Innovations in Information Technology Kicks Off at UAEU
The first day of the 9th Innovations Conference, the region’s leading IT conference at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) drew in a mass crowd of eminent research scientists and prominent professionals from the IT industry, along with the University students to discuss contemporary developments, which are currently at the forefront of information technology and how these applications can better serve the economy.
H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Noaimi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU inaugurated the event and during his opening speech he explained how technology has become a part of our everyday lives and how it has made a significant impact to the way we do things. He also stated that technological advancement is critical in advancing our nation across many industries including transport, healthcare, tourism, etc., and that the UAE has become the Hub for IT in the region. He reinforced UAEU’s commitment, as the national research-intensive University and the flagship institution of the region, in providing innovative solutions, fostering networking and collaborations, and training the future technological leaders of the 21st century. He said, “These conferences bring together the great minds of the Industry and academia to share and discuss opportunities for research and development.”
The inauguration was followed by a speech from Dr. Michael Gould, ESRI’s Global Education Manager, and keynote speaker for the event, who spoke about geo-enabling decision-making processes and how it can build smart cities and preserve our environment. He explained how Geographic Information System (GIS), a mapping system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data, can be used to increase spatial literacy, protect the environment, assist with disaster response, and support humanitarian affairs—thus making our world a better place. He said, “These maps have become a strategic tool and can give access to real time information such as traffic patterns, the best place for establishing a wind farm or to drill for oil. Telecommunications companies can also use it to know where is the best place to put mobile phone antennas and electrical companies can use it to trace the source of a power outage and to know the critical places affected by this, such as hospitals.”
He explained how students are now utilizing this system to create GIS applications that can help solve many problems. Dr. Gould informed the audience that the Abu Dhabi government has just signed a three year contract with ERSI to provide access to resources and training to all schools and Universities in the emirates to identify and train the leaders of the future who will build the required applications needed to serve the nation. These GIS applications have already begun identifying problems and providing solution, one in particular that relates to the UAE environment, involves identifying turtle nesting grounds at Abu Dhabi harbor so that the shipping lanes could redirected. He explained that the Abu Dhabi government is keen to implement this technology into the curriculum of various courses, to make students aware of the opportunities available to them and to show how these technologies apply to the real world.
The conference will continue to run for a three day period and will include many more informative lectures and workshops from prestigious leaders on topics that include awareness about the rising “Big Data” trend which is evolving as a result of the wide internet proliferation in every sector of our life, ways to sustain internet growth and continuity, information security, communication networks, amongst many others.
Mr. Yousef Salem Aljaberi and Mr. AbdulRahman Fawzi from UAE Emirates ID Authority will share with the audience the on-going information systems related projects being developed by UAE ID Authority.
