GeotechnicalEngineering SmartInfrastructure NeomProject TheLine Oxagon Magna Excavation works 100 year planning

Geotechnical and Engineering Challenges of Neom: Excavating the City of the Future and the 100 Year Planning

*The massive excavation and foundation work currently underway highlights the complexity of Neom’s engineering. Source: Ground Engineering*

Saudi Arabia’s Neom project is one of the most ambitious urban developments in history, aiming to redefine sustainable living and infrastructure. As part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, Neom is set to house futuristic cities, high-tech industries, and world-class tourism destinations. The development spans multiple zones, including Trojena, Magna, Oxagon, and The Line.

While the scale of the project is impressive, The Line, Neom’s most revolutionary component, is expected to take up to 100 years to complete and fully populate. Originally envisioned to accommodate 1.5 million residents by 2030, this number has been revised to under 300,000, reflecting the challenges of constructing a 170-km-long, 500-meter-high urban corridor from scratch. Officials insist that Neom is not just another city—it’s a technological and economic experiment designed for the next century.

Geotechnical and Engineering Challenges

The massive excavation and foundation work currently underway highlights the complexity of Neom’s engineering. Officials report that 260 excavators and 2,000 trucks are operating around the clock to clear land and lay the groundwork for The Line. Engineers are faced with geotechnical challenges such as soil stability, foundation support, and seismic resilience, especially given the ambitious height and linear structure of The Line.

Magna’s development involves hollowing out entire mountains to create an integrated luxury resort. This approach, which resembles large-scale underground excavation techniques used in tunneling and mining, presents unique structural and environmental challenges that require cutting-edge engineering solutions.

Magna’s development and impressive characteristics. Source: Neom

In mountainous regions like Trojena, engineers are implementing specialized reinforcement techniques to manage unstable slopes and rock formations. Real-time geotechnical monitoring systems will track ground movement, allowing proactive adjustments during construction.

Revolutionizing Infrastructure and Transportation

Neom is also pioneering smart infrastructure, including a high-speed rail and autonomous freight system that will connect Oxagon (its industrial hub) to The Line and the Gulf of Aqaba. The project is exploring both heavy rail solutions and autonomous goods vehicles (AGVs) to optimize transportation.

Despite the challenges, Neom is pushing the limits of engineering, urban design, and sustainable construction. While it may take a century to fully realize, its progress today lays the foundation for a new era in smart city development.

Sources: neom.com, geplus.co.uk