Skip to main content

Abu Dhabi installs Scoot

The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has commenced work on a US$9 million adaptive traffic control central system project, which is expected to be completed by early 2015. The project will see the implementation of a new Scoot (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) adaptive traffic control system to improve traffic flow at the capital’s 125 main signalised junctions. Scoot, installed in more than 120 cities worldwide, is a tool for managing and controlling traffic signals in urban areas.
March 5, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has commenced work on a US$9 million adaptive traffic control central system project, which is expected to be completed by early 2015.

The project will see the implementation of a new Scoot (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) adaptive traffic control system to improve traffic flow at the capital’s 125 main signalised junctions.  Scoot, installed in more than 120 cities worldwide, is a tool for managing and controlling traffic signals in urban areas. It is an adaptive system that responds automatically to fluctuations in traffic flow through the use of in-road detectors.

Traffic signals in Abu Dhabi currently operate on fixed time, which is not ideal for easily managing traffic congestion or other unexpected events. Scoot is able to respond quickly to variations in traffic flows by reducing delays and queue lengths at junctions, using about 20 sensors at each intersection to monitor and report the volume of traffic. The system is also able to give priority to buses or emergency vehicles, which will enhance road safety and quick response to accidents and vehicle breakdowns.

“It is simply to have the most adaptive technology to manage the traffic network in the proper way,” said Salah Al Marzouqi, director of the integrated intelligent transport systems

The centre manages monitoring of the traffic flows on the road network, operation of the central traffic control system, and offers road service support patrols to prevent any congestion.

Related Content

  • New York’s Midtown in Motion traffic management system wins ITS America award
    June 6, 2012
    ITS America has recognised the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DoT) for Midtown in Motion, the sophisticated traffic management system launched last July that uses ITS to ease traffic congestion, improve traffic flow, and reduce greenhouse emissions and air pollution on the city’s most congested streets. Coinciding with the award, NYC DoT announced that it is expanding the system, which currently covers 110-square blocks, to cover 270-square blocks in the city’s most heavily congested neighb
  • Transit signal priority improves travel times in Memphis
    August 13, 2014
    The installation of Global Traffic Technologies’ (GTT) Opticom GPS transit signal priority (TSP) along the two busiest transit corridors in Memphis is helping many of the tens of thousands of the city’s transit users reach their destination in less time.
  • Bitsensing makes modern history in fair Verona
    July 3, 2025
    Shakespeare’s Verona was a place of star-cross’d lovers – today, it’s the traffic which is more of a problem. Euichul Kim at Bitsensing takes up our story…
  • Flexibility, interoperability is key to future traffic management
    February 3, 2012
    Jon Taylor of Faber Maunsell and Tabatha Bailey of Transport for London describe how an unusual mix of traffic practitioners, researchers and industry are working together to build new tools for the future. As we face higher expectations for managing congestion from both citizens and politicians, and as more and more data is becoming available from new sources, our traffic management challenge is changing.