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Geology and Construction in Qatar
Organised by:
Thames Valley Regional Group
Venue:
Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill, Berkshire
Event status:
EVENT CLOSED
Qatar is a small peninsula in the Arabian Gulf with a population of about 2 million. Abundant oil and gas reserves have made it one of the richest states in the world and have fuelled a massive boom in construction in recent years, which has been increased by the award of the 2022 World Cup. Understanding the geology and its effect on construction processes and materials is thus essential for successful construction.
Qatar is underlain by geologically young limestone strata with bands of shale and gypsum. The climate is hyperarid, with low and unpredictable rainfall, very hot summers and mild winters. The climate and geology pose major problems for construction, including weak and variable strata, aggressive soil and groundwater conditions, solution features and karstic depressions. Aggregate supply is a major issue, as all aggregates for concrete and asphalt are currently imported. The talk will cover these aspects and how they are being addressed.
Similar geology and construction issues are present in neighbouring Gulf countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. With many UK construction firms building up their presence in the Gulf, knowledge of the local conditions is increasingly important. There are many differences from conditions in the UK, but increasingly there is a body of knowledge on how to successfully cope with them.
About the Speaker: Murray Reid, TRL
Murray Reid is Senior Technical Manager at TRL in Crowthorne. TRL has had an office in Qatar since 2008 and Murray has worked closely with the local team over that time on a number of projects, visiting Qatar several times in the process. The talk will allow him to indulge two of his main areas of interest: sulphates and other aggressive salts in soils and rocks; and the use of recycled aggregates in construction.