Dubai Municipality begins a pilot application of a smart camera system to monitor public hygiene behaviors

Dubai Municipality has begun expanding the uses of the “smart waste management” system in the emirate, by integrating artificial intelligence technologies into monitoring and inspection processes at the public hygiene level.

With the aim of enhancing the quality of monitoring, Dubai Municipality began implementing the pilot phase of the smart camera system on a number of waste collection and transport vehicles, to monitor the level of cleanliness on roads and residential areas, and to identify random waste sites next to containers, on sidewalks and squares.

The system contributes to analyzing images and data immediately through interactive digital screens, which supports taking quick field measures and improving hygiene levels in the targeted areas.

Violations monitored by the system include throwing waste in public places, the value of which is 500 dirhams, in addition to improper disposal of furniture and large waste, and all behaviors that harm the cultural appearance and cause the accumulation of waste.

The Director General of Dubai Municipality, Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, said: The pilot phase of this system is based on a strategic methodology that aims to enhance the effectiveness of the hygiene control system, monitor violations and wrong behaviors, preserve the cleanliness and beauty of the Emirate of Dubai, support data-based decision-making, and develop sustainable policies to improve the urban environment. We are also working on evaluating the results to identify opportunities for expansion and application on a broader scale in order to enhance the experience of residents and visitors and consolidate Dubai’s position as a global leader in quality and sustainability.

The Executive Director of the Waste and Sanitation Corporation in Dubai Municipality, Engineer Adel Al Marzouqi, confirmed that this system represents an experimental phase that aims to test the effectiveness of smart cameras in enhancing public hygiene control, and enabling our teams to accurately document violations and support taking corrective measures quickly. This initiative also contributes to supporting digital transformation and enhancing the sustainability of the waste management system while preserving the privacy of community members.

He added that these technologies support digital transformation in waste management and are consistent with Dubai’s vision for smart cities, which contributes to enhancing the sustainability of public hygiene without affecting the privacy of community members.

This project comes within Dubai Municipality’s efforts to implement innovative technical solutions to reduce random waste dumping, in support of the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2041, which aims to develop a sustainable and effective system to preserve the environment and the cultural appearance of the emirate.

This project integrates with the goals of the Steering Committee for Preserving the Civilized Appearance in Dubai, which is working to build an integrated urban system that ensures the sustainability of the city’s aesthetic landscape and enhances the quality of its urban environment.

It is noteworthy that the “Smart Waste Management” system is an integrated digital platform for managing waste management and city cleanliness operations, “Clean City Index”, which allows documenting the stages of monitoring and inspection in the field, and enhances the accuracy of follow-up and the efficiency of decision-making.

The system is also linked to the RFID Reader technology installed on waste transport vehicles, ensuring that the waste cycle is tracked from its generation to its final destination, in addition to an interactive geographic map (GIS) to display the locations and quantities of waste by classification and region.

The system includes two specialized platforms: The first is to register and operate the data of approved waste transport companies, and the second is to register waste producers and document their collection and transport programmes.