News

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

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has set up a transportation systems division to encompass the increasingly connected transportation systems powered by the US electroindustry. The group will aim to promote the tools and infrastructure associated with the movement of goods and people in safe, cyber secure and efficient ways. This division, according to Steve Griffith, NEMA’s industry director, will provide growth opportunities in the entire spectrum of transportation such as park

Thales has won the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Genius Transit Challenge’s signalling category for its onboard systems. The technology behind the system is designed with the intention of carrying out train positioning more efficiently while maintaining a high standard of safety, reducing delays and mitigating costs. The solution, according to Thales, could be implemented in approximately one-third of the time of the current plan. In addition, it aims to reduce maintenance effort and main

Denso has deployed a research and development (R&D) team in Israel with the intention of accelerating automated driving, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. It will collaborate with local companies and Universities to develop technologies that aim to deliver safe and sustainable solutions that improve people’s lives and benefit the environment. From April, Denso’s R&D team will start working with local startups to pioneer new technologies. It will also tap into the country’s technology to help

TRL has appointed Chrys Stevenson sales and marketing director as part of a strategy to lead business activities domestically and internationally. He was previously chief executive officer for QinetiQ’s US-based export business and has also worked extensively with government agencies in delivering various objectives across the defence and security sectors. Stevenson said: “I am extremely excited to be joining an organisation that plays such a pivotal role in surface transport innovation. We are at a

Manufacturer of irrigation and infrastructure equipment Lindsay (LNN) has joined forces with the Bay Area Transportation Authority to deploy its movable barrier on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in San Francisco, California. Called Road Zipper, the solution will intend to create a separate area for bicycles and pedestrians, while giving officials the option to move the barrier when maintenance work is needed. The platform consists of T-shaped movable barriers that are connected to form a continuous wall