Abu Dhabi's Bayanat, a geospatial data products and services provider, aims to use artificial intelligence to support the emirate's urban planning agenda, its managing director has said.
The company, which is majority owned by AI and cloud group G42, has a goal of transforming data products into information and providing recurring data-as-a-service products to its clients in the fields of national infrastructure, oil and gas, municipal infrastructure and beyond, Hasan Al Hosani told The National at the Dubai Airshow.
“AI’s impact on the geospatial industry, like all industries, has been and continues to be profound. AI significantly impacts businesses and organisations, from the way we extract insights from geospatial data, to improving data analysis accuracy and enabling real-time analysis,” he said.
“AI creates the pathway for more accurate and timely decision-making in a wide range of fields, from agriculture and urban planning to disaster management and environmental conservation. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the geospatial industry is likely to become even more significant.”
Bayanat is prepared to collect geospatial data “with unprecedented accuracy and detail” with the expected launch of new satellites and the continuing improvements in its sensor capabilities. This will support Abu Dhabi's autonomous vehicle and smart city programmes, he said.
In May, the company teamed up with Abu Dhabi’s Al Yah Satellite Communications, better known as Yahsat and Iceye, a synthetic radar satellites developer, to build national satellite remote sensing and earth observation capabilities within the UAE.
The first satellite as part of the programme is set to be launched in the first quarter of 2024, Bayanat chief operating officer Abdulla Al Shamsi told The National at the time.
“We expect continued growth in location-based services, particularly in navigation and logistics,” Mr Al Hosani said.
Bayanat is also ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI in its operations, “to foster trust within the market and uncover the transformative potential that AI holds for all industries”, he said.
“AI is set to revolutionise the way businesses operate, making them more efficient, customer-centric and sustainable.
“Bayanat is developing solutions that optimise route planning, resource allocation, and asset tracking, which can be used for advancements in autonomous vehicles and growing smart cities.”
Bayanat was created following the commercialisation of the UAE's Military Survey Department, a sector of the Armed Forces. It provides national-level mapping and geospatial products and services for the public and private sectors in the UAE. G42 acquired the company in 2020.
The Abu Dhabi government is currently working on the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 initiative, designed to help the emirate respond to current and future development needs.
Last month, Abu Dhabi also launched the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster at clean energy hub Masdar City, aimed at establishing the emirate as a major centre for the development of high-tech vehicles, to further diversify the economy and create thousands of jobs.
The multi-modal hub is expected to contribute between Dh90 billion and Dh120 billion ($24.5 billion to $32.7 billion) to the UAE's economy and generate up to 50,000 jobs.
Abu Dhabi retained its title as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa, and 13th globally, thanks to its digital-first initiatives, according to Switzerland's International Institute for Management Development's Smart City Index for 2023.
The global geospatial analytics market is projected to hit $207 billion by 2030, from an estimated $79 billion in 2023, data from Fortune Business Insights shows.
“Overall, the industry's future is bright, offering not only improved convenience but also substantial environmental benefits for our communities and the world at large,” Mr Al Hosani said.
Bayanat is also continuing to strengthen its several partnerships and collaborations with government agencies, research institutions and private enterprises, both locally and globally, aimed at helping make Abu Dhabi “smarter”, he said.
“As advanced data technology becomes more accessible to both companies and the public, we predict a rise in collaboration among organisations and individuals, allowing for tech adoption and broader co-operation on a global scale.”
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
THE SPECS
GMC Sierra Denali 1500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Price: Dh232,500
Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)
Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)
Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
