How is a temporary city built for the Dakar Rally daily?

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The Daily Construction of a Mobile City for the Dakar Rally

The Dakar Rally operates a colossal logistical undertaking, constructing and dismantling a temporary city daily to support competitors and operations across its 12 stages. This mobile metropolis, known as a bivouac, accommodates approximately 3,500 individuals and requires an extensive support infrastructure that is replicated and moved throughout the event. The core mission of the logistics team is to ensure that all necessary personnel and resources are in place for services, customers, and competitors to function optimally under challenging desert conditions.
Establishing the Bivouac Infrastructure

The creation of each bivouac is an intensive, multi-day process. Logisticians begin by preparing a 25-hectare site, which involves levelling the ground before the installation of structures and electrical systems. This setup phase typically takes around 10 days for each location. Generators are operated continuously to power the numerous white tarpaulin structures that form the temporary city. Essential services, such as water for approximately 200 toilets and showers, are supplied by trucks, which also sprinkle water to mitigate the pervasive dust.
Daily Relocation and Operational Redundancy

To maintain operational continuity and stay ahead of the race, organisers employ a strategy of duplication for critical components. For instance, two identical race control centres are prepared; one is used at the current bivouac while the other is transported to a future location. This allows the logistics team to be almost two bivouacs ahead of the ongoing competition. This advanced positioning ensures that as soon as one site is vacated, the next is already in preparation.
Structuring the Mobile City and Personnel Movement

Each bivouac is systematically organised with a central technical area serving as the primary work zone. Opposite this is a communal living area for general interaction. Surrounding these zones are the paddocks, which function as the living quarters for the competing teams. At every bivouac change, a significant contingent of about 500 people, comprising organisers, press, and team members, are transported by chartered aircraft to the next designated location.
Overnight Operations for Media and Services

The television production crew plays a crucial role, packing up their extensive equipment by early evening. This equipment is then transported overnight by lorry to the new bivouac site. Upon arrival, the immediate re-installation of the broadcast infrastructure ensures readiness for the following morning's events. Beyond the competitors, the organisation and various service providers constitute a substantial portion of the bivouac population, numbering between 800 and 900 individuals out of the total 3,500 inhabitants.

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How is a temporary city built for the Dakar Rally daily?

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