Dubai RTA announces the launch of a new flood management unit
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has inaugurated the ‘Joint Flood Management Room’ at the Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3), a strategic move aimed at addressing water accumulation during heavy rainfall and optimizing traffic and transportation management.
RTA Enhances Flood Management with State-of-the-Art Technologies
In collaboration with Dubai Police General Headquarters, Dubai Municipality, and Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, the RTA has established the Joint Flood Management Room, deploying cutting-edge technologies to monitor response plans and allocate resources effectively. This initiative aligns with the RTA's commitment to elevating Dubai’s status as one of the world’s smartest cities, focusing on enhancing service levels, mobility, and safety for road users.
Weather Preparedness
Partnering with the National Centre of Meteorology, the RTA aims to improve the collection of weather forecast information and rain enhancement in Dubai. This proactive approach enables effective preparation and management of water accumulations during heavy rainfall. In anticipation of weather fluctuations and upcoming monsoons, the RTA has formed a supervisory team, incorporating representatives from various entities.
Technological Deployment
The comprehensive response plan involves deploying several technologies to enhance effectiveness and reduce recovery time for water accumulations on major roads. Key technologies include a heat map illustrating water accumulation areas and pump sites, a video wall screen displaying live footage from 450 surveillance cameras, the CITADEL communication platform for real-time information, and a mobile command vehicle (MCV) equipped with surveillance cameras.
Improved response time
Partners are now better able to work together and share information thanks to the Joint Flood Management Room, which has allowed for more proactive planning for the rainy season. There has been a notable 36% improvement in reaction and recovery time compared to earlier periods, thanks to speedier decision-making about the deployment of teams and resources.
Information Dissemination
The RTA is devoted to using digital platforms to spread information and alerts. They want to use data from the National Centre of Meteorology to send out proactive social media messaging in two stages. Messages informing people of the potential effects of bad weather on transportation systems and the road network will make up the second phase of this system during rainy seasons. Major roadways in Dubai will also include dynamic message signs that will provide drivers with immediate warnings.
Enterprise Command and Control Center (EC3)
Under the auspices of the EC3, the Joint Room is responsible for controlling the buildup of water on a transportation network that extends over eight thousand kilometers of roadways during periods of severe rainfall. The facility has a main control room with a big screen that is linked to 34 technological gadgets, enabling integration in real-time.
The EC3 is able to handle crises and catastrophes with ease since it has access to feeds from more than seven thousand security cameras and uses artificial intelligence. Data collected from mobile phones is also used for planning, mobility management, and population control.
