Soon it will be nearly impossible to get lost in Dubai. The largest city in the United Arab Emirates recently launched the Makani e-map “the smartest map system in the world.”
Makani, a solution that is both digital and analog is the answer. Every building in Dubai will have a plate with its 10-digit number inscribed on it. Anyone with a connected device can then use that number to locate the entrance of the building within a one-meter radius using the Makani online app. (Check it out on your desktop at: makani.ae). It’s a standalone mapping application, but soon it will be integrated with Google Maps and Nokia’s Here systems, according to a report by Reuters.
The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum kicked off the Makani project by fixing one of the 10-digit smart code plates to the Emirates Towers entrance. Sheikh Hamdan said the new app system would help transform Dubai “into the smartest city in the world, and consequently, offer a model for all others to follow suit …”
It’s a huge project considering the e-map application will change the addresses for an entire city. The Dubai municipality said the app will provide new names for streets, simplify the address system and coordinate location databases for government and private bodies – all within a six-month implementation period. Many of the buildings have had their 10-digit codes for some time, but they will all have physical plates with the number as well.
While it’s a big undertaking, the benefits are compelling:
- Using Makani numbers eliminates language issues in a multinational city with a lot of visitors. Arriving at the airport in Dubai, international travelers only have to hand their taxi driver the 10-digit number of their destination.
- Emergency services will also be sped up. People calling for help don’t have to describe their location or give directions, they can just say their Makani coordinate number. And according to the Gulf News, using Makani can cut ambulance arrival times by 20-50%. The same goes for taxi cabs and delivery vehicles.
- Makani also makes it easier to share a location. Since every building will have its code displayed, people can easily scan it with their mobile device and share it online.
So far, the Makani map system appears to be a hit in Dubai. The app has been downloaded more than 10,000 times on Google Play. And while there have been some complaints of bugs in the app, the responses from users have been overwhelmingly positive.
It’s hard to say whether Makani will revolutionize address and mapping systems elsewhere. Implementing a new system like this in an entire city is no small task, but it might be a bit easier in an Emirate with a crown prince directing all the agencies and stakeholders to cooperate. It’s a little harder to imagine the same kind of quick compliance in a big, messy, democratic city like New York or L.A. Not impossible. It just might take a little longer.
