{"id":8201,"date":"2026-08-02T16:53:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T13:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terra-drone.com.sa\/?p=8201"},"modified":"2026-08-05T17:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T14:02:24","slug":"drone-thermal-inspection-for-dewatering-and-leak-detection-on-roshns-marafy-canal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terra-drone.com.sa\/ar\/drone-thermal-inspection-for-dewatering-and-leak-detection-on-roshns-marafy-canal\/","title":{"rendered":"Drone Thermal Inspection for Dewatering and Leak Detection on ROSHN’s MARAFY Canal"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROSHN Group’s landmark MARAFY development encompasses over 9.4 million square meters of connected waterside districts in northern Jeddah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The central feature of this master plan is Saudi Arabia’s first navigable urban water channel, extending 11 kilometers in length and over 100 meters in width to connect Obhur Creek inland.<\/span><\/p>\n

Civil engineering teams have made rapid progress along the initial 2.5-kilometer corridor, completing 80% of Phase 1 excavation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Earthmoving operations have displaced approximately 2.45 million cubic meters of soil and rock to carve out the coastal channel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Subsurface Dewatering and Retaining Wall Challenges<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"Precast
Over 1,250 linear meters of precast concrete quay walls require continuous dewatering monitoring to prevent subterranean soil piping and wall displacement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Constructing a navigable marine canal connected directly to the Red Sea introduces complex ground engineering and hydrogeological demands.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

As earthmoving operations advance across coastal soils, managing subsurface water movement and structural wall stability becomes critical to civil safety and project timelines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coastal Hydrogeology and Hydrostatic Pressure Dynamics<\/b><\/h3>\n

The geological conditions along northern Jeddah consist of permeable coastal marine sediments, coralline limestone strata, and shallow groundwater tables fed by proximity to Obhur Creek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As excavation crews dig down to form the 100-meter-wide channel footprint, surrounding groundwater naturally migrates toward the open trench.<\/span><\/p>\n

This hydrogeological dynamic generates significant hydrostatic head pressure against freshly exposed trench slopes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To maintain a dry and stable working environment during excavation, engineering teams deploy deep dewatering systems consisting of perimeter wellpoint arrays and high-capacity submersible pumps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If hydrostatic pressure is left unmanaged, rising groundwater can cause slope instability, trench wall collapse, or soil liquefaction during foundation works.<\/span><\/p>\n

Structural Mechanics of Precast Quay Wall Installation<\/b><\/h3>\n

To stabilize the canal banks against coastal erosion and soil movement, civil contractors have installed more than 1,250 linear meters of precast concrete quay and retaining wall structures along early modules.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These heavy precast panels resist both lateral earth pressures from the soil behind them and dynamic wave forces from the canal water in front.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the interface between the backfill soil, deep dewatering wells, and concrete quay panels remains vulnerable to subterranean water movement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

High groundwater head pressure can drive water through micro-fissures in panel joints or underlying foundation beds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over time, continuous water seepage carries fine soil particles away, a phenomenon known as soil piping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This internal erosion creates unseen voids behind the quay wall, which can lead to panel displacement, joint separation, or localized structural subsidence without warning at the surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

Operational Limitations of Traditional Ground Inspection Methods<\/b><\/h3>\n

Monitoring structural health and dewatering performance across multi-kilometer active construction zones poses severe operational challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional inspection methods rely on ground crews performing manual site walks, visual checks, and localized mechanical monitoring points.<\/span><\/p>\n

These conventional approaches have major limitations along wide linear corridors:<\/span><\/p>\n