Kuwait Aims to Establish National Digital Geotechnical Database to Support Smart City Visions

As Kuwait works towards embracing smart city visions and enhancing crisis response capabilities, the establishment of a national digital geotechnical database is envisioned to be a crucial step. The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) is spearheading this effort, with Dana Al-Enezi, Head of the Geotechnical Database Project, highlighting the importance of managing and digitally archiving geotechnical data in designing and implementing infrastructure. The absence of a unified national database has led to repeated mistakes, delays in decision-making, and increased risks in major urban projects. Al-Enezi emphasized that digitalization and integrated data management have become essential components of modern infrastructure, particularly in the context of global shifts towards smart cities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) aims to establish a national digital geotechnical database to support smart city visions and enhance crisis response capabilities.
• The absence of a unified national digital database leads to repeated mistakes, delays in decision-making, and increased risks in major urban projects.
• Digitalization and integrated data management are essential components of modern infrastructure, with the KISR project highlighting the importance of managing and digitally archiving geotechnical data.

*Successful Gulf examples, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have demonstrated the importance of investing in digital infrastructure, with the Saudi Geological Survey's digital platforms and services serving as a regional model for geological data management.

• Kuwait's proposed national geotechnical database will serve as a key reference in developing national engineering codes, including seismic and geotechnical codes, to ensure infrastructure safety and stability.
• The database will extend beyond urban planning and crisis management, providing essential data for designing safe and sustainable foundations, assessing geological risks, and proposing suitable engineering solutions.

Statistics:

• The KISR project aims to establish a national digital geotechnical database to prioritize smart city visions and crisis response capabilities.
• $50 billion has been allocated for the development of infrastructure projects in Kuwait, highlighting the need for reliable and integrated data management.
• 80% of Kuwait's territory is prone to geological hazards, underscoring the critical importance of adopting a comprehensive geotechnical and geological data system.
• The proposed national geotechnical database will serve as a central repository for integrating detailed data on terrain, physical and chemical soil properties, and historical incidents.

Sources:

• *Omar Al-Loughani, (2019, November 1). Interview with Dana Al-Enezi, Head of Geotechnical Database Project at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. KUNA.
• *Saudi Geological Survey. (2020). Digital Platforms and Services for Geological Data Management. Official Portal.