Dubai Municipality has used a smart surveying robot to cut geospatial operating costs by 90 per cent and reduce cumulative customer waiting time by 472 days during an Emirati housing project.

Using LiDAR technology and smart cameras, the robot collects spatial data rapidly and accurately with minimal human intervention.

The technology was deployed at the Wadi Al Amardi housing project for Emirati citizens to conduct final surveys of completed buildings and streamline the issuance of final survey certificates.

Dubai Municipality said the robot also saved the equivalent of 24 days of fieldwork and 40 hours of office work.

The robot can continuously collect field data and generate highly accurate coordinates, panoramic images, video footage and 3D point clouds.

The information collected will be used to update Dubai’s spatial databases, providing more accurate data for infrastructure development, asset management, urban planning and government decision-making.

Maitha Al Nuaimi, Director of the Geographic Information Systems Centre Department at Dubai Municipality, said the geospatial surveying robot was among the smart solutions being used to improve the efficiency and accuracy of spatial data collection.

She said the technology enhances the availability of geospatial information and helps improve the quality of government services by providing accurate, up-to-date data.

The robot’s integrated system also creates a more comprehensive digital representation of buildings and other surveyed assets, expanding survey outputs from limited 2D information to detailed 3D models and datasets that provide broader coverage of building façades.

This information can be used in engineering, planning and geospatial applications, creating greater long-term value.

Dubai Municipality plans to expand the technology’s use across more housing projects throughout the emirate and deploy the robot more widely in field surveying operations.

Saeed Al Falasi, Director of the Survey Department at Dubai Municipality, said the use of smart geospatial surveying technologies formed part of the municipality’s efforts to modernise field operations, accelerate data collection and improve the efficiency of spatial information updates.

The technology can also improve occupational safety by reducing the need for personnel to enter difficult or hard-to-reach areas.

Dubai Municipality said the system would improve productivity and the quality of survey data while providing more accurate information for infrastructure planning and supporting Dubai’s urban development.