Dubai Municipality embarks on new 3D Printing strategy
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
Dubai Municipality has launched several technical activities centered around 3D printing technology - including building engineering consultancy, building contracting and ready-mix concrete casting - in line with its new 3D Printing Strategy.
This is an important step towards strengthening Dubai’s leading position as the first city in the world to adopt a 3D printing strategy and regulate the usage of this advanced technology in the construction sector, said a statement from the civic body.
The new 3D Printing strategy, which was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Premier and Ruler of Dubai, will see Dubai Municipality implement an integrated system to plan, design, and execution of construction and structural works using 3D printing technology.
It will also ensure its use in accordance with approved engineering standards and specifications, as well as qualifying, registering, and classifying engineers and contractors who use 3D printing technology in their work.
On the new strategy, Director General Dawoud Al Hajri said: "Dubai Municipality aims to regulate the use of the 3D printing technology by organizing and promoting it and providing support and consultation to startups in the field. This will be in addition to inviting international companies to enter this field in Dubai, as part of our directives to make Dubai an international hub for 3D printing activities."
According to him, 3D printing is an advanced technology which has been advancing rapidly in many sectors around the world, which is supposed to contribute to reducing cost and time.
"We aim to enhance the use of this technology through the new activities launched by Dubai Municipality for contractors and consultants," noted Al Hajri.
The new activities by Dubai Municipality are aimed at fostering consultancy firms, contractors, and factories to construct all types of buildings, from the start to the end, using 3D printing and AI technology, he stated.
These activities are available to new companies and can also be added to the current activities of consulting firms, contracting companies and factories. They will directly contribute to the job market and help with the implementation of this technology, resulting in an increase in the number of buildings constructed using 3D printing in Dubai, he added.
Al Hajri invited company owners or license holders to apply for these new activities by registering for practicing engineering professions in the Dubai Engineering Qualification System, through its website, by choosing the activity name and then linking the required engineers to it.
"We are also providing the names of approved consulting firms, contractors, and factories specialising in construction using 3D printing technology through our smart apps as well as official website," he added.
The civic body's responsibilities also include determining the tests to be conducted on the raw materials, the synthetic additives, the mixtures used in construction works and any other tests to be conducted on the structural components of buildings constructed using the 3D printing technology.
It will supervise the creation of a database of the construction works implemented in the emirate using the 3D printing technology, with a view to facilitating access to the data and information required for establishing the technical specifications and standards.
The municipality will also conduct technical studies and experiments and cooperate with research, scientific and engineering entities specialized in this field to develop this technology.-TradeArabia News Service
