Matching safety with speed: Avanceon's success at Dubai Metro Project

We have seen Dubai become the center of the world during last twenty years.  The progress of Dubai is of course linked to the discovery of oil in late 60’s but today the city offers much more than oil & gas. Dubai is regarded as one of the best financial centers and tourist destinations in the world. The recent construction boom has led to massive developments in the infrastructure and thus we see projects like Burj Al Arab, The Palm Islands, The World Islands, etc.

Avanceon first went to Dubai in early 2005 executing a project for Zayed University Central Cooling  and DCS/ ESD system for Fred Olsen’s offshore platform.

Our most recent Dubain venture is theDubai Metro project for the Roads and Transports Authority (RTA) of Dubai.  This will project will be the first fully automated (driverless) urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula. The network consists of a total of 49 stations running across two lines.The Metro system was partially operational by September 2009 and will be fully operational by 2012. In March 2008, Emirates Trading Agency (ETA) nominated the consortium of Avanceon and Honeywell to undertake the automation works including installation, cabling and commissioning for the Red Line project.  

Avanceon’s scope was to design, procure, develop and commission the Tunnel Ventilation System for the four underground stations of the Red line. The tunnel ventilation system’s core functionality was to take over the main system in case of a fire in the tunnel and control/operate all the emergency systems and equipments. Since this was human safety related scope, Avanceon’s solution had to be of the highest safety standards . In order to meet the client’s safety specifications, Avanceon design was approved after a detailed scrutiny and series of safety audits. The approvals and audits were conducted by internationally renowned consultants and auditors namely Atkins, Lloyds Register, Systra and while the final consent was given by ETA, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan-Turkey Metro Joint Venture. Avanceon’s solution was based on Rockwell Automation’s TUV certified SIL-2 Controllogix system.

Mr. Bidyut Chattopadhaya, Project Director of ETA, said “Avanceon has successfully met ETA and RTA’s requirements by procuring, building and completing the testing procedures for the panels in 4 weeks. This was a challenging task and Avanceon has proven their capability as an established System Integrator by meeting this deadline”  

 In September 2009, Avanceon successfully commissioned the Tunnel Ventilation system for the four underground stations and this seamless execution earned the trust of the project’s approving authority. This success led to Avanceon’s nomination as the preferred sub contractor for the Green Line project under the project management of Rockwell Automation.  Avanceon’s scope was increased to design, development and commissioning of the underground and over-ground Tunnel Ventilation Systems and Environmental Control Systems including installation and cabling for all the underground stations. According to Rockwell Automation, this is one of the largest engineering sub contract orders ever awarded by them to a system integrator.

Upon completion of the Green Line project, Avanceon will have invested close to 83,000 man hours making it the largest project ever completed by Avanceon.