Future of smart urban transportation in smart cities

An ever increasing concentration of population within urban settings around the world is posing real-life challenges to urban mobility. The recent expansion and growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) is fundamental to the continued development of transport options within smart cities. It drives the necessary efficiencies to deliver new services positively impacting smart cities.

Countries across the globe are implementing innovative new approaches to urban transport challenges. Government bodies are forced to explore and employ ever more innovative and diverse transport systems. This is being done by developing a more holistic view of mobility by integrating all modes of transport across the city, as well as introducing new modes of transport such as autonomous and shared vehicles. Connected vehicles are able to continually monitor their situation awareness to better protect against road traffic accidents and thus keep traffic flowing more efficiently.

Dubai is already home to transportation systems that are driverless, such as the Palm Jumeirah monorail and the Dubai metro. However, there will soon be driverless vehicles on the roads, as well as self-driving shuttles within the car free residential community of The Sustainable City. The shuttles will be used to transport both residents and staff around the community while also covering a transportation link to the urban farm located within the complex.

Earlier this year the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiled plans for a cable car styled transportation system that is capable of travelling up to 30mph, dubbed ‘Sky Pods’. The city also plans to launch an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) system by 2020; the vehicles combine helicopter and aeroplane technologies to take-off vertically and reach a cruising speed of 244mph. These initiatives form part of the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which is aimed at converting 25% of total transportation services in Dubai into autonomous journeys across various means of transit by 2030.

At the 6th Annual Arab Future Cities Summit 2019, held under the patronage of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, UAE, on 16 and 17 September 2019 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, industry experts will emphasize upon the future of mobility, the measures to be adopted in deploying safe, efficient and sustainable transportation systems and the challenges in doing so. Over 300 senior level executives and decision-makers integral to Dubai’s smart city development will attend the event across two days.