To guide the development of safe and secure communities, the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has introduced the Abu Dhabi Safety and Security Planning Manual (SSPM), developed with Government and private business.
The process for preparing the SSPM included a series of workshops over a nine-month period with senior representatives of the UAE’s Federal Ministries, Abu Dhabi Government departments, with the Department of Municipal Affairs, representatives of the private sector and higher education institutions.
HE Major General Obaid Salem Al Ketbi, Deputy General Commander of Abu Dhabi Police, said, “Forces are joining towards the realization of Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision by building firm foundations and safe and secure infrastructure that meets the standards of 21st century whilst addressing the safety and security requirements of sustainable projects being undertaken Emirate-wide. The manual therefore offers safety and security-centric principles for planning and design as well as design kit that will help planners undertake informed decisions enabling developers to promote stable and safe places and communities that are in line with Abu Dhabi’s development.”
Stressing the manual will provide guidelines and directions for new developments in Abu Dhabi, he added: “The encompassed elements of the Manual such as policies, strategic laws, planning for areas and public places, developments, and existing buildings, will have long-term and positive impacts on the lives of residents whilst ensuring sustainable and quality life. It is therefore a vital tool to help enhance living standards and national identity by promoting safety and security in building and landscape design as well as in new and existing communities.”
Manual in brief
It’s meant to guide developers, property owners and professionals including urban planners, designers, transport engineers and safety and security specialists, towards creating solid foundations for safe, secure and sustainable communities. Government agencies will assess the appropriateness of community safety and protective security arrangements for existing developments using the manual as a reference.
The SSPM contains eight overarching principles for planning and designing buildings and communities with safety and security at core. Whether the manual is being used during the early stages of the development process or to make improvements to buildings, it is designed to promote innovative and aspirational solutions that addressing local specifics.
HE Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of UPC added: “The importance of embedding the eight safety and security principles at the project inception phase ensures that we are always in a position to balance competing development objectives with safety and security measures and able to incorporate unobtrusive measures into the built environment right from the start and before construction takes place. Such an approach prevents the need for retrofitting, which could alter design quality and add to overall costs.”
You can read the manual in English at – http://www.upc.gov.ae/sspm/
