Press Releases
Apr 01 2015
Journey Planner attracts 740 thousand users in 2014
This quantum shift in users’ base has come in the aftermath of the launch of the app in late 2013 which catered to the needs of RTA customers.
“Having 740 thousand users of Journey Planner last year indicates that the service is achieving its target of gaining customers satisfaction, and articulates RTA’s commitment to provide services compatible with the innovative drive advocated by the Government of Dubai. The RTA spares no effort in making strenuous efforts towards realizing this visionary strategy aimed at boosting the technological profile of Dubai worldwide,” said Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development, RTA Public Transport Agency.
“An update has been made to Wojhati app marking the Dubai Government Achievements Exhibition enabling metro & bus users to figure out, via their smartphones, the names of stations they pass by during their travel aboard public transit modes. Wojhati app also provides all information needed by riders of public transport means (buses, metro, water transport, and tram), be it residents, visitors or tourists of Dubai. Such information include arrival timing, trip duration, applicable fare, directions to destination, and sending alerts in case of any delay,” added Adel.
“Wojhati uses satellite coordinates in guiding customers to their intended destinations, so when the app is initiated in the smartphone of the user, it captures information needed about the destination. Tourists were been taken into consideration when the app was designed, thus it provides guidance to public transport riders in Dubai helping them reach their destinations from their current positions. Lack of internet connectivity has also been addressed, and the app enables the user to save the required timetables in the phone and use the data whenever needed,” explained Shakri.
“Updates made to Wojhati include an Arabic enabled edition for iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones, thus Wojhati has become the first Arabized Journey Planner in the world. Additionally, the Arabization has been integrated in the Windows® Operating System; which is also a first timer in the Middle East and the second worldwide after Germany. Wojhati has also been enhanced with the Virtual Reality (VR) technology as this feature nurtures an interactive environment based on emulating the Augmented Reality (AR) and integrating it in the app such that the user can identify bus stops & routes as well as metro journeys in a real-time environment. Users can automatically obtain information, timetables and distance from their places by simply directing the camera of the smartphone to any direction and from any position,” he continued.
“Wojhati encourages the use of public transport by overcoming difficulties encountered by users. Through their smartphones, riders can obtain details of routes and timetables of required journeys, and select the optimal transit means for reaching to their destinations in an effortless exercise. This practice is poised to attract riders to use more of public transport means; which in turn will reduce carbon emissions from private vehicles; another objective sought by the RTA as part of its strategy of developing clean & healthy transit means,” said Director of Planning and Business Development in a concluding remark.
