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Air Quality & Weather Systems

New consortium leads smart city initiative for Exeter
December 10, 2015
Exeter City Council and Devon County Council, working with a consortium led by IT services provider NTT Data, have unveiled a ground-breaking, two-year intelligent transport project for the area. Through the project, the group aims to identify solutions that will alleviate traffic congestion in and around Exeter, an historic city in the county of Devon, in south-west England. NTT Data will lead the consortium of traffic experts and specialist providers including Imtech Traffic & Infra, Vaisala, the Unive
Europe’s heavy trucks ‘no more fuel-efficient than ten years ago’
December 4, 2015
A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) claims that trucks in the European Union are no more fuel-efficient than they were a decade ago. The study, which analyses data from the European commercial trucking market, looking at key member states, manufacturers and fuel consumption trend, found that heavy-duty vehicles represent only four per cent of the on-road fleet in the European Union, but are responsible for 30 per cent of on-road CO2 emissions. In contrast, the study cla
Multilateral development banks join forces to ramp up climate action in transport
December 4, 2015
Eight multilateral development banks have issued a joint statement, committing to accelerate their efforts to mitigate transport emissions and recognizing the need for more action on the resilience of transport to climate change. The sector accounts for about 60 per cent of global oil consumption, 27 per cent of all energy use, and 23 per cent of world energy-related CO2 emissions. In their statement, the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America, European
Emissions ‘rising too high despite the reduction targets’
December 4, 2015
An analysis by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland of the emission targets from 159 countries indicates that, although nearly all the world’s countries have announced targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, more ambitious emission reductions are needed in order to limit global warming to two degrees. In addition, developing countries have recently joined the effort to slow down climate change by setting targets for reducing emissions. However, despite those targets, VTT says emissi
Beijing considers congestion charge
December 3, 2015
According to Chinese website Xinhua, Beijing is likely to trial a congestion charge in a bid to address its congestion and air quality. Close to 5.6 million vehicles vie for space on Beijing's roads and vehicle emissions account for 31 per cent of the city's smog sources, according to the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.
MEPs call for action to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion
December 3, 2015
Ambitious emissions limits and a timeframe for real-world emissions testing should be set, say MEPs in a resolution on sustainable urban mobility adopted on Wednesday. Reliable public transport, car-sharing as well as ICT-enabled traffic management and working practices would help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Measures to improve conditions for cycling and walking should be taken, they add.
Variable speed limits to warn of adverse weather on British Columbia highways
December 3, 2015
Variable speed signs are being installed on sections of the Coquihalla, Trans-Canada and Sea to Sky highways in Canada, as part of a US$9.4 million pilot project to help reduce the frequency of weather-related crashes.
Sick launches tunnel safety pollution monitoring
December 2, 2015
Sick’s tunnel monitoring technology provides early warning of unsafe visibility and pollution conditions inside road and rail tunnels and ensure the safety of vehicle occupants and tunnel staff. Its VISIC100SF tunnel environment monitor combines visibility measurements, with a range of up to 15km, CO detection of 0- 300ppm (≤3% accuracy) and NO detection of 0-100ppm (≤3% accuracy).
Car emissions campaigners turn sights on Renault
November 27, 2015
Renault's flagship Espace minivan released toxic diesel emissions 25 times over legal limits in a Swiss study, despite complying with EU tests carried out at unrealistically low engine temperatures, a German environmental group said this week. According to Reuters, the tests commissioned by the DUH group, which have not been independently verified, follow Volkswagen's admission that it used illegal ‘defeat devices’ to cheat diesel emission regulations. In a statement, Renault said it contested the fin
Innovation award for Lufft
November 18, 2015
Measurement and control technology company Lufft has been names as a winner of the Dr Rudolf Eberle, named after the former Baden-Württemberg Minister of Economics and awarded by the Ministry of Economics. Since 1985, the Baden-Württemberg innovation award has celebrated medium-sized companies in the region who have developed outstanding technological innovations in the fields of industry, trade, and technological services. Lufft’s innovative Marwis mobile road sensor impressed the 12 members of the e