Geotechnical Engineering: Prime Group’s Role in Saudi Arabia's Transportation Efficiency

The Landbridge Project in Saudi Arabia is a transformative initiative aimed at constructing a high-speed railway network connecting the Red Sea coast to the Arabian Gulf. With a budget of 7 billion US dollars, the project aims to enhance transportation efficiency and to connect the major cities of Saudi Arabia: Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam.

This case study highlights Prime Group’s role in developing this project, namely from the stand point of one of Prime Engineering France‘s geotech engineer  during the execution of the preliminary design phase by enabling the project to progress.

Designing and Implementing an Efficient Railway

The Landbridge Project’s primary goal is to enhance transportation efficiency and connectivity for both passengers and goods.

By creating a seamless connection between the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, the project will allow the significant reduction of travel time and costs for both domestic and international trade, as well as relieve congestion on highways and improve overall transportation capacity, thus improving significantly the rail sector in Saudi Arabia.

The successful execution of the preliminary design phase study played a pivotal role in advancing the Landbridge Project. The efforts enabled the project to proceed with confidence, ensuring the long-term success and safety of the high-speed railway.

The Geotechnical Engineering approach to the Landbridge Project

Geotechnical engineering uses knowledge of geology, geophysics, hydrology, and other fields that study the behavior of earth’s materials and allies it with the methodologies employed by civil engineering. As such, it is based on the principles of soil and rock mechanics.

In any project that involves the design and development of a massive infrastructure it is necessary to employ the expertise of a Geotech engineer, as to guarantee the success of the project’s execution.

As an engineering service provider, Prime Group’s team was in charge of analyzing the challenges that were being imposed by the environment itself and to find a way to solve them.

End Results: What was the impact of the project in transportation efficiency?

The consultant’s successful execution of the preliminary design phase played a vital role in overcoming the challenges faced by the Landbridge Project. Through comprehensive earthworks studies, stability calculations, and soil analysis, the consultant provided valuable insights into the unique geotechnical aspects of the project site.

Their findings enabled the development of suitable foundation systems, protective measures against wind erosion, and recommendations for addressing soil conditions. This success paved the way for the project to progress and move forward with confidence.

Sand Dunes and Wind Erosion

Common in desert environments, sand dunes and wind erosion posed as an obstacle for the project development. The shifting sands caused by wind posed a threat to the stability of structures. The constantly moving sand dunes required specialized engineering techniques to ensure the stability of foundations. Additionally, wind erosion posed risks of surface degradation to infrastructure, equipment, and vegetation. Protective measures such as windbreaks, surface treatments, and erosion control techniques were necessary to mitigate the impact of wind erosion.

Soil Conditions

Desert soil present unique challenges during the construction phase. Sandy soils lacking cohesion and stability required special foundation design techniques to ensure stable construction, especially for heavy structures and transportation infrastructure. Clayey soils, found in some desert regions, posed challenges due to their high plasticity and potential for ground movement during wet and dry periods. Soil analysis and engineering techniques such as stabilization and moisture control were crucial to manage the effects of clayey soils.

What were the roles of Geotech Engineers in mitigating challenges?

Prime Group’s consultant was responsible for executing the preliminary design phase study on the train line in Saudi Arabia. Thus, their tasks as a geotech engineer included comprehensive studies to evaluate climate conditions, stability, and protection analysis to ensure the quality and security of the railway.

Earthworks Studies

Comprehensive earthworks studies were conducted to assess the feasibility of construction in desert environments. This involved evaluating the soil properties, topography, and geotechnical aspects of the project site.

Preparation of GiDR Reports

As the responsible for the geotechnical engineering portion of the design, the consultant prepared Geotechnical Investigation Design Reports (GiDR) to document the findings from the extensive soil investigations. These reports provided a thorough understanding of the soil conditions and recommended appropriate construction methods and foundation systems.

Stability Calculations

The consultant conducted stability calculations for various aspects, including slopes, foundations, embankment settlement, and bearing capacity. These calculations ensured the structural integrity and safety of the infrastructure.

Liquefaction Calculations

Given the presence of sandy soils, the consultant performed liquefaction calculations to assess the risk of soil liquefaction during seismic events. These calculations were crucial for designing foundations that could withstand potential liquefaction-induced settlement.

Cavity Analysis

To address the challenges of wind erosion and sand dunes, the consultant conducted cavity analysis to evaluate the stability of structures under the impact of wind forces and shifting sands.

Analysis of Protection for Rocky Slopes

As part of the project, rocky slopes were analyzed to determine the appropriate protective measures against erosion and instability. This analysis helped ensure the long-term stability of the slopes and the overall safety of the railway network.

Conclusion: What are the next steps in the railway design?

The Landbridge Project in Saudi Arabia faced significant challenges related to sand dunes, wind erosion, and variable soil conditions, which were successfully addressed during the preliminary design phase. The thorough analysis of the project site, including earthworks studies, stability calculations, and soil investigations, provided critical insights and recommendations.

By implementing specialized geotechnical engineering techniques to mitigate the impact of shifting sands and wind erosion, such as deep foundations, sand stabilization methods, windbreaks, and erosion control techniques, the stability and durability of the infrastructure was secured.

In conclusion, through their expertise in geotechnical engineering and meticulous execution of the preliminary design phase, the consultant successfully addressed the challenges presented by sand dunes, wind erosion, and variable soil conditions in the Landbridge Project. Their findings and recommendations have set the stage for the successful implementation of the high-speed railway network, driving economic growth, facilitating trade, and solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a key player in the global transportation industry.