Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has revealed that the RTA had endorsed plans, programs and initiatives for implementing the National Innovation Strategy and the Dubai Innovation Strategy.
Such a move is taken in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, designating 2015 as a year of innovation in the UAE. It also echoes the Dubai Innovation Strategy endorsed by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, to make Dubai the most innovative city in the world.
Al Tayer made these comments during the ceremony held by the RTA marking its ninth anniversary held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and attended by CEOs, Directors and employees of the RTA .
Innovation "Procedures adopted by the RTA include establishing a standing committee to map out RTA 's innovation strategy and establishing an innovation lab (incubator) concerned with the implementation of the best global practices of generating innovative materials and technologies such as heat-resistant asphalt, dust-resistant glass, and rail vibration sensors among others. The RTA has also formed institutional research teams, established a Research, Development and Innovation Section affiliated to the Office of the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, and set out innovation teams across RTA sectors and agencies. It has also conducted a thorough review of the existing suggestions system, upped rewards budget to motivate employees and customers contribute ideas capable of overhauling business process, and allocated more financial resources for RTA's Scientific Research Award in a bid to stimulate employees participation in the Award," said Al Tayer.
This year the RTA will embark on a study of the use of autonomous/driverless cars with the aim of deploying them in Expo 2020, and next May it will finalise the Transformation to the Smart Government Project by introducing smart, innovative and user-friendly apps that meet customer needs. The number of smart services provided by the RTA has so far soared to as much as 88 services provided via nine smart apps. The RTA will shortly start the test run of the electric bus; which is powered solely by electricity supplied by a rechargeable battery which can be recharged up to 80% in less than 30 minutes. When fully charged, the battery will be provide the power needed for the bus to travel up to 200 km, and the bus can travel at a speed of up to 100 km per hour," he added.
Innovative Projects "The RTA has constructed over the past years a host of innovative projects spanning roads and mass transit systems highlighted by the Dubai Metro project, the world's longest driverless metro system stretching 75 km. The metro operation is built on Artificial Intelligence technology that works out the intervals (headway) between journeys, measures the distance between rolling stocks, and automatically realigns the headway between services in case of breakdowns or delay in scheduled journeys. Innovative projects undertaken also included the Dubai Tram, the first tramway outside Europe powered by ground electric cables with no centenary lines used throughout the track. It is also billed as the first tram in the world that uses platform screen doors the mechanism of which is synchronised with the opening and shutting mechanism of the tram's doors. The portfolio of innovative projects include the Floating Bridge which had been constructed by the RTA in a short time and contributed to easing tailbacks at the Dubai Creek crossings, toll gate system (Salik), and the automated fare collection system (NOL), among other innovative projects," explained Al Tayer.
Future Projects Concluding his speech, Al Tayer commended the efforts of all employees enabling the RTA to overcome challenges and accomplish a number of projects such as the opening of the Dubai Tram, Jumeirah Corniche and several road projects. "The RTA has marked the start of this year with an array of quality projects that include completing the Dubai Water Canal linking the Business Bay with the Arabian Gulf via Dubai Downtown through a watercourse extending 3 km, planning for Al Ittihad Bridge costing about 3 billion dirham, and continuing the construction of various road projects. Future projects also include extending the Red Line of the Dubai Metro to the site of Expo 2020 costing about 6 billion dirham, and studying the construction of Phase II and III of the Dubai Tram project," he continued.