Dubai: Dubai Municipality has completed the digital addressing of 124,000 buildings in the emirate of Dubai to help people quickly access online information on buildings through a new app known as Makani (my location).
Users of the app will be able to find places more accurately than any global positioning (GPRS) system available in the app world, said municipal officials.
Developed by the Geographic Information System Department of Dubai Municipality, “the new Makani app would be a turning point in the journey of Dubai towards being the smartest city in the world,” said Abdullah Rafia, assistant director general for the Engineering and Planning Sector.
Word of the development came during the second day of the First Annual Scientific Forum for GIS (geographic information system) and Remote Sensing in GCC, held under the slogan “Smart Maps for Smart City” at the Training Centre of Dubai Municipality.
Each step taken by the civic body to achieve its vision of a city that provides for comfort and sustainable living is in tune with the smart government initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Rafia said.
“Makani is not only an ordinary plot locating app, but it’s all about planning and controlling a well developed city using the information collected through the app and providing the best services to the public...,” he said.
Abdul Hakim Malek, director of the GIS Department, said the app will have countless benefits for everyone involved.
“The user can enter a 10-digit code in the app and find out the place with the accuracy to less than one metre. Also, this can be used to find out a person who uses any smart phone with the app if the WiFi is turned on as it gives more accuracy than 3G an 4G connections,’ said Malik.
“We hope this app will help our security forces quickly take necessary action based on the information collected through the barcode given to each premise in the emirate of Dubai,” he said.
We will soon launch another app for the public to help civic bodies by reporting any issues related to food safety. They will be able to enter the building or shop code into the app to report the complaint without having to explain the exact location, Malek added.
The forum also discussed the diverse uses of geographic information systems and remote sensing systems to verify the health and quality of soil and plants for agricultural development, for crisis management, traffic control, safety and security, sustainable urban development and maintenance of infrastructure.
