Yesterday, Jacobs announced that it was awarded a two-year contract from the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy for project management of a wastewater laboratory that will screen and detect for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Slated to be operational by 2022, the Wastewater Monitoring Laboratory will be the first of its kind aimed at developing a world-class facility for improving the health of the residents of a major city. Authorities will monitor human health by using real-time information to assess the prevalence of diseases such as COVID-19, diabetes and cancer.
Capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a highly urbanized city with a population of 1.45 million. Jacobs will oversee project execution and supervise the design, engineering, procurement and construction of the lab. Jacobs will also leverage its previous experience in wastewater-based epidemiology at treatment plants to deliver the project.
"This project will help empower public health officials and the Abu Dhabi community by using evidence-based tools, like artificial intelligence, to screen wastewater for pathogens, pollutants and other indicators of human health," said Jacobs People & Places Solutions EVP and President Patrick Hill. "This is another example of how we are helping our clients incorporate digital tools to protect the health of their communities."
The lab is classified as a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, which has strict control and containment measures as well as automation in its design.
"The Wastewater Monitoring Lab is a remarkable initiative and a step forward in our continuous efforts to protect the public health of the people of Abu Dhabi," said Director of Executive Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and Wastewater Monitoring Lab Project Director Saeed AlMehairbi. "We are looking forward to working with Jacobs, leveraging its renowned expertise in providing distinguished, digitally enabled solutions aligned to our public health and social well-being priorities."
SOURCE: Jacobs, via PR Newswire
