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EastLink has used an aerial drone from Telstra to capture a Lidar map for its Mullum Mullum tunnel in Australia to help support safe trials of fully self-driving cars. Doug Spencer-Roy, EastLink’s corporate affairs and marketing manager, said that trial sites need to be mapped in high resolution to allow self-driving car prototypes to be conducted under controlled conditions to test their safe operation. Additionally, the process can also support the company’s maintenance activities, by allowing the deta

Whim, the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app which gives users access to transport packages on a pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription basis, has announced ambitious growth plans. “Within the next five years, we want to cover 60 countries,” Whim co-founder Kaj Pyyhtia (pictured) told ITS International. At present Whim, which is owned by MaaS Global, is available in just two countries, but Pyyhtia insists the target is achievable. The service was launched in Birmingham, UK, last week, to cover the

EastLink has demonstrated hands-free driving capabilities on a section of its Melbourne freeway to help provide Victorian drivers with a better understanding of the technology. For the test, a Honda CR-V VTi-LX carried out automated speed plus steering control, using the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist functions in an area of Eastlink closed to traffic. It was televised on 7 News Melbourne at 6.00pm on the 6 April 2018. The vehicle, according to Doug Spencer-Roy, EastLink’s corporate affair

Ertico Ertico has welcomed the mandatory installation of eCall in all new car and light vehicle models in Europe which will come into effect this month. The company, according to its chief executive officer Jacob Bangsgaard, has acted as one of the driving forces behind the discussion of equipping vehicles with emergency call service since 2001. Bangsgaard said: “Thanks to our diverse Partnership, we ensured cross-sectoral discussions and cooperation which was fundamental for reaching consensus towards

ViaVan, the joint venture between Via and Mercedes-Benz Vans, has launched a ride-sharing service in London that aims to reduce congestion and emissions by grouping app-users travelling in the same direction into one vehicle. Additionally, the company intends to offer a more affordable alternative than private car services between the capital’s zones one and two. It is now offering trips costing £3 ($2.14) for a limited period. Through the app, users select their pick up and drop off location and

PTV will take part in an International Automobile Federation’s (FIA’s) smart Cities Forum in Rome that will accompany Formula E’s electric racing series, on 14 April. The event aims to provide a platform for decision-makers from the automobile industry, cities and the industry to discuss scenarios for mobility of the future. At the forum, initiated by Mayoress Virginia Raggi, PTV will illustrate how cities can optimise their existing ecosystems for mobility and make them fit for future. The convention

Oxfordshire County Council has chosen Telent Technology Services (Telent) to provide efficient maintenance, supply and install traffic signalling equipment as well as a range of on-street ITS equipment across the county. The five-year project aims to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion, journey times and pollution levels. Telent met with the Council on 9 February to discuss rapid mobilisation of the contract. Plans are already in place to take over the necessary works. Nigel Weldon, business

Beijing-based Meituan has acquired Mobike to make bike-sharing an option for clients using the company’s ride-hailing and car-sharing services. The transaction also intends to meet the demands of daily commuters as well as their short distance travel needs. Data analytics from Meituan’s 320 million active clients revealed that most users seek out transportation services to get to and from restaurants and other local lifestyle points-of-interest. Mobike’s service, according to Davis Wang, the company’s

Michael Baker International will provide technical management for the implementation of connected vehicle technologies along a 35-mile stretch of the US Route 33 near Columbus, Ohio. The project aims to make roads safer, less congested and equipped for real-life testing of connected and autonomous vehicles and is scheduled for completion in January 2020. NW 33 Innovation Corridor Council of Governments (NW33) chose the provider of engineering solutions in a $1m (£710,200) contract that runs between the

UK-based Rfpro has launched a commercially available platform to train and develop autonomous vehicles (AVs) in simulation. The innovation is said to reduce the costs and time involved in developing these vehicles as well as provide a safe testing environment. The solution intends to replicate the real word to allow the various sensors of AVs to react naturally. In addition, Rfpro is producing a library of real roads created through precise scanning technology, to help form the basis of the simulation.

US partners Trafficware and Swim.ai have launched a live streaming traffic information service powered by machine-learning and edge computing. Called TidalWave, the solution intends to enable communities to deliver enhanced streaming traffic data with sub-second accuracy. It is also said to be packaged in a more affordable cloud service with low overhead and no impact to city infrastructure. The platform carries out traffic and signal analysis at a city’s advanced traffic management system or on

Helsinki-based Whim has released packages and pricing for its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platform ahead of the UK launch in the West Midlands, on the 5 April 2018. The MaaS Global solution is designed with the intention of integrating journey planning, reservations, payments and subscriptions into one app. Offers include a pay as you go option as well as the Whim Everyday £99 ($139) per month package which comes with unlimited public transport for taxis and car hire availability. In addition, the Whim

Union Tank Eckstein (UTA) has launched a solution for European electronic toll services (EETS) with the intention of allowing transport companies and forwarding agents to travel with a single on-board unit with all fees charged to one invoice. Called UTA One, the platform initially supports the toll systems in Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Germany and other European countries will be added through an over-the-air update. This option is also said to feature the integration

Toronto-based LocoMobi has added payment stations, cashier terminals, turnstile and associated enterprise hardware into its Smart City Cloud Portal. The project is utilising cloud interaction with the intention of enhancing consumer experience through eliminating obstacles presented by ticket kiosks and mobile applications to help boost ridership and improve profitability for cities. Additionally, the scheme will use the company’s mobile payment app and marketing programs as part of a strategy to help

A strong government role remains critical to ensuring that the deployment of connected and automated vehicles (C/AVs) improves the quality of lives for all citizens – according to the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). The Washington DC-based company’s new position statement has been published following the fatal crash involving a self-driving car in Arizona and the rapid development of the technology. ITE highlighted that governments must provide the regulatory oversight to ensure that C/AV test