News

A new system that combines laser-based remote sensing and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is being trialled in London and Birmingham in a bid to catch polluting cars. Developed by Hager Environmental and Atmospheric Technologies (HEAT), the emissions detecting and reporting system (EDAR) remotely detects and measures infrared absorption of environmentally critical gases coming out of a moving vehicle. The technology is combined with still/scene camera technology and an ANPR camera, which al

Spanish multinational Indra is to deploy its access control and ticketing technology across the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (BAMA) rail network, one of the world's largest with more than 200 stations. The contract also includes system maintenance during a two-year period. Argentina's national rail operator has awarded Indra the contract, worth US$39 million, under which the firm will equip eight lines with 1,400 access control machines, or turnstiles; 170 disabled entrances; 200 automatic recharging m

The first policy outlook paper issued by the Better Infrastructure Initiative at the University of Sydney, Re-establishing Australia's Global Infrastructure Leadership, claims that Australia could save billions of dollars by focusing infrastructure spending on existing infrastructure networks. The report found that low innovation, declining productivity and a failure to positively engage customers are key factors holding back the nation's infrastructure. It recommends greater transparency, better stan

Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) spin-out Immense Simulations and Improbable have been successful in their application to the Innovate UK Connected and Autonomous Vehicles call for a Collaborative Research and Development project, to create a new solution for the coordination of autonomous vehicle fleets. Immense Simulations will develop ‘tools for autonomous logistics operations and management’, building on its SpatialOS distributed simulation platform, a new operating system that enables developers to

Following similar demonstrations in other European cities such as Lausanne (Switzerland), La Rochelle (France) and Trikala (Greece), the European Commission (EC) has selected Donostia/San Sebastian, Spain, to operate an automated bus for three months, that will run Gipuzkoa Science and Technology Park and it will be the first demonstration not only in Euskadi but also in Spain. The selection is part of the CityMobil2 European project, the objective of which is to experiment and to understand how automate

Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) research program has initiated a project to evaluate an innovative new wildlife-detection system that may bring improved safety to area highways and reduce personal injury and property damage. The project is the result of a request from ITD’s northern Idaho office, and is a partnership between ITD and the Western Transportation Institute (WTI) of Montana State University. Collisions between wildlife and vehicles can be a big problem, and common in rural states such

In the light of the trend towards smart cities, the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) has released a report on smart cities and their intelligent public transportation (IPT) systems. The report, Cyber Security and Resilience of Intelligent Public Transport, focuses on the protection of the assets critical to IPT in the context of smart cities. These assets are considered critical as they contribute to the normal operation of local public transport networks, including metr

Sponsored and recently hosted by engineering company Siemens, the annual Industry Day at The Crystal, London, now in its third year, outlines the types of job opportunities available in the transport sector and showcases ex-military personnel who have made the transition into civilian employment. Based in London, supply chain partners including Siemens have identified that many of the personnel who are leaving the services have useful skills that can be transferred to the transport sector which has a shortf

TransEd Partners, a consortium including global engineering and construction company Bechtel, has been selected by the City of Edmonton to finance, design, supply vehicles, build, operate, and maintain the first phase of the Edmonton Valley Line Light Rail Transit project. The Valley Line is central to the City of Edmonton's transportation plan, designed to meet the demands of Canada's second fastest-growing city that is expected to increase in size by 50 per cent by 2040.

Rhode Island-based message sign manufacturer SES America recently played host to state governor Gina Raimondo and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. The occasion enabled SESA president Phil Perut and his team to show their expertise in manufacturing dynamic message signs for highway use, along with the latest technology such as DMS Connect, a sign directly connected to the cloud to provide real time travel information and the latest solar powered sign technology.

The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, has awarded Fugro Roadware a contract to collect updated images for its road right-of-way (ROW) inventory. The contract covers 1,400 lane kilometres of regional roads and provides a web-based solution for digital image playback and data review.

A new report by the LowCVP for Greener Journeys describes The Journey of the Green Bus; how innovation and supportive policy over the last decade and more has transformed the bus sector from being a part of the problem to being an important part of the solution to poor urban air quality as well as contributing to tackling climate change.

The International Bridge, tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and state legislators for passing Rhode Works to raise revenue for much-needed bridge repairs and maintenance across the state. According to the Rhode Island government, Rhode Island ranks last in the US in overall bridge condition, with about 22 per cent of the 1,162 bridges in the state structurally deficient. Officials plan to fix more than 150 structurally deficient bridges in the state an

French rail operator SNCF is piloting Xerox’s new intelligent, transportation ticket gate that uses three-dimensional (3D) scanning to accurately distinguish between valid passengers and tailgating fare dodgers, something that the company says systems based on infrared sensing devices find difficult to do. The gate features an LED strip bordering glass doors that changes colour to indicate to travellers whether the gate is operational and their ticket has been validated or rejected. When a fare dodger is de

A system designed and installed by Swarco Traffic and using water level sensing technology from OTT Hydrometry, is being used in an intelligent flood warning system that has been installed at a ford in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, UK. The system monitors water level in the Finham Brook where it passes under the A452, and warns drivers when potentially dangerous conditions arise.