HERE Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a long-term technology collaboration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to map the whole city with high-definition (HD) technology.

The development of HD maps will help Dubai to achieve its goal of having 25% of public transport self-driving services by 2030.

Under the collaboration, RTA and HERE intend to implement available location technologies to develop the data structure and enable efficient autonomous transportation to support Dubai’s Smart City strategy.

Both parties plan to carry out multiple pilot projects to enable HD Live Map, HERE’s HD map for autonomous cars designed to provide real-time information.

HERE Technologies Internet of Things senior vice-president Leon van de Pas said: “Dubai recognises the importance of new location technologies in making transportation more efficient, safer and sustainable for people.

“Driven by our vision of enabling an autonomous world for everyone, the HERE Technologies team is excited and energised to help Dubai deliver on its ambition plans for a driverless future.”

“Driven by our vision of enabling an autonomous world for everyone, the HERE Technologies team is excited and energised to help Dubai deliver on its ambition plans for a driverless future.”

The collaboration will also utilise the HERE Open Location Platform (OLP) as a system that will connect the vehicles with each other and the associated road infrastructure such as traffic lights and sensors on roadways and sidewalks.

OLP will allow multiple vehicle developers and other sources to transmit live, anonymised sensor data, which will be aggregated with high-precision location data and then again transmitted back to the cars to offer geo-targeted and relevant information about the roads.

After the completion of initial planning and proof-of-concept phases, both parties will carry out joint pilot projects with the new technologies.