Under the theme “Government of the Future”, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has showcased some of its advanced and digitally-focused applications and services during GITEX Technology Week 2021 at the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion, which brought together 31 Abu Dhabi governmental and academic entities showcasing more than 100 innovative projects and initiatives to highlight the achievements of digital transformation in the emirate, and which offered a unique virtual experience during the global exhibition, giving users the opportunity to take virtual tours of the pavilion from anywhere in the world.
DMT and its affiliates demonstrated a range of cutting-edge digital programmes and projects that support the digital transformation of the Abu Dhabi government, with a focus on developing activities and services that help improve people’s quality of life, support their capabilities and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s global position as one of the world’s best destinations to work, live and visit.
Working towards 100% digitisation of its services and adoption of the latest artificial intelligence technologies, the Department presented a summary of these at this year’s GITEX, including the ’STEAM Visualisation Function’ (STEAM Birdseye) project, an electronic platform that displays and analyses all STEAM input and output data. In addition, this platform can be used to visualise the current state of the transport network using big data from the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) and its stakeholders. This visualisation feature is believed to be the first of its kind in the world and is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the user experience of the STEAM model.
In addition, DMT presented the “Smart Makani” paltform, which is an interactive map comprising a set of spatial data and intelligent tools, which enables the Department’s teams and competent authorities in their daily work, and the efficient decision-making process, which helps in systems related to urban planning, land, real estate, transportation, infrastructure and buildings.
The Department also presented its ‘Bus on Demand’, a service that can be requested using the ‘Abu Dhabi Link’ application, which provides a bus service based on requests made by community members via the app, to facilitate travel in the same area or transfer passengers from their location to the nearest bus station, public transport service or other destination within the area in which the bus operates.
During the 5-day event, DMT and its affiliates presented their services on the TAMM portal for government services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which aims to unify platforms to provide government services to all users through a single portal.
DMT also gave an overview of the topics and discussions that will take place at the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Smart Cities Summit 23-24 November 2021, under the patronage of the Department of Municipalities and Transport. This prominent event will be supported by more than 25 governmental and semi-governmental entities from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE federal authorities, and will provide a platform that brings together a group of experts, government officials, leaders, strategists and policy makers, as well as government and private organisations, to discuss best practices for developing smart cities and addressing challenges. It also contributes to enriching participants’ knowledge and developing action plans that will lead to smarter and more efficient solutions.
DMT, speaking on its participation in GITEX 2021, said that unifying the government’s efforts towards comprehensive digitalisation is essential for Abu Dhabi’s sustainable growth. The Department has deployed a range of innovative solutions with cutting-edge technologies to have a positive economic and societal impact on the emirate. DMT said being part of the Abu Dhabi government pavilion this year was an opportunity to showcase the efforts of DMT teams to improve both people’s lives and support bussnises with advanced and easy-to-use digital services that will shape the cities of the future and ensure prosperity.
During GITEX, DMT engaged with multiple public and private entities, enabling the department to sign important partnerships, including memorandums of understanding with Microsoft and Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions, that support the development of the emirate’s and the nation’s future cities by accommodating different approaches, including the implementation of an Internet of Things (IOT), open data advocacy, secure platforms, innovative mobile applications, digital twin enhancements, as well as other technological advances.
With its residents in mind, collaborations signed by DMTwill focus on a more personalised customer experience, providing a 360-degree dashboard, proactive engagement, enabling smart city and transport services. In addition, workplace transformation and operational optimisation will aim to equip frontline teams with smart devices, developing multimedia applications for DMT operations and improve the use of artificial intelligence in inspection areas, improve data-driven decision making, agility and operational efficiency with a clear roadmap that will play a key role in the implementation of Abu Dhabi’s smart city vision.