SIEMENS WILL MOVE HUNDREDS OF STAFF TO EXPO LEGACY SITE
▶ German company says its technology will help future residents to reduce energy costs
German engineering company Siemens will be among the first businesses to move into Dubai’s District 2020 when it opens later this year.
Hundreds of its staff will take up residence in a building close to Al Wasl Dome.
The company has promised to use its cutting edge technology across the new community on the site of Expo 2020 Dubai.
This includes a “smart city” app that aims to cut energy costs for residents.
District 2020 in Dubai South is due to open in October, with the 4.38 square-kilometre area repurposed to host 145,000 residents and workers.
It aims to become the UAE’s first 15-minute city, meaning anything a resident needs can be reached within a quarter of an hour by foot or bike.
Helmut von Struve, chief executive of Siemens Middle East, told The National what his company’s presence there would mean for residents.
He said its technology, successfully used at Expo to cover an area twice the size of Monaco, could transform their lives. “We are really very happy we have an opportunity to stay here,” said Mr von Struve. “This is a brilliant opportunity for the future.”
Siemens will start by moving about 250 engineers, researchers and logistics experts into a building it occupied near Al Wasl dome during Expo.
Photographs of the structure show futuristic interior displays in an “experience centre” to demonstrate software that controls functions in more than 130 buildings across the site.
The world’s fair ended in March. About 80 per cent of the buildings and infrastructure remain, with the software and sensors installed in them.
More than 15,000 cameras operated by Siemens across the site feed data to managers and an access control system connects about 5,500 doors. MindSphere, an operating system, controls temperatures and checks heating, air conditioning, fire alarm systems, ventilation and electricity use.
Residents can then have access to this data through the “smart city” app.
“We are extremely proud that we have been able to deploy our smart city app to connect the real world with the digital world,” said Mr von Struve.
“We have connected more than 130 buildings, taking the data, making it visual and contextualising it. We measure air quality. When we get information of temperature readings, depending on the number of people in a building, we can adjust the air conditioning, make it more comfortable.
“This also enables energy savings because you don’t need to operate air conditioning where there are no people.”
During Expo, a visit to the Siemens building was on the agenda of global delegations keen to see energy efficiency and sustainability benefits in future developments.
“It’s a blueprint and we were very happy to deploy such
technology in an environment twice the size of Monaco,” said Mr von Struve.
The integrated system will allow residents to track their use of air conditioning, water and electricity.
Software readings will alert them when the temperature in a room has reached the ideal level, and the system can be switched off remotely.
Mr von Struve spoke of big savings on water use. “If you have irrigation systems with a leakage, normally these leakages are not immediately detected,” he said. “With this system, you can zoom into the zone of the leakages and operators are able to switch off a certain valve to minimise it.”
Mr von Struve said a precise amount of fertiliser could be used in green areas, avoiding waste. “The energy efficiency is for each of the tenants, be it a commercial tenant or of the residential unit, because the whole aim of the development of District 2020 is a human-centric city,” he added.
Striking architecture, two large parks and walking and cycle paths are distinctive features of District 2020.
“Sustainability is so important for the country, for us as individuals and for the globe,” said Mr von Struve.
“Being part of such a district that will continue to develop and will host not only companies like ourselves but also academia, start-ups, that is extremely positive.
“Our team members are looking forward to moving. There are cycling tracks and a lot of offerings that will contribute to a fantastic experience.”
The system controls temperatures and checks heating, air conditioning, ventilation, fire alarms and electricity use