KABBANI Construction Group (KCG), a specialist contracting group in Saudi Arabia, has recently won two important projects in Makkah — a load test with rating on the Al Awali Bridge; and a complete study of the existing problems for the utility tunnels around Masjid Al Haram at the Grand Mosque.

The projects are being carried out by the company’s newest division Inspectech, which specialises in infrastructure appraisal and management and devotes itself to understanding the risks of deterioration of infrastructure, studying their prediction models, and working closely with owners to organise the inspection, maintenance and repair activities within budget and thus ensuring that the structures do not need to be replaced.
The first of these contracts has just been completed under the supervision of consultant Gulf Engineering House in collaboration with contractor Al Jazeera Al Arabia, while the second is currently under execution. The latter project will generate new and updated as-built drawings, study and analysis reports of the effect of the underground water and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) fixation on structure, the expansion joints, detection of water leakages, the evaluation and assessment of the structural condition.
Proposals and recommendations for solving all the detected problems are to be also produced by Inspectech engineers along with conditions and specifications reports and bills of quantities. Most importantly, ScanPrint — an innovative and proven inspection-based infrastructure management software system — will be used throughout the project whereby all technical reports will be linked directly to it.
Speaking on the success of the division, Engineer Chaid Said, senior engineer at Inspectech, says: “This is a first in Saudi Arabia and the region, no other company here has been able to create such a hand-in-hand synergy between technology and structural inspection. I believe this is what the region needs – new effective and efficient methods to evaluate tunnels and infrastructure. We at Inspectech are trying to be one step ahead and offer professionalism at its best.”
This division’s services include asset management, inspection and measurement, monitoring, risk analysis, non-destructive testing and heavy lifting for structures such as water and wastewater pipelines, dams, buildings, harbours, tunnels and bridges.
As a strategic and exclusive partner of Advitam Group, Inspectech offers pipeline services such as acoustic monitoring (SoundPrint), leak detection (SmartBall), electromagnetic inspection (P-Wave), pipeline risk management system (PRMS). In regards to bridges and tunnels, other Advitam systems are also provided such as ScanPrint and the bridge management system (BMS).
Inspectech is also the exclusive agent and partner of Bridge Diagnostics Inc (BDI), a manufacturer and supplier of a structural testing system, a new approach to bridge load testing that relies on the development of a finite element model (FEM) of a bridge in order to establish a load rating and general assessment.
Elaborating on ScanPrint and how effectively it is being utilised on the Makkah utility tunnel project, he says: “ScanPrint has been developed to optimise the inspection process and to provide decision-makers with objective information regarding infrastructure condition and related maintenance activities. This comprehensive management system integrates databases of structural defects, inspection forms, and activities (for example, inspections, maintenance, and repairs) and provides on-site computerised document management for subsequent analysis, maintenance planning, diagnosis, repair and fiscal planning.  The system has proven to be tremendously efficient for infrastructure inspection and maintenance management, helping save valuable time and vastly improving the knowledge of a structure's condition.
“Being part of KCG, which is certified by Moody International according to ISO 9001:2000 standards, Inspectech is committed to executing the project to the best standards and practices, ensuring especially the highest in QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control) and health and safety measures.
“Inspectech has already acquired all the relevant documents and has conducted a visual inspection of the tunnel.  The tunnel drawings must be updated through a conclusive survey on the physical site of all the tunnels surrounding the Holy Mosque. Drawings that need to be revised (initially provided by the municipality) using AutoCAD will include details about the electrical and electronic installations, ventilation, storm and run-off drainage, telecommunications and other utilities existing in the vicinity.
“The work will be carried out in three stages  – submittal, completion of surveys with verification and then drafting. In order to visualise the entire tunnel, Inspectech will also produce a 3D virtual tour of all the service tunnels as per the updated drawings obtained.”
Once all drawings have been reproduced, Inspectech’s job becomes more challenging and the firm will utilise precise technologies.
The second phase of the project involves completion of the study, analysis, design and preparation of technical reports.
A series of inspections must then be conducted including areas such as expansion joints of the tunnels, while identification of leakage areas in every tunnel, and of the quality of the materials recommended for use in view of the conditions in the tunnels must be completed.
Inspectech’s state-of-the-art non-destructive testing instruments will help assess the condition of the tunnel walls. At least three types of testing will be employed in order to accurately evaluate the structure: Impact Echo System, GeCor and Structure Scan (a GPR system).
The Portable Impact-Echo System (PIES) is an advanced instrument for non-destructive detection of flaws and defects in a variety of civil infrastructure ranging from bridges, parking structures and buildings to dams, piles, tunnels, tanks and marine structures.
The GeCor 6 utilises the polarization resistance technique to establish the corrosion rate. Relative humidity, temperature, half-cell potentials and concrete resistivity also can be measured.
“Finally, the ground-penetrating radar StructureScan Optical is the only concrete inspection tool on the market with optical barcodes and patented Smart Pad technology for simple error-free scanning,” Said explains. “StructureScan Optical has revolutionised 3D data collection by simplifying an often-complicated survey process while providing the most accurate results in the industry.  This system safely locates targets within concrete structures prior to cutting or coring. With its high-resolution antennae, even small targets are located in real-time. Only single-sided access is required to perform surveys, and thousands of square feet can be inspected in one day.”
The next stage of the project involves preparation of recommendations and proposals, methods and alternatives of the treatment whereby Inspectech will offer solutions for problems as well as alternatives. 
Recommendations are then to be prepared in detail, whereby Inspectech will produce an integral recommendations report on the methods of treatment of the tunnel-concrete in regard to the cracks, expansion joints, and the materials used for treatment recommending only those that would be safer on the environment in these tunnels, and on the composition and level of the underground water.
Subsequently, Inspectech will provide a full report of the conditions, specifications along with a survey of the quantities for maintenance and rehabilitation of the tunnels.
Finally, an operations manual of all the elements of the tunnels, furnishings and installations, and new systems must be provided by Inspectech.
“Based on the Highway And Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual, Inspectech has developed a series of checklists that will serve as the basis for each phase and stage of the project,” he continues. “This is a new method to inspect and assess service tunnels and is based on rigorous testing using the latest technologies in non-destructive testing whereby all the reports are linked to the complete Advitam ScanPrint system.”
Inspectech has many satisfied clients on its list, including the builders of King Khaled bridge in Jeddah and Al Majmaa bridge in Riyadh. Inspectech’s bridge load testing projects on these projects were highly acclaimed, Said comments.
The infrastructure inspection specialist has proved itself during its first year of operation, as it has executed over six assessment projects involving the ground penetrating radar, performed two general comprehensive study and analysis projects, and over 10 projects involving general non-destructive testing and detailed reporting.
Inspectech is one of the divisions of Kabbani Construction Group, established in the under the IKK Group of Companies, which has been setting up new divisions, providing state-of-the-art products, specialised services and international training programmes and has undertaken a full-scale upgrade of IT systems towards reaching new horizons.
According to a spokesman for KCG, the company works with two objectives in mind: attaining high quality and furthering research and development
“The group’s management understands that quality doesn’t only stem from highly-qualified and motivated personnel, while excellent servicing is not all that is required to support an inventory of advanced products and trained applicators. Indeed, a complete IT infrastructure upgrade needs to be implemented. To this end, Kabbani has invested in a state-of-the-art computer system in its new headquarters in Jeddah that will connect to its branches throughout the kingdom.
“Secondly, the group is well aware of the advancements in engineering technologies and the breakthroughs that take place worldwide. Its research & development department (R&D) keeps an eye on all such advancements and makes sure the group’s divisions offer nothing but the best and the latest,” he concludes.