Dubai's coastal zone monitoring programme gets a major boost

Internationally-acclaimed systems are being used in this field to collect data, analyse and study marine phenomena.

This was announced by Eng. Hamdan Al Shaer, Director of Environment Department, who noted that this programme forms part of the general strategic plan of the Emirate of Dubai in the field of environment conservation and as part of Dubai Municipality's efforts to accomplish the integrated management of the coastal zone, especially in the wake of the constant increase in coastal and marine projects and waterfront developments.

"There is a critical and crucial role we have to play in monitoring the coastal zone in line with the concerned laws and rules and based on our plans that aim at protecting the coastal environment and ensure its development in a sustainable manner," Al Shaer said.

Eng. Alya AbdulRahim, Head of Coastal Management Section, said the comprehensive marine database owned by the section is highly crucial and it is being updated by means of the monitoring programme capturing information through hydrographic and topographic surveys, and marine wave and current measuring instruments in addition to lidar surveys for the sea-bed.

She said the project to fix two radar stations in the area from Port Rashid to Jumeira Palm had already been awarded.

These radars, which will cover an area of up to 10 kilometers into the sea, will monitor several elements such as the speed and direction of surface sea currents in a meticulous manner and the length, height and direction of the waves. The system will provide information in two-dimensional maps, instead of the existing one-stop data collection.

She added that the Coastal Management Section currently operates three video cameras, situated on the exoskeleton of the Burj Al Arab hotel, that provide regular video images that are processed to provide wave run-up and beach profile information.

Information captured by the instruments is transferred to a website after completing automated quality check ups. The website provides the section with 'live' information on conditions along the coastal zone.

"We will add six new cameras to this existing system. At present, we are studying the possible locations for these cameras so that they can capture more lively information about the near-shore situation in the emirate," Alya said.

She added that the data gathered through the monitoring programme will be extremely valuable in assisting the design and planning of developments along the coast.

All coastal data gathered by the Municipality are now made available to consultants, planners and developers for use during planning and designing stages of their coastal projects.

So that all members of the public, particularly those who frequently visit the beaches and sea-farers can have the necessary information.

The Dubai coastal zone, and in particular the Jumeirah frontage, has been identified as a key element in the expected dramatic expansion of tourism to the region.

An unprecedented amount of coastal development is taking place in Dubai that, coupled with an estimated 300% increase in population within the next 20 years, will put the emirate's coastal resources under tremendous pressure.

It is therefore vitally important that coastal developments accommodate such aspects. This can best be achieved by means of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach based on a good understanding of prevailing coastal processes.

The application of state of the art monitoring and modelling tools was identified by the Dubai Municipality as a vehicle for developing this understanding.

The most important strategic initiative for effective management of the Dubai coastal zone was identified to be the implementation of a coastal zone monitoring programme.