Cameras and fines: Decisions of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City
has approved The Royal Commission for Riyadh City a comprehensive package of strict environmental measures and controls aimed at effectively managing dust and emissions from construction projects in the capital. This strategic step aims to protect public health and improve air quality by relying on precise, real-time monitoring systems and modern technologies to reduce visual and environmental pollution.
Transformations of the capital and a vision for environmental sustainability
The Saudi capital is experiencing an unprecedented urban renaissance, transforming into a vast workshop to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to double Riyadh's population and make it one of the world's largest urban economies. In light of this massive urban expansion, regulating the environment has become an urgent necessity, not merely an option, to ensure that urban development does not come at the expense of public health.
These measures align with major initiatives such as "Green Riyadh" and the "Quality of Life" program, as the Kingdom seeks to present a global model for sustainable urban development. These regulations are expected to have a tangible positive impact locally by reducing cases of respiratory illnesses caused by dust, and regionally by presenting Riyadh as a model for desert cities capable of effectively managing environmental challenges.
Royal Commission for Riyadh City site requirements
The new measures aim to limit the spread of particulate matter at all stages of construction, from excavation and site preparation to demolition and material removal. The authority has imposed strict regulations at project sites, requiring contractors to pave truck routes with gravel or recycled asphalt and to continuously spray and compact exposed soil immediately after excavation.
The regulations also stipulated the use of dust-stabilizing chemicals at sites where work is suspended for more than five days, with the height of unloading cargo restricted to a maximum of one and a half meters, and reduced to one meter in case of strong winds, to ensure that dust is not transferred to neighboring areas.
Advanced technologies to combat pollution
To limit the spread of pollution beyond project boundaries, the authority mandated that contractors install automated truck tire washing systems or construct water drainage networks at entry and exit gates. Instructions also emphasized cleaning truck lanes within 15 minutes of their departure, along with mechanical sweeping of roads adjacent to medium and large projects at a rate of one hour.
Regarding demolition operations that produce heavy dust, the authority mandated the use of water spray cannons with a range of up to 30 meters, while prohibiting any demolition work or dry cutting of stones in the open air if the wind speed exceeds 15 kilometers per hour.
Digital surveillance and risk classification
To ensure the effective implementation of these standards, the authority mandated the installation of real-time particulate matter (PM10) monitoring devices that capture readings every two minutes and are directly linked to the National Center for Environmental Compliance's database. The requirements also included the installation of surveillance cameras at all gates, with recordings to be retained for 90 days.
The authority adopted a three-tiered classification for projects based on the level of risk and area, where projects that exceed 5,000 square meters in area, or witness heavy traffic exceeding 50 trucks per day, were classified as a “high risk” category that requires the application of the highest levels of control, including immediate violations and work stoppage for violators.
