The Sustainabilist | SMART CITIES
FEATURE
Managing the Road Ahead How technology is keeping our city moving By Paul Bogan Chief Digital Officer, Serco Middle East
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t is no secret that the UAE has ambitious plans when it comes to smart mobility. The leadership has been vocal on its motivations to create a city that is the ‘happiest on Earth’, with a focus on how we can improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike who enter through our doors. Of course, technology plays a huge role in 40
that; in fact, it is actually at the helm of the vision of Smart Dubai 2021. When it comes to the sectors that will work together to empower the city to achieve its collective aims, the role of creating an integrated transport system is, of course, mission critical. By its nature, Dubai is a commuter city; the average commute is around 45 minutes, so an integrated
transport system is vital in enabling us to travel seamlessly. With an increasingly mobile population and momentous events, such as Expo 2020, the city is set to see an influx of visitors. For this, Dubai is already planning, provisioning resources, and setting itself up so that it is ready to face the challenges that lie ahead for the future. Keeping the city moving – and continuing to move at pace – is vital to our growth trajectory. With that in mind, technology is playing a vital role in offering sustainable solutions for our future mobility. Dubai is committed to the world-class digitisation of the city, and numerous implementations ranging from Internet of Things (IoT) systems, data analytics, blockchains, hyperloop projects, innovative 3D
