"Abu Dhabi Environment" It employs artificial intelligence and satellites to monitor random waste dumping sites

Abu Dhabi, December 26 / WAM / The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi implemented a pilot project based on artificial intelligence techniques and satellite images to identify random waste dumping sites in the emirate, with the aim of raising the efficiency of the waste management system, enhancing the effectiveness of environmental control, and redefining the concept of environmental control.

This project is the first of its kind in the country to employ artificial intelligence models and satellite image analysis in the field of waste management, and represents a strategic shift from traditional monitoring to an intelligent system capable of automatically analyzing data and predicting potential violations.

Her Excellency Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said that the implementation of the project embodies the Authority’s commitment to shifting towards a smart and sustainable environment, in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 to enhance government performance and the sustainability of vital sectors. The project reflects the axis of innovation, green science and technology, one of the main axes of Abu Dhabi’s plan for the Environmental Centenary Goals 2071, which enables anticipating environmental challenges, improving environmental quality, and enhancing long-term sustainability through digital innovation and artificial intelligence.

If its scope is expanded, the project will contribute significantly to enhancing proactive monitoring of environmental violations through intelligent analysis of satellite images and the use of smart models to predict potential locations of waste dumping violations, allowing the Authority to intervene early before the environmental impact worsens.

Expanding the project contributes to raising the efficiency of the waste management system, enhancing the governance of procedures among relevant government agencies, and improving public satisfaction by reducing indiscriminate throwing practices and improving the overall appearance of the environment.

For his part, Engineer Faisal Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Sector at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said that the implementation of the pilot project in Al Bukariya in the Al Ain region reflects the Authority’s commitment to shifting towards innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and modern technologies to enhance environmental monitoring, as the results of the project showed an accuracy exceeding 90% in monitoring random dumping sites, and the system was able to identify 150 waste sites compared to only 43 sites discovered through field monitoring in the same period, which confirms the efficiency of technological innovation and intelligence. Artificial intelligence and its ability to speed up detection processes and improve the accuracy of environmental monitoring.

He added that the project also made it possible to classify waste with high accuracy and study the change in the areas of the monitored sites compared to previous years, which enhances the Authority’s ability to track the origin of waste and the period of its presence, and develop effective strategies to reduce environmental violations and improve the quality of the general environment.

After identifying these sites, the Authority undertook the task of coordinating with its partners from the competent authorities to remove waste and clean the affected areas, ensuring immediate treatment of the violating sites. The Authority monitors these sites after removal to ensure that random dumping operations do not occur again and to enhance environmental preservation.

This project will enable the Authority to strengthen its legislative and regulatory role in environmental oversight by using smart digital tools based on the analysis of satellite images and geographical data, which contributes to protecting the environment, sustaining natural resources and reducing risks to human health in the emirate.

The Authority presented the results of the project and its experience during the “World Conference of the International Solid Waste Association” (ISWA 2025), which was held in Argentina, where it received praise from experts and members participating in the conference, which reflects the pioneering role of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in developing innovative solutions to enhance the environmental control system.

Based on the success of the pilot phase, the Authority plans during the next phase to expand the scope of the project to include all regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi by establishing a central platform for smart environmental monitoring that relies on artificial intelligence techniques and analysis of satellite image data, which will enhance government integration and support Abu Dhabi’s goals in achieving sustainability and smart environmental governance.

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