Dubai RTA’s smart screening system employs AI at paid public parking

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it has initiated operations of a smart screening system of paid public parking using artificial intelligence (AI) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The vehicles deployed by RTA at the parking places are equipped with a smart screening system that makes use of 24 digital cameras powered by AI and machine learning technologies, which can analyse number plates of vehicles travelling over 80 km/h with nearly 100% accuracy.

Dubai RTA Traffic and Roads Agency CEO Maitha bin Adai said: “The smart screening system of paid public parking in Dubai complements Dubai Government’s strategy to digitise the services of public entities in the Emirate. It is also in line with the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence advocated by the UAE Government.

“The system streamlines and controls the use of public parking and increases the frequency of using parking slots. It also steps up the efficiency of the monitoring and inspection of parking spaces and reduces the potential errors associated with violations.”

The new smart screening vehicle is said to have been designed to monitor the number plates of vehicles from any direction, irrespective of the type of parking space, using 24 digital cameras that are installed on all sides of the vehicle.

The new initiative is said to be part of RTA’s efforts to use smart technologies to deliver better services to public parking users in Dubai.

Out of a total 550,000 parking places in Dubai, there are 190,000 slots with paid parking.

Maitha bin Adai added: “The implementation of the smart screening of public parking system forms part of the Traffic and Roads Agency’s plans to ease the job of parking inspectors by using state-of-the-art technologies in monitoring the use of public parking in Dubai.

“The inspection of parking has become fully automated to ensure the safety of inspectors by avoiding distracting them while driving.”