CE Project: Design and Construction of Orbital Highway in Qatar

This project report details the design and construction of the New Orbital Highway and truck route in Doha, Qatar, undertaken by QDVC and Bin Omran. As a Planning Engineer, the author's responsibilities included program revision, subcontractor coordination, and site planning using Primavera, TILOS, and AutoCAD. The project aimed to alleviate traffic congestion, improve transportation, and facilitate trade by constructing a 10-lane highway, truck routes, and various civil structures. The report covers the project background, objectives, the author's role, engineering skills applied, accomplishments, identified issues, and solutions, emphasizing collaborative work and the application of innovative planning and green technologies. The author highlights the use of project management principles and engineering knowledge to contribute to the project's success, including the installation of surveillance systems and the design of civil structures. The project's overview and the author's significant contributions are also reviewed.

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Design and Construction of New Orbital Highway and Truck
Route
Location of the project: Doha, Qatar
Project Duration: From March of 2017 to Present
Organization: QDVC-BOTC JV
Role and Designation during the time: Planning Engineer
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The design and construction of the New Orbital Highway and truck route were
undertaken by QDVC, Doha. QDVC was founded in April 2007 in Qatar. This company is
involved in local construction projects. It follows international standards for delivering quality
projects to the clients. The client of this project was Ashghal which is a Public Works Authority.
The construction of the New Orbital Highway Contract 2 was undertaken to connect North
Relief Road with the Salwa Road for relieving the present traffic congestion. This project was
jointly carried out by QDVC and Bin Omran contracting company. The total budget for this
project was QAR 4.25 billion. It is a national project that is focusing on building 40 structures
including braids, ramp bridges and interchanges.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
This project was undertaken for connecting the North Relief Road with the Salwa Road
for bypassing the Doha City. The contract also included the building of several civil structures
such as utilities, bridges, tunnels, underpasses and braids. The main objectives of this project
were:
 To relieve traffic congestion
 To improve transportation
 To facilitate trade
 To reduce the friction of distance
 To provide access to the planned and existing developments
 To connect local roads with the existing highways
 To integrate the bicycle and pedestrian paths
 To install radar cameras and surveillance systems
 To divert and provide provision and integrate utilities and major infrastructure
lines
The intention of the NOH2 or New orbital Highway Contract 2 project was to connect the
Salwa and the North Relief Road. NOH2 consisted of 10 lanes where 5 lanes were in each
direction. These 10 lanes were for the light vehicles that had additional distributor or collector
roads. The contract was undertaken to also build 2 lanes for the trucks in each direction.

CE 1.2.3 My area of work
I relocated to Qatar from the U.A.E as I was appointed by Joint Venture which
collaborated two major constructions Giants QDVC & Bin Omran Trading & Contracting as a
Planning Engineer. I have to report to Project controls manager and the Planning Manger as per
the organizational structure. I have to coordinate with the construction manager. The team of
project control engineers constitutes planning engineers whose expertises are in different field.
We are working collaboratively to produce a singular project output, I was designated for the
structures and all utilities as it was supported by my previous experience in the field. My main
area of work is to supervise the activities of the project control team, and monitoring the
activities of the project control team members for directing them towards achieving the project
objectives. I was designated for preparing site plans and proposals in conformance with the local
regulations, and to act as an intermediary between the construction manager and the project
control team members. I was able to carry out research work and study relevant draft reports and
statistical data on various issues and components for understanding the importance and the
requirements of the project as I had joined the team in the middle of the project. I was appointed
for performing field analysis and surveys. I had joined the team in the middle of the project, but
yet I had understood the requirements with the help of my supervisors. My main role is to plan,
organize, schedule and verify performance on Primavera. I was appointed for estimating
resources which included the constraints such as the budgeted cash, durations, productivity,
manpower and equipment.

Project Control Manager
Planning Engineer
(Me)
Team
Member
Team
Member
Team
Member
Planning Manager
CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I have been assigned by the planning manager various responsibilities commencing from
the revision of the program of work which was to create the baseline revised program with less
guidance and within the time limit. I was also given the task to coordinate with the subcontractor

and supervise their activities at the same time where laying of fibre optics to installation of MEP
and surveillance system for the project comes under my scope of work gave me an upper hand
due to my previous experience in the field. I was a part of a team where I was being designated
to report to my subsequent managers and the project manager. Tools currently used for the
project are Oracle primavera, TILOS, Ms Office, Lotus and Auto CAD. A major part of the task
includes creation of project work plans, schedule activity, resource estimation and benchmarking
works. I was responsible for assisting the technical specialists and the engineers with the design
of project plans. I was given the responsibility to analyse several engineering related issues and
resolve the issues by utilizing different methodologies and approaches such as approvals and
testing. Coordinating with different specialists and providing detailed testing schedules, plans for
the project were considered to my main duties during the tenure of the project. I was assigned to
use the KPI and benchmarks for the decision making procedure for providing the customers with
the required project output. It was my responsibility to supervise the subcontractors along with
team efforts in project planning and execution for ensuring correct sequencing of the baseline
activities. The documentation process was under my responsibility, and I was designated for
providing progress drawing by incorporating various engineering field components such as roads
and utilities. I was assigned to report and communicate the progress of the project work to the
different project stakeholders.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
I have extended my knowledge with experience in roads and civil structures, as I was
initially appointed a planning engineer for utility specific project, due to my post graduate

degree. I was able to widen my understanding based on project management principles and
methodology in road works and then civil structures which I was able to impart to this project
other than my expertise field. As I am more concerned with the working knowledge rather than
core designing principles I was able to provide the management and other engineering specialist
with details and plans using the comprehensive methodological approach using resource
productivity, duration calculation, sequence of work and quantity distributions. I being a mid-
entrant I had to produce revised program of work and gain approval from the consultant and
client.
Personally, as I was a new employee the first difficulty I encountered was coordinating
with engineers and understanding their working style within the two-organizational culture being
a part of a big project. But gradually I was able to coordinate with the engineers. Encountering
and effectively managing this, I got a clear scope of the project and different functionalities used
within the project also the interconnection between the work and ineluctable sequence of
complex work where coordination with specialist engineers should me made prominent for the
effective functioning of the project and avoid disruption that would bring any contractual
complication to the project.
I understood that my extensive knowledge in the FIDIC system implied contracts and
claims used in the engineering projects grained during the previous project where I had attended
classes provided by the previous employers could come to use in this project.
Civil structures such as bridges, braids and underpasses were built for traffic diversions.
Viaducts are considered to be a series of bridges or long bridges for carrying railways or roads.
Viaducts are known for connecting two terrain points that have similar heights. Bridges are

mostly built over water bodies. Bridges are more expensive than viaducts. Underpasses are
considered to be grade separations where a subject highway goes or passes under another
intersecting highway. Ramp bridges were also constructed. Ramp bridges are constructions for
allowing the maintenance and repair work on the structure of the bridge without disrupting the
flow of traffic. Highway interchanges are road junctions that use grade separations for permitting
traffic in an effective manner.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have utilized my electronics and communication engineering skills and knowledge in
effectively installing radar cameras and surveillance systems. Being the planning engineer, I had
to execute and link a series of activities for completing the project. I was able to utilize my
technical knowledge of designing for assisting the specialists. I have utilized project
management principles for writing the project plans and reports. My engineering skills were
utilized for making progress the drawings that had incorporated various components of
engineering fields such as civil, utilities and roads. I have used my skills technologist skills to
solve complex engineering issues by applying creative as well as innovative procedures.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
My excellent knowledge in the field of project management had helped me to produce
effective project plans and schedules that helped in accomplishing the construction of the NOH2.
I was successful in helping the project team and specialists to construct the 47 km motorways, 2
dual truck routes or lanes and 5 dual paths or lanes for the light vehicles. I was able to produce
accurate solutions for overcoming the complex engineering issues that had helped the project
team members to effectively design and construct the civil structures. I was able to assist in the
construction of a typical cross-section for allowing future construction of two additional lanes.

My exemplary interpersonal skills have helped me to coordinate and cooperate with different
specialists while working on this project and direct the subcontractors for correct execution of
baseline activities. I was successful in extending my knowledge and skills in civil projects and
provide accurate progress drawing to the project stakeholders.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
I had faced problem in carrying out the procurement process and deciding on the correct
materials that were required for the highway construction project.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
I had taken the help of several research papers on constructions for effectively
determining the materials that were required for this project. I had prepared a proper project
schedule and plan by using Primavera for ensuring completion of the project activities within the
given budget. I have prepared the budget by considering all the extra costs that might be
required due to plan modification or unforeseen events.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
Innovative planning was done for achieving the objectives of the project. Green
technologies were used for reducing the impact on environment. High-performance materials
were utilized for building durable and stronger civil structures so that it would not require more
maintenance.

CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
The project activities were carried out collaboratively by QDVC and Bin Omran. I was
working as the planning engineer for carrying out the project work. I had to convey the message
of the construction manager to the project control team members for effectively executing the
project activities. I had encouraged coordination and cooperation among the team members for
accomplishing the project work. I had helped the project team members to design and construct
the highway according to the project plan.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
This national project is about designing and constructing the New Orbital Highway
Contract 2 along with truck routes in Doha, Qatar. QDVC had undertaken this project and
followed international standards for delivering high quality projects. Proper technical planning
had helped in achieving project success and connecting the North Relief Road with the Salwa
Road. Installation of radar cameras and surveillance systems was one of the main objectives of
the project. Integration of utilities and major infrastructure lines was achieved in this project.
CE 1.4.2 My contribution to work
I had made significant contributions towards the success of the project. I was able to
prepare engineering calculations for the project. I have monitored the site activities and helped in
solving complex engineering issues. I had ensured proper installation of the radar cameras for
effective surveillance after testing and evaluating the radar cameras and construction materials
appropriately. I was able to prepare quality documents and project reports, and I had used my
leadership and oral communication skills for motivating the project team members to execute the

project activities according to the project plan. I had prepared attractive PowerPoint presentation
that was appreciated by the construction manager. I had supervised the testing as well as
commissioning of the installed systems. My main contribution was planning and modifying
programs according to the project requirements by using MS project tools such as Primavera and
designing of spread sheets that helped in tracking project activities. I have performed engineering
works that were associated with all the other engineers in the project team.