The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Labour announced that it will start using drones to help inspectors record when construction sites are breaking laws, Arabian Industry reports.
During an interview with Emirati newspaper The National, Minister of Labour Saqr Ghobash said drones are “very accurate and definitely save the inspectors’ time and efforts, as they allow the team to monitor every movement from the screen attached on the remote control then note any violations by taking close pictures.”
The idea was developed by the Ministry’s IT department, with the help of students from several colleges in Dubai.
According to The National, the drone used by the ministry covers around two square kilometers over a 15- to 20-minute battery-life span. It can fly as high as one kilometer.
A release says that the ministry seeks to develop the project to allow drones to directly issue fines on the spot. The ministry also plans to train inspectors in using the drones efficiently to monitor construction sites and record movements via high-quality images that can be used as clear evidence.
For more, read the report from The National.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
PBK, DLR Group among nation's largest K-12 school design firms, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 75 K-12 School Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Turner Building Cost Index dips nearly 4% in second quarter 2009
Turner Construction Company announced that the second quarter 2009 Turner Building Cost Index, which measures nonresidential building construction costs in the U.S., has decreased 3.35% from the first quarter 2009 and is 8.92% lower than its peak in the second quarter of 2008. The Turner Building Cost Index number for second quarter 2009 is 837.
| Aug 11, 2010
AGC unveils comprehensive plan to revive the construction industry
The Associated General Contractors of America unveiled a new plan today designed to revive the nation’s construction industry. The plan, “Build Now for the Future: A Blueprint for Economic Growth,” is designed to reverse predictions that construction activity will continue to shrink through 2010, crippling broader economic growth.
| Aug 11, 2010
New AIA report on embassies: integrate security and design excellence
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) released a new report to help the State Department design and build 21st Century embassies.
| Aug 11, 2010
Section Eight Design wins 2009 Open Architecture Challenge for classroom design
Victor, Idaho-based Section Eight Design beat out seven other finalists to win the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom, spearheaded by the Open Architecture Network. Section Eight partnered with Teton Valley Community School (TVCS) in Victor to design the classroom of the future. Currently based out of a remodeled house, students at Teton Valley Community School are now one step closer to getting a real classroom.
