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As the automotive industry faces narrowing margins, the need to look to other revenue streams and keep the customer committed to the brand for their next purchase is paramount, says Frost & Sullivan. Automotive manufacturers are therefore focusing on research and development (R&D) on autonomous, connected, and electrification (ACE) technologies to build fully connected and completely autonomous vehicles. To thrive in this highly competitive, evolving market, manufacturers need to look beyond seeing themselv

International Road Dynamics (IRD) supported Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) in advance of Hurricane Irma’s landfall to advise on ways in which MCCD could monitor the traffic at their weigh stations and provide useful information to internal and external stakeholders. MCCD, the agency responsible for weight and safety enforcement in the state, indicated they were already watching the IRD Virtual Weigh Station (VWS) websites very closely.

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced US$55 million in grant selections through the Low or No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle program, which funds the development of transit buses and infrastructure that use advanced fuel technologies. Fifty-one projects in 39 states will receive a share of the funding, including the City of Lubbock, Texas and local transit agency Citibus, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Florida and the Alaska Department of

In an effort to improve road safety at night, the town of Suqian in Jiangsu Province, China has installed a smart zebra crossing, which has LED lights embedded in the road alongside it, reports GB Times. The lights begin to flash when pedestrians step on to the crossing, while a traffic sign with the words ‘Yield to pedestrians’ lights up. A warning notice autonomously warns drivers that they are approaching the crossing.

Gatso USA, a subsidiary of Sensys Gatso Group, has been awarded a three-year extension on its automated red light enforcement managed services contract with the town of Abington, Pennsylvania. The extension, effective 30 September, is valued at US$1.5 million (SEK 12 million) and covers the continued maintenance and operation of a managed service program based on T-Series cameras and the Xilium back office solution, originally awarded to Gatso USA in 2014.

The call for contributions at the ITS World Congress in Copenhagen are now open under the theme ITS – Quality of Life, deadline 29 September 2017. The 25th congress will focus on ITS solutions that contribute to livability, greener environment and lower congestion and will provide experts with the opportunity to present the latest ITS solutions and mobility technologies.

The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is participating in the EU-funded project COMSYN, which aims to develop a production concept for competitive bio-based fuels by means of a compact gasification and synthesis process. The target reduction of the biofuel production cost is up to 35 per cent compared to alternative routes, which translates to less than 0.80 €/l production cost for diesel.

The Germany city of Hamburg and mapping and location specialist Here Technologies plan to share traffic-relevant data, with the aim of enhancing traffic safety and reduce noise and pollutant emissions by improving traffic flows. The partners plan to cooperate in various areas and to start joint projects. As part of the partnership Hamburg will provide Here with access to up-to-date, non-personal data related to public transit, construction sites, major events and parking availability. Here will integra

The Germany city of Hamburg and mapping and location specialist Here Technologies plan to share traffic-relevant data, with the aim of enhancing traffic safety and reduce noise and pollutant emissions by improving traffic flows. The partners plan to cooperate in various areas and to start joint projects. As part of the partnership Hamburg will provide Here with access to up-to-date, non-personal data related to public transit, construction sites, major events and parking availability. Here will integra

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has conducted the first of a two-day demonstration of three-truck platoons on I-66 in Virginia. The results of a four-year research project to test the effectiveness of state-of-the-art driving and communications technologies were showcased at the event. Truck platooning uses vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology to allow trucks to follow each other more closely – at about one second apart – and travel in a more coordinated fashion.

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has conducted the first of a two-day demonstration of three-truck platoons on I-66 in Virginia. The results of a four-year research project to test the effectiveness of state-of-the-art driving and communications technologies were showcased at the event. Truck platooning uses vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology to allow trucks to follow each other more closely – at about one second apart – and travel in a more coordinated fashion.

UK technology company Delphi Automotive is to partner with LeddarTech, a Canadian company developing solid-state LiDAR technology to collaborate on the development of a low-cost, corner LiDAR solution. They say the core technology can be developed rapidly and allows for easy vehicle integration.

The sale of nearly 100 percent of PTV Planung Transport Verkehr (PTV), Karlsruhe, to Porsche Automobil Holding (Porsche SE), Stuttgart, announced in June, has now been completed. PTV provides software for traffic planning and management and transport logistics.

The City of Atlanta, Georgia, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Georgia Tech, has launched a smart city project on a major east-west artery in the city. The North Avenue Smart Corridor demonstration project, funded by the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond, will deploy the latest technology in adaptive signal systems for a safer, more efficient flow of transit, personal vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has appointed WSP USA as the agency’s independent consulting engineer for engineering projects associated with the Illinois Tollway. Under the 54-month contract, WSP will work on a number of current and future tollway projects planned by the Authority. These include the 22-mile Tri-State Tollway Expansion, set to begin design in 2018, the ongoing design and construction of the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project