DUBAI // The Ministry of Labour has begun using drone technology to support its inspectors in recording violations at construction sites.
Saqr Ghobash, the Minister of Labour, has launched a specialised drone to look for companies violating the midday break law that bans labourers from working under direct sunlight during the hot summer months.
Mr Gobash said the drone technology improved the efficiency of the Ministry’s field operations by providing an additional tool for its inspectors.
“It is very accurate and definitely saves the inspectors’ time and efforts, as it allows the team to monitor every movement from the screen attached on the remote control then note any violations by taking close pictures,” the minister said.
The idea of the drone was introduced by the Information Technology Department at the Ministry of Labour then was developed in partnership with students from the higher colleges of technology in Dubai.
The drone used by the ministry covers around two square kilometres over a 15 to 20 minute period and can reach altitudes up to one kilometre.
The remote-controlled “smart inspections drone” is equipped with a high definition camera, providing live footage to the operator, and a built-in navigation system capable of sending the drone to the exact coordinates of a preferred location.
Ministry officials said the drone has proven invaluable in monitoring construction sights for violations of the midday break law that was enforced from June 15 until September 15 and flouted by fifty-six companies this year.
The Ministry of Labour is seeking to further develop the project by developing a direct link between the drone and the Ministry’s labour monitoring systems so video evidence can be used to issue fines on spot.
The UAE government has encouraged the practical use of drone technology to aid government departments in the country with Shiekh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launching a Dh1 million “UAE Drones for Good”competition last February.
Students from Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST) have already contributed to the government’s practical use of drone technology by designing and building a firefighting drone for Ajman Civil Defence that can provide support in rescue missions.
Two drones have been patrolling Abu Dhabi’s ports since June while ‘Eye in the Sky’ technology is also being utilised to monitor the flamingo population at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.
More recently, drone technology is being sought to replace satellites with the first test flight of a high-altitude aerial drone carried out successfully in September by the Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).
A federal law, expected this year, is being drafted by the General Civil Aviation Authority to license the use of drones in UAE airspace.
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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The biog
Age: 23
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Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
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Family: Married and with a daughter
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Results
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Friday’s fixture
6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta
6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman
9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas
9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah
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Company Profile
Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi
NO OTHER LAND
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5