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Videalert says its new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera delivers read rates over 98%. The HD camera, designed for the company's range of mobile enforcement vehicles (MEV), is expected to boost productivity in parking and traffic management applications. According to Videalert, the 2 megapixel camera utilises Sony digital signal processor technology for noise reduction and infrared sensitivity to capture images of reflective number plates up to 40 metres away. The ANPR camera also features

WSP has appointed Marie-Elsie Dowell, a senior technical manager, president of the Miami chapter of the Florida Engineering Society (FES). She will be responsible for improving transit in the region. FES is an association of professional engineers which supports engineering education and promotes the ethical practice of engineering. Dowell has been involved in the chapter and has served as a mentor in the Future City Competition, in which school students research and design cities of the future. Additional

Keolis is trialling an electric autonomous shuttle to take riders to the caves of Han-sur-Lesse, a tourist attraction in Belgium. The study will assess the reactions of passengers travelling along a 500m route in normal traffic conditions to help improve the safety of the technology. The Navya shuttle can carry up to 15 passengers from the parking area to the caves. It features lidar sensors, a GPS real-time kinematic odometric system, vehicle-to-everything connection and cameras which allows it to dete

Resource management company Veolia will trial two electric refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) which are charged by power derived from waste collected in Sheffield, UK. The former diesel-powered vehicles are expected to operate by the end of the year. The company says the project is intended to demonstrate its commitment to the deployment of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles. Innovate UK has provided a £220,000 grant to Sheffield City Council which will allow the 26-tonne RCVs to operate over the next

Belden says its upgraded Hirschmann Layer 3 backbone switches transfer larger quantities of data without compromising network performance. According to Belden, the Dragon Mach4000 switches are suitable for mass transit systems such as railway and train stations, airports and rail rolling stock. Dragon Mach4000 is intended to help engineers connect IT and operational technology networks and transition to 10 Gigabit speeds. It also expected to allow users to transition from 1 Gigabit networks to 2.5 and

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been chosen by the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) as the preferred bidder to modernise the Clipper fare payment system. Currently, 22 regional transit operators use Clipper in the Bay area, including Caltrain, SamTrans and Union City Transit. The upgraded system will include an integrated mobile app supporting a virtual Clipper card and provide users access to real-time information, top up their accounts, plan trips and allow them to tap

Siemens Intelligent Traffic Systems is to supply $1m of ITS infrastructure to the American Center for Mobility (ACM). The partnership is developing real-world testing and validation of connected and autonomous vehicles (C/AVs). Soraya Kim, ACM chief innovation officer, says: “Our goal is to provide our testers the means for exhaustive validation methodologies and comprehensive regulations for the safe deployment of connected vehicle technologies.” Siemens ITS will also deliver software applications and an

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is trialling a driverless shuttle across a 1250m track at entertainment complex Dubailand, on Al-Qudra Road. The initiative is intended to support the government’s plans to convert up to 25% of the country’s transport to autonomous by 2030. The RTA is testing the EasyMile EZ10 as part of the next phase of its driverless vehicle project, which follows three successful test runs in the area. EZ10 will travel at a speed of 20 km/h along short distances on

Mobike says it has suspended its bike-sharing service in the UK city of Manchester following an increase in bike losses from theft and vandalism. The company is in the process of refunding riders and is advising them to check their bank statements. According to Mobike, the service began operating in Manchester in July 2017, with citizens taking 250,000 trips across over 180,000 miles. It operates in other UK cities such as London, Newcastle, Oxford and Cambridge. Mobike also has operations in Paris, Berlin

US company Affectiva plans to develop a joint automotive assistant which detects driver distraction and drowsiness and voices recommendations such as navigating to a coffee shop. The solution is intended to align its dialogue to a motorist’s emotional state based on facial and verbal expressions. The integrated solution will combine the Affectiva Automotive AI solution with UK-based Nuance Communications’ Dragon Drive platform. Affectiva Automotive AI measures facial expressions and emotions such as anger

Conduent is extending its contactless card payment system to Line 3 of on Puebla’s Red Urbana de Transporte Articulado (RUTA) bus rapid transit system in Mexico. The upgrade is being carried out over the summer and will replace all free-standing ticket machines. Conduent’s system will allow riders to tap their phone or Puebla contactless card at validators. The solution will also replace inspector terminals, validators and access control gates. According to Conduent, all three lines will receive fleet

BYD will deliver seven 12 metre electric buses to public transport operator Egged in Jerusalem, Israel. The deal serves as an extension to a deployment of 17 vehicles in Haifa, a port city in the north of Israel in 2017. The order is part of a wider initiative, supported by Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Environment, to introduce alternative transit technologies to the country’s public transportation fleets.

Antaira Technologies, an industrial device networking and communication solutions specialist, says its new unmanaged switch series is designed for industrial application subject to high vibration and shock. The LNP-0800G-M12-67-24 series features a PSE management system which helps provide protection from PoE system or PD overloads. According to Antaira, the IP67 waterproof switch uses bypass technology to help keep data communication flowing if there is a power failure even if the switch is offline. The

Canadian bike-sharing company PBSC Urban Solutions will deploy over 7,000 bikes across Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile. Both roll-outs are set to be completed by early 2019. The deployment consists of 4,000 Iconic models to Buenos Aires, along with 400 docking stations which use energy from solar panels for data transmission to lock and unlock bikes. In addition, 3,850 Fit bikes and 350 solar-powered stations will launch in Santiago. The project is part of a deal with Tembico, a company whic

Public transport operator Transdev is to launch a driverless shuttle for school children in Florida. The autonomous service will run this autumn at Babcock Neighbourhood School in the new town of Babcock Ranch, north-east of Fort Myers. The 12-person Easy Mile Ez10 Gen 11 shuttle will operate at 12mph and brake automatically when it detects obstacles or manoeuvre around them safely. A ‘safety attendant’ will remain on board. Transdev has confirmed it will test the shuttle with students and families on t