Sur symposium focuses on resilient infrastructure planning

SUR: A symposium on optimal planning for resilient infrastructure is being held in Sur, bringing together specialists, academics, researchers and representatives of government and private-sector institutions to discuss ways of strengthening infrastructure resilience and sustainability.
Organised by the Oman Water Society (OWS) in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Al Sharqiyah South and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the symposium features scientific sessions and lectures by specialists in the water and infrastructure sectors.
The event is examining prospects for planning and developing infrastructure systems capable of withstanding natural hazards, adapting to future risks and ensuring the continuity of essential services. It is scheduled to conclude with technical recommendations, which will be announced through social media platforms and published in the media.
In his opening address, Zaher al Suleimani, Chairman of the Oman Water Society, said infrastructure was no longer limited to bridges, roads, ports, communication networks and water production and distribution facilities.
“Today, it has become the backbone connecting the components of the national and societal economy. As countries progress in their development journey, the extent of this progress is crucial,” he said.
He noted that economic and social security were increasingly linked to the quality of infrastructure and its ability to remain operational under diverse conditions.
Al Suleimani said resilience was no longer an intellectual luxury but a fundamental requirement for serious planning that anticipates the natural, human and economic risks to which infrastructure projects may be exposed over the long term.

At the heart of optimal planning, he said, was the need to shift from a reactive to a proactive approach.
“Investing in resilience is not merely an additional cost; it is an investment in the continuity of services and the protection of public and private investments,” he said.
Al Suleimani said the choice of Sur as the venue for the symposium was significant given Al Sharqiyah South Governorate’s economic and developmental diversity, encompassing ports, industry, tourism and fisheries.
Its coastal location also places the governorate among areas facing environmental and climate-related challenges that require resilient infrastructure. Holding the symposium in Sur reflected a strategic shift towards involving governorates in development-related decision-making and supporting scientific and engineering initiatives outside Muscat, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The organisers said the resilience and adaptive capacity of such systems in the face of natural hazards and climate change were important indicators of the effectiveness of urban planning and national preparedness. They also contribute to economic growth and sustainable development.
The symposium is highlighting international best practices and expertise in the planning, design and management of resilient infrastructure and examining ways to translate the concept of resilience into practical measures.
One key theme is resilient urban planning, including how cities and facilities can be designed to better withstand floods, cyclones, rising temperatures and other climate-related risks.
The symposium has brought together representatives of government entities, universities, public and private colleges, state-owned enterprises specialising in infrastructure and planning, as well as experts and researchers from related fields.
Around 25 scientific papers are being discussed, covering the symposium’s key themes and addressing approaches to infrastructure planning, resilience, sustainability and risk management. OWS marks its 15th anniversary this year, having been officially established in April 2010.