Dubai moves closer to being ‘smart city’

Every traffic signal in Dubai is now connected to the emirate's traffic control centre.

All 408 signals were connected using 3G technology, the Roads and Transport Authority said.

"The project is part of Dubai Government's initiative to transform Dubai into a smart city,” said Maitha bin Udai, chief executive at the Traffic and Roads Agency.

"It involves replacing the cables used in linking light signals with the traffic control centre in Dubai by a wireless network, besides linking isolated signals with the centre using 3G technology.

"The new system has high usability and efficiency and is easily maintained.”

Among the benefits of the change will be the elimination of a lag in the timing of signals, Ms bin Udai said.

It is also "considered cost-efficient compared with the previous situation, which required an intensive infrastructure in terms of cables and telephone lines to run the service near each signal”, she said.

"The project saves the cost of providing these lines and the risks of losing connectivity in case of any technical glitches or physical malfunctioning.”

She said the system also streamlined the control of light signals through the centre.

Other benefits include the ability to remotely control the timing of signals, managing them to cope with changes in traffic flow and thus resulting in lower congestion at junctions.

Additionally, Ms bin Udai said, "the system enables diagnosis, management and synchronisation of the timing facility to ensure the efficient and optimal functioning of the traffic signals control systems.

"If there is a need for additional traffic signals, they can be easily and quickly linked with the control centre at a cost lower than previously incurred when telephone lines were used.”

The Smart City initiative, from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was announced in May 2013. Part of the plan is to have most government services made available online.

The RTA has been making headway on its smart initiatives for some time, with nine of its smartphone apps – designed to make things such as driving, parking and booking a taxi easier – downloaded two million times by the end of April this year.