Life safety dashboard for Dubai buildings to track real-time data

From the traditional home energy management, security systems, smart appliances and TVs, to the evolving smart watches, glasses, bathroom scales and even basketballs, the connected consumer can manage to access all information and services using the dashboard.

Dubai, June 9, 2015: Every building in Dubai will soon feature a ‘life safety dashboard’ and in 24 months residents are expected to use real-time dashboards to track, monitor, and visualise all connected personal devices, technology experts at the inaugural Internet of Things Expo (IoTX) said.

The ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) is no longer just for enterprises. From the traditional home energy management, security systems, smart appliances and TVs, to the evolving smart watches, glasses, bathroom scales and even basketballs, the connected consumer can manage to access all information and services using the dashboard, they said. According to IDC, the number of connected devices is poised to take off — from 12.5 billion in 2013 to 212 billion in 2020.

Major General Rashid Thani Rashid Al Matroushi, Director-General of Dubai Civil Defence, said DCD would leverage cutting-edge IoT technology to deliver the world’s first National Life Safety Dashboard – a real-time, data analytics system that will allow DCD officials, government stakeholders, building owners and occupants to view the health and operational safety status of every building for Dubai.

Dilip Rahulan, executive chairman & CEO of Pacific Controls, a global ICT enabled Managed Services Solutions provider, said the Dashboard would allow decision-makers at civil defence, other government departments, stakeholders, building owners and its occupants to view the life safety status of Dubai in real time and determine their roles, responsibility and accountability in a transparent and dynamic manner.

Rahulan explained that the Dashboard would share the real-time information about the operational status of life safety. “This will also enable significant transformation in how performance levels can be enhanced exponentially by sharing real-time information between all the stakeholders to act on information and participate in a transparently and collaborative manner.”

The enterprise-class business intelligence delivered through the dashboard will also help all government departments, building owners and residents to monitor their buildings’ health and safety status in real-time, said Rahulan. He added that in the next 24 months, personal dashboards would be an integral part of Dubai citizens’ everyday life and would contribute significantly to enhancing their comfort and lifestyles.

“Our organisation has always been in the forefront of adapting new technologies that will help in protecting lives, properties and environment. The Dubai Life Safety Dashboard allows readers to understand complex data in less time than it would take to read similar material located in the text of a full report,” said Al Matroushi.

He said that government leaders are deluged with thousands of streams of data about the performance of agencies and programs. “To make sense of the deluge of data we receive, we need to present them in a way that makes sense to decision-makers. By using the Dubai Life Safety Dashboard presenting performance data, Civil Defence can now track key performance metrics of both individual buildings and Civil Defence activities. Data from different sources is being integrated and displayed through informative graphics.”

Al Matroushi also said that the Dashboard adds more power to DCD’s operations and enhances the organisation’s capabilities to analyse data for better decision-making and organisational performance. “It not only enhances the internal communication with regards to monitoring of the fire station and resources, but also demonstrates our commitment towards the residents. Every building owner in Dubai will be provided with their individual building dashboard that displays the health and safety status of their buildings through an innovative Dashboard. The Dashboard will also enable other Government departments to facilitate innovative services to building owners and occupants in Dubai.”

He said that the Dubai Civil Defence has been in the forefront of implementing key technologies for the future of the smart city. The Dubai Life Safety Dashboard reflects leadership’s dedication to using technology to make municipal information more open, transparent and accessible. With the Dashboard, leadership is taking a natural next step towards embracing current technological trends in the public sector.

Khaleej Times