In the present work, the potential ecotourism sites in Wadi Wurayha, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), are identified and prioritized using Geographic Information System (GIS). The identification criteria are based on landscape or naturalness characteristics; visibility and land use or land cover, the topography characteristics; elevation and slope, the accessibility characteristics; distance from roads, and community characteristics; settlement size. After developing the list of ecotourism criteria, GIS techniques were used to measure the ranking of different sites according to the set criteria and thus identify those with the best potential. Subsequently, the land suitability map for ecotourism was created. The degree of suitability of each factor was classified as highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and not suitable for ecotourism. Based on the suitability map, the areas of high ecotourism potential are located in protected areas. The methodology proposed was useful in identifying ecotourism sites by linking the criteria deemed important with the actual resources of the area. This study results helped to identify optimal use of the land for tourism facilities development and ecotourism resource utilization within Wadi Wurayha area in the near future. Additionally, the results from the present work can also serve as a starting point for more detailed studies in the future.

In the present work, wireless sensor network and real-time controlling and monitoring system are integrated for efficient water quality monitoring for environmental and domestic applications. The proposed system has three main components (i) the sensor circuits, (ii) the wireless communication system, and (iii) the monitoring and controlling unit. LabView software has been used in the implementation of the monitoring and controlling system. On the other hand, ZigBee and myRIO wireless modules have been used to implement the wireless system. The water quality parameters are accurately measured by the present computer based monitoring system and the measurement results are instantaneously transmitted and published with minimum infrastructure costs and maximum flexibility in term of distance or location. The mobility and durability of the proposed system are further enhanced by fully powering via a photovoltaic system. The reliability and effectiveness of the system are evaluated under realistic operating conditions.