Abu Dhabi has outlined plans to continue its street signage programme by installing smart codes to every sign and building, allowing people to access information about each street and neighbourhood using smartphones, according to the emirate’s Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA).

Under the Abu Dhabi Emirate Street Addressing GeoNames and Signage System (ADAGS), the emirate has already assigned new addresses for more than 200,000 homes and commercial units.

The next stage is to assign smart QR codes to every sign and building and to each address number plate. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

“We are working to create one universal address database platform,” said Abdullah Hassan Ghareeb al-Bloushi, speaking at the MEED Abu Dhabi Conference on 9 December.

“[People] can find details on the meaning of street names and locate the nearest schools, hospitals and banks,” said al-Bloushi. “Response times for emergency services could improve [and] in some circumstances this could means saving someone’s life or property.”

The system is also expected to improve the delivery time of goods and services, as businesses will be able to locate address more easily.

“The new addressing system will lead to tourists and citizens exploring more of the emirate… and will add value to people’s everyday lives,” Al-Bloushi said.

DMA has created a single administrative framework to implement an emirate-wide system. The ADAGS effort is coordinated by DMA with the cooperation of the three municipalities – Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain and the Western Region.