transport strategies and preparing supporting legislation, planning and implementing transportation infra- structure projects in a manner that is safe and complies with the highest international standards, and operat- ing such networks efficiently and in the public interest. RTA has developed a Smart City
Strategy in line with Smart Dubai strategy and is responsible for con- tribution to Smart Mobility dimension among others. As part of it, RTA also revised its corporate strategy and introduced Smart Dubai and People Happiness as key strategic objec- tives. RTA Smart City roadmap con- sists of over 50 projects. The Smart Mobility vision of RTA includes all modes of transport such as Metro, Tram, Buses, Private Cars, Water taxi, Dubai Taxi and non-motorized modes such as walking and cycling. Some noteworthy examples of
smart city projects of RTA are for instance: • Enterprise Command and Control Centre (Integrating all modes of transport)
• Unified Fare Collection – Smart Card
• Smart Bus Shelters • ICT based Parking Guidance System
• Autonomous Cars (under study) • Connected Vehicles (under study)
• Hybrid Buses • Smart Navigation System (Smart Drive)
• Real Time Passenger Information
• Nine Smart Apps serving cus- tomers of public transport, pri- vate car owners and corporate customers.
You mention that for both the Dubai Government and the RTA it was important to make people happier. How can a smart city bring about happiness?
12 RTA’s Smart Drive Dubai app
Smart Dubai was born out of the visionary approach of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid to focus the city’s unified effort towards its most valued asset - its people. RTA is keen on mapping out an important philosophy in designing services such that they become both accessi- ble and easy-to-use, particularly as we have to tackle and provide ser- vices to a culturally diverse group of customers comprising over 200 nationalities. Our focal attention and methodology has revolved around the customer. Therefore, we were keen on using a variety of communi- cation channels with the customers
thinkingcities.com
In RTA, we associate ‘happiness’ in customers with delivering the smart apps to the public from all social segments”
in order to identify their prime ser- vice needs and embark on providing them over the mobile phone. In RTA, we associate ‘happiness’
in customers with delivering the smart apps to the public from all social segments on one hand, and that the services provided must be seamless, easy and fast on the other. Eventually, we work towards the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice- president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai in bringing happiness to people including UAE citizens, visi- tors, businesspeople and tourists from all over the world. In our vision, a person that is informed about the smart choices available, has them always at hand and can easily use them, is less stressed with daily rou- tines, such as where to park, how much will this cost him and where to get a taxi from at a moment when he badly needs one. Therefore, this person is happier and we can say that, yes, the, smart city brings about happiness.
Could you tell us a bit more about how you engaged the citizens in order to determine their needs and ultimately deliver ‘happiness’ to them? In order to maintain excellence in the provision of its smart services, RTA put at the forefront of its pri- orities to focus on the ongoing improvements and development of smart services. It also enhanced the spirit of innovation among young people, particularly university and college students by launching in
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