KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) is moving ahead with plans to create a national geotechnical database, aiming to support major infrastructure projects and urban planning, an official said Saturday. Engineer Dana Al-Enezi, head of the database project at the institute, described the initiative as “a strategic step to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure for smart cities and enhance national response to emergencies.”
The idea was first reported by KUNA as the focus of a scientific paper which Al-Enezi presented at a conference in Oman in February 2025. Nine months later, the idea has turned into a KISR project, according to a KUNA report published Saturday.
Al-Enezi told KUNA that the project focuses on managing geotechnical data and archiving it digitally. Geotechnical engineering studies the mechanical and engineering properties of soil and rock to analyze surface and deep layers.
Al-Enezi highlighted geotechnical data’s role as “a key element in designing and implementing infrastructure” — it’s crucial for designing safe foundations for buildings, bridges, tunnels and roads, and for assessing potential geological hazards like subsidence and seismic liquefaction.
Al-Enezi said the absence of a unified national database has historically led to repeated mistakes, slower decision-making and higher risks in major construction projects. “Digital management of integrated data has become one of the most important elements of modern infrastructure,” she said.
Regional examples
Al-Enezi cited a historical example from the late 1980s, when Kuwait’s Al-Thaher area experienced significant land subsidence in 1988 and 1989. She said the lack of a national database delayed response and increased losses, forcing authorities to rely on ad hoc studies rather than a permanent knowledge system.
Despite previous research efforts, Kuwait still lacks a comprehensive geotechnical database or detailed maps showing soil characteristics at various depths, she said. Al-Enezi highlighted regional examples of digital infrastructure, noting that Saudi Arabia provides geospatial data and national geological maps through the Saudi Geological Survey’s digital platforms. “This progress has supported major development projects, especially future cities that rely on digital twins and subsurface modeling,” she said.
She also mentioned successful initiatives in the United Arab Emirates, particularly Abu Dhabi’s municipalities and transport departments, which use digital mapping for better planning and risk management. According to Al-Enezi, addressing geological hazards requires a comprehensive system using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to collect detailed terrain data, soil properties and historical incidents. “This system allows predicting problems before they occur and enables engineers, designers and decision-makers to understand subsurface conditions accurately,” she said.
Role in Mutlaa, Boubyan
The database will also support national engineering codes. “Preparing the national earthquake code depends on accurate soil data and local seismic risk factors,” Al-Anzi said. “It also provides the foundation for a national geotechnical code based on local data rather than relying solely on foreign standards.” She highlighted its relevance for major national projects such as the Al-Mutlaa residential city and development on Boubyan Island.
“Al-Mutlaa’s extensive construction requires a reference to understand soil distribution, reduce risks and ensure infrastructure safety,” she said. “Boubyan Island’s soft clay soils are prone to seismic amplification and other geotechnical issues, requiring integration of test data into a national database to develop practical design solutions.” Al-Enezi emphasized that the national geotechnical database would strengthen early warning systems and smart city management, improve urban planning efficiency, and support sustainable development and digital transformation.
