du to implement SD-WAN solution for aswaaq
du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has announced a new partnership with aswaaq LLC, a trusted local brand that delivers high-quality retail industry services, to implement a cutting-edge SD-WAN solution in their key sites. In line with evolving digital era requirements and du’s commitment to integrate innovative technologies with local enterprises, the new solution will provide a host of operational-centric benefits. The collaboration between the two parties, which was finalised) at GITEX Technology Week 2021, will see du assume responsibility for the provision of a managed SD-WAN solution as the front-end service provider.
Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO, EITC, said: “In the telecommunications space, expanding solutions portfolios and equipping enterprises with the services they require to meet expanding business requirements hinges on effective technology-led partnerships. As such, we are delighted to be working alongside aswaaq to provide a cutting-edge solution that re-defines virtual WAN capabilities and empowers our partner to leverage vast cloud-based capabilities. du has always prided itself on ensuring enterprises overcome any resistance to change when implementing new technologies. And with the rollout of this latest solution in due course, those we serve will immediately capitalise on a series of benefits following an easy implementation process.”
As an available, applicable, and affordable SD-WAN offering, aswaaq’s operations will be enhanced through several benefits, including reduced operating costs, increased bandwidth availability, dynamic multi-path traffic optimisation, application-based prioritisation of traffic, and secure connectivity. Furthermore, the company will avail centralised management to simplify IT operations, software-defined branch management, and quick and easy deployment, with customers ultimately receiving improved user experiences.
Affan Al Khoori, Deputy CEO, aswaaq, added: “For aswaaq, realising our objectives of being benchmarked as a world-class retailer and building a profitable, competitive, and sustainable business requires integration with next-generation technology capabilities. Therefore, we are thrilled that our collaboration with du has been made official at GITEX 2021. du’s managed SD-WAN solution will bolster our operations substantially, and we look forward to the coming years backed by new and invaluable capabilities.”
du will now proceed with plans to roll out the managed SD-WAN solution for aswaaq. The telco provider developed the solution, an industry pioneer in cloud computing solutions.
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ALEC Energy secures DEWA HQ contract to provide a solar photovoltaic solution
ALEC Energy has been awarded the contract to supply a solar photovoltaic solution for the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) new headquarters, Al-Shera’a (Arabic for sail), in the Al Jaddaf area of Dubai.
The solar project will ensure the new DEWA headquarters will reach its net zero targets and that total energy used in the building during a year will be equal to or less than the energy produced onsite in a year. DEWA’s new headquarters has been designed to receive a platinum rating by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a gold rating from the WELL Building Standard.
Speaking about the importance of this project, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said: “We work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy. DEWA contributes to accelerating the shift towards Net Zero Energy Buildings and establishing a sustainable energy model that supports economic growth, without damaging the environment and its resources. By building Al-Shera’a, DEWA’s new headquarters, which will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy building in the world, we establish a global benchmark for buildings that achieve a balance between development and the environment, to protect the right of future generations to live in a clean, healthy and safe environment.”
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The Solution is Here – Design Middle East
How to grow faster, smarter, and better using technology and innovative softwares in the design and architecture industry amid COVID-19
By Roma Arora
The role of design and architecture will be huge in the post- COVID-world. The building structures and space setting will get a different meaning altogether now. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mindsets of the industry people and places won’t look and feel the same. But all of this won’t be easy to achieve, the industry is relying on technology and sofware solutions more than ever. With the increased activities in the design and construction sector, there is a greater need for efficient ways of working and that’s what dig and softwares play a major role. It helps the professionals to speed up the ability to plan, design, and manage the design and building projects more efficiently.
We spoke to leading solution providers and designers and architects on how to scale-up with the right tools and technologies.
SOFTWARES AND DIGITISATION SOLUTIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything and to survive businesses must adapt the way they work. Naji Atallah, Head of AEC & Manufacturing at Autodesk, feels that the pandemic has become a catalyst that accelerated the adoption of technologies and processes such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) software to cloud work sharing, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality. “UAE has always been on the forefront of technology adoption on flagship projects such as Al-Maktoum International Airport, Museum of the Future, Expo 2020 and many others. Dubai-based Al Gurg Consultants, for example, prepared a holistic approach to digital transformation. One of the desired outcomes was to accommodate remote working for most of its staff. A key change was to move away from paper-based processes to digitisation around a central DIM model. Moving the company to an integrated digital workflow improved both the speed and quality of work while encouraging greater collaboration and the ability to resolve potential issues early. Another example is of Architectural firm RSP that rapidly moved towards a work from the home model at the start of the pandemic last year and used the BIM 360 software to make the transition smoothly and with little disruption to workflows,” says Atallah.
New, innovative software is critical to the rise of parametric design, which is expanding the boundaries of the aesthetics and function of architecture. Internationally renowned architects like Zaha Hadid have made parametric design famous around the globe. Ahmed Balawi, BIM Operation Manager at Dewan, says: “Different kinds of software can help architects and designers be more successful at various points throughout a project’s lifecycle. For instance, in the concept and feasibility studies phases of development, AEC professionals can use parametric design tools such as Rhino, SketchUp, and 3DS Max to explore different forms and materials. When approaching technical design, tools such as Autodesk Revit, Bentley, and Archicad are tremendous programs for mapping out architectural details.
Finally, to enhance collaboration, especially as people work remotely, Dewan uses Navisworks and BIM 360.” Balawi further adds: “We are even seeing the introduction of programs that layer new functionalities onto existing tools in use, which is opening up even further possibilities for the industry.” Another exciting example to quote here is of architectural firm RMJM. In 2020, RMJM was able to complete a variety of projects despite remote working conditions. These included projects such as the M10B Office for Masdar in Abu Dhabi, Cairo Festival City, Mixed-Use Developments in New Cairo and Baghdad, a luxury apartment compound in Abu Dhabi, and a hospitality project in Mecca.
Softwares for remote collaboration have played a vital role in executing these projects. Mohamed Essam, chief technology officer at RMJM, explains: “Existing project workflows were sustained through cloud service providers, like Google workspace. Google mail allowed full access to all other included apps in the package. All teams in the office, from architecture to marketing to commercial, use Google docs, or Sheets, to streamline their processes.
Essam further lists the critical softwares that help in turning around things, “On the BIM front, the Autodesk Suite played a vital role in ensuring projects were delivered to a high standard. Autodesk Revit is our main project delivery tool, where project milestones deliverables are authorized and extracted. This achieves a clean design package as expected by our clients. Users could share their BIM models on the Cloud platform for our PMOs and QA/QC to track performance and ensure quality on a timely basis. Autodesk Naviswork then tested all the BIM work generated by Revit to detect model clashes. These results were also shared through the Autodesk Cloud platform and reported to our clients.”
The influence of the pandemic not only accelerated the adoption and integration of these technologies, but has also changed the way we work. Anton Balchin associate at U+A, comments: “In design, hand-sketching will always be an integral part of our creative process. The felt-tip pen has been replaced with the Apple Pencil and the scanner with an iPhone camera. Combined with apps like Procreate and MS Teams, we can share our sketching and thought process live with each other, and our clients. The future will see more reliance upon Online Whiteboards with real-time brainstorming through platforms such as Inko and Scribble.” The main buildings are highly insulated and energy efficient, including the SIEMENS building (below), the Middle-East headquarters of the technology giant. Anton Balchin RIBA PMP, Associate, U+A The Durr s Yachts & Marina U+A The Durr s Yachts & Marina development would offer one of the world’s most unique and memorable places to live and visit. Based only 45 minutes from the capital city of Tirana, Durr s provide residents and visitors a unique opportunity to experience unparalleled amenities, a vibrant marina and exclusive residential communities.
The community is home to over 12,000+ residential units with more than 80,000sqm of parks and open spaces as well as leisure, retail and restaurant outlets. Balchin also explains that their team frequently present the designs through ‘live’ Virtual Reality and walkthroughs, often powered by Enscape which reduces the need for rendering time. “The ability to be immersed in the 3D environment from anywhere in the world is an essential tool for design review and approval. We anticipate software developers will focus on streaming this 3D data to remote VR headsets, allowing for a shared global experience and more informed discussions.” In the production process, after adopting BIM for every project at U+A, U+A has now embraced BIM 360 and cloud technologies to enable faster model sharing and more accurate coordination.
For U+A, their site teams were the worst hit by the pandemic due to the very nature of the current construction process, which requires larger numbers of labourers and resources on any given site. “Reduced exposure through augmented reality training and digital inspection software such as E-snag and Onsite) have provided a safer working environment for our site teams across the country. Crane cameras and drones will be used not only for site surveys and 2D visual documentation but also for 3D mapping and monitoring of as-built progress using advanced photogrammetry.” For construction, U+A used Rhino and Grasshopper to turn their vision for the Emaar 3D Printed Home into reality. These software packages facilitated early conformity testing with the technological limitations of 3D printing as well as parametric design that allowed our designers to observe, manipulate, and evaluate geometries on the fly.
DIGITAL PRODUCTS FOR A HYBRID MODEL OF WORKING
While we are optimistic that soon we will be able to return to our offices, it is clear that many of the benefits of working from home are here to stay. A recent Accenture report found that 83% of workers surveyed preferred a hybrid model, where they can work remotely at least 25% of the time.
Digital Blue Foam is launching DBF-XD; a new product that offers features to further support home-based working. DBF-XD allows up to 100 users to simultaneously upload, edit, and view 3D files in a single 3D web environment.
Sayjel Patel, CTO, Digital Blue Foam, comments: “We are unveiling this product at the DigitalFUTURES architectural festival, where it will be used to help imagine a net-zero urban future. As we start to emerge from the pandemic, designers, and architects are gaining a new perspective on hybrid work; geography is less likely to limit where and when we can work, and who we can work with. To address the change in design practice, there is a need to not only redefine our relationship with technology, but also, reconsider on a more human level, how we connect, share, and collaborate to design a better future.”
CHALLENGES TO CONQUER
Despite how quickly technology has revolutionised other industries, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has been slow to adapt because of how deeply rooted cultures are in architectural design. Balawi stresses: “Even still, the AEC industry accumulates significant data during a project’s lifecycle, crucial to understanding its impact on the environment and monitoring workers’ safety. It is often the case that a building may still collect data about its occupancy rates and usage after completion, which has always been a challenge of the design industry to address and benefit from.”
Balchin outlines few other few challenges, “We will continue to benefit from these technological developments, however, the biggest tech-related challenges we will face ahead are available bandwidth, reliability, and higher monthly subscription costs.”
A successful digital transformation strategy has five components – hardware, software, data, process and people. it is widely accepted now that the technology aspect is the simplest part of the transformation while the human aspect is the most difficult and most impactful.
Atallah says: “The true benefits of using technologies will only be realised if employees have been enabled with the required skills, adequate processes, and the mindset to do things differently. At present many companies adopt state-of-the-art technology without fully understanding how it can improve their operations or it can effectively fit into the existing technology they use. Successful digital transformation requires a close assessment of existing process and evolving the processes according to the desired outcomes rather than trying to integrate a new piece of technology into a non-digital process.”
A recent FMI study found a significant disconnect between the technology being implemented and the people using it. Although 52% of those polled believe the needs of staff is a top priority for investing in technology, only 28% ever receive feedback from their staff before investing in new technology. It is no surprise that when technology fails, 36% say it was because it was a poor fit with existing processes and procedures. “The post-pandemic world requires digitisation as a standard but companies will only be successful if their workforces are fully trained and operational processes complement new technologies,” signs off Atallah.
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Losberger De Boer launches temporary large-scale vaccination centre solution
Losberger De Boer has delivered Germany’s first temporary large-scale vaccination centre to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine. The centre was designed and built by the temporary building specialist, who will deliver similar vaccination centres to additional locations in the coming days. The company, who is also located in the Middle East, indicates that it has the blueprint ready for a short-term, mass roll-out in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.
In order to prevent the large-scale vaccination campaign from overloading the regular healthcare institutions, the German municipality of Recklinghausen commissioned temporary building specialist Losberger De Boer to design and install a mass vaccination centre. Within two weeks, the company built a 1900 square-metre centre, where 2000 people can be vaccinated each day. The building will be in use for six to twelve months and is one of the largest vaccination locations in the entire Nordrhein-Westfalen region, home to 18 million people.
Vaccinating in disinfected air
The vaccination centre is designed to allow a large flow of people to be vaccinated safely. It is equipped with a newly designed and innovative hygiene concept, which disinfects the air when the structure is not in use. This results in a completely sterile environment. The system also provides excellent ventilation. The centre is designed to ensure a fast flow and sufficient distance between visitors as well as between visitors and medical professionals. In combination with the hygiene system, this results in an extremely low contamination risk.
Safe workplace for care workers
The large-scale vaccination facility was designed by Losberger De Boer engineers, in close collaboration with healthcare professionals. The company indicates that it has a blueprint ready, which can be used to build a large number of vaccination centres in the Middle East in a matter of weeks. “The plan is ready,” Waleed Khaled, Losberger De Boer Middle East’s sales director, begins. “This vaccination centre is designed to allow more people to be vaccinated safely for longer periods of time than at regular vaccination locations. The design also provides a good, safe workplace for the care workers who carry out the vaccinations.”
Sufficient material for rapid roll-out
Because the centre consists of modular building structures, it can be adapted to each location. “We can adjust the scale to suit the location or local conditions,” says Khaled, indicating that the company is ready for a further roll-out. “We have sufficient materials and manpower available to install vaccination centres on a large scale in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.”
Since the start of the pandemic, Losberger De Boer has adapted its structures to support healthcare professionals. Its buildings have been used worldwide as triage centres, emergency hospitals and test sites. Losberger De Boer is one of the largest providers of modular buildings and has offices in Fürfeld, Germany and the UAE.
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Kosmosmith launches innovative drill-free hanging solution ‘KLAPiT’
Dubai-based Kosmosmith launched its drill-free hanging solution KLAPiT, in the UAE market in June 2019. KLAPiT is a steel tape assembly with a super-strong NED Magnet – a solution for hanging products on the wall without drilling, using screws and other carpentry material.
KLAPiT’s unique design makes it easy to install, remove and reinstall wall mounted products offering freedom to use creativity and make changes at will. It does away with outsourcing labour obviating intrusion, unnecessary cost and clean-up and this factor is particularly significant in the ‘New Normal’ KLAPiT is used to hang pictures, power strips, remotes, lights, pen holders, paintings, wall décor, dart boards, shelves, and anything requiring mounting on a wall or any vertical surface.
Sumesh Wadhwa, MD, Kosmosmith, says: “We are delighted at the reception KLAPiT has received. Drilling damages walls and generates dust which can lead to health issues. Drilling also requires skilled labour. So, by using our solution KLAPiT, consumers are protected from many hazards which include not having to let strangers into your home. Tenants of rented properties avoid penalties due to damage to walls when they move out. We realised that all of these issues compelled consumers to avoid using these centuries old technologies of drilling screws and hammering nails to hang products on the wall.”
“KLAPiT is the result of over eight months of extensive research on various adhesives, chemicals and magnets. Its unique 3M VHB adhesive provides high anti-peel strength to KLAPiT, even under high-temperature environments,” he added.
KLAPiT is an innovation involving the assembly of two steel tapes, “Alpha” and “Beta”, and an “NED” magnet. The user just needs to attach the Alpha tape to the wall and the Beta tape on to the frame. The NED magnet is attached to the Beta tape and the product is “Klapped” to the Alpha Tape on the wall. Alpha and Beta tapes form a permanent part of the wall and the frame, respectively. The brand name KLAPiT is inspired by the metallic sound the product makes while installing a frame to the wall.
KLAPiT is available across the UAE in both online and at various other stores.
Guard Sanitizing Gate, an innovative solution to combat the spread of Covid-19
Launching this month in the UAE, the walk-through sanitizing gate solution offers an automatic 360o disinfection barrier that kills 99.9% of germs and viruses. A solution created to support with the current pandemic and to help prevent the breakout of future pandemics.
Guard Sanitizing Gate, made in the UAE, is eco-friendly, safe on the skin and child friendly, offering an effective solution for locations where large numbers of people are passing through. The gate has several features, such as; instant temperature measurement, face mask detection, fast nebulization disinfection, 360o all-directional disinfection, LCD screens for visual display, and an alarm which is set off when anyone who has a temperature passes through.
“We have created a solution that will play a big role in helping businesses and residents return back to our daily lives as quickly as possible. The Guard Sanitizing Gate is a great product to be installed and used in malls, schools, offices, public transport locations, healthcare venues, airports, hotels, restaurants and more.” Says, Husam Zammar, co- founder of Guard Sanitizing Gate “The technology used in this product is first of its kind in the Middle East and we will offer a low-cost consumption compared to other products in market. We are also offering free of cost for government and semi-government sectors, they will be required to only pay a monthly service fee.”
Due to the innovative design of the gate, once it is installed in a location, it can simply be plugged in and ready to use – no separate installation or building is required. The factory is based in the UAE which means they can produce over 30 units per day and are ready for large production orders and fast delivery.
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