(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Interview by Omar Al-Loughani
KUWAIT, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- Head of Geotechnical Database Project at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Dana Al-Enezi said KISR aims to establish a national digital geotechnical database, a strategic and inevitable step to support digital infrastructure of smart city visions, enhance crisis response capabilities and develop independent national engineering codes.
In an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Enezi, of KISR's Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, said that her current project focused on highlighting importance of managing and digitally archiving geotechnical data, a core element in the design and implementation of infrastructure.
She explained that the absence of a unified national digital database leads to repeated mistakes, delays in decision-making, and increased risks in major urban projects, noting that digitalization and integrated data management have become essential components of modern infrastructure amid the global shift toward smart cities.
Al-Enezi cited the historical case of the Dhahar area in the late 1980s, saying that the region experienced major ground collapse problems in 1988 and 1989, which prompted the Public Authority for Housing Welfare to seek experts to assess damages, and KISR to conduct extensive investigations.
"This incident illustrates the dangers of lacking a national database, as it led to a slow response and greater losses due to reliance on ad-hoc studies instead of a permanent knowledge system that could be quickly accessed," she said.
Al-Enezi pointed out that despite past research efforts, Kuwait still lacks a national geotechnical database or detailed maps showing soil characteristics at different depths.
She praised the leading Gulf experiences that have advanced significantly in the digital transformation of national data management, stressing that these examples prove the importance of investing in digital infrastructure.
She said Saudi Arabia "is a leading regional model in geological data infrastructure," referring to the digital platforms and services provided by the Saudi Geological Survey through its official portal, which offer national geological maps and data supporting major development projects and infrastructure planning, while also facilitating controlled access to subsurface records and layers for decision-makers and technical authorities.
"This progress has been reflected in Saudi Arabia's mega projects, especially future cities that rely on the Digital Twin concept and subsurface modeling linked to verified geological and geotechnical data, enhancing design efficiency, implementation, and risk management throughout the project life cycle," said Al-Enezi.
She emphasized that having a specialized national database under the supervision of an official geoengineering authority was a cornerstone of any rapidly developing urban project.
She also noted that the United Arab Emirates has presented successful examples of geo-digital transformation, highlighting Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport's initiatives in modeling, which enable more precise planning, better geotechnical risk anticipation and broader integration with smart city platforms.
Al-Enezi explained that addressing geological hazards (Geohazards) requires adopting a comprehensive geotechnical and geological data system based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect detailed data on terrain, physical and chemical soil properties and historical incidents.
She added that "this system allows predicting problems before they occur, establishing early warning mechanisms, and enabling engineers, designers, and decision-makers to understand subsurface conditions accurately - even before the feasibility study stage."
She emphasized that the role of the database extends beyond urban planning and crisis management, serving as a key reference in developing national engineering codes.
She said, "Preparing a national seismic code relies on precise data about soil nature and dynamic behavior, as well as on determining seismic risk factors for each region." She added that it also provided the basis for developing a national geotechnical code based on local data instead of full reliance on foreign codes.
Engineer Al-Enezi noted the critical importance of this database for major national projects, such as the Al-Mutlaa Residential City and development projects on Boubyan Island.
Al-Mutlaa City, she said, "with its extensive construction works, needs a main reference to help understand soil distribution, reduce risks, and ensure infrastructure safety."
"Boubyan Island has soft, complex clay soil, making it prone to seismic amplification and other geotechnical challenges, which require integrating test data into a national database to develop design solutions suited to the island's conditions," said Al-Enezi.
Al-Enezi affirmed that the creation of a national geotechnical database was a fundamental pillar supporting early warning systems and smart city management, helping improve urban planning, decision-making, and infrastructure management, in line with Kuwait's goals for sustainable development and digital transformation.
Geotechnical Engineering is a major branch of civil engineering that studies mechanical and engineering properties of soil and rock, and their behavior under different loads through detailed field and laboratory testing.
This data is essential for designing safe and sustainable foundations for buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams and roads, as well as for assessing geological risks such as ground subsidence and seismic liquefaction, and proposing suitable engineering solutions to ensure infrastructure stability and public safety. (end)
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