Air Quality & Weather Systems

Slovenian traffic technology specialist Sipronika will launch the MHP50 speed display which uses a built-in microwave radar to measure the speeds of vehicles as they pass by. There are several versions of display available: a basic version with a speed display only, a version with an additional mono-colour LED message, and a version with an RGB message. The RGB display can show any kind of multi-colour traffic signs, animated text, graphic animation or sponsor's logo.

Global weather specialist Vaisala has launched a newly developed non-invasive road weather information system with substantial benefits for road operators. The Guardian Road Weather Information System (RWIS) uses laser spectroscopy to gauge pavement condition during all types of weather. It measures a variety of parameters: amount of accumulated water, frost, ice, slush, snow, and humidity as well as air and pavement temperature. For the first time ever for non-contact sensors, Guardian also derives a measu

Sheldon Drobot, Michael Chapman and Amanda Anderson, NCAR, and Paul Pisano, FHWA, detail latest results of testing of a vehicle data translator for road weather monitoring and information applications. The use of vehicle sensor data to improve weather and road condition products, envisioned as part of the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration's (RITA's) IntelliDriveSM initiative, could revolutionise the provision of road weather information to transportation syste

David Crawford looks forward to the completion of Stockholm's JustNu project. End-2010 is the target date for delivery of the final stages of Stockholm public transport authority (PTA) Stockholms Lokaltrafik (SL)'s ambitious JustNu (Right Now) integrated travel information system. Installation began in 2004, and the result will represent a large-scale and highly exportable solution to the need for harmonisation of traveller information in urban regions with multiple transport operators.

Pete Goldin reports on a new wireless, solar-powered traffic detection system being used by Caltrans District 12. As more and more traffic data is necessary to satisfy the needs of traffic management centres and traveller information systems, and as traffic detection technology becomes more ubiquitous, transportation authorities are pressured to find more economical ways of expanding their detection systems. Caltrans District 12 is leading this push by deploying the latest detection system from Case Global

Istanbul-headquartered Isbak, a specialist in traffic management and electronic payment systems, has launched Wait'n Fun, an innovative variable message sign designed for mounting on traffic lights to communicate traffic information, speed limits, weather information, commercials, traffic light countdowns and so on.

Alberto Arbaiza, ES4-Mare Nostrum Chair, Directorate General of Traffic, Spain and Antonio Lucas-Alba, ES4 Secretariat, INTRAS, University of Valencia, Spain write about progress towards variable message sign harmonisation in Europe . Particularly in Europe, national road administrations have been faster at generating and adopting new road signs than the standardisation process has been at generating them.