The second flood workshop starts here Tuesday seeking to coordinate efforts between planners, engineers and consultants to provide Jeddah with the best protection against future floods. The workshop is headed by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah. The workshop's theme is “Jeddah is coming” and includes government and private bodies in the region. It aims to ensure agreement on engineering designs and the responsibilities of all participants in the flood project. The workshop will include discussions on hydrologic studies related to the project. The project management sent invitations to the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection, Jeddah Governorate, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Railway Organization, Jeddah Mayor's Office, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Geological Survey, King Abdul Aziz Airport, Jeddah Islamic Port, Ministry of Agriculture's regional branch, Roads and Transport Department, Jeddah's Police, Civil Defense, Traffic Police, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Telecom, and the National Water Company. According to Ahmad Al-Salim, the project's director, the workshop will include specialist designers from AECOM, the project's consultants, adding that participating parties have been approached to send specialists to contribute their views. He said the Emir of Makkah will head the concluding session on Wednesday when results and recommendations will be produced. The project's first workshop was held in the middle of last month in Jeddah and included 47 participants representing 20 government departments and companies. The recommendations produced called for strengthening teamwork, determining the mechanisms for joint review, and unifying criteria and engineering specifications as much as possible. The first workshop also contributed to a comprehensive plan for facilities in the governorate of Jeddah, including planning, design, construction and operations.
