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July 21, 2015
Imaging technologies to reduce driver distraction ‘expected to gain traction by 2020’
Frost and Sullivan’s latest report indicates that following a series of high-technology head up display (HUD) roll-outs, the automotive industry appears keen to adopt the imaging technology with the widest field of view (FOV) of up to 12 degrees x 5 degrees. Another HUD product feature to improve considerably is the brightness of virtual images, which increased up to 15000cd/m², even with lower power consumption. Digital light processing (DLP) and laser display are emerging as compelling alternatives to the
July 21, 2015
Siemens launches Bluetooth journey time monitoring
Siemens new Sapphire journey time measurement system (JTMS) offers a low cost, simple to deploy solution for recording and analysing journey times and network performance, says the company. The system uses the Bluetooth technology commonly found in mobile phones, aftermarket accessories, in-car communication and audio systems and is compact and simple to install, minimising street clutter. The system is fully integrated into the Siemens Stratos hosted traffic management system, providing all the necessar
July 21, 2015
Mcity test centre for connected and driverless vehicles now open
The University of Michigan has opened Mcity, the world's first controlled environment specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that will lead the way to mass-market driverless cars. Mcity was designed and developed by U-M's interdisciplinary MTC, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The 32-acre simulated urban and suburban environment includes a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, streetligh
July 21, 2015
Kapsch implements access control in historic Italian city
Kapsch TrafficCom has implemented its automated access control system in the city of Prato in Tuscany, Italy, to regulate access into the city and protect its historic heritage and environment. The system, installed in the Limited Traffic Zone (LTZ) started operations in early July 2015 and consists of a central system, software managing and issuing the permits and cameras placed at six gates that mark the access points to the city centre. This solution replaces the old system based on paper permits and
July 20, 2015
UK to lead the way in testing driverless cars
The UK government has launched a US$30 million competitive fund for collaborative research and development into driverless vehicles, along with a code of practice for testing. The measures, announced by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Transport Minister Andrew Jones, will put the UK at the forefront of the intelligent mobility market, expected to be worth US£1.4 trillion by 2025. The government wants bidders to put forward proposals in areas such as safety, reliability, how vehicles can communicat
July 20, 2015
Ohio Operation Lifesaver receives rail safety education grant
Ohio Operation Lifesaver, which aims end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights of way, has been awarded a US$20,000 grant from Operation Lifesaver (OLI) in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The state program will use the funding to spread “See Tracks? Think Train!” safety messages via radio, movie theatre advertising, digital media outreach and community events. The focus of the program will be the greater Cleveland area. The
July 20, 2015
New App alerts emergency services after a collision
Launched in time for the summer holiday season, Collision Call is a new app which automatically calls and alerts emergency services after a serious collision and sends an e-mail to family, work and friends, allowing them to take immediate action. The app measures G-forces which occur during a collision. If those forces exceed a certain level, dangerous to humans, the app automatically calls the alarm number in the relevant country and sends e-mails to programmed contacts. To prevent this from happening w
July 20, 2015
Indra implements smart tunnel technology
Texeira Duarte has awarded Indra a contract for the design, installation and commissioning of intelligent traffic systems (ITS), control and communications for the Marao tunnel, currently under construction and which, spanning close to 6 km, is said to be the longest in Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, Indra will also implement its tunnel control technology for the tunnel of the Mashhad Metro Line 2 in Iran. The global value of these contracts for Indra is more than US$8 million Indra
July 20, 2015
Lithuania installs average speed cameras
Police in Lithuania have begun installing average speed cameras on a five kilometre section of the Via Baltica highway, according to the Lithuanian Tribune. Following a trial period, there are plans to expand the network of such cameras, commented Commissioner General of Police Linas Pernavas. "Developed EU members states have long concluded that it's more effective to calculate the medium speed on the section of several or several dozen kilometres, rather that measuring the instant speed. The Via Balti
July 20, 2015
New report indicates reduction in London’s pollution
A new report, produced by experts at King's College London, for the first time quantifies the health and economic effects of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), where all previous studies have focused on particulate matter (PM2.5). Combined together the effects of both pollutants reveal a higher health impact than previously estimated after taking into account this further pollutant. The study also found that nearly half the health impacts are caused by air pollution outside London such as diesel
July 17, 2015
Intelligent transportation system market ‘worth $33.89 billion by 2020’
According to a new market research report by MarketsandMarkets, the intelligent transportation system market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.57 per cent between 2015 and 2020, and reach US$33.89 billion by 2020. The report, Intelligent Transportation System Market by Component (Interface Board, Sensor, Surveillance Camera and Others), System (ATMS, ATIS, ITS-Enable Transportation Pricing System, APTS, and CVO), Application, and Geography - Analysis & Forecast to 2015 – 2020, says that continuous inno
July 17, 2015
APA supports automated work zone speed enforcement
A trade association representing the highway construction industry strongly supports automated enforcement of speed limits in work zones and Maryland's experience with a similarly designed program has had very good results, the association head has told a joint Pennsylvania House and Senate committee. According to PennDOT, 24 people were killed in work-zone crashes in 2014, eight more than in 2013. Additionally, there were 1,841 crashes in work zones last year, a slight decrease from the 1,851 crashes
July 17, 2015
London suburb installs on-street EV charging
Electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, APT Technologies has supplied and installed three of its very latest Tri-Rapid Chargers at sites in Shoreditch, Dalston and Hackney Central in London. Charging at 43kW AC power and 50kW DC power, the highly efficient Tri-Rapid Chargers have an eight-inch LCD screen ensuring simple user interaction, real-time consumption data and a constantly refreshed charging cost, measured on a pay-as-you-go basis. A sub-15 minute charging time ensures a fast and e
July 17, 2015
Turkey’s Gebze-Izmir motorway gets under way
Gebze İzmir İşletme ve Bakım (GİİB) has begun work on the 22-year contract for the Gebze-Izmir motorway in Turkey and will be responsible for pre-operational services, operation, maintenance and toll management on behalf of Otoyol, the concessionaire for the Turkish General Directorate of Highways (KGM). Egis is a 50 per cent shareholder in GIIB, along with shareholders of the concession company. The Gebze-İzmir project is a toll motorway procured by KGM under a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.
July 17, 2015
Average speed cameras go live on Scotland’s motorway upgrade
Average speed cameras are due to go live across the US$780 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project in Scotland. It is hoped they will encourage a safe and steady traffic flow by monitoring the average speed of vehicles through the works to ensure the safety of both road users and road workers. The cameras are expected to go live on 20 July and will remain in place until the completion of the project in spring 2017.