If you are curious about how massive construction projects stay on track in some of the world’s toughest environments, a new study offers a compelling look behind the scenes. In “Application of Integrated Surveying Technologies for Risk Management in Megaprojects: Case Study of NEOM’s Oxagon Port, Saudi Arabia,” author Mostafa Abdel-Bary Ebrahim explores how a mix of advanced surveying tools can help teams better understand complex sites, reduce risk, and make smarter decisions throughout a project’s life.
The paper focuses on the Oxagon port in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, a highly ambitious floating industrial development set in a harsh desert-coastal environment. To tackle challenges such as sandstorms, high humidity levels, sensitive marine habitats, and the need for highly precise construction, the study brings together advanced surveying technologies, including photogrammetry, geographic information systems, light detection and ranging, unmanned aerial vehicles, global navigation satellite systems, and three-dimensional laser scanning. Integrated use of advanced surveying technologies in extreme contexts has remained largely underinvestigated. Ebrahim explores what is possible when using these tools in concert, rather than individually.
This focus on a practical implementation in an extreme real-world setting makes this case study relevant and helps fill a gap to better understand the use of these technologies as part of a coordinated strategy. Readers get a snapshot of the processes involved – such as mapping terrain, guiding layout decisions, tracking structural progress, and checking completed work – along with a sense of the positive outcomes these methods can support, including better accuracy, lower rework costs, and more efficient project management. For anyone working on large, complex projects, the study offers a practical example of how modern surveying can support better planning and long-term maintenance while protecting both budgets and sensitive environments. Learn more about this research in the Journal of Surveying Engineering at https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JSUED2.SUENG-1679. The abstract is below.
Abstract
This case study investigates the integrated application of photogrammetry, geographic information systems, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), global navigation satellite systems, and three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning to mitigate risks in NEOM’s Oxagon port, a floating industrial hub within a 26,500 km2 megaproject in northwest Saudi Arabia. Covering preconstruction (foundation alignment), construction (structural monitoring), and postconstruction (as-built verification and maintenance) phases from 2022–2024, these technologies addressed environmental risks (coastal ecosystems with 2,500 marine species), logistical challenges (desert terrain, sandstorms), financial constraints ($50 billion budget), and technical complexities (floating structures). Photogrammetry achieved 1.5 mm accuracy in steel framework monitoring, validated by 3D scanning, while LiDAR and UAVs reduced survey times by 50% compared to conventional total station methods. A three-phase framework yielded 15%–20% cost savings ($7.5–$10 billion), 25% error reduction, 15% reduced environmental impact, and 10% maintenance cost savings, validated by ecological surveys and project reports. Compared to conventional methods, integrated technologies reduced survey times by 40% and rework costs by 30%. Despite challenges such as high LiDAR costs and sandstorm disruptions, this study provides a rigorously validated, scalable framework for megaproject risk management in extreme environments, offering actionable insights for global infrastructure development.
Learn more about the advantages of coordinating surveying tools to improve project planning and long-term maintenance in the ASCE Library: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JSUED2.SUENG-1679.
