AI-powered Safety System Becoming a Must-to-Use in Saudi Arabia’s Upcoming Infrastructure Development
- Shoyab Ali
- Mar 29, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Recently, Saudi Arabia has announced plans to make heavy investments in infrastructure development as a part of the country’s Vision 2030 initiative. Vision 2030 is a strategic plan launched by the Government of Saudi Arabia in the year 2016 with the aim to diversify country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil.
This dynamic plan includes a wide-range of economic and social reforms that includes privatisation of state-owned enterprises, attracting foreign investments and developing new industries such as entertainment, technology, and tourism. Some of the major infrastructure projects that are currently underway for the near future include NEOM, Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, Jeddah Tower, and Riyadh Metro.
All these infrastructural developments are expected to help improve the quality of life for Saudi citizens and make the country more attractive to tourists and investors.
In consonance with the on-going infrastructure developments taking place in Saudi Arabia, ‘safety’ is becoming an important point of concern to all and thus, significant efforts have been made to ensure that safety standards are met in all aspects of infrastructure development. Efforts include development of rules, regulations & standards; regular safety inspections; and training of workers on safety procedures.
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 initiatives, digital safety technologies are becoming a natural part of how jobsites operate. AI-powered safety systems now support everything from real-time monitoring to workforce visibility, often through centralized platforms like safety command center (SCC). Solutions such as smart monitoring tools and RFID-enabled tracking help project teams react faster, automate routine safety checks, and manage large, complex worksites with far more efficiency than traditional methods.
How Does AI-powered Safety System Fit into Saudi Arabia’s Ongoing Infrastructure Development?
As regards the on-going developmental activities in Saudi Arabia, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the core. Also, Saudi Arabia’s vision of becoming the top 15 nations in AI by the year 2030 has further increased the role & importance of AI in the ongoing developments taking place in the kingdom.
The Smart Site Safety System (4S) – a type of AI-powered smart site monitoring solution (SSMS) – are systems that use cameras, sensors, RFID devices/tags powered by advanced technologies like AI, machine learning and video analytics to monitor jobsites and identify potential safety hazards in real-time. Its use is becoming a priority in Saudi Arabia due to the Kingdom’s focus on improving the safety standards and minimizing the number of accidents taking place in critical jobsites like construction.
In the year 2019, the Government of Saudi Arabia launched a new safety initiative called “Najm” with the aim to improve safety performance in construction industry. The AI-powered Safety System with a centralized safety command center (SCC) can help construction companies meet the safety standards, through real-time monitoring of construction sites, identifying potential hazards before accidents occur, and alerting workers and managers to take actions to prevent accidents.
Thus, as Saudi Arabia is undergoing significant developments in the recent times and technology like AI is at the core of these developments; AI-powered safety system for improving safety performance in the workplaces, fits well with the Kingdom’s developmental goals.
Why AI-powered Safety System is Becoming a Must-to-Use in Saudi Arabia?
The AI-powered Safety Systems are becoming a must-to-use in Saudi Arabia for improving safety performance in various workplaces due to the following reasons:
Governmental Regulations: The Saudi Arabian Government have put into action stringent rules and regulations for ensuring workplace safety, especially in the construction industry. An AI-powered safety system helps companies comply with these rules through automated hazard detection, centralized incident reporting, and digital documentation via safety control center (SCC).
Growing Number of Construction Activities: As construction activities are echoing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, more workers can now be found on jobsites, which heightens the risk of accidents and fatalities. Given the large size and complexity of these projects, manual monitoring becomes inefficient. This has increased the need for AI-powered site monitoring, where smart site monitoring solution (SSMS) and video analytics automate safety checks. Further, RFID devices/ tags also help track workforce movement in real-time. Using the centralized management platform, enables construction stakeholders to monitor their jobsites remotely, further adding to its benefits.
Technological Advancements: AI acts as an extra eye that can detect even the smallest safety non-compliance – whether it is missing PPE, unsafe worker behaviour, or a developing hazard – and immediately trigger alerts so that action can be taken before the situation worsens. These alerts can be automatically routed to an Emergency Control Center (ECC), where supervisors can review the footage, assess severity, and coordinate the right response within seconds.
This creates a far more connected and proactive safety workflow, reducing reliance on manual supervision and ensuring that no critical event goes unnoticed. Such automated detection, escalation, and response capabilities fit perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s broader shift towards digital infrastructure and match the operational complexity of mega projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea development.
Industries in Saudi Arabia Benefitting from AI-powered Safety System
The following industries in Saudi Arabia can be benefitted from the AI-powered Safety System:
Construction Industry: Construction industry being a crucial industry in Saudi Arabia, amidst the on-going infrastructural developments projects; AI-powered safety system can help improve workers’ safety and productivity in construction jobsites.
Oil & Gas Industry: Oil & Gas industry has always been critical to the economy of Saudi Arabia. Implementation of smart monitoring system for the oil and gas industry can help reduce accidents and increase productivity in the industry. Further, RFID tags can support restricted-area access control and confine zone monitoring.
Mining Industry: As mining industry is gradually growing in Saudi Arabia, the use of AI in mining industry can help monitor the hazardous environment and detect potential hazards, like powered haulage-related accidents, falls due to unstable terrain, etc. The SSMS assists mining operators who require continuous remote visibility and automated hazard detection.
Manufacturing Industry: The use of safety inspection software for the manufacturing industry can help improve workers’ safety and reduce accidents in the manufacturing facilities.
Transportation Industry: Implementation of the smart site safety system can help improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents on roads and highways and thus prove to be very beneficial for the transportation industry.
How viAct AI-powered Safety System Supports Saudi Arabia’s Development Goals
viAct has developed its smart site monitoring system, that leverages the power of its proprietary scenario-based AI video analytics to improve the safety performance in workplaces. This easy plug & play solution can be used in various workplaces, starting from construction and oil & gas to mining, manufacturing, logistics and warehousing and transportation.
This smart solution offers wide-ranging safety solutions like PPE detection, danger zone monitoring, access control systems, confined space monitoring and so on. The system of instant alerts offered by viAct AI-powered safety system sends out real-time alerts as well as notifies the on-site and remote stakeholders of any risky situation via SMS, e-mail, or instant messaging apps.
Its centralized management platform – viHUB – functions as a Safety Command Center (SCC) where all data converge. In case of severe risks, alerts can be escalated through an integrated Emergency Control Center (ECC) workflow for rapid emergency response. These recorded insights can be viewed anytime later and from anywhere, enabling the project teams to undergo remote inspection of jobsites.
Quick Case Study:
Problem: A leading construction company in Saudi Arabia was struggling with rising heat stress incidents during long outdoor shifts under extreme desert heat. Traditional manual checks couldn’t consistently identify early symptoms of fatigue or heat stress across a large, dispersed workforce, exposing workers to medical emergencies and project delays.
Solution: The company deployed viAct AI-powered monitoring system, which continuously analyzed workers’ movements and body cues to spot early signs of fatigue and heat stress. Alerts were sent instantly to supervisors through the Safety Command Center (SCC) for immediate action.
Result: The site recorded a significant drop in heat-related risks, faster intervention times, and improved worker wellbeing, proving AI’s value in protecting teams in harsh climatic environments.
Read the full case study here: https://www.viact.ai/case-studies/saudi-construction-leader-prevents-heat-stress-risks-with-viact-ai |
The Future of AI-powered Safety Systems in Saudi Arabia’s Next-Gen Worksites
Saudi Arabia’s next decade of infrastructure development will rely heavily on digital safety transformation. AI-powered safety systems will continue evolving with deeper automation, predictive analytics, and seamless integration of SCC, SSMS, RFID devices, and ECC routing. These technologies collectively create a safer, more efficient, and fully connected jobsite ecosystem- aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 20230 goals.
Want to Strengthen Site Safety with an AI-powered Safety System?
Additional Information:
The integration of Smart Site Safety Systems in Saudi Arabia's infrastructure projects is a game-changer. By leveraging AI and video analytics, these systems proactively monitor safety hazards, reducing accidents and boosting productivity. It's like having a vigilant guardian on-site 24/7. In a similar vein, using a secure app like melbet can enhance your experience by ensuring safe and seamless transactions. Just as construction sites evolve, so should our approach to digital safety.