50 earthquake warning stations built in Abu Dhabi

29 Sept, 2015

The network will protect vital utilities against seismic risks

The Abu Dhabi City Municipality (ADM) has constructed a state of the art seismic risks monitoring network comprising 50 observation stations. With this, the civic body has completed all phases of its Seismic Risks Monitoring and Management Project.

Musabbah Mubarak Al Murar, acting general manager of ADM, said: "Despite the lack of a historical record of quakes in the UAE, the type of unique installations which have started to mushroom in the emirate - such as modern high-rises - warranted further concentration on seismic impacts. These installations and buildings are vulnerable to ... risks of potentially violent tremors from seismic sources nearby or far afield."

The system aims at safeguarding the existing and future urbanisation projects and vital utilities in Abu Dhabi against seismic risks. It also aims at building an integrated system that helps in chalking out legislations, policies and standards for developing areas, and issuing building permits in such a way to avoid potential seismic risks, explained Al Murar.

Khalfan Al Nuaimi, acting executive director of Town Planning Sector, said the project would deliver services to a host of strategic partners in Abu Dhabi. It would support the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) by offering additional information gathered from newly built observation stations in the emirate. It would also offer real-time seismic information to the Abu Dhabi Police.

It would support the Department of Municipal Affairs and Municipalities with information related to seismic risk maps to update the seismic-resistant building code, besides offering instant information about seismic risks posed to buildings, installations and infrastructure lines in case of a tremor hitting the UAE.

Al Nuaimi said the project would support the UAE University by constructing an alternative centre for the Seismic Risks Monitoring and Management System at the campus for training, development and grooming of Emirati cadres.

The municipality is mulling over the idea of preparing a response plan in case of strong tremors impacting a number of key and iconic buildings in Abu Dhabi such as Capital Jet, Sky Tower, Adnoc Tower, Trust Tower, and the Central Market.