Road Information Management System: Traveling On Singapore’s Roads

Touchdown

Singapore. There is no one at the airport to greet him. Vincent is not

surprised. He has planned it that way. In the taxi, he sits back and gazes out

of the window. He is impressed. Singapore’s expressways are five lanes wide

and well-maintained. The taxi enters a tunnel and Vincent is awed by Singapore’s

amazing progress.

In less than an hour, Vincent

reaches his destination. He surveys his surroundings and sees trains running

above-ground in the distance. He can hardly recognize his neighborhood. Could so

much have changed in just 10 years? He approaches the gate and presses the bell.

Seconds later, his parents emerge, shocked and speechless. Their prodigal son

has come home.

Genesis of RIMS





Singaporeans and visitors alike continue to sing praises of the island’s

vibrant and changing landscape. To keep pace with the rapid development, the

Land Transport Authority (LTA) was tasked in 1995 to manage the nation’s

multi-billion dollar transportation infrastructure.

Planning nothing less than a

world class transportation infrastructure, the LTA crafted a challenging mission–to

provide a quality, integrated and efficient land transport system that meets the

needs and expectations of commuters. To deliver an effective land transport

network, the LTA needed an integrated management system–one that facilitates

better planning and analysis of traffic capacity, development plans and on-going

projects. LTA named this system RIMS.

Right from the start, RIMS



began to streamline LTA’s operations and turn the once labor-intensive
processes into productive electronic business workflow. Today, an LTA officer

seated at his computer terminal and using a series of keystrokes, can integrate

various software to generate 2D or 3D computer graphics of road systems. With

RIMS’ help, he can make critical decisions, confident that the new

developments he approves of, are in line with Singapore’s overall land

transport policy.

One-stop information center



RIMS stores information about thousands of road-related activities. In its
central database, you can find all kinds of information pertaining to traffic

signal lights, traffic signs, bridges, pedestrian crossings, bus-stops, car

parks, development and maintenance projects. Currently, RIMS supports more than

400 users in LTA’s various departments.

Some ‘common’ road and

transport data is also shared with qualified external agencies like private

contractors, utilities departments and environment ministries who require such

information. RIMS helps eliminate the duplication of records, excessive

paperwork and improves overall productivity in all sectors.

Exceptional service



Prompt response, faster service and shorter queues. RIMS epitomizes an
integrated and seamless environment where transport information is

readily available, shortens response time to road accidents and maintenance,

enables quick replies to commuter enquiries and swift approvals for various LTA

applications.