ITS Project: Longest Road Tunnel in the Middle East

Project Overview

Spanning 3.6 kilometres, this significant road infrastructure project in Abu Dhabi is one of the longest urban tunnels in the Middle East.
It was created to relieve traffic congestion and enhance connectivity between key city areas, including the main bridge access, port zone, and coastal roadway.
Designed to handle high traffic volumes of up to 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction across four lanes, the system required dependable, real-time monitoring and control to ensure safety and operational efficiency. To achieve this, the project implemented a robust, high-performance networking solution supporting multiple subsystems, including variable message signs (VMS), CCTV, fire alarms, lighting, and access control.
Moxa, a global leader in industrial networking and automation solutions, was chosen to provide rugged, secure and high-performance industrial Ethernet switches for the tunnel's critical communication infrastructure.

Challenges

  • The tunnel can reach high ambient temperatures and condensation is typical.
  • Vehicle exhaust, dust, and fine particles can clog vents and corrode electronics.
  • Network devices installed in roadside or under-slab cabinets are exposed to constant vibration from road traffic.
  • Tunnels have strong EMI from lighting, ventilation motors, and power lines.
  • The tunnel integrates multiple subsystems that required seamless interoperability over a single network.

Objectives

  • The tunnel’s systems required real-time data transmission for traffic monitoring, incident detection, and emergency response, demanding low-latency, high-bandwidth networking solutions.
  • Reliable and redundant systems are essential since any network outage could jeopardize traffic flow and safety.
  • 50-millisecond network recovery time that can support hundreds of switches per ring.
  • Network switches must support redundant power inputs in the event of a main power feed failure.
  • The network shall support future growth and technological advancements as Abu Dhabi's infrastructure develops.
  • A reliable centralized management system that can manage and monitor thousands of network devices deployed in 3.6 km tunnel.





Solution Architecture

Moxa’s industrial Ethernet switches were chosen for their reliability, rugged design, security, advanced networking capabilities and excellent support from Easy World. Key aspects of the solution include:

  1. Rugged Design for Harsh Environments
    • Moxa switches are engineered for industrial environments, with wide operating temperature ranges from -40°C to 75°C and resistance to dust, humidity and vibration. This ensured consistent performance in the tunnel’s challenging conditions.
    • The switches are compliance with industrial standards like EN 50121-4 and NEMA TS2 for roads and traffic applications.
  2. High-Speed, Low-Latency Communication
    • Moxa switches provided Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to support high-bandwidth applications like real-time CCTV feeds and incident detection systems.
    • Support for Quality of Service (QoS) prioritized critical data, ensuring low latency for safety-critical communications, such as fire alarms and traffic management signals.
  3. Seamless Integration with Control System
    • The switches interfaced with the Control software platform, enabling centralized management of diverse systems via protocols like SNMP for switches and IP surveillance, OPC for PLCs, BACnet for fire alarms, and NetAvis for incident detection.
    • Moxa’s managed switches supported VLANs and IGMP snooping, optimizing multicast traffic for efficient video surveillance.
  4. Redundancy and Reliability
    • Moxa’s Turbo Ring and Turbo Chain technologies provided network redundancy with network recovery time under 20 milliseconds, ensuring uninterrupted operation during network failures.
    • Dual power inputs and fault relay outputs enhanced system reliability, critical for maintaining tunnel safety.
  5. Enhanced Cybersecurity (IEC 62443-4-2 Certified):
    • Tunnels require robust cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. Moxa is the world's first industrial data communication company to acquire IEC 62443-4-2 certified network devices.
  6. Scalability for Future Growth
    • The modular design of Moxa switches allowed for easy expansion, accommodating additional devices or subsystems as the tunnel’s infrastructure expands.
    • Support for standard open protocols such as RSTP/STP, MSTP and MRP ensured compatibility with third-party network switch vendors.

Products Supplied by Easy World

Moxa Device

Brand: Moxa

Model Name: RKS-G4028 Series

Quantity: 100+

  • IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 certified
  • Modular interfaces for flexible connector type combinations
  • Support for IEEE 802.3bt PoE for up to 90 W output per port
  • Multiple redundancy protocols such as RSTP, MSTP, MRP, and Moxa’s proprietary protocols,             Turbo Ring and Turbo Chain
  • EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus TCP protocols supported
  • -40 to 75°C operating temperature
  • EN 50121-4 (Railway) and NEMA TS2 (Traffic Control) Certified
  • High EMC immunity compliant with IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613
MXView-250

Brand: Moxa

Model Name: MXView-250

Quantity: 1

  • Discovers and visualises network devices and physical connections automatically
  • Central management of configurations and firmware for Moxa devices
  • Generate an inventory report for each device on the network
  • Provides RESTful API and web widget for integrating MXView One into the existing system

Implementation Process (Easy World Contributions)

The deployment of Moxa switches was executed in collaboration with an Italian technology and engineering company, which handled the tunnel’s technological integration. Key implementation steps included:

Network Design and Proposal
  • Helped the customer in designing the network based from the customer’s requirement (redundant and secured network).
  • Recommended suitable and cost-effective product models to use.
  • Provided all the necessary documents for the equipment approval.
  • Value-added service including exchange warranty and technical support..
Testing & Commissioning
  • Provided support for the configuration of Moxa switches.
  • Assisted in the integration of Moxa to Cisco Core switches.
  • Rigorous testing ensured seamless communication and simulated different network failure scenarios.
Training and Maintenance:
  • The network operation and maintenance team were trained on Moxa switches and management tools to monitor and troubleshoot the network.
Technical Support
  • Respond to all technical enquiries related to Moxa switches and NMS.

Benefits

Improved Traffic Management
  • The switches supported seamless communication for VMS and traffic counting systems, reducing congestion and travel times compared to pre-tunnel conditions.
Operational Efficiency:
  • Moxa’s rugged design reduced maintenance needs, with switches operating reliably in the tunnel’s harsh environment.
  • The MXview simplified monitoring, reducing operational overhead.
Scalability and Future-Proofing
  • The flexible network infrastructure supported additional subsystems such as future expansions.
  • Compatibility with emerging protocols ensured the tunnel’s systems could adapt to technological advancements.
Environmental and Economic Impact
  • Improved traffic flow reduced fuel consumption and emissions aligning with Abu Dhabi’s sustainability goals.
  • The tunnel’s efficiency contributed to reduction in accidents, enhancing road safety and reducing economic losses.
Enhanced Safety
  • Real-time data from CCTV, incident detection, and fire alarm systems enabled rapid response to emergencies, improving commuter safety.
  • Redundant networks ensured continuous operation, minimizing risks during system failures.