Dubai: Movement on Dubai roads will be a lot easier now as the new smartphone apps will help motorists avoid traffic tailbacks as well as find parking space quickly.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is all set to add to its array of smartphone apps at Gitex 2014, starting on Sunday, allowing motorists to get live traffic updates across all roads in Dubai, while wasting time in search of parking will also become a thing of the past.
RTA’s Smart Roads will be unveiled at its Gitex stand on Sunday and visitors will have a live demonstration of the services it offers.
“The app offers users real-time, accurate and direct information about road conditions in Dubai and, accordingly, enables them to pre-plan their trips, use alternative roads and avoid congested routes. The application is also fitted with a prompt reporting feature that provides real-time updates about traffic conditions, traffic jams, and accidents, among other surprises, so that users can avoid these,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA.
Importantly, RTA will also offer an update to the recently launched Smart Parking app that enables motorists to find vacant parking spots, adding to its existing features of parking payment on the go, using a debit or credit card.
The Smart Parking app has now been updated with a parking availability feature that will show motorists on their mobile phones where a parking space is available.
The service is being started on a trial basis at a section of Shaikh Zayed Road in the direction towards Abu Dhabi.
“We are adding features that will come in handy for motorists when looking for vacant parking spaces in busy areas. We have started the service at all RTA’s parking buildings and by the end of the year we will have the service at some parking lots as well,” said Adel Marzouqi, Director of Parking at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.
The smart applications are part of the Smart Dubai initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The initiative aims to rank Dubai as the smartest city world-wide by providing services to the public 24/7 throughout the year via mobile phones.
Among the features of Smart Parking app is identifying parking spots, finding out the number of free parking slots and calculating the distance between the vehicle and the nearest vacant parking space.
The feature is currently available at The Dubai Mall, besides RTA’s multi-level parking facilities.
The application is updated via sensors fitted in the parking spaces that automatically feed the system with information about the condition of parking spaces in a given area.
Also to be unveiled at Gitex are Nol Smart Posters, new Dubai Brand vehicle plates, as well as updates to Wojhati road planner app and RTA’s Google Glass applications.
