Beach surveillance to be stepped up in Dubai

Dubai: Surveillance has been stepped up on all beaches in Dubai – for environmental reasons.

Powerful radars and a net of video cameras have been cast over the coast here to study the effect of construction on marine health.

The development is part of the Coastal Zone Management Programme run by Dubai Municipality's Environment Department.

“There is a critical and crucial role we have to play in monitoring the coastal zone in line with the concerned laws and rules and based on our plans that aim at protecting the coastal environment and ensure its development in a sustainable manner,'' said Hamdan Al Shaer, the department director.

The new devices will help in the ongoing research about waves and the seabed off Dubai, said Alya AbdulRahim, head of the municipality's Coastal Management Section.

The radars have a range of 10 kilometers into the sea – two stations will be placed between Port Rashid and Palm Jumeirah. They can ‘meticulously' measure the speed and direction of surface sea currents; and the length, height and direction of waves. The system will provide information in two-dimensional maps, instead of the existing one-stop data collection method.

Alya said the section currently operates three video cameras, attached to the exoskeleton of the Burj Al Arab hotel. The captured info is sent to a website after completing automated quality checks. The website provides the section with 'live' information on costal conditions.

“We will add six new cameras to this existing system. At present, we are studying the possible locations for these cameras so that they can capture more lively information about the near-shore situation in the emirate,'' Alya said.

The municipality makes the data available to consultants, planners and developers for use during the designing stages of their coastal projects. Parts of the information are also available to the public on the section's website, www.dubaicoast.ae.

An unprecedented amount of coastal development is taking place in Dubai, thanks in large part to tourism. An estimated 300 per cent increase in population within the next 20 years will put the emirate's coastal resources under tremendous pressure.