Dubai: Dubai now has an app that helps monitor tremors and supports emergency evacuation plans for some strategic buildings in the event of significant earthquakes.
Dubai Municipality officials, who developed the app, have called on residents to download it and make use of it to get notifications on tremors and help authorities deal with quake-related emergency situations better.
This is the first app in the Gulf region to support emergency and evacuation plans in the event of significant earthquakes for the buildings equipped with smart monitoring seismic system.
Besides, the app supports users in the GCC with real-time earthquake notification that shows the seismic event parameters, safety instructions and links the residents with the Dubai Seismic Network under the municipality to provide their feedback.
Officials spoke to Gulf News after the app recorded the largest among the series of tremors that were felt in various Middle Eastern countries late on Wednesday night. The UAE remained unaffected from the tremors that were felt in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine.
Though there are no effective sources of seismic risk in the UAE, strong earthquakes from southern Iran and Pakistan sometimes trigger fear and confusion among residents of Dubai, especially those living on the upper floors of high-rise buildings.
After signing up, users can get instant notifications about earthquakes within the radius of their locality and also see details of the nearby earthquakes.
Residents can also let the authorities know the intensity of the tremors they feel so as to help the latter take appropriate measures.
Safety guidelines on the app
The app provides detailed information about earthquakes, how they are measured and safety guidelines on earthquakes such as what to do before, during and after an earthquake which people can follow.
Eman Al Falasi, head of the Geodetic and Marine Survey Section, told Gulf News that the app has features that can be used by authorities, building management and members of the public.
It can help identify the accurate locations of the local, regional and global earthquakes recorded in Dubai Seismic Network and helps people concerned in dealing with the situation they face.
“The app users can report the extent of tremor they felt. These reports can help to make accurate assessment of the impact of earthquakes on the facilities in the emirate of Dubai,” said Al Falasi.
Prof Kamal Mohammed Atiya, a seismology specialist with the municipality’s Survey Department, said the department tries to respond positively to all users’ feedback and supports the app with quake-related events notification, shake map and very detailed technical report for all equipped strategic buildings.
The app provides the tools and information for the building managements to know the impact on their building, prevent any business interruption, minimise downtime in case of any evacuation, reinforce crisis management with effective communications before, during and after any earthquake that is felt here.
The app can also support building managements to conduct simulation tests or mock drills to measure the response of the occupants of their buildings.
A manual and a video about the app video can be downloaded from the website of the Geodesy and Hydrographic Survey Section at http://www.m1.ae/DSN.html.
