01 February 2020

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to start a trial-run of drones in inspecting Dubai Metro tunnels that extend 14 km on both the Red and Green lines, said the director-general and chairman of RTA.

Use of drones enables a precise and fast inspection of the condition of assets, said Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, adding that it saves inspection time, enables accessibility to arduous spots and generates highly accurate reports about the condition of tunnels.

Al Tayer made these remarks during a visit to Dubai Metro depot at Al Rashidiya, accompanied by the CEO of Rail Agency Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, and several directors and engineers.

“This initiative, which is in line with Smart Dubai Strategy 2021, uses custom-made drones fitted with multiple cameras enabling pictorial monitoring of tunnels via high-definition lenses. It also enables the inspection of tunnel walls through infrared radiation. The technology generates instant reports, easing the assessment of the condition of assets, monitoring the maintenance works and detecting faults. The process is linked with RTA’s maintenance department, and provides a paperless digital inspection platform that curbs potential human errors,” said Al Tayer.

During the visit, Al Tayer reviewed initiatives and projects undertaken by the Rail Agency to improve the operation and maintenance of Dubai Metro, such as the trial run of using nanotechnology at Noor Bank Station.

The technology reduced the cost of cleaning the exterior of the station by 35 per cent, decreased the cleaning and maintenance frequency, and enhanced the protection of front-ends and floors of both stations and trains. It also improved the floor’s resistance to scratching and adhesion, facilitated self-cleaning and boosted thermal insulation characteristics.

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