RTA to introduce comprehensive addressing system in Dubai by August 2009

The project, which is one of the massive projects undertaken by RTA Traffic & Roads Agency, is capable of bringing about extensive transformation in Dubai Map Guide encompassing names and directional signs of zones and roads.

Traffic Dep't at Traffic & Roads Agency is heading towards a radical overhaul of the existing culture as well as the public approach of describing various areas. Under the new system, no one will be puzzled to provide address of any location, particularly noting that the undergoing renovation of the system will be based on the world's best, easiest and most accurate practices in describing townships and districts, with no room for human errors. The system will be based on highly sophisticated technology in positioning the areas, even in the areas where it has not been installed. In fact it is provided with smart systems capable of detecting incorrect directional signs, and identifying the correct areas & directions.

According to Engineer Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency; the project comes in response to the studies which proved the importance of upgrading the existing system so that that it could be more beneficial and friendly to road users. The project covers building numbers, signs erected at external & local roads and everything related to streamlining and specifying directions and data of signs so that any individual can easily describe areas and locations in the city of Dubai.

"The extensive progress witnessed by Dubai in the field of urban and property development, and the requirements of this development in terms of construction an upgrading of infrastructures & services, warrant putting in place an accurate and matching process of planning & organizing naming & description of roads & areas, and providing proper directional signs in accordance with the latest international practices. This is underlined by the fact that Dubai has shaped into a cosmopolitan city and a destination for people from all parts of the universe. These people need directional signs to easily guide them to their destinations and provide them with a simple description of routes and paths," said Maitha.

She also pointed out that the current system, which is carried out and supervised by Traffic Dep't at the Agency, will explore the experiments of the world's great and well-established cities to make use of them in describing and numbering buildings & roads.

Engineer Maitha bin Adai stated that the new system will not abrogate the existing system, but will upgrade it through avoiding limitations and flaws. "This process of upgrade may result in adding or deleting many components of the existing system and we can only identify these aspects accurately at a later stage of the project. Upgrading of the system will result in better accuracy of describing areas & roads, and people will find no difficulty in describing addresses of their homes, offices, and businesses under the new system. It will make all routes clear, understandable and dependable in describing & pinpointing locations and roads in Dubai," she stated.

The CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency further added that the objective of the project is to renovate the directional signs system through providing a diversified & integrated package of essential information required for identifying routes to facilitate public mobility within Dubai. The project also includes designing and producing Traffic Control Means Guide, encompassing all signs, pavement lines and means of streamlining road works in the emirate. This Guide will be a comprehensive reference for both tiny and bulky components of details pertaining to roads and buildings in the emirate of Dubai.

She stated that the project consists of several phases starting from a comprehensive review of the applications and specifications of guides used in Dubai. "Afterwards we will embark on preparation of maps of directional signs using Geographical Information System (GIS) and other similar systems. They will be incorporated in a database and subjected to comprehensive assessment to ascertain the efficiency of the directional signs in use, compared to the applicable global systems. Following the results, we will proceed with upgrading and implementing of the master plan of directional signs as well as related design phase," added Maitha.

"Upon completion, the Project will assist the public in describing locations & areas accurately and in accordance with the established practices, instead of the traditional method depending on quoting landmarks of various areas. For this purpose, an appropriate budget has been allocated to market, promote and introduce this new project to the public, for their use and benefit. We hope that the new system will transform into a culture of the inhabitants of the emirate of Dubai, and prove useful for those concerned with drawing promotional and tourist maps of the emirate for the benefit of motorists, residents and visitors of Dubai," said Maitha in a concluding remark.