A ‘smart’ future ahead for transport sector

Sunaina Rana / Emirates Business

With the UAE rapidly progressing towards smarter cities, smart transportation has become an innovative platform which could enhance safe riding and smooth traffic flow.
In a similar move, Dubai Government is all set to adapt the latest technology and promote smart buses and smarter transport system in the Emirate.
Safder Nazir, vice president of Smart Cities and IoT, Huawei, Enterprise, Middle East told Emirates Business, “The solution is already available. It allows a multitude of smart services including in-vehicle video surveillance, accurate passenger tracking, emergency services communication, real-time health data analysis of the vehicle and multi-media services for passenger entertainment.”
Recent advances in vehicle electronics have led to a move towards fewer, more capable computer processors on a vehicle. It is seen that a typical vehicle in the early 2000s would have between 20 and 100 individual networked microcontroller/ programmable logic controller modules with non-real-time operating systems. The current trend is toward fewer, more costly microprocessor modules with hardware memory management and Real-Time Operating Systems.
Nazir stated that his facility would also enhance the security system, “A Smart City is essentially designed to improve the overall quality life of citizens living and working there. It enables governments to optimize municipal services, reduce environmental impact and introduce new services that enhance their citizens, experience e.g. Smart Parking, Smart Buses. Open data, open connectivity, unbundled, market smart energy grids and smart meters are some of the many characteristics necessary for the realization of a Smart City.”
The collaboration between Huawei and Intel will foster innovation through building a rich IoT ecosystem in Dubai. It aims to reduce costs and resource consumption, engage more effectively with people in the community, and enhance performance and public wellbeing through advanced IoT deployments.
“A Safe City is a significant component for creating a Smart City. It is designed to secure the people and assets of a nation. Safe City Solutions help address safety and security issues in areas like transportation, natural disasters, energy supply, social and physical infrastructure, economic stability and security. Technologies like video surveillance, LTE and command and control solutions form the backbone of a safe city infrastructure,” he said.