Qatar's First Subway Network Is Ready for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Published: 29/11/2019

Phase one of Qatar's first urban rail network opened in 2019. Qatar Rail was the company in charge of developing the brand new underground lines for the Doha metro system, in Qatar, which is planned to alleviate traffic problems and accommodate future growth in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Hochtief ViCon was in charge of delivering BIM services for all three Metro Lines in Doha; the Green, Red and Gold Lines. The ‘QIRP Gold Line MEP Underground’ project comprised detailed engineering design (DED) services for 10 underground stations. It also included a central cooling plant and 32 kilometers of railway tunnels. A project with a budget over 3 billion euros and more than 13.580 employees from 58 countries.

The scope of the BIM services was divided into two phases: phase one consisted of BIM implementation, execution plan and modeling guidelines, while phase two comprised BIM process management, design coordination and trainings and clash detections. Coordination with MEP installations requires the production of clash detection reports facilitating the identification of solutions shared during periodic interface meetings.

For the project to be successful, ViCon conducted a total of 35 training sessions during a time span of 30 weeks. The goal was to discipline over 120 staff members under one roof in the engineering and BIM integrated processes. Better team communication is one of the aspirations BIM methodology has, and for this reason, these sessions are crucial to make sure every professional works towards the same result.

The high level of the finishing, the complex geometry of the interior walls and ceilings, and the attention to detail, required a precise study of the materials selected, as well as the implementation of special construction methods and work sequences. It required that the entire design had to be developed adopting BIM techniques, using Revit and other 3D modelling software.

Qatar wants to become a global reference for smart cities. For this reason, the state is making major investments in urban mobility and public transport. The development of public transport is one of the key priorities of Qatar Vision 2030, a strategic plan established in 2008, which serves the government as a road map for the state’s economic, social and environmental development. By 2020, the subway network will be in full operation, taking a new step towards the goal they have set for the city to achieve in the next 10 years.

Source: https://bit.ly/2XSdZvg

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