Safari Park to get smart gate

The Dh1 billion Safari Park is expected to open in April,

Like other smart entities, the Dubai Municipality has also introduced a number of smart services, such as the smart palms on the beaches and smart gates at the public parks.
Additionally Dubai Safari Park will get a smart gate, Dubai Municipality sources said.
As part of Smart Dubai Initiative, the Dh1 billion Safari Park, which is expected to open in April, will get its own smart gate that will allow residents to use e-tickets from their smartphones to enter the park.
"The plan is still in the pipeline, but the idea is to reduce queues at the entrance of the park and allow people to purchase tickets online and scan a barcode to enter," a source told Khaleej Times. No timeframe was immediately announced.
The municipality's Information Technology (IT) Department has been working to reduce the use of paper tickets around the emirate for easier and smart transactions. Lately, it was announced that visitors will be able to use their Nol cards to enter public parks.
The municipality is working with the Roads and Transport Authority to extend the use of Nol smart payment system, used in public transport, to include parks around the emirate.
Heba Al Shehhi, application development head of section at the IT Department, said the smart gate will be implemented in March in Mushrif park, then in Al Mamzar, Zabeel and Creek parks.
Al Shehhi noted: "The main aim is to reduce the long queues on public parks by introducing a smart system that will allow residents to enter and exit parks quickly and easily, especially during public holidays."
"Having one card for all services in Dubai is convenient and serves the plan of developing a smart city."
Besides the entry system, self-service kiosks will be available in public parks for additional services that will be useful to the public.
Residents will be able to check and recharge their Nol credits and finish other government transactions.
Parks will also feature entry systems that will serve the special needs and accommodate wheel chairs.
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"Al Mamzar Park, for example, will have Nol card barriers for vehicles. The entry devices will not only be useful for passersby but drivers as well," said Al Shehhi.
Park visitors will be able to use their Nol cards or Smart Nol, an app that allows residents to use their mobile phones to check in and out of public transport modes.
In addition, the department also operates Dubai Parks and Beaches app that helps locate main public facilities around Dubai, giving all details required about each park and beach.
Aleef app also makes it easier for residents and visitors to manage pet information and report of stray animals found around parks and beaches, or anywhere in Dubai.
The smart implementation is expected to facilitate people's use of public facilities.
A municipality official said that the civic body is looking to share services offered by other government organisations. "A smart government is an integrated one. We encourage using services that already exists with other entities instead of re-investing money and time in providing new services."
"Residents nowadays look at services instead of facilities. By 2021, we aim that customers finish all their transactions in one stop."
The department announced converting 351 electronic services to 204 smart services and mobile apps. By 2018, the municipality will complete all its operations within the smart government programme.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com
@Sherry_sh93