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Here are some forms of technology that one might encounter in the UAE.
Satellite entertainment
Those who live in Jebel Ali must have seen these huge dishes installed on an elevated level of land. The UAE's satellite links are provided through the satellite earth stations located at Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
The earth station at Jebel Ali is used by Etisalat for Intelsat services, which is the largest provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. It enables providers of media, telecom and government services to deliver information and entertainment to people.
Solving traffic woes
The Salik system is powered by a technology known as RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification). As the name suggests the technology works on Radio Frequency.
The core RFID system comprises a reader and a tag. The tag (which we affix on our car windshields) consists of a tiny chip with the RFID code, and a small antenna.
The microchip stores a unique serial number that identifies an object, and other relevant information. The antenna enables the chip to transmit the identification information to a reader. The reader converts the radio waves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital information that can then be passed on to computers.
The same process happens when we use Salik. As a car reaches the toll gate, the tag transmits the stored information to the RFID scanner placed on the gate in the form of radio waves. The reader passes this data to a software system that processes it and lowers the Salik balance of the account by Dh4. All this happens in a flash of a second. Cameras fixed on the gate capture the image of the vehicles in case there is no Salik.
Intelligent traffic system
By now all of us must have benefited from the new electronic traffic information displays erected on Dubai roads. From the announcement of the opening of the new Business Bay Bridge to alerts such as an accident or the presence of water ponds, they give all sorts of valuable information for a smooth ride through the traffic.
Called the Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) it helps the Road Transport Authority (RTA) remotely control traffic flow and synchronise traffic signals from the control centre. The ITS normally relies on cameras and dynamic message signs, which allow the engineering staff to watch traffic conditions from the control room. The cameras typically transmit lane-by-lane vehicle speeds, counts and lane occupancy readings and stopped-vehicle detection.
Floating Car Data (FCD) is another method to determine the traffic speed making use of mobile phones. Since mobile phones routinely transmit their location details to the network they can be used as anonymous traffic probes. It is based on the collection of localisation data, speed, direction of travel and time information from vehicles with cell phones.
This data is an essential source for most ITS. Based on the same, traffic jams can be identified, and traffic reports can be instantly generated.
Speed checks
This has to be the most popular traffic technology after the signal lights. As a speeding vehicle passes by an automatic radar the violation is detected using electromagnetic waves; a computer then triggers the camera and flash. The digital picture of the vehicle, which is normally encrypted, is sent to the back office via internet, where it is decrypted. The registration number of the car is taken, along with other data. The fine is then automatically processed. The digital image of the vehicle also includes the date and time of offence, location details of the camera, speed of the vehicle, and some other security information.
There are times when a speeding vehicle is within a line of vehicles, but even then the cameras are able to get a picture due to the angle at which they are set.
Tree towers
There is a good chance of you seeing a cell phone tower disguised as a date palm tree if you visit one of the freehold areas of the UAE. We normally don't notice them; but if you do, you will realise that the tree is a little different from the rest.
The idea behind this makeover is not to mar the natural surroundings with an odd looking electronic tower. These trees usually do not litter the ground as they don't grow like normal trees.
Unlike normal trees they are completely resistant to drought and insects and can be planted in any type of soil, even solid concrete. For obvious reasons there is increasing demand for such towers at sites of historical importance.
- The writer is a guru of tech who runs a trading company in Dubai
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