Page 26 - FUGRO PR REPORT MAY 2024

5/13/24, 1:28 PM Riyadh Daily

Rod Eddies, Solution Director for Fugro’s Land Site Characterisation in France

Riyadh "Riyadh Daily"
Challenging Conventions: A Paradigm Shift in Geo-Risk Management at IGIC 2024

The construction of megaprojects in the arid landscape of the GCC countries has been facing unique challenges
posed by the desert and soil conditions. From towering skyscrapers to expansive infrastructure developments,
understanding the ground conditions through innovative solutions is imperative to address the complexities inherent
in these projects.

At the recent International Geotechnical Innovation Conference 2024 held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, industry
leaders, engineers, government representatives, and researchers convened to explore the intricate requirements of
deep foundation design and construction. With a focus on safety, cost-efficiency, and timeliness, the event
encouraged carving a path towards the successful fulfilment of the megaprojects.

One of the speakers at the conference was Rod Eddies, Solution Director for Fugro’s Land Site Characterisation in
France. He delivered a keynote address on the topic 'Management of Geo-risks – Time for a Paradigm Shift?'. Eddies
challenged the conventional approaches to geo-risk management, advocating for a switch toward innovative
solutions. He added that this innovative conference is significant as a geophysicist as it drives change for the better.

According to Eddie, the geotechnical industry was traditionally perceived as quite slow-moving and the discussion of
two disciplines working together was very interesting. When asked about the topic he presented, he said: “This is
about learning from other industries on how to engage earlier to solve problems with the technologies that are around
now. For example, the answer in the past was to drill boreholes, get samples, and do lab tests. But now there are
many other technologies we can use to understand the ground. This conference is about the subsurface and a deep
understanding of it could yield better business outcomes for everybody.”

In response to the challenges faced by the industry, he said that time seems to be a major challenge. He added:
“Geopolitics and inflation have placed pressure on time. I mean, people want to build stuff quickly and get a return on
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