New Zealand’s NZ Aerial Mapping (Nzam) has been awarded a contract by the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti governments to map out the divided zone between the two countries.

The scope of work will see Nzam map the recognised border between the two countries and replace the 150 current markers for something more substantial.  

“Nzam has been developing this project with the Saudi [Arabian] and Kuwaiti governments for some time,” a spokesman for Nzam says. “We are hoping to start work soon and will do so as soon as all the necessary paperwork has arrived. Hopefully we will start before the end of 2010.”   

The spokesman declined to reveal the value of the contract for confidentiality issues.

Nzam will work as the primary contractor on the study while a number of other companies will be assisting. New Zealand’s Explorer Graphics and India’s Genesys International Corporation will assist with cartography and photogrammetry on the project while ground surveying will be carried out by the UK’s Merrett Survey.

“This is a team effort and we were successful in winning this contract because of the very capable and experienced team that we have assembled,” Mark Roberts, managing director of Nzam said in a statement.    

Nzam has been established for 74 years and has previously conducted projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Sudan.