Roads and Transport Authority starts the installation of Smart Traffic System on the Airport and Emirates Roads

The installation of the state-of-the-art Smart Traffic System will be completed shortly and the system will be operational by October 2006.

Engineer Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, RTA said," Based on studies conducted on the traffic conditions over the past five years, the introduction of the Smart Traffic System will initially reduce traffic congestion by more than 15 per cent. In countries where the system has already been successfully implemented it has helped reduce traffic jams between 20 to 30 per cent. Moreover, up to 1.5 million hours of driving time is expected to be reduced on an average with the use of this system, which will also help decrease environmental pollution.'

"This system will help manage traffic by quick detection of accidents, vehicle breakdown and other incidents that lead to traffic disruption, and ensure fast response from police and emergency services to restore normal traffic flow," she added

The installation process includes the designing of the project and setting up of equipments like surveillance cameras, sensors and electronic signboards. The system will be the first-of-its-kind in the GCC, and will be a major landmark for the RTA, in keeping up with its vision of safe and smooth transport for all.

The Smart Traffic System will be installed on Sheikh Zayed road, Sheikh Rashid road, Al Ittihad road, Al Khaleej road, Al Mina road, Airport road, Abu Baker Al Siddique road, Baniyas road, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Emirates Road, and Shindaga Tunnel.

The project includes the installation of 30 surveillance cameras and 500 sensors with radars and 50 PTZ cameras to look out for incidents such as vehicle breakdown, accidents and traffic congestion. While the cameras will detect breakdowns and accidents, the sensors will detect changes in the traffic flow.

Badar Al Siri, Director of Traffic Department, RTA, said, "The system will detect the traffic event through the video wall while the system operators will accept the detection and it will be directly sent to 36 Variable Massage Sign -VMS in addition to 100 Lane speed & Usage Sign- LSUS in addition to the RTA website and SMS subscribers, traffic information kiosks in different Shopping Malls and to Dalili-the navigation system introduced by the RTA recently. He added that: "The airport tunnel system will also be connected to this system."

"The RTA is studying the installation and implementation of the STS on all the important highways and roads in Dubai. The system will give priority for all emergency vehicles that include ambulances and rescue and fire trucks on all crowded intersections automatically by detectors and sensors system to be installed on each vehicle to be operated only during the emergency cases.

From other side, Engineer Salah Al Marzouqi, Deputy Director of Traffic Department and Manager of STS said this project includes an establishment of a control center with global specifications in the design of control rooms and equipments and big screens and easy and effective use of systems for operators and engineers of Traffic systems. It will also includes number of supportive systems for the main traffic system some of how the archiving and registering of pictures by controlling cameras and database of traffic events and traffic statistics system.

Noting that this system will ensure electronic exchange of information with the Operation Room in Dubai Police in line with the partnership and cooperation between RTA and Dubai Police to help us manage accidents more efficiently with this system," he added.