The Ministry of Environment and Water successfully concluded its participation of Innovation Week with the launch of its latest initiative, Green Innovation Camp, recently at the Ajman Palace Hotel. The new initiative was launched in the presence of His Excellency Ghanim Rashed Al Shamsi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services Sector, Ministry of Environment and Water, along with leading IT experts and students. The launch was made on the sidelines of the country’s celebration of Innovation Week, which was celebrated under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to Ministry of Environment and Water senior officials, the Green Innovation Camp is a competition open to IT experts and IT students, urging them to develop innovative applications in operating unmanned aircrafts (i.e. drones) that can be used to conduct key inspections of stone quarrying facilities and crushers. Winning entries are expected to help drive in a reduction in time spent on inspecting these facilities while also being able to monitor dust intensive emissions and other violations on operating standards. The drones can capture images of these violations and send to the MoEW and other government agencies for review and immediate action.
During the launch, the Ministry provided a current review on its use of unmanned aircrafts and the standards and guidelines being observed for these kind of facilities. The MoEW also presented the criteria and mechanics of the Green Innovation Camp competition and how entries will be reviewed and analyzed by a select panel of judges.
Aside from the Green Innovation Camp, the Ministry also launched other initiatives during the celebration of UAE Innovation Week. These programs include Innovation in Agricultural Work, Biological Filter, Drop of Life, Monitor and Control, Green Legacy, Smart Gargoor, Beautiful in the Wild, Emirates Nature Reserve and the Emirates Program for Environmental Excellence.