Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 01, 2020:    Abu Dhabi University (ADU) students have succeeded in developing a quarantine tracking mobile application for COVID-19. This project offered students the opportunity to put their technology skills to the test while contributing to the fight against COVID-19. The application is based on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and geolocation features to enable monitoring of quarantined individuals and ensures compliance with government guidelines. 

The smart solution was developed by Maha Yaghi and Tasnim Basmaji, students on the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering program, and supervised by Dr. Mohammed Ghazal, Chair of the Department, utilizing the resources and capabilities available at the University.

Dr. Hamdi Sheibani, Dean of Abu Dhabi University’s College of Engineering said, “In the College of Engineering, we seize every opportunity for our students to apply their advanced knowledge and put the skills they acquired from our graduate programs in engineering into practice. We are proud to provide our students with the resources they need to emerge with practical experience and scientific knowledge”. 

Dr. Mohammed Ghazal also commented, “Quarantine tracking and contact tracing have emerged as effective tools to fight the spread of COVID-19. Several research projects at ADU are geared towards understanding COVID-19 and designing technologies to combat it. We encourage and support all engineering students to acquire the necessary training to contribute to building healthier societies as part of their responsibilities as future engineers”.

Students played a central role in both researching the mechanisms of the app and developing it. They are currently working on a research paper about their findings and the algorithms used in the development of the app, which they hope to publish in international conferences in the future. Postgraduate students in the College of Engineering are actively encouraged to publish their work and contribute to the research output of the UAE, helping build a knowledge-based economy in line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership.

Tasnim Basmaji commented, “We have gained valuable insight and experience in researching and developing this app, driven by our ability to apply what we learned in the classroom”.

'Integrating what I learned in a practical project that will make a real difference was a dream come true for me. I am thankful for this opportunity,” Maha Yaghi commented.

The MSc in Information Technology and MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering programs both feature advanced graduate courses in mobile application technologies. ADU also provides training for undergraduate students as part of its updated curricula to empower their creativity and innovation.