop- ments, Farhad Azizi, made the announcement with the following remarks: “Our launches are based on de- mand, which has been exceptional in MBR City, Dubai Healthcare City and Al Furjan. Our current stock across these up-and-coming locations is nearly sold out, which is why we are now planning further develop- ments accordingly. The new communities will be unique in the lifestyles they grant residents – they are a new type of product, and we will be reaching out to new mar- kets with them.” “The AED 3.5bn will be spread out across several years, with more than 11,000 homes being developed. We are confident that this in- vestment in Dubai, the most promising, forward-thinking and growth-inclined city in the world, is well placed, and look forward to further catalysing the emirate’s vi- sion and development”, he added. For the construction of the 45 buildings, Azizi will mini- mise vertical supplier struc- tures by sourcing materials, such as concrete, steel and aluminium, locally. It will also continue to build its engineering team and con- struction methods, making the developer less contrac- tor-dependent and taking efficiency and reliability to new heights. AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS WORTH OVER AED 3.5bn
// NEWS // CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 18 CONTRACTS Total has completed the in- stallation of a solar-powered rooftop at its Dubai Lubricants Blending Unit. The project has been managed by Total Solar Distributed Generation Middle East, its affiliate dedicated to the development of distrib- uted solar energy solutions in the region. The 500 kilowatt-peak solar-powered rooftop in- stalled at the blending unit covers an area of over 2,500m2, equivalent to 13 tennis courts. The solar power generated by the rooftop will be able to cover nearly 35% of the facility’s energy needs. As a result, the solar-powered rooftop will offset CO2 emissions by estimated 7,000 tons* over the expected life-span of the installation. An extension of the project is currently under consideration, with a target to cover approximately 70% of the facility’s energy needs. “Total shares the ambi- tion, together with society, to become carbon neutral by 2050, for all of its activi- ties, from its production to the use of the energy prod- ucts sold to its customers,” highlighted Karine Singh, Managing Director for To- tal Marketing Middle East. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our blend- ing plant, we are delighted with the completion of this solar rooftop, an illustration of our commitment to re- duce the carbon footprint of our own operations here in Dubai.” This project is part of To- tal’s solarization project, which includes the instal- lation of solar panels at its offices, blending units and around 5,000 of its service stations in more than 50 countries around the world, contributing to Total’s target of 25 GW of renewable gen- eration installed capacity by 2025. TOTAL COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLAR-POWERED ROOFTOP OF ITS LUBRICANTS BLENDING FACILITY
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// NEWS // CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 20 PROJECTS Arada has awarded a major contract to build East Village, the second phase of Shar- jah’s AED24 billion mixed-use district, Aljada. Located in the heart of Aljada, the East Vil- lage community is targeted at the younger generation and comprises a series of apart- ment blocks that are char- acterised by fresh and bold designs. Featuring just under 2,000 units in total, East Vil- lage is now 95% sold out. Valued at AED423 mil- lion, the full contract to build East Village was won by Best Building Contract- ing Company (BLDG CO – BEST – LLC) and involves the construction of 16 apart- ment blocks, set within a landscaped master plan. Work on East Village will begin immediately and the first homes are scheduled for completion in Decem- ber 2021. Founded in 1975, Best Building Contracting Com- pany is one of the UAE’s most established and repu- table contractors. Among its major completed projects are the two Al Zahra Hospi- tals (in Sharjah and Dubai) and many of the high-rise towers that constitute the Sharjah skyline, including Al Hind Tower, Crystal Build- ing, Sara Tower and Al Qas- simi Building. The East Village con- tract award comes during an extremely busy period of Arada. In July, the de- veloper announced that its first-half sales had in- creased by 10% compared to the same period in 2019, citing significant investor uptake from UAE nation- als as well as ramped-up interest following the suc- cessful opening of Madar at Aljada. ARADA AWARDS AED 423mn CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO BUILD EAST VILLAGE, THE SECOND PHASE OF ALJADA PROJECT
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// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 22 // COVER STORY
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 23 CONSTRUCTION TITAN Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC All business leaders have diverse experiences and perspectives on the approach and qualities necessary for effective leadership. And not all situa- tions require the same type of leader- ship style. Great leaders adapt to their surrounding environments and em- power the team to succeed together. For the past two decades, Kez Taylor, CEO at ALEC, has led the charge in taking the organisation to new heights with his forward-thinking approach. ALEC has consistently evolved and grown over the last 20 years to become a trusted partner to execute complex and iconic construction projects. The company builds and pro- vides construction solutions to exceed our clients' expectations for quality, safety, functionality, and aesthetics. The exponential growth is due to Kez's forward-thinking approach in how the organisation should be run, from employee management, adapting to new technology, and encourag- ing the use of innovative strategies in projects. EMPLOYEE GROWTH Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their workforce without micromanaging — they trust there trained employees to take authority over decisions in their assigned jobs. It's a management style that's de- signed to give employees more room to be creative, look to the future, and find new solutions to old problems. Employees on the leadership track will also be prepared to become transfor- mational leaders themselves through mentorship and training. Let's take a closer look at two key initiatives that were introduced to help grow leadership qualities within ALEC: PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY ALEC's manager and supervisors will be attending a four-course program at their Performance Leadership Academy to enhance their leader- ship level amongst their team. The academy will focus on providing all managers and supervisors the tools and techniques to become a more well-rounded leader. The objective is for the participants to communicate more effectively with their team, provide feedback to develop their skillset, and conduct a proper perfor- mance review. LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ALEC introduced the Axonify platform into its learning management system. This was to help ensure that em- ployees are given the opportunity to continue their growth, development, and skill set. After the employees have finished their training, they will be asked daily, simple questions regard- ing the training content. This will help reinforce the learnings, but also help participants to embrace a constant de- sire to improve. Furthermore, employ- ees will have the opportunity to earn points for participating in these daily quizzes for prizes such as coffee cer- tificates, additional time off, additional training and much more. DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION To succeed in the digital age, busi- nesses must embrace technology and develop "digital leaders" to increase organizational agility, collaboration, and transparency. The construction industry is one of the oldest and largest in the world and is now standing on the brink of a tech- nological sea change. Kez was quick to recognise this and push ALEC towards a new era of digital transformation.
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 24 // COVER STORY ment, engineering and finally our operations teams on site," said Kez. INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY From a technological standpoint, many construction technologies are in their infancy and have rapid development cycles that make adoption on live projects challenging. Mature technolo- gies from other industries are inflexible enough for construction projects, and adapting them to our changing envi- ronment is equally challenging. ALEC's proactive steps, though, have made technology and innovation a pri- ority. Recently, ALEC signed a deal with CMiC, the innovation leader in ERP and field operations software for the ALEC has driven a number of initia- tives to fulfill Kez's vision for ALEC to be the leading innovative construction group in the region. Kez explains: "In addition to having an innovation department, which ca- pably drives and assists with over 100 innovative initiatives per year, we have numerous developments occurring in our digital transformation space. We are digitising our core at ALEC through our HIVE initiative which aims to con- nect over 53 applications, 219 core processes, scores of departments/busi- ness units/sites and our staff." This will enable ALEC to drive real- time business operations, providing maximum value to its customers. The company has also fully migrated all their services to the Cloud in 2019, and have established a second cloud tenancy for redundancy, business con- tinuity and maximisation of services from ALEC's technology partners. "The cloud migration, business continuity plan, and the high levels of digital workplace tools adoption like Microsoft Teams and OneDrive pre- COVID-19, provided us with a strong foundation to seamlessly transition to remote working. Our teams are utilis- ing our growing BIM environments to collaborate and speed up the qual- ity and delivery outputs – these run through our estimation and commer- cial teams before moving to procure-
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 25 construction industry in North America, to use its platform and software to run financials and field operations. CMiC's Single Database Platform™ architecture, which delivers a single version of the truth to users across all functional areas, was the key advantage over alternative ERP software vendors. As the only ERP solution built specifically for con- struction, CMiC includes functionality designed to support international best practices and collaboration. Furthermore, ALEC has been utiliz- ing data, analysis, and calculations as a basis for making decisions. By analyz- ing their operations and concentrating on low productive areas, they have seen improvement ranging from 10 % to 400 % due to some of the initiatives. Data collection & utilization is vital in modern construction. Kez points out, "ALEC has been a leader in the UAE construction indus- try mainly due to the different mindset and willingness to always revamp and improve processes and procedures. Our people thrive for continuous im- provement, learning & development, thus every new project applies learn- ings from the previous ones which increased our market competitiveness. ALEC is the middle of executing its digital transformation across many ele- ments including implementation of a new ERP, increase of BIM utilization in addition to using software and digital solutions across different processes to become information enabled leading to a data driven decision making." ALEC's innovative use of BIM on a large scale has introduced new pro- cesses and ways to design a project. BIM has been revolutionary in the construction industry. Through the production and development of digital models representing the various ele- ments of a project, designers, contrac- tors, and owners are afforded greater flexibility and control over all phases of a project from design and construc- tion through to operation. If imple- mented correctly, BIM will bring with it the benefits of improved efficiencies and reduced costs. BIM also plays its part in a more comprehensive "internet of things" in construction projects, which will see the generation and exchange of data amongst users and electronic devices. In turn, this will lead to the use of "big data" and analytics to improve ef- ficiencies, flexibility, and cost control. Again, this will not be limited to the design and construction phases but be- yond the projects' operational phase. Kez said: "Architecture and de- sign are iterative processes that have traditionally been manually intensive. Now, architects, structural engineers, and builders all need to view different pieces of information and use unusual design templates. Different models must then be made to show clients. When any changes are made, care needs to be taken that all documenta- tion is updated. A BIM database im- proves collaboration, it also provides a store of architectural and design data that can be used for 3D modeling and software simulations." ALEC's vision towards the future has seen them introduce smart and green power solutions to address new mar- ket trends by utilizing their subsidiary divisions such as ALEC Energy, which is a provider of financially sound green energy solutions, in addition to
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 26 // COVER STORY ALEC Modular which is intended to supply fully integrated modular units to ensure that they are ready for the future of construction. Due to that, the number of innova- tion initiatives being implemented is on the rise year-on-year. ALEC contin- ues to collaborate with external stake- holders, including the micro-environ- ment suppliers and business partners, and they have contributed positively to their innovation initiatives. Furthermore, ALEC is now consider- ing 3D Printing for specific business elements and introducing automation and robotics for certain projects. ONE STEP AHEAD 2020 will forever go down as the year of COVID-19. The pandemic has made a systematic shift in how the world operates. The pandemic has been im- pacting construction and engineering projects worldwide in numerous ways, and many projects have been stopped or delayed as a result. However, ALEC has seen a different result thanks to their digital transforma- tion, which began well before the CO- VID-19 crisis. There seems to be a clear correlation with companies that have a robust digital infrastructure being able to navigate through this. During 2019, ALEC implemented numerous/several digital initiatives to become more efficient, sustainable, and transform the construc- tion industry. These implementations provide maximum safety for employees and ensure productivity and enhanced collaboration during the pandemic. Of course, the key component in ensuring that ALEC was prepared was Kez and other senior management leaders' involvement. "ALEC reacted to the crisis very early and put great effort into drawing up 'what-if' scenarios with detailed strate- gies behind each. We moved directly to an online digitized tracking and manage- ment platform that allowed us to keep control of all cases and their contacts ensuring we were able to look after our people as well as communicate in real time. A dedicated, senior level crisis team met daily discussing the changes in the situation and adapted our strategies on the spot," said Kez. The leadership team was involved in the daily crisis team meetings. Their guidance and support were instrumen- tal in enabling the crisis management team to remain effective and assist people working on construction sites. This allowed for construction sites to remain open and continued to deliver despite the difficulties they faced. ALEC appointed a dedicated team to deal with this crisis in charge of every aspect of the business and try to navi- gate all the processes and protocols to align with the local authorities and worldwide recommendations. Putting aside the pandemic, there is no doubt that ALEC has so much more to showcase, and with Kez at the helm, the company continues to earn well-deserved accolades in the construction industry.
AUGMENT YOUR REALITY With the Augmented Reality feature available in Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for excavators, operators can view 3D models in a real-world environment at a true-life scale, in the context of existing surroundings. Augmented Reality simplifies complex concepts by allowing users to work faster and safer using a blend of digital content and real-world environments. Contact us today to learn more SITECH GULF +971 44597274 INFO@SITECHGULF.COM WWW.SITECHGULF.COM SITECH KSA +966 920000875 INFO@SITECH-KSA.COM WWW.SITECH-KSA.COM
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 28 Construction Business News ME caught up with Trimble and AVEVA to discuss how will automation, technology, digital twin technology, and software solutions are changing how construction sites operate in the aftermath of COVID-19 AUTOMATING CONSTRUCTION SCOTT CROZIER General Manager of the Civil Construction Field Systems Division at Trimble AUTOMATION RESHAPING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY “Automation is reshaping the construc- tion industry in many ways, including through improved safety, increased efficiency, and easing the challenges caused by a global workforce shortage. Grade control solutions have reduced or eliminated the need for a survey crew to work alongside machinery to verify progress, which is one sure way to improve jobsite safety. Equipment collision avoidance technology is another step along the autonomous road that will become standard on machines, much like backup cameras on passenger cars. With radar and cameras, heavy equip- ment will be fitted with technology that can stop a machine before it hits powerlines or runs into something out of the ordinary on the jobsite. Further, automation capabilities in the construction space have largely focused on blade and steering control, which incorporate sense-and-avoid de- tection sensors, as well as geofencing capabilities to confine movement to a defined area, along with other safety features and tele-operated observer controls. Semi-automatic excavators have been out for some time, as have dozers, motor graders and paving machines, all of which are already helping to vastly improve jobsite productivity. In today’s market, a contractor of any size can gain almost immediate value in productivity with machine control technology, while // SOFTWARE
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 29 setting themselves up to take advan- tage of future autonomous capabilities. Some contractors are already realizing double digit improvements in pro- ductivity after implementing machine control technology. All of this helps ease the challenges of the workforce shortage by making construction jobs more appealing to a broader and younger audience, and by enabling current machine opera- tors – both new and experienced – to work more efficiently and with greater precision. Machine control systems like Trimble Earthworks quickly help make inexperienced drivers good and experienced drivers great. Automating construction equip- ment and increasing the use of robots on job sites helps improve the health and safety of workers by liter- ally keeping them out of harm’s way. Machine control technology reduces the need for people working on the ground near heavy equipment, and robots and drones can both gather information from tight and perilous spots that would be risky or hard to reach by workers. The use of automated equipment and robots can also help alleviate con- cerns around the spread of germs by helping reduce the number of people required on a jobsite.” TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE IN COMBATTING ISSUES RELATED TO COVID-19 “Technology can help contractors remain resilient and ensure business continuity through Covid-19 - and through any unexpected disruptions to business. New hardware and software solutions like Trimble WorksManager are making it easier to enable con- nected workflows and manage projects remotely, with capabilities that include the wireless transfer of 3D designs and dashboards that show real-time job progress. Technology advances such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality are helping drive ef- ficiencies through remote training, col- laboration, jobsite management, and quality control and assurance, which are all valuable when it’s important to keep the number of people on a jobsite to a minimum. Augmented and mixed reality technol- ogies can help workers visualize a job site remotely and collaborate between the office and the field, improve issue resolution and drive productivity. With this year’s release of Trimble Earthworks 2.0, AR is available in the cab of the excavator, which helps operators more easily understand 3D models, cut/fill information, slope data and other bench points and reference points.” EMBRACING DISRUPTION “Often, forced disruptions open the door to new opportunities, and we believe this will be the case with the construction industry. We are seeing customers, dealers, partners, our own product development teams and the entire industry find innovative solu- tions to what are all of the sudden everyday problems as the result of COVID-19. The pandemic environment has also helped increase the adoption of digital processes in the construction workflow. Even when the day-to-day impacts of the pandemic are behind us, the so- lutions that have helped people work more efficiently even while they are physically apart from each other will help drive increased productivity and profitability for contractors.”
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 30 // SOFTWARE ANDREW MCCLOSKEY AVEVA’s CTO and EVP R&D HOW THE DIGITAL TWIN IS REIMAGING THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Worldwide, construction is already one of the largest industry sectors. Accord- ing to PwC, Global Construction 2030 forecast, the volume of construction output will grow by 85% to $15.5 tril- lion worldwide by 2030, with three countries, China, US and India, leading the way and accounting for 57% of all global growth . However, the sec- tor is still dealing with four on-going challenges: (1) poor productivity and profitability; (2) project performance – primarily timing and budget issues, (3) skilled labor shortages; and (4) sustain- ability concerns. An answer? Digital Twin technology. Digital Twins provide the ability to cre- ate a virtual replica of potential and ac- tual physical assets, processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes. Twin can be continually updated with ongoing operational and process data such as maintenance and performance records, and) Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensor information. Dur- ing the operational stages, variations from optimal process and asset design are captured during run-time, and the Digital Twin is automatically updated with this information. Knowing the current state of an as- set, the digital model can use predic- tive learning technology to proactively identify potential asset failures before they occur and even suggest ways to prevent those failures. In other words, the Digital Twin can predict when its physical counterpart will break, well before that happens. The Digital Twin can also utilise artificial intelligence with advanced process control, control strategy design and process optimization. These tools Companies use Digital Twins for many reasons including testing new assets or procedures before launch- ing them in the real world where it becomes more expensive and compli- cated to fix any issues, the improve- ment of ongoing operations or training employees. In practical terms, this type of tech- nology can help improve the safety on an oil rig, improve the efficiency of a production plant, or ensuring build- ings meet sustainability, efficiency or regulatory requirements. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, a Digital Twin can help predict potential failures before they happen and suggest ways to prevent those failures. AUGMENTED OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE When assets are deployed or con- struction is commissioned, a Digital
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 31 incorporate necessary variations from process and asset design into the en- gineering asset or plant data, enabling a complete and efficient digital value loop and unified lifecycle management. As organisations scale-up to a Digital Twin of the enterprise operating model, inefficiencies and opportunities in their ongoing operations can be identified and executed upon in real-time. DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE DIGITAL TWIN STRATEGY Digital Transformation merges the latest innovative tools and processes with or- ganizational in-house domain expertise. This enables not only the contextualiza- tion of new and existing data but also delivers actionable insights and informa- tion. Enterprises can then execute upon these new insights and close the loop to- wards continuous process improvement. For this to occur, every Digital Transfor- mation journey needs to begin with the critical understanding that information and data have become a priceless and strategic asset to the enterprise. To establish an effective Digital Twin strategy, each asset requires a differ- ent set of asset data services, together with engineering master data, effective visualization tools, plus collaboration and workflow procedures: 1. Create a Digital Twin model that uses accurate data feeds to help understand product or opera- tions performance and adjust critical control points to deliver short- and long-term value. 2. Identify where Digital Twin simulations and predictive mainte- nance can deliver the best value, for example, improvements in operations or processes, reduction in costs or risks. 3. Build a Digital Twin architec- tural roadmap that enables program and project planning for digital trans- formation. 4. Data insight is king. Use a Digi- tal Twin for deployments or projects as this will expose how the organization or project connects with its current state and how it is likely to respond to internal or external changes. A Digital Twin incorporates data from these diverse data points, and creates a myriad of potential benefits, including the ability to test changes to processes before they are implemented, making better and accurate decisions based on data. Construction companies that suc- ceed in realizing the potential savings from effective intelligent master data management will reap the transforma- tive benefits of Digital Twin technology and have a lot to gain through unlock- ing the boundaries of creativity without the burden of risk.
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 32 // PROJECT Ithra Dubai, wholly owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai, announces the launch of Plot 3 of Phase 1 of the Deira Enrichment Project (DEP.) Known as “Sherina Plaza,” Plot 3 has entered the close-out and handover phase, leading the way before Plots 1, 2, 11 and 12 soon to be completed within Phase 1 of DEP ITHRA DUBAI ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF PLOT 3 OF THE DEIRA ENRICHMENT PROJECT (DEP)
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 33 The announcement was made during a media tour of Plot 3 organized by Ithra Dubai and attended by the developer’s principals Mr. Issam Galadari, Director and CEO and Mr. Raad Jarrah, Chief Development Officer, as well as engi- neers and architects who helped bring this project to life. Plot 3 is the first installment of DEP to be launched within the massive mixed-use development meant to rejuvenate and revitalize Dubai’s heart of commerce and oldest community. It features 350 residential 1,2 and 3 bed- room units, ranging from 861 to 2,045 square feet, a four-star hotel with 290 rooms operated by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, 45 restaurants and retail units, and 721,182 square feet of office space. “We are happy to announce the launch of Plot 3 of the Deira Enrich- ment Project. We are driven by one objective and that is to enrich cities and add value to their citizens, whether by elevating lifestyles or offering integrated solutions that balance work, living and leisure,” said Issam Galadari in marking this occasion. He continued "We are committed to delivering the project in a timely man- ner without compromising on the high- est in quality standards. Inspired by the Dubai vision, DEP will reaffirm Deira’s historic standing as Dubai’s original trading hub and will play a vital role in the future development of the city.” Commenting on this new achieve- ment, Raad Jarrah said “DEP broke ground in 2017 and is today launching the first of its mixed-used plots. From deference to heritage with a modern application in design and architecture, to incorporated green spaces and a concern for sustainability, DEP accounts for every aspect of Ithra Dubai’s vision.” He added: "The development will ease navigation in and around Deira thanks to multi-storey car parks and an integrated transportation hub under construction in Plot 4. All of Dubai Transport Authority services such as a metro, buses and taxis will be available, facilitating access to public transporta- tion and minimizing dependence on private cars.” Commenting on the buildings ready to be delivered: " DEP was at all times meant to be the place where people want to spend their time, whether to live, work or play. Plot 3 for instance consists of two residential buildings, a hotel and an office building with panoramic views of the waterfront, as well as small parks with nearby children play areas. Residents will enjoy a number of facilities such as rooftop pools, gyms, a plaza, prayer rooms and public baths. Sherina Plaza is ready to receive its new residents and welcome future tenants.” Next to Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the proj- ect, DEP features the Waterfront Market and the Gold Souk Extension scheduled to open for the public beginning of next year. Phase 1 includes 50 mixed- use buildings, 2,200 residential units, 416 commercial units, 843 retail units, restaurants and cafes, as well as eight hotels with more than 1,450 rooms and serviced apartments, multiple leisure facilities, a park overlooking the water- front, green landscapes and multi-storey parking space. Ithra Dubai will next be launching Plots 1, 2, 11 and 13, equally consist- ing of mixed-use facilities and boasting of lush green areas and ample parking spaces. Plots 11 and 13 are dedicated to the Gold Souk Extension and designed to suit the unique needs of gold traders and precious stone merchants. Issam Galadari, Director and CEO, at Ithra Dubai
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 34 // PROJECT The First Group reaches major construction milestone for Ciel, the world’s tallest hotel REACHING THE SKIES Integrated global property developer The First Group is making rapid prog- ress in the development of Ciel – its largest and most ambitious project to date – with the high-profile Dubai Marina property’s foundations nearing completion. The Dubai-headquartered firm, which ranks among the city’s fastest-growing developers of upper midscale hotels, is building the future icon with develop- ment partner China Railway Construc- tion Corporation (CRCC). More than 11,800 cubic metres of concrete and in excess of 3,000 tonnes of steel are being used to construct the building’s foundations, highlight- ing the sheer scale of the project. The largest concrete pour, completed this week, comprised 7,000 cubic metres of concrete over a continuous 48-hour period. A final pour consisting of 1,000 cubic metres of concrete is scheduled for 3 September. “We are proud to mark this important milestone in the development of Ciel, which is set to become one of Dubai’s most iconic buildings and a landmark hotel of global significance,” said Rob Burns, CEO of The First Group. “Ciel is The First Group’s 18th project in Dubai and our largest and most complex undertaking to date. This spectacular tower will truly be a jewel in the crown of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Ideally located in Dubai Marina, Ciel guests will enjoy world- class hospitality, F&B and entertainment facilities.” Recognised as the world’s second largest construction and engineering company by revenue, CRCC is the main contractor overseeing the prestigious project, bringing its globally renowned expertise in mega developments to building what will become the tallest hotel on the planet. “Having worked with The First
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 35 Group constructing major hotel projects in Dubai for more than a decade, we are proud to partner with the firm in the development of Ciel, the world’s tallest hotel,” commented Gao Jinping, General Manager of China Railway 18th Bureau Group. “I am confident our partnership will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.” Designed by award-winning archi- tectural firm NORR, the 365-metre tall skyscraper will house 1,042 guestrooms including 150 suites, premium guest amenities and facilities, such as the Ciel Observatory & Lounge on the 81st floor and a signature rooftop Sky Terrace fea- turing a stunning infinity pool, bar and observation deck affording sweeping panoramic views of Dubai’s world- famous skyline, the Palm Jumeirah and Arabian Gulf. Abstractly sculpted in metal and glass, the building’s gently curving exterior represents an inspired response to high-rise living. In a city known for its architectural feats, Ciel will be a unique addition to the Dubai skyline – a triumph for de- sign that elegantly combines scientific analysis, sculptural form and land- scaped terraces. “Ciel will set a new benchmark for innovative design in super-tall build- ings, not just in Dubai, but globally,” commented Yahya Jan, President & Design Director for NORR. “This land- mark project will become an exciting addition to the famous Dubai Marina skyline.” Standout design features include a 300-metre tall atrium with vertically stacked landscaped and naturally ven- tilated terraces spanning the building’s 82 floors, which will provide occupants with shared communal and interactive space. Ciel’s interior design is inspired by the concept of Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese tradition with a key focus on understat- ed elegance and rustic, warm aesthet- ics. A signature specialty restaurant befit- ting Ciel’s luxury status will spearhead the hotel’s F&B options, which will also include an all-day dining venue, Sunset Lounge (75th floor) and Horizon Bar (77th floor). A luxury spa and health club will be located on the building’s 55th floor, of- fering a remarkable location for guests to unwind, relax or workout while soaking in the incredible ocean-front views. Confirming its global significance, Ciel has already earned a number of prestigious industry accolades includ- ing 2019 International Property Awards (IPAs) for Best International Hotel Architecture, Best Hotel Architecture Arabia and Best Residential High-rise Architecture Arabia. Ciel has also received the top prize in four major categories at the 2019- 20 Dubai, Africa & Arabia Property Awards: Hotel Architecture; New Hotel Construction and Design; Commercial High-rise Development; and Residential High-rise Architecture. Ciel is the flagship development of The First Group’s fast-growing portfolio of hotels situated in prime locations across Dubai, which includes award- winning Wyndham Dubai Marina, Millennium Place Marina and TRYP by Wyndham Dubai. Landmark hotel projects are also under construction in Dubai’s thriving Business Bay and Jumeirah Village dis- tricts, while the company continues to assess sought-after locations across the emirate with a view to further expand- ing its development footprint.
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 36 // REBRANDING CCS and RIB Software partnership culminates in RIB CCS rebrand RUNNING TOGETHER Construction Computer Software (CCS) is taking on a new identity under the moniker of RIB CCS. This is after the company’s recent partnership and 100% acquisition by software multi- national RIB Software SE - an innova- tor in the building and construction industry. Andrew Skudder, RIB CCS Chief Ex- ecutive Officer, says the benefits of the partnership and rebranding are numer- ous, with the new identity coming as a result of new technology demands, the implementation of new thinking and working methods, and shareholder alignment on digital transformation. “The partnership with RIB provides a wealth of opportunity for RIB CCS in the form of investment in R&D, access to new technology and innovative solutions such as the first construction industry cloud platform, new channels to market, and partnerships with other RIB companies,” he says. “Outside of our new name and identity, we can assure customers that it is business as usual. We will con- tinue to provide the same solutions, support and service that customers have become accustomed to, as well as providing access to new, innova- tive technologies that complement our own solution stack.” The investment by RIB in CCS af- firms the company’s position as a market leader in the provision of cost and enterprise management solutions to the construction and engineering industry. “We believe the Middle East and African continents will benefit greatly from our iTWO 4.0 and MTWO platform technology. The rebranding of the company to form RIB CCS is an important step in our mission to
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 37 maintain our position as the inter- national market leader for 5D BIM digital transformation in the building and infrastructure industries,” explains RIB Software SE Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Wolf. RIB CCS’s new visual identity is reflective of the combination of the two entities’ industry solutions, and incorporates RIB’s leading product of- fering, iTWO. The product is the only end-to-end 5D enterprise solution on the market. Using Big Data technol- ogy, iTWO integrates business and construction processes, allowing build- ings and infrastructure to be designed virtually before physical construction begins. Operating with the concept of ‘Running Together’, RIB CCS looks to transform the engineering and con- struction industry and shape the future for generations to come. “This is an exciting new chapter in the long and prestigious history of CCS and we're determined to further cement the relationships we have with valued stakeholders under our new name and identity,” concludes Skud- der. ABOUT RIB CCS For four decades RIB CCS has been the preferred supplier of specialised software solutions to the construction and engineering industry, serving more than 1,800 Clients and 40,000 Users in over 50 countries. Underpinned by more than 35 years of expertise, pas- sion and innovation, RIB CCS offers software solutions that are intelligent by design, fit-for-purpose and aimed at enhancing productivity, transforming operating models and adding value to the businesses it serves. RIB CCS is an RIB Software SE company, pioneer in the transformation and digitization of the engineering and construction in- dustry. For further information please visit www.ribccs.com. ABOUT RIB SOFTWARE SE RIB Software SE is an innovator in the building and construction industry. The company develops and offers cutting-edge digital technolo- gies for construction enterprises and projects across various industries worldwide. iTWO 4.0, RIB's flagship cloud-based platform, provides the world's first enterprise cloud technol- ogy based on 5D BIM with AI inte- gration for construction companies, industrial companies, developers and project owners, etc. With over 50 years of experiences in the con- struction industry, RIB Software SE focuses on IT and engineering and becomes the pioneer in construction innovation, exploring and bringing in new thinking, new working methods and new technologies to enhance construction productivity. RIB is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and Hong Kong, China, and listed on the prime standard Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2011. With over 2,700 talents in more than 25 coun- tries worldwide, RIB is targeting to transform the construction industry into the most advanced and digi- talized industry in the 21st century. Andrew Skudder, RIB CCS Chief Executive Officer
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 38 // LAUNCH ELTIZAM LAUNCHES OMNIUS ESTATE SERVICES Eltizam Asset Management Group, a leading physical asset management company in the Middle East, has launched Omnius Estate Services to provide technology-powered end-to- end property management services across the MENA region. The launch reflects Eltizam’s continuous efforts to strengthen its footprint and become a leading player in the region’s physical asset management market. With offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the new company will be distinguished through its deployment of innovative technology solutions to operate assets efficiently and sustain- ably, and deliver exceptional customer experience to satisfy the needs of the region’s growing tech savvy customers. Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam, said: “Omnius provides asset owners with comprehensive and integrated prop- erty management services set to glob- ally recognized standards and the best industry practices. The team comprises of global professionals who have both local and regional market experience and are committed to delivering top level value to their clients involved in residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate developments.” Part of its range of effective end- to-end asset management solutions include property management, financial management, sales and leasing, tenant relationship management, facilities ser- vices management, energy management and portfolio insights and analytics. On energy management, the com- pany’s capabilities increase through the use of the latest digital tools to monitor electricity consumption, identify & prioritize savings opportunities and deploy passive and active strategies to reduce an asset’s environmental impact and operating costs. This approach is in line with the Middle East gov- ernments’ initiatives to lower carbon footprint and promote rationalized use of power and other resources. Further, Omnius deploys a business intelligence platform for insights and an- alytics in order to monitor asset portfolio performance. The systems dashboards allow property managers and clients to track parameters including occupancy, service levels, work status and utility consumption, amongst others enabling data-driven decisions in real time. Roberts added: “The Omnius team of asset management experts are fully capable of addressing challenges and concerns that asset owners in the region constantly face. These is- sues include establishing supply and demand dynamics driving leasing trends; controlling energy and cooling expenditures; making data-driven deci- sions for large portfolios, and many more. As each asset is unique, Omnius provides a tailored approach to ensure long-term asset valuations.” Chris Roberts, CEO, Eltizam
Scania Touring HD range a privilege to own The Scania Touring is a coach designed to meet your needs for occasional service and regular service over long distances. You will enjoy full support from a single point of contact since all parts, maintenance and repairs are backed by Scania’s comprehensive global service work. The possibility of fast deliveries gives your business plenty of flexibility. If you’re focused on good total operating economy, this coach is destined to be a profit source for years to come.
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 40 // MACHINERY EASIER ACCESS FOR DIFFICULT, HIGH ALTITUDE CONSTRUCTION SITES Accessing mountain roads in the middle of a forest is sometimes im- practical, and without public trails, it’s practically impossible. And even if often the sole way is to reach the peak is by foot, it can be weary but so rewarding! Let’s think how difficult it is for com- panies that need to make or maintain the forestry trails. Image the challenges they must face to reach their location with the proper equipment for the job, while maintaining low operating costs, and without impacting the forest’s resources. They need to plan a project while adhering to their budget and en- vironmental laws. Usually, these jobs are necessary and need to be complet- ed quickly to avoid natural disasters like landslides, or to open resorts in time for the season. To overcome all the challenges it’s crucial to rely on simple, versatile, and fast equipment. MB Crusher attachments open the road ahead, literally, for companies who use them: they can be installed on and transported with the machinery you plan to use for the project and can adapt to any job site to process mate- rial. They eliminate all struggle and expenses commonly associated with these forestry jobs. WHEN THE ROAD ISN’T THERE… Reaching the job site is the first expense and obstacle to consider, es- pecially if the location is in an isolated area with limited or no access. Bigger machines require expensive, special- ized transportation difficult to obtain for similar projects. By mounting an MB crusher bucket on a piece of equipment, the unit is transported with your machinery, avoiding expensive transportation methods. This is what the forestry depart- ment in Nevada did, they re-surfaced the firebreaks roads by using the MB crusher bucket to process and recycle granite and river rock. By using the unit, the department eliminated all ma- terial hauling costs, this process helps save millions of dollars a year from transportation cost and also it reduces the invasive species and other type of minerals that were trucked in the past to do this type of jobs. A similar situation happened in Serbia, where the SrbljaSume state
CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 // WWW.CBNME.COM 41 department – which is dedicated to constructing and maintaining all forest trails – is using the BF90.3 crusher bucket on an excavator. This MB unit is crushing basalt that will be used as road base to either construct or to preserve existing roads. A company in northern Italy had a similar project: to create a scenic path that leads into a forest. With the BF90.3 mobile crusher, they processed natural stone and rocks and managed harder materials with ease. Everything was efficiently done on site. The same thing happened in another region, Friuli Venezia Giulia, where a larger crusher bucket model, the BF120.4, arrived at a construction site in the mountains, despite it being difficult to reach. Mountain trails aren’t solely used for hiking. In the winter, snow trans- forms these locations into renowned ski resorts. These ski resorts have to be ready before the season of- ficially starts, meaning that a quick turnaround is necessary. In Austria, a BF120.4 crusher bucket followed the ski slopes’ route, while crushing lime- stone and using it as base material. Separating and selecting dirt is the next crucial point when constructing trails: a common solution is to haul the material up and down the mountain. You can get rid of this step with MB Crusher’s units. MB’s screening buck- ets can access all construction sites and screen material on the spot. This happened on a job site in Cana- da’s forests where they built a path leading to a residential area using the soil and rock screened with an MB-S10 screening bucket. Not only did they eliminate all hauling fees, but also fol- lowed all environmental protocols by using material available at the location. WHEN ROADS NEED TO BE CLEARED… Mountain trails need to be frequently cleared of obstacles such as tree trunks, branches, and debris moved onto the walkway by storms and winds. A massive storm that hit Italy in 2018, razed a large portion of forest in the Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto re- gions. To recover the fallen tree trunks and debris from roads and paths and equipment that would help move the materials regardless of how the tree trunks were laying: the MB Crusher MB-G demolition and sorting grapples. The full rotation and a strong clasping strength, allows to pick up materials at different angles while also ensuring nothing falls out of the sides. MB Crusher grapples are easy to operate and is the perfect tool to move objects with strength and precision. Trails have to be cleared of sur- rounding vegetation and brushwood that could be an obstacle to foot traf- fic. This can also be done with one of MB Crusher’s grapples: once they are mounted onto your equipment, you pair them with the correct accessory and get the job done. All over the world, our customers show how MB Crusher units are a great tool for the agricultural and forestry industries that have to deal with difficult-to-access locations, high operational costs, and environmental protection laws. MB Crusher’s units process material on any job site, making it available for immediate reuse or resale. All kind of materials are handled with ease and the units don’t need to be sent to special centers to be serviced, the maintenance can be done on the job site without lengthy downtime. There is no doubt, MB’s attachments are the ideal machines for those com- panies that wants to…. go a long way!
// CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NEWS ME // SEPTEMBER 2020 42 // REAL ESTATE DEMAND FOR VILLA/TOWNHOUSES REACHES NEW HEIGHTS Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, a new trend has emerged in the demand and movement of the second- ary villa/townhouse sector in the Dubai real estate market. In July, we saw the highest number of sales transactions of ready villa/townhouses in a single month (493) as consumers were look- ing for ready units to move into. The number of transactions was a direct reflection of what Data Finder, the real estate insights and data platform under the Property Finder group, has analyzed in the number of searches and demand for villa/townhouses on the Property Finder website since the crisis started. In July alone this number compared to the same period last year had increased by more than 58%. One of the reasons we are seeing this trend is due to the high demand for larger properties with more outside space. During the crisis and lockdown, search and demand data showed that people started looking for bigger properties. The search and demand data shifted from the traditional small family apartments to villa/townhouses. We can see in our data this trend has grown sig- nificantly since the crisis started and con- tinues to have an effect on the market. The top areas for secondary villa/ townhouse sales were Nadd al Sheba (14.4%), Dubai Hills Estate (6.7%), Al Furjan (5.9%), Dubai Industrial Park(4.9%) and Mudon(4.7%). The top areas for off-plan villa/town- house sales were Dubai South (28.1%), Dubai Hills Estate (23.4%), Arabian Ranches 3(15.6%), Town Square (10.9%) and Dubai Land (7.8%). Lynnette Abad, Director of Research and Data at Property Finder said “Nearly 35% of all searches for villa/ townhouses in the past four months have been concentrated around Ara- bian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, Palm Jumeirah, Damac Hills and the Springs. Per the data, it is clear that consumers are looking for well-established com- munities with ready properties." Property Finder: This is historically the highest number of transactions recorded in a single month (July 2020) for this unit type
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