RTA marks the opening of Innovation Week by launching Innovation Projects Gallery

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has attended, in the presence of CEOs, Directors and scores of RTA employees, the launch of the Innovation Week held by the RTA in implementation of the directives of President His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who declared 2015 as a Year of Innovation.

The event is also aligned with the launch of the National Innovation Strategy by Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the aim of contributing to the fruition of the UAE Vision 2021.

The Innovation Week held by the RTA encompasses an array of distinguished events including lectures, seminars, workshops, innovation gallery, Innovation Bus plying all areas of Dubai, Innovation Cinema, and a training camp for students in collaboration with Enjaz among other events.

The event, which was kicked off with a lecture delivered by the international expert Tom Kelly, Partner & Founder of IDU Graphic Designs and Development, was attended by Mattar Al Tayer and a host of RTA leaders and staffs, and focused on the best innovation practices worldwide.

"When we roll out an idea of a project or a service to customers, we have to take into consideration from the beginning the need of people for this project or service such that it can deliver its objectives, and we must ensure the optimal utilisation of the existing human, technical or informational resources," said Kelly.

Al Tayer then launched the Innovation Bus which will tour all part of Dubai during the Innovation Week. Al Tayer attended to a briefing by Laila Faridoon, Executive Director of the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors cum Head of RTA Innovation Strategy Committee, about the components of the Bus. The Bus is fitted with high-tech systems and interactive screens as well as office equipment enabling the holding of mini training courses about innovation issues.

As part of the events of the first day, Al Tayer opened the Innovation Gallery at Noor Bank Metro Station exhibiting models of innovative projects accomplished by the RTA and those to be undertaken in future. Al Tayer toured the Gallery comprising projects such as the metro, tram, water canal, union oasis as well as the electrical bus and the hybrid taxi and self-service kiosks deployed at vital areas and malls.

"Innovation has a global appeal, and economically advanced countries are vying to adopt its concepts and practices as they appreciate its role in driving the economic growth. It is a key element in building a knowledge-based sustainable economy. The RTA recognised that its advancement and competitiveness rests largely on the innovation methodology and the added value of all transit-oriented projects & services in Dubai. The RTA is dedicating its efforts to realise the aspirations of our leadership to rank Dubai the smartest city in the world and has therefore adopted innovative solutions to the mobility challenges in Dubai."

"The RTA has a standing innovation committee to develop plans, programs and initiatives contributing to the realisation of the leadership. It has also established a research and innovation section in 2014, launched the smart innovation strategy, and established an innovation lab focused on the best global practices within the business domain of the RTA; which will contribute to realising RTA's vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for All," added Al Tayer.

He noted that the RTA is currently mulling the use of smart autonomous vehicles in Dubai as part of its efforts to utilise sophisticated technologies in achieving smart mobility with the aim of applying the concept during Expo 2020. It is also considering the Smart Rental initiative where dedicated vehicles could be deployed to ease the mobility of public transport riders, especially the metro, to their final destinations. Such initiative will also increase the ridership of public transport means, and reduce vehicle ownership as well as carbon emissions.
Source: WAM