![Dubai Roads and Transport Authority forges ahead with plans for smart lighting technology on Dubai streets](/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/59e6ea04f0bf1f0001c9934a_Dubai-Sheikh-Zayed-road-street-lighting.jpg)
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is forging ahead with plans to install smart lighting technology across Dubai. RTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Philips Lighting Export BV on May 10, to collaborate in the fields of lighting technology and power saving.
This MoU is expected to provide the latest lighting solutions, including smart lighting technology, control and monitoring of Dubai streets, footpaths, cycling lanes, and a wide network of roads and parks.
Research Teams from RTA and Philips will commission feasibility studies taking into consideration investment and operational aspects that meet road safety standards and the stipulations of Smart Dubai initiative to ensure the highest possible efficiency required for implementing innovative solutions.
Engineer Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency said, “The two parties will seek to materialize scientific and practical experiences as well as applications on the ground through mutual technical visits, workshops and seminars.”
On April 17, RTA announced the success of a smart LED lighting technology experiment on the bridges of the Dubai Water Canal, Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Barsha South 1 & 2 residential area and revealed the development of a master plan to apply the technology through the Emirate.
The technology enables centralised real-time control of remote lighting units through a smart app tailor-made for the Control Room. The app draws on a database of feedbacks received from lighting units, which assists in monitoring the operational condition of lighting as well as the sharing of information and operational commands with these units.
Crashes are automatically reported, cutting the response time for emergency maintenance, and enhancing operational efficiency. The experiment also included the installation of smart, high-definition cameras to provide statistical data for monitoring the density of pedestrian movement in the locality.
The smart lighting technology also enables the RTA to control lighting levels through preset fade-out programs at certain times, generating additional savings due to reduced rates of power consumption and maintenance costs. Upto 50% savings in power consumption were measured during the experiment. LED lighting also helps in reducing power consumption.
Engineer Bin Adai talked about plans to study and develop technical specifications of the smart lighting systems to bring it at par with the world’s top practices. The study would cover all aspects of the system, from on-site equipment and devices to the control room. In addition to studying clean and renewable energy technologies, it would also look at other smart technologies, which can be integrated into the system.
Describing the under development master plan, she added, “The plan should enable the implementation of RTA’s indicators for the Smart City to identify the proposed smart features and functions. It also maps out services and resources required in future towards the implementation of RTA’s vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for All.
The RTA has also been conducting trials of autonomous vehicles for public transport.