Soil mapping plan being finalised

The Dubai Central Laboratory is finalising a three-dimensional soil profile mapping project for the emirate.

Adnan Abdul Rahman Sharafi, laboratory director, said the project, which began last September, is expected to be ready by the end of this year. He said the project is being carried out for the first time in the UAE at a cost of Dh1.5 million.

"The map shows properties of the soil. It points out the strong or weak areas to determine whether it will support construction.

"The project also involves the study of the soil's chemical properties. We want to identify areas with higher concentration of chloride and sulphide.

"It will give an indepth picture of the soil which will help in laying foundations. Temporary construction works will be easier for engineers."

According to Sharafi, the study will cover most of Dubai city and some rural areas.

"People thinking of building highrises can refer to the map to get an idea of the soil, but they too must study its properties before construction. The 3-D map will ease construction to a great extent."

The project consists of three phases. The first, involving the study of the soil and environment, has been completed. Geological information was gathered from a number of sources and collected over the years.

"The second stage is data preparation, and is expected to be completed by the end of March. The final stage involves feeding data into a CD. People can then go to the laboratory and ask for details of soil composition before they build. The 3-D map will be put online at a later stage."