Innovative App Uses Smartphone GPS and Unique Algorithm to Make UAE Solar Information More Ubiquitous and Easy to Use

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 20 January, 2015

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced that its Research Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment (ReCREMA) has developed a mobile application to access satellite maps of wind and solar energy resources in the UAE.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: "The mobile application reflects our commitment to innovation that makes clean energy resources available in the digital arena. With the support of the UAE leadership, we have evolved into an institution that contributes to developing digital tools in future energy. We believe the mobile app developed at Masdar Institute will further encourage wider adoption of sustainable sources while motivating others to seek similar innovative digital solutions."

The Solar Mobile Application will allow users to access solar resource information for their location, in near real-time through their GPS enabled smart phones using the unique satellite-based solar mapping algorithm developed at Masdar Institute. The mobile application "UAE LiveSolar" is currently available for download on iTunes for Iphone and Google Play for Android devices. It will soon be available for Windows mobile platforms.

The mobile app is on display at the Masdar Institute stand (5350) at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2015 that is being held from 19-22 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

Dr Hosni Ghedira, Director, ReCREMA, and Professor of Practice, Masdar Institute, said: "Being able to interact with this data using a mobile device is a great advance following the current trend of making such information systems more ubiquitous. This mobile application is ready to use anywhere in the world provided that solar radiance or radiation data is available, including the UAE."

Moreover, the UAE Solar Atlas produced by Masdar Institute is also accessible through the mobile app. Its yearly and monthly maps are included in the mobile application, allowing users to interactively access their values and evaluate monthly and yearly variations.

With this app, resource maps with DNI, DHI and GHI values for the latest available data are also available as well as charts showing the latest values for these three solar components at the user's current location. Yearly and monthly maps from the UAE Solar Atlas are also available allowing users to interactively access their values and evaluate monthly and yearly variations.

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About Masdar Institute
The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.

An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.

Serving as a key pillar of innovation and human capital, Masdar Institute remains fundamental to Masdar's core objectives of developing Abu Dhabi's knowledge economy and finding solutions to humanity's toughest challenges such as climate change.

Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow.  With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.

Masdar Institute offers degrees in:

●      MSc Engineering Systems and Management

●      MSc Computing and Information Science

●      MSc Materials Science and Engineering

●      MSc Mechanical Engineering

●      MSc Water and Environmental Engineering

●      MSc Microsystems Engineering

●      MSc Electrical Power Engineering

●      MSc Chemical Engineering

●      MSc Sustainable Critical Infrastructure

●      PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering

Please visit our website www.masdar.ac.ae/

For more information contact:
Name: Shaima Al Jarman
Director - Marketing & Communications
Public Affairs Department
Email: saljarman@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109365

© Press Release 2015