Dubai Municipality launches advanced marine data collection network

According to Alya Al Harmoudi, Head of Coastal Zone and Waterways Management Section at the Environment Department, the new system has started functioning recently and the primary data and images, that have been collected so far, were "highly accurate and exceeded our expectations."

She said several important and lively elements were captured such as the sea surface currents and the height, period and direction of the waves in the area between Port Rashid and Palm Jumeira where many big projects are concentrated.

"This is a quite unique project that is implemented for the first time in the Middle East region. The new system provides information in two-dimensional maps, instead of the existing one-stop data collection in which water current passes through an equipment that measures its strength and speed,"

she noted.

Al Harmoudi added that the project involves two base stations, one located in Jumeira, close to the Open Beach, and the other in Um Suqeim area. The new radars will emit electromagnetic rays over a length of more than 15 kilometers into the deep sea and with a frequency of 45 MHz. All the data retrieved by the Municipality using the radars would be made available to clients and concerned authorities very soon, she said.

She added that 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 Lider surveys for the sea-bed.

"This project is a practical translation of the vision laid down by Dubai Municipality in permanently assessing the nature of changes that take place on the emirate's coastline."

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.

As a second phase of this project, works are currently on to fix six new cameras in various locations across the coastal zone. The 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 real time information on conditions along the coastal zone.

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. Parts of the information are also available on the section's website: www.dubaicoast.ae so that all members of the public, particularly those who frequently visit the beaches and sea-farers can have the necessary information.