Latest news with #WorldCrisisandManagementSummit
Khaleej Times
09-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE: From rescue radar to life detector, Dubai Police showcase latest gadgets
From sonic scanner capable of detecting signs of life beneath the rubble of a collapsed structure, to 360° search camera, to ATV or all-terrain vehicle fitted with firefighting and rescue tools, and rescue drones with thermal imaging and navigational systems, Dubai Police are not only showcasing their latest rescue equipment but — more importantly — assuring the public that 'they are ready to serve and save anyone' under any circumstances. Dubai Police displayed their latest rescue equipment and technology at the two-day World Crisis and Management Summit (WCEMS) in Abu Dhabi. Speaking to Khaleej Times on Wednesday, Hassan Al Maeeni, an officer from Dubai Police elite Search and Rescue brigade, said their objective was to showcase their 'commitment to emergency preparedness and readiness to respond to any types of crises and disasters.' Among the technologies and advanced equipment displayed by Dubai Police were: Life-saver radar Al Maeeni described the rescue radar as a life saver as it can help find survivors buried underneath a rubble up to 10 metres deep. 'It can be easily deployed and it works in any type of weather and environment. It is also water-proof.' It has been proven as a game-changer in search and rescue operations in disaster sites such as landslides, earthquakes and collapsed buildings. 'The rescue radar is placed on the surface of a rubble and the operator will use a monitor to control the customised sensors that are capable of capturing the body's natural temperature,' Al Maeeni explained to Khaleej Times. All-seeing camera The 360° search camera serves as the 'all-seeing eye' of emergency responders during rescue operations. 'They can searching through a rubble by inserting the camera. It can also communicate with the victim as it has a mic,' said Al Maeeni. 'The camera can be used in confined spaces and even dark areas as it has built-in LED lights,' he noted, adding: 'The camera also records the whole rescue operation.' The life detector, meanwhile, is an acoustic device that senses life in disaster zones. 'It can be attached to any surface, and using the six sensors, will hear any movement and identify any survivors buried underneath a collapsed structure,' said Al Maeeni. He added: 'The sensors — all six of them — are strategically placed in a certain rescue zone to detect auditory cues and help the rescue team pinpoint the location of any survivor. It also transmits real-time data and gives as an opportunity to communicate with the survivor. Powered for rugged terrain When it comes to rescuing someone in a rugged terrain, including undulating sand dunes, the Can-Am ATV serves as the go-to vehicle. Al Maeeni said the vehicle drastically reduces equipment switchover as the ATV is specially fitted with firefighting and rescue tools. 'It allows us to penetrate deeper into disaster zones, making on-site rescues more efficient,' he noted, adding: 'Officers operating are also highly skilled who can perform first aid.' Meanwhile, a rescue drone can go along with the ATV, especially at night as the drone is equipped with thermal imaging, lights, and navigation aids to locate victims in inaccessible areas.
Khaleej Times
08-04-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Over 1.5 billion will be affected by disasters by 2030, top official warns
More than 1.5 billion people will be affected by disasters by the year 2030, a top UAE crisis management official has warned, calling on global stakeholders to act urgently and collectively before the world reaches a tipping point. 'Waiting is not a luxury - and luxury does not come to those who wait, but to those who act,' said Saif Al Dhaheri, Director of the National Operations Centre at the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA). Al Dhaheri was speaking during the World Crisis and Management Summit (WCEMS) at the UAE capital on Tuesday. As the frequency and intensity of global threats grow, technology is expected to play an increasingly vital role in mitigating impact and enhancing preparedness. Al Dhaheri said that by 2030, 'seventy per cent of crisis and disaster leadership decisions will be supported by artificial intelligence.' By 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population will be living in cities threatened by climate-related disasters, while autonomous and unmanned aircraft for disaster response are projected to increase twentyfold by 2028, he added. By 2040, he said 90 per cent of the global population will live within range of a 'real-time risk detection network', highlighting a dramatic shift from reactive to anticipatory crisis management. Looking back at the origins of catastrophic events, Al Dhaheri said disasters often begin subtly yet the cost of inaction can be global. 'Every major crisis began as a small dot, barely visible to the naked eye… the issue is not the size of the dot, but in ignoring it until it grows into a sweeping, cross-border global crisis.' He cited the Black Plague in the Middle Ages, a time when humanity lacked the tools to respond effectively to health emergencies. 'There were no early warning systems, no public health institutions, and no emergency plans - only fear, helplessness, and death.' Despite the devastation, the catastrophe marked a turning point in human consciousness. 'Societies realised that survival does not come from chaos, but from planning, science, and preparedness.' Today, the world possesses knowledge, data, and advanced tools to detect and respond to crises, but only if nations act decisively and collaboratively. 'We are the generation carrying an agenda from the past and a responsibility to build safety for the future,' Al Dhaheri said, urging swift, strategic, science-based planning. He stressed that resilience cannot be achieved in isolation, and that global safety depends on strong international partnerships. 'Countries around the world hold vast reserves of knowledge, capabilities, and resources to reduce and prevent future shocks,' he concluded, 'it is our shared destiny that drives us to focus on discovering our full capacities and to shape a future built on cooperation and capability.'
