Air Quality & Weather Systems

Connected vehicle data promises advanced weather warning

August 29, 2012

Connected vehicle research and development is being aimed at improving driver safety and mobility, but is also promising advanced weather monitoring and warning systems. Sheldon Drobot reports. Over the last few years, the United States’ Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Research & Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) have joined forces to promote safety, mobility and the environment through a new connected vehicle initiative. This aims to enable wireless communication between vehicles, infra

Freeway management system for Sydney's M4 motorway

August 28, 2012

In a bid to improve Sydney's roads and congestion, Australia's Federal and New South Wales governments are to jointly fund a project to equip the full length of the state's M4 motorway with technology which will improve traffic flows and ease congestion along this vital part of Sydney's road network. The US$17 million project will provide the M4 with an electronic freeway management system consisting of variable speed limit sign, entry ramp signalling, CCTV, digital traveller information signs, and signs ad

Revised guidelines for disseminating road weather advisory and control information

August 21, 2012

The tremendous growth in the amount of available weather and road condition information—including devices that gather weather information, models and forecasting tools for predicting weather conditions, and electronic devices used by travellers — has led the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to develop effective and specific guidelines for communicating road weather information in a way that is consistent with what travellers need, want, and will use when making travel decisions.

VMZ Berlin chooses TomTom to improve traffic flow

August 20, 2012

TomTom has announced a 10-year partnership with VMZ Berlin, the operator of Berlin’s traffic information centre, to provide real-time traffic information for Berlin and for selected parts of the state of Brandenburg. “We chose TomTom because its traffic product offers coverage that extends beyond traditional methods of traffic detection, such as loops, cameras or infrared sensors,” said Reinhard Giehler, managing director VMZ Berlin. “We believe that traffic flow and road network utilisation in the region w

Next-gen driver feedback sign

August 15, 2012

TraffiCalm Systems has announced the first product in its new line of driver feedback signs for 2012. The fully-featured and affordably priced new DFB sign has a fully enclosed electronic control system that can be easily removed from the mounting frame as a complete unit for simplified installation and repair. The display shows the speed of approaching vehicles using amber LEDs.

Iteris issues RFP for sponsorship of Georgia 511 NaviGAtor traveller info system

August 9, 2012

Iteris, which operates 511 systems in 11 states, is soliciting proposals for sponsorship opportunities of Georgia's 511 NaviGAtor traveller information system. The request for proposal (RFP) package is available to download at GDOT 511 RFP. Sponsorship opportunities of the Georgia 511 NaviGAtor system include the 511 telephone system, which receives 1.6 million - 2 million calls annually; 511 website, which exceeds three million hits annually; over 600 roadway signs statewide, reaching more than three milli

UK drivers get real time traffic information boost

August 9, 2012

The UK Highways Agency is trialling a system to add commercially available traffic data to its existing sources to monitor how well traffic is flowing on England's motorways and strategic roads. Similar data sources are already used by satellite navigation devices, smartphones, and applications like Google maps. Better real-time data will allow agency staff to respond more quickly to incidents and identify delays and communicate them to drivers so they can take alternative routes if necessary.

Developments in travel information display systems

August 1, 2012

David Crawford looks at recent developments in travel information display systems. It is important to remember that we are investing in Real-Time Passenger Information [RTPI] to increase ridership," says Robert Burke, Managing Director of New Zealand transit tracking technology specialist Connexionz, which has been involved in at-stop and remote passenger information since 1995. "Superior information improves the perception of public transport reliability and gives the passenger more choices and greater con

InfoConnect delivers accurate travel information on all levels

August 1, 2012

Deryk Whyte provides an overview of how the New Zealand Transport Agency's InfoConnect concept was developed. Historically, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) (formerly Transit New Zealand) has faced challenges in communicating effectively with road users, its customers, about highway-related events or incidents in a timely, accurate manner. Prior to 2007, Transit relied on a third-party organisation to collect and disseminate national road condition information. This often resulted in incomplete infor

In vehicle systems allow drivers to provide travel information

July 27, 2012

The use of a Vehicle Data Translator will allow every vehicle on a given segment of road to contribute to a highly accurate, readily accessible source of localised weather information, thus improving safety in all conditions. Sheldon Drobot and William P. Mahoney III, US National Center for Atmospheric Research, Paul A. Pisano, USDOT/Federal Highway Administration, and Benjamin B. McKeever, USDOT/Research and Innovative Technology Administration, write. On the morning of June 10 2009, under the cover of den