Bentley Case Studies Khatib & Alami's Digital Twin of Muscat: Enhancing Security and Disaster Preparedness

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	Khatib & Alami's Digital Twin of Muscat: Enhancing Security and Disaster Preparedness Bentley

Khatib & Alami's Digital Twin of Muscat: Enhancing Security and Disaster Preparedness

Bentley

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Computer Vision Software Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
Applicable Industries	Buildings Cement
Applicable Functions	Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Digital Twin Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing
Services	Drone Operation Services Hardware Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	The Sultanate of Oman aimed to create a detailed digital twin of approximately 250 square kilometers of the country, focusing on the area in and around Muscat. The objective was to enhance national security and improve preparedness for climate-related disasters. Khatib & Alami was contracted to capture 330,000 images using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and construct a 3D reality model of the area, which included 43,000 fully textured buildings. The project required a resolution of 10 ground sampling distance (GSD) and relative accuracy of less than 20 centimeters. The project was to be completed within a strict deadline of 125 days. However, due to airspace constraints, including classified areas and commercial flights, only 14 days were available for flying and image capture. The harsh weather conditions and limitations in the UAV hardware, which prevented geo-tagging of captured images, added to the challenges. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is the Sultanate of Oman, a Middle Eastern country with a keen interest in leveraging technology to enhance national security and disaster preparedness. The government sought to create a detailed digital twin of a significant portion of the country, specifically around the capital city, Muscat. The digital twin was intended to serve as a tool for planning and managing potential climate-related disasters and improving national security. The government contracted Khatib & Alami, a renowned engineering firm, to execute this ambitious project within a strict timeline and high accuracy requirements. The government's vision was not only to have a digital twin of the area but also to use it as a model for building similar 3D modeling services in the region. Read More
Solution	Khatib & Alami adopted a strategy of careful management with teams working in parallel to check the accuracy of captured images during the limited flight time. They sought software that could mark ground control points to provide model accuracy. After examining various applications, they chose ContextCapture, Bentley’s reality modeling application, which supports efficient reality capture of large areas and can quickly produce information in a variety of formats. ContextCapture's tiling support helped overcome data errors during capture by finding matches for the correct images, and its reconstruction algorithms helped seamlessly integrate differing image brightness levels and angles. The application also supports running parallel processing on multiple powerful hardware systems simultaneously, which helped manage the project size and schedule. Khatib & Alami used ContextCapture to produce a reality model that included 43,000 fully textured buildings, which was then output into a third-party application to publish and share with stakeholders. Bentley’s LumenRT was used to animate the digital twin with videos simulating flooding and a day/night cycle. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Computer Vision Software

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Cement

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Digital Twin

Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

Services

Drone Operation Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

The Sultanate of Oman aimed to create a detailed digital twin of approximately 250 square kilometers of the country, focusing on the area in and around Muscat. The objective was to enhance national security and improve preparedness for climate-related disasters. Khatib & Alami was contracted to capture 330,000 images using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and construct a 3D reality model of the area, which included 43,000 fully textured buildings. The project required a resolution of 10 ground sampling distance (GSD) and relative accuracy of less than 20 centimeters. The project was to be completed within a strict deadline of 125 days. However, due to airspace constraints, including classified areas and commercial flights, only 14 days were available for flying and image capture. The harsh weather conditions and limitations in the UAV hardware, which prevented geo-tagging of captured images, added to the challenges.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is the Sultanate of Oman, a Middle Eastern country with a keen interest in leveraging technology to enhance national security and disaster preparedness. The government sought to create a detailed digital twin of a significant portion of the country, specifically around the capital city, Muscat. The digital twin was intended to serve as a tool for planning and managing potential climate-related disasters and improving national security. The government contracted Khatib & Alami, a renowned engineering firm, to execute this ambitious project within a strict timeline and high accuracy requirements. The government's vision was not only to have a digital twin of the area but also to use it as a model for building similar 3D modeling services in the region.

Solution

Khatib & Alami adopted a strategy of careful management with teams working in parallel to check the accuracy of captured images during the limited flight time. They sought software that could mark ground control points to provide model accuracy. After examining various applications, they chose ContextCapture, Bentley’s reality modeling application, which supports efficient reality capture of large areas and can quickly produce information in a variety of formats. ContextCapture's tiling support helped overcome data errors during capture by finding matches for the correct images, and its reconstruction algorithms helped seamlessly integrate differing image brightness levels and angles. The application also supports running parallel processing on multiple powerful hardware systems simultaneously, which helped manage the project size and schedule. Khatib & Alami used ContextCapture to produce a reality model that included 43,000 fully textured buildings, which was then output into a third-party application to publish and share with stakeholders. Bentley’s LumenRT was used to animate the digital twin with videos simulating flooding and a day/night cycle.

Impact #1	The successful completion of the project has significantly enhanced Oman's national security and disaster preparedness. The digital twin, brought to life with animated videos, allows the government to simulate flooding and produce a day/night cycle. This capability enables the government to determine secure routes in case of climate emergencies and improve security in hidden and rugged areas. The project has also set a precedent for similar 3D modeling services in the region. The cost savings achieved during the project are now being leveraged by the Oman government for complex scenario planning and optimized solutions that keep the country secure and prepared for any potential disruption to regular life.

Impact #1

The successful completion of the project has significantly enhanced Oman's national security and disaster preparedness. The digital twin, brought to life with animated videos, allows the government to simulate flooding and produce a day/night cycle. This capability enables the government to determine secure routes in case of climate emergencies and improve security in hidden and rugged areas. The project has also set a precedent for similar 3D modeling services in the region. The cost savings achieved during the project are now being leveraged by the Oman government for complex scenario planning and optimized solutions that keep the country secure and prepared for any potential disruption to regular life.

Benefit #1	Expanded the digital twin from the planned 250 square kilometers to 280 square kilometers.
Benefit #2	Saved USD 150,000 by reducing resource hours.
Benefit #3	Completed the project 35 days ahead of the aggressive 125-day schedule, saving an additional USD 48,000.

Benefit #1

Expanded the digital twin from the planned 250 square kilometers to 280 square kilometers.

Benefit #2

Saved USD 150,000 by reducing resource hours.

Benefit #3

Completed the project 35 days ahead of the aggressive 125-day schedule, saving an additional USD 48,000.

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Overview

Khatib & Alami's Digital Twin of Muscat: Enhancing Security and Disaster Preparedness

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit