1. How would AI transform the way we move?

Nabeel Al Zaka: Information about vehicles, drivers and devices can now be modelled, correlated, and analysed more than ever before. Examples in Dubai are: Knowing traffic conditions in real-time. Automatically detecting incidents and abnormalities via CCTV and drone image processing. Knowing crowd movement and patterns via cellular data.

This will transform Transportation and Urban Planning and ensure it evolves in accordance with users’ needs and demand patterns (i.e. provide the needs of the masses instead of the wants of the few).

For example, knowing how special events such as New Year’s Eve and Special Festivals will impact traffic, public transportation and taxis, will enable planners to design roads and allocate services where they are more needed. AI will also help plan the best routes for public transportation to ensure the biggest number of passengers are transported within the minimum number of trips.

Nadeem Shakir: AI is already a part of our lives. Ride sharing apps such as Uber are using AI to predict journey route, price and pick-up point. AI is key to the success of the transformation from manual to self-driving technologies. There are five levels of driving in terms of autonomy — on a scale of 0-5.

The rapid development in AI technologies has already reached level 4 autonomy. What does this mean? That cars can be fully driverless under controlled environments.

The transition from level 4 to 5 (which is full autonomy) is the most difficult phase for AI technology providers as very comprehensive intelligence is required to be built into vehicles so they can properly react in uncertain environments.

Dubai is the front-runner in the space of future of transportation with its plans for Automated Aerial Vehicles, Autonomous pods, Hyperloop, and a vision to achieve 25 per cent driverless transportation by 2030. This is all possible due to incredible and innovative AI technologies that will help Dubai shape its future of transportation.

It is timely for us as transportation professionals to reflect on what impact AI might have on our industry.”

Nabeel Al Zaka, | Executive Director, Surface Mobility Consultants, Dubai.