DEWA develops drones to streamline efficiency of infrastructure

Environment

DEWA develops drones to streamline efficiency of infrastructure

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has established its use of drone innovation as part of its Sirb (Arabic for fleet) initiative, which it introduced in 2014. Sirb contains a fleet of high-end drones used to support Dubai's infrastructure and contribute to offering reliable and user friendly services. The initiative supports national efforts to use contemporary innovations to serve humanity.

DEWA has actually enhanced its usages of the technology to cover various domains including topographic surveys, improved operational efficiency, thermal inspection, photovoltaic panel maintenance, and early detection, using thermal imaging, to identify overhead power lines. This limits risks, reduces costs, enables quick-response times and ensures accuracy, making it easier to make informed decisions. The drones use state-of-the-art upgradable technologies such as high-definition cameras that are equipped with night-vision, lasers and GPS sensors, and can measure pressure, height, magnetic fields, and use ultrasound scanning.

"DEWA utilizes drone technology in its Sirb initiative, to enhance its operational efficiency, and offer smooth and easy-to-use services according to the highest international standards, making everybody happier. This supports the instructions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to place the UAE as a international centre for establishing drone innovations and an global hub for civilian drone applications, to improve the services provided to society," stated HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

"DEWA attaches fantastic value to innovation and utilizing the current global innovations. This supports the National Innovation Strategy, released by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to place the UAE as one of the most innovative countries worldwide, and the Dubai Innovation Strategy revealed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to make Dubai the most innovative city on the planet. It also supports DEWA's efforts to drive development and creativity in eco-friendly and clean energy, and water, and its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility," included Al Tayer.

DEWA utilizes different types of drones in its Sirb fleet. These range from fixed-wing to multi-rotor drones, which are capable of browsing for, and recognizing, oil spills and red tide.The drones can collect samples from any location within a 20 km radius. The initiative improves DEWAs operational efficiency by accelerating operations, increasing safety during regular network-testing and maintenance, to accurately detecting failures. It also helps to monitor generation, and carry out in-field surveys for DEWAs development projects.

DEWA presented four of its drones throughout its participation at the 2nd UAE Drones for Good Award, where it performed a live demo of its Hydro Drone, which is used for water sampling from various places and depths around the desalination plants. Making use of these drones are anticipated to improve precision and increase effectiveness, the drone can remain in the air for 25 minutes and can land on water.