SDTPS hosts first Consultants and Artificial Intelligence Forum

Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey (SDTPS hosted its inaugural Consultants and Artificial Intelligence Forum at the department’s headquarters. The event brought together top consultants, researchers, and urban planning specialists and was attended by His Excellency Engineer Hamad Juma Al Shamsi, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of SDTPS. The forum reflects the department's commitment to leveraging smart technologies and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance engineering work and improve project outcomes.

Promoting innovation and urban development

Engineer Humaidi Al Ketbi, Director of the Building Permits Department, emphasized that the forum is one of the department’s strategic initiatives to modernize urban planning practices through advanced technologies. He highlighted the forum's role in fostering a culture of innovation and encouraging the exchange of expertise among professionals to support Sharjah’s vision of smart, knowledge-driven, and sustainable cities.

A platform for knowledge exchange

Engineer Amal Khalifa Al Marar, Head of the Consultant Qualification Department, described the event as a leading platform for dialogue between industry experts. She stressed the growing importance of AI in engineering, noting its role in accelerating procedures, increasing precision, and improving the overall quality of project execution—an essential element of Sharjah’s digital transformation goals.

Expert lectures on practical AI applications

Dr Imran Zulkarnan, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the American University of Sharjah, opened the lecture series with a session titled "Using Street View and Satellite Imagery to Guide Urban Planning." He demonstrated how AI can analyse geographic data to assess flood resilience and propose sustainable urban path designs.

Sustainable electric mobility

Engineer Eman Al Ghannam, a researcher and doctoral student at AUS, presented a lecture titled "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Electric Mobility: From Data to Decision-Making." She discussed AI’s role in supporting national efforts to cut carbon emissions through intelligent planning of electric vehicle infrastructure and traffic regulation.

AI in architecture and design

Engineer Kenan Hesab, representing a consulting firm, delivered the final lecture: "How Artificial Intelligence Helps Us in Architecture." He explored how AI enhances design tools and consultancy operations while also addressing the challenges and benefits of adopting AI in the construction industry.