Dubai plans to build new traffic control centre in Al Barsha

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to construct a new traffic control centre in Al Barsha to cover the road network in the area with state-of-the art traffic control systems.

 Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of RTA, also revealed a plan for expanding the use of cameras and smart technologies for monitoring traffic movement, such as  mobile cameras, to monitor the traffic flow at construction sites (of roads, bridges and tunnels) and congested areas where instant images will be transmitted to traffic control centres about the current traffic condition of roads. These cameras are integrated with an array of modern technologies such as telecommunication systems, solar power panels, and movement remote sensors.

The plan also envisages the use of mobile and virtual messaging signs (VMS) to inform road users about the traffic condition, especially during emergencies, or when construction works are underway on roads, impacting the movement of vehicles. These signs are powered by solar panels and fitted with LED lights, which have low power consumption rates.

Al Tayer made these statements during an inspection tour of Deira Traffic Systems Control Centre accompanied by the CEO of Traffic & Roads Agency Maitha bin Adai, Director of Intelligent Traffic Systems Mohammed Salih Al Shareef, and engineers at the centre.

During the tour, Al Tayer reviewed the new technologies introduced at the centre to streamline the control of various intelligent traffic systems including virtual messaging signs. These signs cover Sheikh Zayed Road, Emirates Road, Sheikh Rashid Road, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Ittihad Road, Al Mina Road and Baniyas Road in addition to Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud Bridges, and Al Shandagha and Airport Tunnels.

The system calculates the volume of traffic congestion on main roads and highways, detects abnormal traffic patterns such as accidents and vehicles breakdown on roads, and reveals the congestion generated by high traffic volumes. The system also computes the trip times on these roads after analysing the inputs captured by onsite devices such as sensors, mobile traffic surveillance cameras, and photo analysis cameras, which automatically figure out any abnormality in traffic patterns due to accidents or vehicle breakdowns. The system also includes lane control signs installed all over main roads, alerting motorists about the road condition well in advance, particularly at turns, highways, and sudden congestion by directing them to alternative routes.

Al Tayer toured the Traffic Systems Control Room, which operates around-the-clock, where he was briefed by Maitha about the Roads Management System used in the Control Room that comprises a giant screen linked to 356 cameras deployed at main junctions and roads to monitor traffic movement across Dubai.

Al Tayer was acquainted with the traffic signals control system known as SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) where 455 signalised junctions are linked with the Central Traffic Signals Control System. He was briefed on the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system used in managing the Airport Tunnel comprising traffic surveillance cameras, and photo analysis cameras that automatically detect the traffic movement flow and figure out whether it is impacted by accidents or vehicles breakdown, in addition to lane control signs.

Al Tayer was also briefed on the role of the centre in offering effective control of the road network in the Emirate, and identifying traffic incidents to analyse them and transmit data to the site in the shape of traffic messages displayed on messaging signs to alert the public. Deliverables may also be in the shape pf controlling the timing allocated to the green signal by switching from the automated system to the manual system in the event of accidents or snarls in order to clear the tailbacks.

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