EIAST signs MoU with Sharjah’s Directorate of Town Planning and Survey

June 15, 2014 - PRLog -- [UAE, June 15, 2014] - The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Directorate of Town Planning and Survey (DTPS), Government of Sharjah, to bolster mutual cooperation and coordination between both parties to better achieve common objectives and aspirations. The agreement also aims at activating and strengthening public performance, establishing new rules of cooperation, and promoting strategic partnerships. The MoU was signed by H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST and Eng. Salah Bin Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of Sharjah Directorate of Town Planning and Survey, in the presence of other senior officials from both sides.

Under the terms of the MoU, EIAST will be providing Sharjah’s DTPS, periodically or upon request, with multispectral satellite images and high resolution panchromatic images, based on DTPS’s coordinate system (WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_40N). EIAST undertakes to provide highest accurate space images, compared with the rest space images being produced by satellites of EIAST. In return, DTPS will provide EIAST with Ground Control Points and Base Maps or any other geographical and survey data agreed upon by both parties and whose publishing will not interfere with the Institution’s privacy policy.

The agreement further includes the strengthening of cooperation between EIAST and DTPS through the exchange of scientific expertise and development of human resources in space and scientific industries, including space science, remote sensing applications, satellite communication and global satellite navigation. It also encourages the sharing of industry experiences, knowledge, research and studies, which will mutually contribute towards rising of awareness about the country’s space programs. DTPS will also conduct training programs for EIAST’s employees from all disciplines, namely: urban planning, engineering and geographic information systems (GIS).

H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “Through this agreement, we look forward to boost mutual cooperation with Sharjah’s Directorate of Town Planning and Survey, in line with our ongoing efforts to reinforce relations with government sectors and thereby achieve public benefit. The signing of the MoU reflects our mutual belief in the need for establishing a real and scientific partnership with DTPS, enabling both parties to contribute in achieving set objectives under the highest standards of transparency. Our aim is to position EIAST as a specialized provider of advanced satellite imaging solutions to be used by other organizations such as DTPS in the fields of remote sensing, design and geographic analysis. We are confident that this partnership is poised to help support our mutual strategy and vision of creating an ideal urban environment.”

A specialized team will be assigned by both parties to work closely on the terms of the agreement. Meetings with representatives from EIAST and DTPS will also be held periodically to oversee implementation of set programs and activities and to ensure transparency as a key principle of their partnership.

EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.