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Air Quality & Weather Systems

June 2, 2016
Belgrade gets smart with parking
Public utility company Parking Servis in Belgrade, Serbia, has introduced a wireless parking solution to enable motorists to quickly find vacant parking spots, utilising Nedap’s Sensit system, in an effort to combat congestion caused by a growing number of vehicles and a limited number of parking spaces. Over 3,500 parking spaces within time-restricted parking zones will be equipped with Sensit wireless bay-mounted sensors that detect vehicle occupancy status and the parking duration of individual parkin
June 1, 2016
Engine emissions analyser improves emissions testing capability
An advanced FTIR analyser installed at Intertek’s engine test facility in Milton Keynes is enabling engineers to improve the quality of their tests on the gaseous components of engine exhaust emissions. The gas analyser manufactured by Gasmet Technologies and installed by their UK subsidiary, Quantitech, measures multiple organic and inorganic components simultaneously from a large library of compounds, enabling Intertek’s engineers to quickly and easily change the measured compounds; to change the fuel
May 26, 2016
New freight air quality initiative to reduce harmful emissions in London
The LoCITY programme has taken its first steps to improve air quality in London by publishing data to help increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries, following its initial four months’ research. The research demonstrates that to reduce freight’s impact on London’s air quality the use of low emission commercial vehicles must be increased. It has also revealed some of the key barriers that are holding back the use of low emission vehicles. One area highlighted is a lack of info
May 26, 2016
Viaduct deck renewal creates detour dilemma for MassDOT
As the deck renewal of the I-91 viaduct in Springfield gets underway, David Crawford looks at the preparation and planning to ease the resulting traffic congestion. Accommodating the deck renewal of a 4km-long/four-lanes in each direction viaduct in the heart of Springfield (Massachusetts’ third largest city), has involved the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) in a massive exercise in transport research and ITS-based area-wide preplanning and traffic management. Supporting a workzone of well ab
May 23, 2016
Transport sector unites to launch Global Decarbonising Transport project
More than 40 partners and supporting organisations joined the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD for the launch of a major global initiative towards carbon-free transport. Transport activity currently contributes 23 per cent of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, with the share expected to rise, says the ITF. The Decarbonising Transport project aims to: Provide a common assessment tool based on a comprehensive modelling framework supported by dialogue with key stakeholders; Enable countr
May 18, 2016
UK port installs Swarco traffic management
FM Conway, the main contractor for the traffic management improvement scheme at the Port of Dover, has awarded Swarco the contract to install 15 variable message signs as part of a US$123 million (£85 million) capital investment programme to better manage and control vehicles through a new freight holding facility to remove more than 4km of queuing traffic from Kent’s highways. Two signs are used to direct heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) into Customs or the holding facility, depending on the quantity of tra
May 18, 2016
Managing Seattle’s congestion with Siemens intelligent software
The City of Seattle, Washington, is to implement Siemens’ Concert, an integrated traffic management platform that connects both Siemens and third-party systems across the city including traffic control centres, intersection controllers and parking guidance systems. The Concert platform will integrate Siemens’ TACTICS traffic control system as well as the city’s existing dynamic message sign management system the local travel time system and the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) freeway sys
May 13, 2016
Scania delivers hybrid buses to Madrid
As part of its measures to reduce pollution in the city, the City of Madrid is to take delivery of 51 hybridised Scania Citywide buses in June. These feature cost-saving and emission-reducing hybrid technology that meets the EU suburban and short distance Class II regulations. Madrid recently enforced tough temporary measures to tackle pollution, including limiting speed limits and banning passenger car access to the city centre if nitrogen oxide levels exceed acceptable levels. In parallel, the Madrid t
May 6, 2016
20 cities challenge relaxation of EU air pollution standards
Ordered to cut air pollution levels by Brussels, a group of EU cities are taking the European Commission to court over its decision to relax car emissions standards, making their objectives even less attainable, according to EurActiv France. The EU’s muddled position on air pollution has angered the bloc’s major cities. For Paris, Madrid and Copenhagen, the EU’s decision to give carmakers more freedom to pollute is unacceptable. But since it was discreetly added to the Official Journal of the European Unio
May 6, 2016
RIDOT's wrong-way driving systems ‘halt close to fifty potential crashes’
One year after its debut, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) says its investment in wrong-way driving detection technology is proving to be very successful – none of the 47 wrong-way driving incidents where these systems have been installed has resulted in a wrong-way crash. Working with the Rhode Island State Police, RIDOT identified 24 high-risk locations for installing this technology at select ramps along I-95, I-195, Route 146, Route 10, Route 4, Route 6 and Routes 6/10 at Memorial Boule