UAE | Education
Smart buildings on the horizon
University launches Masters programme in strategic move to keep up with pace of construction
- By Rania Moussly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 20, 2010
- Image Credit: ZARINA FERNANDES/Gulf News
- Almost 80 BUiD students graduated last week at an event held in Dubai.
Dubai : The British University in Dubai (BUiD) launched a new Masters programme in Intelligent Building Design and Automation (IBDAA) last week, in a strategic move geared to keep up with the future of construction.
The announcement came at the institution's graduation ceremony where almost 80 postgraduates received awards.
"Intelligent building is to have a better understanding of the construction of buildings in economic and social terms," said Martin Prince, BUiD registrar.
"The way to make them better is through intelligent use of knowledge. For example, to know how to maintain low running costs and smooth operations," he added.
The course will begin this autumn with an initial intake of up to 10 students. The IBDAA programme is the first federally and internationally accredited programme of its kind in the UAE and is offered in association with Cardiff University and the University of Manchester.
Responsible design
Prince said intelligent building begins with responsible planning and design. For example, considering environmental planning, in terms of location in proximity to the sun and shade for building efficiency, is all part of the process.
One such example is the building that resembles Swiss cheese, officially known as the 0-14 Tower, in the Business Bay area of Dubai.
"The construction and running of buildings have to be [a] state-of-the-art [process] and adaptable to the future," Prince said.
"For instance air-conditioning, heating ventilation and shade lighting should all be automatically controlled by their environment to minimise energy use and to ensure low carbon usage is maximised," he added.
He said an innovative programme of this sort is needed to ensure that Dubai and the UAE can move forward.
"Dubai's reputation is founded on its built environment, therefore [its buildings] have to be appropriate for the social, economic and cultural demands of the 21st century," Prince said.
Such a programme would ideally appeal to professionals in the fields of construction and building design, as well as aspiring graduates in the engineering and IT fields.
"It is a great awakening to the awareness of the importance of low carbon agendas and intelligent buildings," Prince said.
"If professionals in the field are aware of this and feel the need to explore this value and interest, then this Masters programme will definitely allow them to do so," he added.
However, Prince is sceptical about whether businesses and individuals are ready to embrace such innovative technologies.
"I [am concerned about whether] the key people who are the movers and shakers of the country are actually at a stage of readiness to commit to this cutting edge programme," he said.
The programme is 18 months long and held over three terms — four months of which are spent on practice-based dissertations.
The programme will cost Dh84,000 but a number of scholarships are available for those deemed eligible.
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