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Teledyne Dalsa extends low cost GigE camera range
February 18, 2016
Machine vision specialist Teledyne Dalsa has extended its Genie Nano series of affordable, easy-to-use GigE Vision cameras with new colour monochrome and NIR models featuring ON Semiconductor’s 2 and 5 megapixel Python image sensors for fast, high resolution vision across a wide range of applications. Featuring a small size and wide temperature range, the six new models, the M1930, C1930, M1930-NIR, M2590, C2590, and M2590-NIR are built around On-Semiconductor’s Python 2000 and 5000 monochrome and colou
FRA calls on states to inspect traffic signals at rail crossings
February 18, 2016
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today called on state departments of transportation to verify that railroad crossing warning systems interconnected to traffic signals function properly to verify that the traffic signals and crossing lights are properly sequenced and enough time is provided for traffic to clear from a nearby intersection before a train enters a crossing. The agency also urged states to add event recorders to traffic signals connected to railroad crossing systems so information o
NFC Forum and APTA sign collaboration agreement
February 18, 2016
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the NFC Forum have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enable the two organisations to jointly educate the industry on near field communication (NFC) technologies supporting the needs of public transportation operators. The use of NFC for public transit ticketing is growing. Recently, New York State announced a plan to support NFC payments for the 11-million-user Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the UK Cards Asso
ITS Australia showcases what’s to come in automated vehicle technology
February 17, 2016
Drawing more than 200 professionals from intelligent transport systems (ITS) and related disciplines, ITS Australia recently hosted the first in a series of ITS showcase events in Melbourne. Focusing on automated vehicles and cooperative ITS, the event was setting the stage for what’s to come as Melbourne prepares to host the 23rd ITS World Congress later this year. Keynote speakers from USA, UK and Europe shared insights about global technology that is changing the way we use and develop transport techn
The steep drop in fuel prices and its effect on transportation in India, US and UK
February 17, 2016
Industry insight from Steer Davies Gleave notes that increases in oil production and lower projected global demand growth for crude oil have contributed to declines in fuel prices, beginning in June 2014 and falling 70 per cent to the lowest point in January 2016. However, the impact of changing fuel prices is not uniform across transportation modes. For instance, in India, retail fuel prices have declined by only 20-25 per cent as a result of the central government increasing the excise duties to shore
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas toll systems to be compatible in 2017
February 17, 2016
The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) has entered into an agreement to be part of a hub system that will allow for compatibility between the multiple agencies in Texas and the Oklahoma and Kansas turnpike authorities, beginning in 2017. This partnership will allow travellers to use one electronic transponder to pay for tolls in the Midwest. Although the agreement has been signed by KTA, there is still much to be done before the electronic tolling systems can all work together, including the back-office
London Borough deploys unattended CCTV enforcement
February 17, 2016
The London Borough of Barnet has awarded OpenView Security Solutions a contract to supply and maintain CCTV cameras and software for the unattended enforcement of moving traffic contraventions. The Videalert-based platform will initially be used to enforce a range of moving traffic contraventions at more than 20 locations as well as being deployed outside 32 schools to increase road safety for children across the borough. Chairman of Barnet Council’s Environment Committee, Dean Cohen, said: “The int
CBO report on federal highway spending ‘a breath of fresh air’ says IBTTA
February 17, 2016
The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) applauds a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, Approaches to Making Federal Highway Spending More Productive, which examines the economic advantages of tolling as one means of funding the nation’s highway system.
New Buses Bill gives councils more power
February 16, 2016
Reforms are set to make bus travel in the UK more passenger-friendly and give councils more freedom to improve services. Roads Minister Andrew Jones said reforms will help deliver better journeys across the country, as he delivered a keynote speech at the UK Bus Summit. Under the changes in the Buses Bill, councils will be given the choice to franchise services and enter into new partnerships with providers. All companies will have to share information about routes, fares and timetables, paving the
Making all vehicles autonomous could reduce traffic accidents, says report
February 16, 2016
The widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could bring billions of pounds to the UK economy and save hundreds of lives, according to a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is calling for urgent Government and industry action to encourage the greater use of autonomous and driverless vehicles. It also calls for urgent resolution of legislative, technological and insurance issues to help encourage the rollout of autonomous or driverless vehicles. Philippa Oldham, head of transpor
UK cities trial pollution-measuring lasers
February 16, 2016
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
Indra to equip Buenos Aires train network with access control and ticketing
February 16, 2016
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
Australian report calls for a shift in infrastructure development
February 16, 2016
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
Multimillion-pound project to tackle autonomous fleet operation
February 15, 2016
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
San Sebastián to demonstrate automated passenger vehicles
February 15, 2016
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