NEOM is not just a construction site; it is the most ambitious greenfield urban development on the planet. As the Main Automation Contractor (MAC), Drakken is responsible for the “Internet of Water”, an intelligent automation framework that manages the distribution of 50,600 m³/day of desalinated water across 140km of some of the most challenging coastal and mountainous terrain in Saudi Arabia.
Engineering Resilience in Extreme Environments
For an infrastructure project of this scale, “downtime” isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a systemic risk. Our solution was engineered to withstand the Middle Eastern climate while ensuring 24/7 availability.
- Thermal Endurance: Our control systems are designed to operate from -40°C to 70°C right from startup, essential for the fluctuating mountain and desert temperatures.
- High-Availability Architecture: We deployed PACSystems RX3i redundant control systems across more than 20 pumping stations. If one controller fails, the secondary takes over instantly with zero disruption to the water supply.
- Leak Detection Every 10 Meters: Using the Movicon.NExT platform, our engineers can analyze the entire pipeline for leaks or evaporation every 10 meters, protecting a precious resource in an arid region.
The Strategic Value: ROI and Sustainability
From a financial perspective, the integration of Emerson’s PACEdge and MQTT protocols transforms raw data into a strategic asset. By historizing five years of data, we enable failure prediction, allowing NEOM to transition from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance.
“Through an advanced Internet of Water infrastructure, we are ensuring minimum water loss and putting NEOM at the forefront of water technology and sustainability.”
– Ritesh Contractor, Business Development Manager at Drakken.
Security by Design
In an era of increasing industrial cyber-threats, “security” cannot be an afterthought. The NEOM automation solution carries the Achilles 2 certification, providing a robust defence against denial-of-service (DoS) and man-in-the-middle attacks, as well as preventing unauthorised firmware changes.
Technical Specs & Performance Metrics
| Feature | Operational Impact |
| Pipeline Length | 140km (65km Coast / 75km Mountain) |
| Daily Volume | 50,600 m³ of desalinated water |
| Edge Intelligence | Real-time data filtering on Linux engines via MQTT |
| Cybersecurity | Achilles 2 Certified |
| Financial Benefit | Proactive failure prediction and faster ROI |
