The digital satellite map of Dubai's ins and outs is to be updated soon to include changes in the ever-growing emirate.
"We are updating our digital mapping of Dubai in early 2007," said Mohammad Al Zafin, director of the Dubai Municipality Geographic Information Systems Centre (GIS).
The Dubai GIS Centre is the central repository of geographical information for Dubai and provides spatial data and GIS-related servic es to the government and private sector.
The centre is constantly working to provide accurate and up-to-date spatial data to facilitate real time mapping and decision making.
"Our latest images, available in early 2007, will be made available to all government organisations and the private sector on our intranet," Al Zafin said.
The Centre is currently gathering the necessary satellite and aerial images in this regard. The updated information, which will be stored in a database that will be accessible to all the municipality departments, government bodies and corporate clients, can then be used for planning, development or analysis of the Dubai emirate.
The intranet system also allow for road, address, and parcel searches, as well as helping to locate schools, hospitals, hotels and other places of interest. Users will have access to high-resolution aerial photography with tools that contractors and consultants can use to measure areas and distances without setting foot on-site.
With the new system, users will be able to print and/or email maps in a matter of sec onds. Information from the GIS Centre has been integral in many public and private sector projects, like the eguide for Dubai, which allows Internet users to locate places in the emirate through an Internet browser.
The technology system, which is the core of the new centre and was launched in 2003, was prepared by Sun Microsystems Middle East and Africa and Orion Technology Inc.
The GIS project will enable the municipality to make its geographic information about Dubai available through a central information hub.
By Zarina Khan
© Emirates Today 2006
