Sharjah Taxi, a subsidiary of Sharjah Asset Management Company, investment arm of the government of Sharjah, has launched a revolutionary “smart taxi,” a first in the Middle East, with the primary goal to harness artificial intelligence services for vehicle operations and safety. This action is in order to achieve the digital transformation plan of the emirate of Sharjah. The move also aims to raise the level of services provided to the public, in accordance with the highest global standards of security and safety.
Khalid Al-Kindi, executive director of Sharjah Taxi, said that the smart vehicles were equipped with sensors, cameras, a mobile data unit, and other devices connected to an integrated system, with the aim to continue developing work and control mechanisms. The pilot project benefits from best international practices in the field of intelligent transportation systems, which will undoubtedly contribute to increasing operational efficiency, and provide an integrated network of systems to report instant and accurate information related to transportation movement.
He said that intelligent transportation systems apply modern technologies in the areas of monitoring, information collection, control and means of communication, and utilize the full carrying capacity of road networks and other means of transportation. The system helps regulate flow of traffic, facilitate access to key places, monitor driver behavior, mitigate erroneous practices, and reduce meter manipulations. As a result, the number of trips and total wasted kilometers are reduced, ultimately reducing the rate of road accidents and environmental pollution, whilst raising operational efficiency. The company also benefits through a reduction in operational costs.
Al-Kindi explained that the launch of the smart vehicle will result in an important package of outputs, the most notable of which is monitoring driver behavior.
The system contributes to monitoring driver behavior through an intelligent system, with the ultimate aim of analyzing the causes and circumstances leading to erroneous practices, such as the use of mobile phones while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, drowsiness and fatigue, or preoccupation with anything other than the road.
Technical equipment inside the vehicle enables the collection of various data including vehicle temperature, electronic parts condition, and more. This allows remote monitoring of the vehicle, allowing real-time interventions and appropriate actions as soon as possible.
