Dubai Metro uses “artificial intelligence” to manage crowds at peak times

The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai revealed the implementation of a pilot phase of a project to use artificial intelligence through simulation models, to control the increase in demand on the metro, reduce congestion, and manage crowds during the peak period in some stations or public events or the high rate of demand. Ahmed Mahboub, Executive Director of the Smart Services Department in the Institutional Technical Support Sector at the Authority, said: “The project aims to have a smart system that interacts with metro users to provide recommendations for comfortable transportation according to their needs to reduce congestion, by understanding patterns of demand for the metro and modifying it to prevent congestion.” .

He pointed out that using artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to suggest specific time periods to passengers would organize requests for the metro and distribute them over longer periods, by preparing a model to simulate train trips throughout the day using Nol card data, and using algorithms to study demand for the metro, in addition to a screen. Offer to understand passenger journeys in a detailed way. He added that the results of the experiment revealed that the capacity reached from 40% to 80%, which can be reflected in the density of trains, and the presence of passenger congestion at peak times or public events, and that the simulation model showed that the flow of passengers during peak periods will lead to periods of congestion and periods of Long wait before boarding the metro. He explained that the experimental use of artificial intelligence technologies resulted in a decrease in the crowding rate from 40% to 60%, and a reduction in waiting for passengers up to 30 minutes. The artificial intelligence technology contributed to suggesting specific time periods and redistributing the demand to improve the customer experience by ensuring the time for boarding and arriving trains. To their destinations at the specified time, these results are being studied and their feasibility for implementing the project is being determined. Mahboob stressed that the presence of an integrated technical infrastructure in the Authority has contributed to the existence of smart solutions to some of the challenges that may arise in the service sector, such as the increase in demand for it, and that the Authority is keen to make people happy and meet their aspirations, in addition to keeping pace with us in translating our first strategic goal, “Smart Dubai,” into A reality that matches the ambitions of our leadership.