<div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom-Project.png" alt="" style=""></figure></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>In recent years, Korean companies have been actively pursuing contracts, particularly centered around Saudi Arabia's $500 billion NEOM City project, which started in 2017. Amidst this situation, several domestic companies, including Samsung C&amp;T, along with numerous other Korean companies associated with smart cities, have been increasingly optimistic about the prospects of a 'Second Middle East Boom.' Some have even visited construction sites, further fueling their optimism.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote class="__se__custom__vertical-blockquote"><p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Closely Scrutinizing the Progress of the NEOM Project Development</strong></span></p></blockquote><p><br>​<a href="https://ep.naraspace.com/post/the-dream-city-project_will-neom-city-really-be-realized">In the previous article,</a> we explored the changes the NEOM project has undergone up to the present. This time we plan to use satellite imagery based on the construction status announced on the official NEOM website. According to the <a href="https://ep.naraspace.com/post/the-dream-city-project_will-neom-city-really-be-realized">official NEOM website,</a> as of October 2023, it has been reported that four projects, namely Dura, Oxagon, Sindalah, and Trojena, are progressing rapidly, and significant infrastructure such as roads, public facilities, and hospitals has been constructed.</p><p><br></p><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom-Community.png" alt="" style=""></figure></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>It has been reported that in order to successfully complete the long-term project that extends until 2030, the NEOM project has already deployed over 3,000 employees and more than 60,000 construction workers. Due to the need to accommodate this substantial workforce, various accommodation complexes for workers have been established throughout the NEOM project area.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote class="__se__custom__normal-blockquote"><p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>The 'NEOM Community' near the Line, a housing complex for construction workers in the vicinity of NEOM.</strong></span><br></p></blockquote><p><br></p><div class="img-swiper"><div class="swiper"><div class="swiper-wrapper"><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-181104.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-191102.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;" origin-size="1000,1000"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-201106.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;" origin-size="1000,1000"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-211105.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;" origin-size="1000,1000"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-221106.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community1-231103.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div></div><div class="swiper-button-next"></div><div class="swiper-button-prev"></div><div class="swiper-pagination"></div></div></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The construction worker accommodation complex 'NEOM Community,' located in the Tabuk Province in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, is situated adjacent to the Line development zone and is divided into two sections, known as Zone 1 and Zone 2. According to information from the official website, approximately 5.6 billion dollars were invested in constructing residential facilities capable of accommodating up to 95,000 residents. As time progresses, the development and expansion of this area have been captured through satellite imagery.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="img-swiper"><div class="swiper"><div class="swiper-wrapper"><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community2-191102.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community2-201106.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community2-211106.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community2-221106.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div><div class="swiper-slide"><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 600px;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Neom Community2-231108.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></figure></div></div></div><div class="swiper-button-next"></div><div class="swiper-button-prev"></div><div class="swiper-pagination"></div></div></div><p><br></p><p><br>In NEOM Community Zones 1 and 2, various facilities have been constructed within the community to accommodate the numerous employees and construction workers involved in the NEOM project. These facilities include accommodations, as well as medical, entertainment, and mosque facilities, providing a wide range of amenities for the residents and workers within the community.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote class="__se__custom__normal-blockquote"><p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>The Changes in the Line as Seen Through Synthetic Aperture Radar</strong></span><strong style="font-size: 20px;">(SAR) Satellite Imagery</strong></p></blockquote><p><br></p><p>At NARA SPACE, time-series analysis was conducted using the backscatter coefficient images from the Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). In these SAR images, areas with higher backscatter coefficient values appeared brighter, while areas with lower backscatter coefficient values appeared darker. The backscatter coefficient is typically higher for rougher surfaces and materials with higher electrical conductivity. In particular, vertical surfaces such as buildings exhibit double scattering, leading to very strong backscatter and appearing very bright in SAR images.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="img-compare"><img-comparison-slider class="slider-with-animated-handle"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Theline-211105.png" alt="" style=""><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Theline-231101.png" alt="" style=""></img-comparison-slider></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>By leveraging the effects of SAR imagery, it becomes possible to monitor the development progress in the Line irrespective of cloud cover and weather conditions. Through this approach, it was possible to confirm the presence of numerous buildings and heavy equipment in the area. Additionally, the ongoing construction around the NEOM Community led to the gradual spread of artificial lighting in the vicinity.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote class="__se__custom__normal-blockquote"><p><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: SUIT; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: unset; -webkit-user-drag: none; overflow: visible; font-size: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 24px; font-variation-settings: &quot;wght&quot; 700; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Luxury Island of Sindalah</strong></p></blockquote><p><br></p><div class="img-compare"><img-comparison-slider class="slider-with-animated-handle"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Sindalah-221111.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;" origin-size="1000,1000"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Sindalah-231101.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></img-comparison-slider></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Considered the most feasible area within the NEOM project, Luxury Island Sindalah, an upscale marine tourism destination, is undergoing significant transformation, with its grand opening slated for 2024.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="img-compare"><img-comparison-slider class="slider-with-animated-handle"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Sindalah-221103.png" alt="" origin-size="1000,1000" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Sindalah-231103.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></img-comparison-slider></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>In its early stages, Sindalahh Island within the NEOM project was a virtually empty island with very few buildings, resulting in predominantly dark appearances in SAR imagery, primarily due to forward scattering. However, as construction progressed and buildings were erected, double scattering from the building walls began to brighten the island progressively. With buildings now covering the entire Sindalah Island, it can be safely said that it has witnessed the most significant changes among all NEOM project areas, with substantial brightness, as of November 2023, as it nears completion after just one year of intensive development.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Sindalah,Umm Al-Hasani-231102.png" alt="" style=""></figure></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Located approximately 4 kilometers from Luxury Island Sindalah, on the island of Umm Al-Hassani, freshwater purification plants, power generation facilities, and construction worker accommodations have been constructed. This illustrates that as the NEOM project progresses, not only Sindalah but also neighboring islands in the Red Sea are being developed.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><blockquote class="__se__custom__normal-blockquote"><p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>NEOM Port in Oxagon<br></strong></span></p></blockquote><p><br></p><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Oxagon-231029.png" alt="" style=""></figure></div><p><br></p><p><br>Furthermore, in Oxagon, the first steps towards creating an eco-friendly industrial zone have begun. On October 8, 2023, the first wind turbine was delivered to NEOM Port in Oxagon to supply power to the green hydrogen generation facility.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="img-compare"><img-comparison-slider class="slider-with-animated-handle"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Oxagon-230930.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/en-Oxagon-231103.png" alt="" style="width: 600px; height: auto;"></img-comparison-slider></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>On October 8, 2023, in the Sentinel-1 imagery, the wind turbine components being transported on the ship exhibit very strong backscatter, appearing bright. The strong scattering from these components influences the surrounding pixels, resulting in a bright cross (十) shape around the central pixel. This phenomenon is known as the Side-Lobe Effect and typically occurs along with double scattering or strong scattering from metallic objects. This effect is effectively utilized to detect wind turbine components that contain metallic materials.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://ep-insight.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/32/[© 2023 NEOM]NGHC-wind-turbine-delivery.png" alt="" style="" origin-size="2000,1000"></figure></div><p><br></p><p><br>​<a href="https://www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom/nghc-wind-turbine-delivery">The official NEOM website</a> has announced that more wind turbines are scheduled to be delivered to NEOM Port by the end of the year, with a total of 250 wind turbines set to be installed for power generation at the plant. Today, we conducted satellite image monitoring based on the information provided on the official website. By utilizing both optical and SAR satellite imagery, we can not only track the progress of the large-scale NEOM project, which is drawing global attention, but also assess the construction progress at various construction sites in different countries worldwide.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Saudi Mega Project ‘Neom City’

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