Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Agriculture - Works launches innovative project solution

The new solution will allow DMA-Works, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders to collaborate, manage, monitor and plan all tasks for a specific project through an online portal, and will be used to manage all of Abu Dhabi's public building and infrastructure work.

The Project Collaboration and Management System through Project Specific Website Technology (PCMA-PSWS) system was developed by the DMA-Works Computerization Project team, in collaboration with Microsoft and local partner Emirates Computers. The solution combines a number of different technologies into a state-of-the-art portal which will cut the time and expense of projects for DMA-Works. The first project that will be managed using the system will be the Sheikh Zayed Bridge Project, a major new transportation and infrastructure project for Abu Dhabi.

"As part of Abu Dhabi's e-government initiatives, DMA-Works is committed to using new technology to improve efficiency. DMA-Works designs, builds and maintains many high-level building, construction and infrastructure projects that involve many different stakeholders, all with different roles and input. Automating all of the different business processes requires a very advanced technology platform, and with the PCMA-PSWS built using Microsoft .Net, we are confident that we have a solution which will cut project times by up to 20% and create cost savings of up to 15%," said His Excellency, Hamad Al Hurr Al Suwaiedi, Acting Chairman, DMA.

The PCMA-PSWS system is based on Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server, which enables all of the different project stakeholders to access the system through a web-based portal, so that all parties can work together, wherever they are in the world. For the Sheikh Zayed Bridge Project, this means that architects and engineers in Britain will be able to follow their part of the project and collaborate with other members of the project team in Abu Dhabi, which will create considerable savings.

The system also uses other Microsoft solutions, including Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Project Server 2003, along with engineering collaboration technology from Autodesk. Construction data from the project can be gathered and distributed on site using wireless PDAs and Tablet PCs, while wireless web cams have been set up on site to provide remote monitoring.

The Sheikh Zayed Bridge Project is a major new infrastructure project including bridges and road links that will provide a crucial link between Abu Dhabi and other emirates. The project, which costs 1.1 billion dirhams, includes the Sheikh Zayed Bridge, which features a unique asymmetrical design that symbolizes the shape of desert sand dunes.

"The solution that DMA-Works has developed is a highly innovative approach to project management, and a powerful demonstration of the capabilities of Microsoft applications and the .NET platform. We are very pleased to have worked with DMA-Works on this solution, and we are confident that it will help deliver building and infrastructure projects on time and on budget for the benefit of the residents of Abu Dhabi." said Abdullatif Al Mulla, General Manager of Microsoft South Gulf.