- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:32 05:49 12:21 15:48 18:47 20:04
Screenshot of search on 'Makani' app for Dubai Mall
‘Makani’, Dubai Municipality ‘s electronic map application, is available in Apple and Android stores from today. It is a soft launch, with an improved version expected to be available within three weeks.
With the Makani application (www.Makani.ae), people can find any location in Dubai within one metre, which is more accurate than other location finders, claims Abdul Hakim Malik, Director of GIS Department at Dubai Municipality.
The application is its use of Dubai coordinates, a project undertaken by Dubai Municipality to improve location finding in the emirate.
“A ten digit number has been given to each building and every location, including government organisations, hospitals, parks, commercial buildings, houses, factories, warehouses, etc,” says Abdul Hakim.
The number or Geographical Information System (GIS) coordinates will help in locating places and people more easily, as Dubai does not have a traditional addressing system, said Abdul Hakim.
To find out the coordinates of a destination, the user can type the name of the building or location in the search bar, and click on the desired result. A second option is to zoom in on the map, clicking on the building or location once visible. With the satellite option, it is easy to recognise the location, adds Abdul Hakim.
Once the location is found, the application will then give you the coordinates. “For example, when you search for Dubai Mall, the application will give you the boundaries of the mall and all the entrances. Each entrance has a different coordinate.”
People can locate themselves too when they are inside. "If your friend is in Dubai Mall and you are wondering where to find him, he can locate himself if connected to Wifi. After he has sent you the coordinates, the application will flag his location on your screen,” says Abdul Hakim.
Although the application has sufficient accuracy to support a pedestrian, it is mainly intended to guide the driver, said Abdul Hakim.
In a couple of weeks, the application will be available in the form of a GPS navigator, launched in partnership with Garmin. But directions are also provided by the smart application, offering routes by car, public transport and on foot.
“The numbering of locations in Dubai has been completed, and at the moment we are double-checking these numbers. We have completed 50 per cent of this double-check and by March next year, we should be able to release the GIS coordinates,” says Abdul Hakim.
Meanwhile, residents can download and use the ‘Makani’ application. But the second version, which will be launched in January, will be much better, he says.
For the earlier story on the Makani application and the GIS coordinates, check:
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