As part of its ‘Meet the Expert’ series, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, recently hosted a workshop to discuss the role of locally-designed innovative solutions, using Artificial Intelligence (AI), in helping realize Qatar’s national strategies and ambitions.
Featuring experts from QSTP’s member company, Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC), the session shed light on cutting edge technologies and products created by QMIC to advance intelligent mobility and enable smart spaces in Qatar.
During the session, Dr. Adnan Abu-Dayya, CEO and Executive Director of QMIC, explained how the leading national innovations center has been using its competencies in Internet of Things (IoT), AI, Embedded Sensing, and Location Intelligence to tailor-make a range of digital platforms and smart products in order to support national priorities across areas such as transport and infrastructure, events and tourism, energy and environment, and defense and security. For example, during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM last year, the Wain Mobile Application allowed over 150,000 users to enjoy smart navigation, real-time traffic information, dynamic maps, updates on parking information, and speed camera alerts.
Further explaining QMIC technologies, Dr. Fethi Filali, Director of Technology & Research, QMIC, drew attention to the locally-built, AI-driven traffic services and mobility analytics platform, Masrak, that has aided key stakeholders to enhance the performance, reliability, and safety of Qatar’s road network. Through its robust data collection network that deploys hundreds of road sensors and connects thousands of devices, the platform generates reports on traffic movement, trends and behavior. Dr. Filali noted that the availability of these key traffic insights has tremendously helped stakeholders ensure traffic safety and management in line with national strategies.
Describing another QMIC-built platform, Falcon-I, Dr. Hamid Menouar, Senior Research & Development Expert and Product Manager, QMIC, stressed its use of AI to create smart applications such as smart intersections, smart roads, digital parking, vehicle counting, crowd monitoring, among others. These functions empower operators and decision-makers with real-time alerts and prompt automated actions to tackle issues related to transport and road safety operations.
Commenting on the importance of the session, Ahmed Al-Said, Park & Freezone Management Director, QSTP, said: “In line with our commitment to boost Qatar’s innovation and technology development ecosystem, it gives us great pleasure to provide a platform for local technology trailblazers such as QMIC to demonstrate the many ways in which they are working to harness the power of artificial intelligence to craft advanced solutions to address national concerns. Innovation is a key driver for sustainable development and we hope that sessions like these encourage and inspire local tech leaders to continually remain at the forefront of technological discovery and creativity to develop impactful technologies.”
Dr. Abu-Dayya commented: “As one of the first national centers to partner with QSTP back in 2009, we were delighted to join hands with QSTP to deliver this workshop that touched upon significant emerging technologies related to IoT and artificial intelligence and showed how the entities at QSTP reached a level of maturity such that significant solutions and services are readily available to serve national partners and stakeholders and support mega project in Qatar.”
QSTP’s ‘Meet the Expert’ series convenes policymakers, experts, researchers, and academics from various sectors to encourage knowledge exchange on strategic topics covering technology, innovation, EdTech, climate change and sustainability. To learn more about the series, or to register for the upcoming sessions, please visit: https://qstp.org.qa/qstp-expert-series