Air Quality & Weather Systems

David Crawford investigates the potential of new projection technology. Fifty years on from its invention of the microchip, US company Texas Instruments (TI) has compressed the technology into a surface area of just 4.3mm. As such, it forms the heart of a new Pico Digital Light Processing (DLP) system that is set to transform travel information delivery for millions of users on the move - by making it projectable.

Daktronics has announced the addition of a new ITS LED display to its current line of widely used Vanguard Dynamic Message Signs (DMS). The Vanguard VM-1020 Dedicated Dynamic Message Sign, or DDMS, is designed to provide a reliable signage solution dedicated to travel time, toll rate (such as high-occupancy toll lanes) and other managed lane applications.

High Sierra Electronics is claiming a unique approach to Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) with the launch of its newest product, the Model 5470 NTCIP Mini-RWIS Remote Processing Unit. This device is the heart of a non-proprietary, open architecture NTCIP-compliant Environmental Sensor Station (ESS), designed for primary deployment within existing or new ATC cabinets and Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) cabinets. The company says this approach allows simpler implementation at a lower cost than traditional i

Extreme weather conditions cost the EU’s transport system at least €15 billion (US$18.44 billion) per year according to a a study carried out by the Finnish VTT Technical Research Centre. The study reveals that the greatest costs incurred are from road accidents, with the associated material and psychological effects. Costs arising from accidents are expected to decrease in volume, although time-related costs attributable to delays are projected to increase. In part, this last effect is due to climate chang

Traffic management centres (TMC) have traditionally served to provide surveillance and responses to traffic incidents and recurring and non-recurring changes in road networks. Typically, a TMC collected field data from the roadway and transit infrastructure and provided the integration necessary for operators to see what was happening and then coordinate a response. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) guided operators on how to respond to a given situation. It eventually became impractical for TMC operat

TomTom has announced a partnership with MapQuest, wholly owned by AOL, to power the company’s mobile app with TomTom maps. Available for Android and iOS, MapQuest’s free apps provide access to a wireless version of the well-known MapQuest website.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri H. LeBas has announced the New Orleans Core ITS project that will outfit the I-10 corridor, from Kenner to the Central Business District (CBD), I-610 and US 90 Business with 24 new surveillance cameras and eight dynamic message signs. These will be monitored and operated by staff at the regional transportation management centre. The aim is to improve travel by helping drivers avoid traffic congestion and use alternate routes, ultimately

Ireland's National Transport Authority (NTA) has launched a journey planner service via its public transport brand, Transport for Ireland. The service will inform users of the best public transport routes to take in Dublin. At end of June 2012, the website for Journey Planner was launched, along with an application (app) for Android-based smartphones, and an iPhone version will be launched shortly.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider has kicked off a statewide digital message board campaign to help reduce roadway fatalities occurring this year. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDoT) has started to rotate four key traffic safety messages daily starting, in conjunction with a social media and internet page presence. As of July 5, provisional crash data reports 479 fatalities have taken place on Illinois roadways this year, as compared to 418 during the same timeframe last year.

Pennsylvania's 511PA system, which provides free travel information including construction alerts and real-time traffic cameras, reached a milestone in June of two million total website visits, PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch has announced. The 511PA telephone system has received more than 1 million calls and more than 15,000 people have signed up for personalised text or email alerts.