The significance of geospatial data in facilitating decision-making and augmenting the efficacy of governmental procedures has been underscored by Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi. The inaugural Sharjah Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Forum was recently held by Sharjah Digital Department (SDD), gathering representatives from government departments and numerous renowned tech firms within the region. This forum is a part of SDD’s ongoing agenda to foster digital progression and bolster inter-departmental cooperation through leveraging state-of-the-art GIS technologies.
The event, hosted at Aljada by Arada in Sharjah, attracted approximately 172 participants, reinforcing its prominence. Among the attendees were several notable figures from Sharjah’s governmental body, including esteemed personalities such as Eng. Omar Khalfan bin Huraimel Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities Affairs, and Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director of Sharjah Publishing City.
His Excellency Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Director General of Sharjah Digital Department, emphasized the forum’s role as a crucial conduit for sharing insights and fostering partnerships among diverse governmental agencies. He also reiterated the growing significance of spatial data in facilitating strategic decision making, refining services, and ameliorating overall governmental performance.
He conveyed his anticipation that the platform will stimulate more collaboration in building a digitally integrated environment anchored in dependable, accurate information that serves the community and promotes the shared developmental objectives of the emirate. The Director of the SDD, Her Excellency Eng. Lamia Al Hussan Al Shamsi, accentuated the consequential role of geographic information systems in urban planning, infrastructure administration, environmental surveillance, and public services during her opening remarks.
She identified GIS as an indispensable element in the pursuit of sustainable development fostered by visionary strategic planning. The Mada Geographic Data Platform, which was introduced by SDD at GITEX 2024, was identified as a pivotal stride towards promoting a culture of sharing geospatial data across the UAE.
Mada represents a constantly updated and centralized database that enables fluid transfer of geographic data among governmental bodies. This aids in effective spatial planning, streamlining governmental procedures and enhancing the quality of the public amenities, thus propelling the emirate’s economic growth.
His Excellency Obaid Saeed Al Tunaiji, Director General of Sharjah City Municipality, communicated that the municipality’s involvement in the forum was a reflection of its commitment to sharing its knowledge and presenting its initiatives in GIS. He further noted that the forum also presents an opportunity to learn from diversified experiences, thereby strengthening institutional performance and boosting operational efficiency, aligning with the emirate’s strategic orientation.
Al Tunaiji highlighted a few advanced initiatives that leverage GIS technology. These initiatives include the ‘Smart Inspection’ system and the digital platform for issuing No Objection Certificates for sewage services.
Eng. Fatima Juma, Head of the GIS Department at Department of Town Planning and Survey, shed light on key themes such as geospatial data and statistics, implementation of geographic artificial intelligence for prospective planning and the progression of smart cities. She also highlighted the pivotal role of GIS in driving urban projects while underscoring the importance of bolstering partnerships to encourage growth in this crucial sector.
Khalid Abdullah Al Zarooni, Head of Information Technology at Sharjah Archaeology Authority, expressed that the forum served as a platform to present their innovative project, the ‘Archaeological Geographic Information System,’ which demonstrates their dedication towards safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Emirate of Sharjah.
The Sharjah GIS Forum aimed at acquainting the participants with the latest tech solutions and worldwide best practices in GIS. Additionally, it wanted to showcase how these can be harnessed to uplift government performance through effective collection, analysis, and visual representation of spatial data.
The forum sought to fortify collaboration among various departments by fostering a culture of data and information sharing. This could potentially expedite procedures, augment service delivery, and facilitate informed decision-making grounded on sound scientific principles.
The forum also aimed to promote integration while executing joint projects and strategic plans across the emirate. This was done via a series of specialized sessions underlining the role of GIS in the prediction of natural disasters, facilitating urban planning, and building unified geospatial infrastructures for better coordination between federal and local entities.
The discussions also explored the applications of GIS in the protection of archaeological sites, simplifying inspection processes, and issuing no-objection certificates. Demonstrations of GIS implementations by the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority were also a part of the session’s agenda.
Additional session topics delved into the integration of pioneering technologies such as digital twin models and artificial intelligence. These are highly supportive of smart geospatial solutions, particularly in scenarios involving rainwater collection, flood management, and spatial data analysis to boost the efficiency of government operations.
The consecutive sessions highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts in sharing geospatial data to facilitate a higher degree of integration and information accessibility. This has the effect of streamlining planning and management, reducing time and effort, and aiding the development of precise, strategic decision-making that contributes to comprehensive development across the Emirate of Sharjah.