Bauer helps create canal city in desert

About 300 km of canals have been carved to host a 'Sea City' in Kuwait. Bauer Maschinen elaborates how its duty-cycle cranes have been deployed for large-scale dynamic soil compaction to increase the density of non-cohesive soils common in the arid region.

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THE ambitious Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City project is reshaping Kuwait's desert landscape with a pioneering approach to urban expansion. This ambitious project involves the creation of approximately 300 km of canals in the Al Khiran region, a unique approach compared to other Gulf region developments that typically rely on coastal backfill.

Unlike traditional artificial land developments in the Gulf region that rely on large-scale land reclamation, Sea City's canals are carved into the existing desert landscape and then flooded with seawater. This multibillion-dollar endeavour, slated for completion over 46 years in 10 phases, will eventually provide a fully integrated urban environment for up to 250,000 residents, complete with comprehensive infrastructure and luxury amenities.

Constructing large-scale infrastructure on desert sand presents significant challenges. German engineering expertise, specifically from Bauer Maschinen GmbH, is playing a crucial role in preparing the ground for this ambitious vision.

The Sea City project utilises dynamic soil compaction, a technique suited for increasing the density of non-cohesive soils common in arid regions. This method is particularly effective for the subsoil composition found in desert environments, explains Steffen Fuchsa, Head of the duty-cycle crane division at Bauer Maschinen. By expelling pore water, it also reduces the risk of soil liquefaction in the event of an earthquake, he adds.