Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is now using LiDAR and digital twin technologies to transform how it manages road assets across the emirate. The program, announced on April 9, 2025, supports preventive, predictive, and proactive maintenance at scale — and signals a significant leap forward in Dubai's smart city ambitions.
LiDAR Delivers 300% Performance Boost Over Traditional Inspections
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA, highlighted the technology's speed and precision advantages. LiDAR delivers up to 300% improvement in performance compared to standard visual inspection methods, with accuracy reaching 95%.
Surveys can be conducted at speeds between 30 and 100 km/h without disrupting live traffic — a critical advantage on Dubai's busy road network. The system covers an impressive 80 kilometres of road per day, compared to just 3 kilometres achievable through traditional methods, representing a 96% improvement in daily coverage.
The technology also enables remote inspection of high-risk assets — including lighting poles, traffic signals, and road signage along major highways — from up to 80 metres away, significantly reducing the risks associated with manual inspection.
Digital Twin Platforms Enable Real-Time Decision-Making
Alongside LiDAR, RTA's digital twin platforms create virtual replicas of road infrastructure that are continuously updated with live sensor data. These virtual models allow engineers to make better maintenance decisions in real time, plan predictive interventions, schedule repairs efficiently, and determine the Assets Condition Index (ACI) with greater accuracy.
Al Banna stated that "these smart solutions assist the organization to provide sustainable solutions that boost operational performance." The shift to digital inspection also reduces the need for manual roadside surveys, improving safety for inspection crews and road users alike.
Part of Dubai's Broader Digital Transformation
This LiDAR and digital twin initiative is one component of RTA's wider digital transformation strategy, which aims to position Dubai as a global leader in smart infrastructure and transport management. Vehicles equipped with infrared and laser detection cameras feed real-time data into RTA's Pavement Management System (PMS), which autonomously prioritises maintenance tasks, optimises budgets, and flags high-risk areas for urgent attention.
The initiative aligns with Dubai's broader vision to build a safer, more efficient, and technology-driven urban environment — where data, not guesswork, drives infrastructure decisions.
