Skip to main content

Abu Dhabi traffic lights get smart

In a bid to reduce congestion during peak hours, Abu Dhabi transport authorities have completed the installation of smart systems to control traffic lights at key intersections depending on the number of cars on each side. Officials said the system has been installed at 56 junctions in Abu Dhabi city and outskirts and described it as one of the world’s most advanced traffic management systems involving smart applications and ground sensors. The new system uses in-road sensors to detect the number of v
November 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In a bid to reduce congestion during peak hours, Abu Dhabi transport authorities have completed the installation of smart systems to control traffic lights at key intersections depending on the number of cars on each side.

Officials said the system has been installed at 56 junctions in Abu Dhabi city and outskirts and described it as one of the world’s most advanced traffic management systems involving smart applications and ground sensors.

The new system uses in-road sensors to detect the number of vehicles at the intersection and automatically switches between lights depending on the number of cars on the sides of the intersection.

Transport department roads director Faisal Al Suweidi said “This is a very advanced traffic management system and will largely ease traffic congestion in the city…it will also reduce petrol consumption and consequently cut pollution levels in the air.”

Related Content

  • Balfour Beatty JV awarded Abu Dhabi airport contract
    February 12, 2014
    Balfour Beatty has announced that Power Transmission Gulf (PTG), part of Balfour Beatty's UAE-based joint venture BK Gulf, has been awarded a US$96.1 million joint venture contract to carry out mechanical engineering services on the new Abu Dhabi International Airport Midfield Terminal Building (MTB). The new terminal building will accommodate up to 65 aircraft, including the Airbus A‐380, with an expected capacity of 30 million passengers per year. Check‐in will provide 165 conventional counters and 48
  • Do buses need subsidies in congestion charging areas
    June 20, 2016
    David Crawford takes a look at the debate surrounding bus subsidies. Subsidies for public transport are a well-known and frequently-used policy tool directed at reducing the high environmental and social costs of peak-period traffic congestion. But at the end of last year the Swedish Centre for Transport Studies published a working paper entitled ‘Should buses still be subsidised in Stockholm?’ This concluded that the subsidy levels currently being applied in Stockholm could be nearly halved by setting bus
  • Sensys contributes to smart travel in Slovakia
    March 5, 2025
    Firm deploys sensors at intersections and pedestrian crossings in Trnava
  • Sweating the asset
    May 22, 2012
    Technological progress has done many things for the good of mankind and, as is evident from this issue of ITS International, it has become fundamental for those needing to ‘sweat the asset’. You will not find that expression anywhere else in this issue, but you will discover a lot pointing to the crucial and expanding role for ITS in getting more out of existing infrastructure.IBM associate partner Michael Noblett puts this into context in our special smart cities feature starting on page 50. Noblett refers