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HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that the RTA had accomplished 29 initiatives as part of the Smart City project. This number includes 7 additional initiatives to the roadmap announced by RTA at the time of releasing the Smart City in March 2014. Thus, RTA has become the first government entity to announce the completion of its smart initiatives. Al Tayer has also unveiled the Digital 5-Year Strategy of the RTA (2017-2021). An announcement to this effect was made during the Press Conference held at Al Wasl Auditorium at RTA Head Office in the presence of CEOs, Directors of the RTA.
“The completion of this vital project is in implementation of the initiative of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city worldwide within three years. It also follows the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council; the driving force behind the Smart City initiative. The Smart City envisioned by HH Sheikh Mohammed is a city focused on the convenience & welfare of its residents, and offers highly efficient services using sophisticated technologies. The smart mobility is obviously a key pillar of the Smart City,” said Al Tayer.
“Once HH Sheikh Mohammed launched the initiative of transforming Dubai into a smart city on March 5, 2014 giving 3 years for accomplishing this target, RTA announced its plan for supporting the efforts of the Dubai Government in this regard. It has charted out a roadmap comprising 22 creative & innovative initiatives tailored to the happiness of people. Thanks to the relentless efforts of the team, RTA has accomplished 29 initiatives; 7 more than the approved roadmap and in the process the RTA has become the first government entity to announce the completion of its smart initiatives. The smart initiatives of the RTA have garnered multiple awards both at nationally and internationally. The smart app (RTA DUBAI) has clinched this month the Best Mobile Phone Service Award in the World in the World Governments Summit 2017. It had already won the Best Mobile Phone Service Award in the UAE in the World Governments Summit 2016, and the Best App in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Program for Smart Government in 2015 and 2016,” said Al Tayer
Four Pillars
“As part of its endeavors to deliver best-in-class services and keep pace with the technological advancements worldwide aimed to maximize people happiness, several projects, initiatives and studies have been added to the next phase of the Smart City program up to 2021. This brings the total number of initiatives to 63 initiatives, projects and studies including 34 initiatives currently underway. The new projects & initiatives comprise 4 key aspects. The first is the sustainable smart transport, which focuses on the implementation of the Dubai Integrated Mobility Platform. The second is the Monitor Project, which monitors the condition of bus drivers during driving to spot any negative driving attitudes. The third is the digital bus timetable project and instant passengers’ information project. The fourth is the congestion management inside the Metro stations and coaches.
“The smart transition aspect comprises the construction of the Open Data project with Dubai Data Establishment (DDE), upgrading drivers and vehicles app (Dubai Drive), and loyalty points scheme for users of public transport & services, in addition to 5 smart projects of NOL card. The infrastructure of smart roads & traffic management aspect covers the implementation of Phase II of the Smart Lighting project Phase II of the Smart Parking, the Smart Pedestrian Crossing project, Pedestrian Smart Road Shopping, and the roadway monitoring mobile cameras in major traffic diversions. The Smart Vehicles aspect covers the Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (EHANG), Phase II of autonomous vehicles strategic study, the smart driver testing yard, the first of its kind in the region, and vehicles safety service project,” added Al Tayer.
Smart Transition
Abdullah Al Madani, CEO of Corporate Technology Support Services Sector cum Head of Dubai Smart City Project Support Follow-up & Governance Committee, said, “The smart transition drive of RTA relates to transforming RTA’s services to smart services delivered via user-friendly, quick and effective apps. This aspect tackles a host of projects related to data, information, artificial intelligence and payment systems all of which fall under the strategy of People Happiness.
“RTA is seeking to make nol card the main payment means of government services in the city. RTA has activated the payment of taxi fare via nol and other credit cards in a bid to provide a secure payment means for taxi riders and ease the mobility of visitors and residents who may not have cash. More than 7500 taxicabs have been fitted with machines to run this service. RTA has also provided nol card services at Etihad Museum and nol cards will shortly be used in entering public parks in Dubai and the card can also be used in light retail purchases. Customers can recharge nol cards in less than 2 minutes and verify card balance using smart phones fitted with NFC technology.
“RTA was leading in the field of data management. In March 2015, it rolled out ‘Create Your App’ contest amongst 5 universities who were offered access to RTA data, and led the team tasked to draft Dubai Data law in 2015. RTA has finalized classification of 80% of its data and offered 25 data bundles, some of them clients currently use via Google Maps.
“The Smart Inspection program aims to ease and automate inspection processes, enhance the compliance with governance & transparency, and enable the tracking & verification of transactions in various stages. Inspectors have been issued with 600 smart devices and the program has contributed to easing the inspection processes and curbing complaints.
“RTA DUBAI app tops RTA’s smart achievements and encompasses 43 services including tollgate systems (Salik), smart transport, parking, licensing and taxis. RTA smart apps have clocked 6.2 m downloads and transactions processed have exceeded 7 million transactions,” added Al Madani.
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