MUSCAT, AUG 9 -
MUSCAT: Two Omani tech start-ups have joined hands with Oman Environment Services Holding Company (be’ah), which oversees the management of the country’s solid waste sector, to support the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies covering tens of thousands of waste containers distributed across key parts of the Sultanate of Oman.
Well-known Omani innovative technology solutions provider Rihal has partnered with Onsor Technologies, a specialist in technologies based on Internet of Things (IoT) and AI, to help be’ah optimize waste collection services.
“Integrating environmental solutions with artificial intelligence technologies improves operational efficiency and provides effective monitoring and protection of the environment. At Rihal, we are proud of this partnership with Onsor Technologies and Oman Environmental Services Holding Co SAOC (be'ah),” said Rihal in a recent post.
As many as 185,000 waste bins will be covered by a new AI-based platform that automates bin monitoring and inspection activities. Dubbed the Detection and Classification Platform, the initiative is a major step towards be'ah's strategic objectives of excellence in waste management.
Earlier, in a statement highlighting the significance of the project, Eng Ahmed Mohammed al Aamri, General Manager for Digital Transformation & Cyber Security at be'ah said, "We are excited about this partnership with Rihal as it allows us to integrate innovative technologies into our waste management practices. By emulating the cognitive capabilities of a be'ah Operations Executive, the platform will efficiently monitor and inspect bins, reducing manual inspection time and improving waste collection."
Eng Mohsin Mohammed al Barwani, General Manager for Municipal Solid Waste Operations Support at be'ah, added that the AI platform has the potential to significantly enhance visibility to 185,000 municipal bins distributed across the country. “This will fundamentally change how waste management services are monitored, evaluated and ultimately delivered," he noted.
According to Rihal, the initiative will enable waste collection staff to cover a larger area in record time, notably by harnessing accurate data from the AI-powered scheme. The resultant benefits to environmental health and local communities are significant as well, the company said.
Early this year, state-owned be’ah – part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) announced its intention to leverage AI and (IoT), among other smart technology solutions, to optimize the waste collection operations of its large portfolio of service providers. The goal, it said, was to reduce the solid waste sector’s overall carbon footprint and support its sustainability objectives.
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