Dubai survey robot cuts operating costs by 90% at Emirati housing project
A surveying robot equipped with LiDAR and smart cameras has helped Dubai Municipality reduce operating costs by 90 per cent at a housing project for Emirati citizens.
The robot was used at the Wadi Al Amardi Housing Project to complete final surveys of finished buildings and support the issuance of final survey certificates.
Its use reduced cumulative customer waiting time by 472 days and generated savings equivalent to 24 days of fieldwork and 40 hours of office work.
Dubai Municipality deployed the robot to collect geospatial data quickly and accurately with limited human intervention.
It can operate continuously and produce precise coordinates, panoramic images, video and three-dimensional point clouds.
The information will be used to update Dubai’s spatial databases and support infrastructure development, asset management, urban planning and government decisions.
Maitha Al Nuaimi, Director of the GIS Centre Department at Dubai Municipality, said, “The geospatial surveying robot is one of the smart solutions Dubai Municipality is deploying to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of spatial data collection. It strengthens the readiness of geospatial information and supports the delivery of government services through reliable, up-to-date data.”
She said the use of geospatial technology in field operations would provide a stronger data base for planning infrastructure, making informed decisions and supporting Dubai’s development as a smart and sustainable city.
Saeed Al Falasi, Director of the Survey Department at Dubai Municipality, said, “The deployment of smart geospatial surveying technologies forms part of Dubai Municipality’s efforts to modernise field operations, accelerate data collection and improve the efficiency of spatial data updates.”
He said the municipality planned to use the technology in more residential community projects and expand its role in field surveying to improve the quality and efficiency of services.
The robot also reduces the need for surveyors to enter difficult-to-access locations, improving occupational safety while increasing productivity and data quality.
Survey results that were previously limited to two-dimensional information can now include detailed 3D models and data covering building façades.
Dubai Municipality said the additional detail would increase the long-term value of the information for engineering, planning and geospatial work.