Survey training programme starts

The Sharjah Directorate of Town Planning and Survey (SDTPS) has launched a training programme to enable UAE national cadres to conduct advanced surveys and meet the demand for such surveys in the emirate.

Obaid bin Ahmed Al Tunaiji, Director General of SDTPS, said that the programme would comprise several workshops, courses, lectures, and conducting several surveys throughout the emirate.

"The SDTPS has launched this important project as an interpretation of the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who has ordered us to use the latest developments in the field of Information Technology to enhance the overall progress in the emirate," noted Al Tunaiji.

Al Tunaiji added that Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, had been personally following up the programme from the very beginning.

Al Tunaiji explained that the SDTPS had already recruited the well-known Prof. Youssuf Siam, an expert on survey at the Jordanian University, to supervise the programme.

"Professor Youssuf will conduct a number of workshops, courses and surveys to get the national cadres prepared to carry out surveys independently in future. He will enable them to deal with the most sophisticated instruments and systems in this field."

Khalid bin Buti, Acting Director of the Survey Section at SDTPS, said that the programme will also help the Directorate enhance its performance in conducting advanced surveys and the services provided to the public.

"This will also encourage more UAE nationals to join our future programmes and contribute to the development of the country."

Prof. Siam said that he had met senior officials at the SDTPS to discuss the various aspects of the programme and the best means to implement it.

"I also met with the engineers and personnel at the Survey Section of the SDTPS and discussed with them the difficulties they are facing in their work and the best ways to overcome such problems."

Prof. Siam added that he had already handed out a questionnaire at the Section to find out the training needs of the engineers and staff.

He added that he had also toured the various branches and sites of the SDTPS, including those in the Central and Eastern regions, to explore the need for developing and conducting new surveys and enhancing the skills of the personnel working at various sections.

He pointed out that he would also cooperate with an international company currently working in the emirate on a comprehensive mapping project that is aimed at producing advanced maps of the various parts of Sharjah.

Prof. Siam said that the programme will include restructuring the survey cadres at the Directorate, and setting up a unified data network for the whole of the emirate.