Drones to survey land for new projects
dubai — The Dubai Municipality has launched a new drone technology to help developers survey lands and build new projects quickly and more efficiently.
The new aerial survey service provides real estate companies, consultants and contractors with detailed data of rectified orthophotos, topographic maps with up to 200 times better clarity than the maps by conventional surveys. It will also provide contour maps and 3D points for large-scale projects with vast spaces and rocky geographies, all of which are produced through high-resolution images with 88 per cent less time and effort than the traditional surveys.
“With the conventional surveys, the department needed about six months to extract big files of data. Now, the high-res images are processed on the next day using the drones,” said Dawood Al Hajiri, assistant director-general of the Dubai Municipality for engineering and planning sector.
Al Hajiri said the drones will keep up with Dubai’s quick development pace that needs to be followed up every six months. “Our growth is quick and we need following up every six months, compared to other countries that need surveying every five years. The drones will help developers record the progress of their projects every week without the need to visit the site,” said Al Hajiri.
He said the service was used to monitor Dubai Safari Park’s progress every month. The park is scheduled to open before end of this year.
Mohammed Mashroom, director of the municipality’s survey department, said it will save large amounts
times better clarity will be provided by drones than the maps by surveys less time and effort to use drones for surveys instead of traditional methods
of money, effort and time, especially as Dubai is approaching mega projects. The department has one drone available and two additional drones will be added depending on the number of applications received by the municipality.
“At times, surveying maps are required for 500sqkm area which involves up to 4,000 working days and costs about Dh6.5 million. It is also important to note that construction areas have witnessed an increase from 5,035 in 2014 to 11,413 in 2016.
“Dubai is developing fast and if we follow the conventional methods, we will not be able to follow up
With the conventional surveys, the department needed about six months to extract big files of data. Now, the high-res images are processed on the next day using the drones.” Dawood Al Hajiri, assistant directorgeneral, DM for engineering and planning
the different requirements,” said Mashroom. “The technology shows the developers what exists on ground and challenges lying ahead of their construction and plan.
“Instead of sending surveyors, especially to the mountainous areas that are challenging to monitor and scan, the drones will save the
The department has one drone available and two additional drones will be added depending on the number of applications received by the municipality.” Mohammed Mashroom, director of survey, Dubai Municipality
trouble and help us get quick results,” said Mashroom.
Developers can now register for the service via the municipality’s website and will have to pay a service fee depending on the service they ask for — be it contour maps or topographic maps.
200 88%