World Tribune.com

United Arab Emirates to track remote sites by satellite

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, October 19, 2006

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.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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