300 junctions linked to RTA’s central traffic light control system

He stated that work was progressing in linking the remaining 100 junctions to the control system such that all signalized junctions would fully linked to the system by the first half of this year.

Al Tayer made this statement during a tour he made to the Traffic Systems Control Center at Bani Yas in the presence of the CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency engineer Maitha Mohammed bin Udai, Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems Mohammed Al Awadi, and several managers and engineers of Traffic & Roads Agency.

During his tour of the Traffic Systems Control Center at Bani Yas, Al Tayer reviewed the modern technologies introduced to the Center including the control of various intelligent traffic systems such as the Virtual Messaging Signs; which comprises 24 advanced electronic signs designed to the highest specifications and fitted with sophisticated technologies covering several roads namely Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khaleej Road, Emirates Road, Sheikh Rashid Road, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Al Ittihad Road, Al Mina Road, Bani Yas Road, Al Maktoum & Al Garhoud Bridges, Al Shindagh a road.

The system computes the volume of traffic congestion on main and express roads, and detects the abnormal traffic flow (such as traffic accidents, roadside vehicle breakdown, and congestion triggered by heavy traffic flow). The system calculates trip timing on these roads following the analysis of inputs received from onsite devices (such as sensors, mobile traffic surveillance cameras, analysis systems installed to automatically identify the traffic flow in the event of accidents or vehicle breakdown). The system also comprises lane control signs covering all main roads which alert motorists on the road condition well in advance, particularly at junctions and highways. In case of an abrupt congestion, the motorist will be rerouted to alternative roads to avoid congestion.

Al Tayer toured the Traffic Systems Control Center which operates 24/7 where he was briefed by engineer Maitha bin Udai on the components of the system which comprises a giant screen to monitor the traffic flow through 232 cameras mounted at junctions and main roads. He also attended to a briefing about the role of the Center in maintaining effective monitoring of roads network in the Emirate, besides detecting & analyzing traffic incidences such as accidents, and forwarding the details in the shape of traffic messages displayed on the traffic signs to alert the public, or through controlling the sectional time granted to the green light of the light signals; where the control of the traffic light system will be shifted in the event of traffic accidents and bottlenecks from the auto system to the manual mode in order to ease the traffic flow.

Al Tayer was also briefed on the latest developments of the Dynamic Navigation System (Dalili); an enhanced version of which was launched by the RTA in mid of October last year, and it was the first time for this enhanced version to go outside the domain of the advanced countries. Dalili offers users real time information about congestions, accidents and traffic diversions with a view to easing the mobility of motorists to their destinations. The system is fed by data gathered from about 8000 taxicabs roaming across Dubai Emirate in addition to the Intelligent Traffic Systems spread all over the Emirate. The system is based on the GPS technology, offering live & dynamic information about the traffic movements in all roads of the Emirate.

Explaining the advanced version of Dalili, the Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems Mohammed Al Awadi, said: “It comprises a modern map spanning all the UAE and has about 50 thousand landmarks, tens of 3D models of famous UAE landmarks, and real time traffic information such as bottlenecks, accidents and traffic diversions. Unlike other navigation systems, Dalili computes the optimal route based on the road length but taking into consideration the prevailing traffic conditions of roads involved.”

Upon meeting managers and officials of the Center, Al Tayer stressed the importance of beefing up the percentage of Emiratization, qualifying Emiratis in the administrative & technical fields and enhancing the performance of the Dep’t.

During the event, engineer Maitha bin Udai reviewed the work progress in the Traffic Control Centers Improvement Project saying that the completion rate in the project, which had been undertaken a year and a half ago, had exceeded 50 per cent. Phase I witnessed the completion of gauging the performance level of light signals through studying and analyzing around 24 signalized junctions in urban districts of Dubai Emirate, and during Phase II, which has also been completed, the obstacles facing traffic control centers had been identified and work was gathering pace in implementing solutions to overcome these obstacles.

“Traffic and Roads Agency has upped the operational capabilities of the light signaling system at the Control Centers. It is now possible for the system to cope with the current and projected numbers of signalized junctions. The Center has been equipped with the latest version of analysis system of data received from sensors, and the number of surveillance cameras has jumped from 187 to 232 cameras, following the installation of 45 new cameras. The Agency has fitted Dubai taxicabs with devices to help estimate the journey time and these systems transmit accurate information about the trip time. Such information are used to feed Dalili system with information about the journey time,” added Maitha.

At the end of the tour, Al Tayer expressed his delight with the systems & technologies in place, and called upon the staff of the Center to redouble their efforts and benefit from the modern traffic system technologies which the RTA is keen on utilizing in a bid to offer top quality services.