Abu Dhabi uses Google’s AI data to reduce traffic congestion

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi will now use Google’s artificial intelligence to generate data to reduce traffic congestion, the UAE’s public transport regulator announced on Friday.

The Integrated Traffic Center (ITC) of the Ministry of Municipalities and Transport said it had signed an agreement with the tech giant to collect and analyze data at traffic intersections. AI technology will then provide recommendations to improve the efficiency of traffic lights, thereby reducing congestion and carbon emissions. The agreement is known as the “Green Light Project.”

As part of the second agreement, Google’s artificial intelligence platform will also analyze big data generated by Google Maps to predict traffic and congestion areas. The ITC will then use this data to develop proactive plans to minimize congestion. The ITC will also receive real-time accurate data on accident conditions and areas of traffic congestion from Google Maps.

The agreement was signed by Mohammad Hussain Karmastaji, executive director of ITC’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Division, and Philipp Schindler, Google’s senior vice president and chief business officer. The two projects aim to improve the quality of life in Abu Dhabi through the use of artificial intelligence, while reducing pollution and enhancing smart mobility solutions.

“We are fully committed to driving the transition to a sustainable and efficient transport system. For example, our collaboration with Google will generate results in real time that benefit road users. Project Green Light is a pilot project to develop an artificial intelligence tool , to collect critical data on traffic conditions at intersections, automatically optimize the efficiency of traffic light functions, and help reduce vehicle congestion hotspots, thereby improving air quality across the emirate by reducing carbon emissions,” Karmastaji said.

“Through continued collaboration with government agencies, private sector partners and community stakeholders, we are shaping a future in which congestion is minimized, air quality is improved, and our cities live in harmony with their environment. With the introduction of new artificial intelligence tools , we are taking an important step towards improving the daily commuting experience for residents. We are delighted that this will have a positive impact on our city and we look forward to working with stakeholders to create a sustainable smart transport system,” he added.

The ITC-Google agreement was signed at an event at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

This is not the first collaboration between ITC and Google. Since 2019, the transport regulator has provided real-time data on public buses to Google Maps, allowing commuters to easily access bus times and schedules.

Google is also partnering with MBZUAI to provide research awards for projects that help advance the role of Arabs in artificial intelligence.

“Building AI responsibly must be a joint effort of researchers, social scientists, industry experts, governments and the public. There is so much we can accomplish and we must all work together. We are delighted to be working with our partners in the UAE on this research, which will also increase the representation of Arabic in AI in our pursuit of sustainability,” said Karan Bhatia, vice president of government relations and public policy at Google.