ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates will use a Western
company to monitor remote areas of the Gulf Arab state.
The government has signed an agreement with the Swiss-based firm
Informap for satellite services. Under the accord, Informap would employ
high resolution satellite technology to monitor government projects across
the UAE.
In the first stage, Informap services would be used by the UAE Labor
Ministry. The ministry said it plans to obtain high-resolution images of
construction projects across the UAE.
Officials said Informap would help the government monitor remote areas
of the UAE. They said the Labor Ministry would use the services of the Swiss
firm to supervise construction sites and labor camps.
The UAE has registered 70,000 construction sites and work camps in the
Abu Dhabi emirate alone, officials said. The ministry has allocated 20
inspectors to monitor these sites.
Informap said the satellite system for the UAE was the first of its kind
and took a year to design. Informap regional manager Mohammed Ahmad said the
company would use the U.S.-origin Digital Globe satellite.
Under the accord, the Labor Ministry would receive high resolution
details of targeted sites. Officials said Digital Globe could detect minor
changes in construction and labor camps.