Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched an innovative Bridges Management and Maintenance System (BMMS) Programme.

The programme manages all works related to the assessment of various road conditions and identifying the required maintenance works. It stems from RTA’s vision and conforms to the best practices of the industry worldwide.

Maitha bin Adai, the chief executive of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency, said: "The launch of the BMMS reflects the authority’s keenness to adopt the latest specialist technological programmes. Road installations, comprising bridges, tunnels, crossings and others, are part of the core infrastructural assets in Dubai."

"A sophisticated technological programme had to be developed to cater to all works related to assets maintenance and protection, to sustain these assets throughout their lifetime. It will also ensure an effective and safe operation of those assets involving high-value investments," stated bin Adai.

"The programme plays a key role in boosting the excellent performance of road facilities as well as the operational condition of various road installations in Dubai throughout their service period. It will also ensure the provision of an integrated database of road facilities that can be used to explore the potentials of using IT in managing the existing maintenance management systems of road facilities,” she stated.

"We have given due considerations to benchmarking our BMMS with the highest practices prevailing in countries like Canada, Britain and South Africa to enhance periodic tests and assessments of each infrastructural component," remarked bin Adai.

"More emphasis is placed on upgrading procedures and principles of various maintenance works, especially the safety of those structures and their users through applying risk-related maintenance principles," she added.

According to her, the new programme has been linked with the corporate system of Asset Management Department and the GIS (geographic information system) to enable accessibility to the smart apps on smart portable devices.

"Such a process will ensure speedy update of data as well as the identification of the facility condition and maintenance needs. It will also expedite the issuance of job orders to road maintenance contractors for carrying out the required corrective maintenance works," she added.-TradeArabia News Service