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USDOT ‘accelerating on V2V technology’
May 15, 2015
The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) is accelerating its timetable on a proposed V2V rule that would require vehicle-to-vehicle equipment --technology that allows cars to ‘talk’ to one another-- in all new vehicles. V2V technology is a critical element of the connected automation that makes driverless cars as safe as possible. Writing in the USDOT Fastlane blog, Transportation Secretary Antony Foxx announced that he has directed the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) t
China to back Brazil-Peru railway project
May 15, 2015
China is preparing a preliminary agreement with Brazil and Peru for the construction of a US$9.97 billion bi-national railway connecting the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil to the Pacific Ocean in Peru. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is due to visit Brasília next week to seal China's partnership with Brazil, as part of a visit to map out an overall economic cooperation deal involving a total of US$53.3 billion in investments across various sectors such as mining, energy and manufacturing, as well as transportation
First Swiss AV takes to the roads
May 15, 2015
Switzerland is testing its first autonomous vehicle (AV) on the streets of Zurich. Developed in cooperation with Swiss telecommunications group Swisscom, the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) and Germany’s Autonomos Labs, the heavily modified VW Passat has been equipped with sensors, computers and software. The computer system drives, steers and brakes the vehicle autonomously and detects other vehicles and pedestrians by means of laser scanners, radar and vid
Transurban survey shows the benefits of express lanes
May 15, 2015
A survey from toll operator Transurban finds that the Virginia Express Lanes have reduced travel times and increased lane speeds, including the main lanes. According to data extracted from the University of Maryland’s Regional Integrated Transportation Information System, drivers in the regular lanes on the Capital Beltway and I-95 have experienced reduced travel times and faster speeds since the Express Lanes opened. As expected, drivers who take the Express Lanes experience significant travel time sav
Future mobility trends on display at ITS America annual meeting
May 15, 2015
From point-to-point car-sharing to tech-enabled shuttles and other new forms of “micro-transit,” there is no shortage of innovation happening in today’s transportation industry. At the ITS 2015 Annual Meeting & Expo, the Shared-Use Mobility Centre (SUMC) will be coordinating a can’t-miss session featuring four leaders who are driving advancements in shared mobility - Kaye Ceille, President, Zipcar; Joseph Kopser, CEO/Founder, RideScout; Ryan Rzepecki, CEO/Founder, Social Bicycles; and Jennifer Krusius, Pitt
Latest flexible ITS solutions from Gridsmart
May 15, 2015
Gridsmart Technologies will announce new products at the ITS America Meeting, further solidifying the company’s commitment to simple, flexible, and transparent ITS solutions. “We are traffic control freaks, obsessive in our commitment to deliver practical tools to help traffic professionals move people safely and efficiently,” said Dr Jeff Price, Chief of Technology. “These new products are pure Gridsmart: simple and extremely cost effective whether you have one Gridsmart site or hundreds.”
Skyline demonstrates video interoperability
May 15, 2015
Skyline Technology Solutions, an IT integration company, will launch Claris, one of their two systems being demonstrated at the ITS America Annual Meeting & Expo. The Claris Platform and Product Suite normalises and securely delivers live video and data feeds via permissions access through any device type, including mobile. The company partnered with Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC) to architect a customised version of Claris and its portal dashboard. There are currently over 35 organisati
Transcore traffic management, traffic signal timing solutions on display
May 15, 2015
At this year’s ITS America Annual Meeting, TransCore will demonstrate two of its traffic management software solutions, TransSuite and SCATS. To better manage traffic flow in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia, TransCore is deploying its TransSuite software solution at 350 of the city’s busiest intersections. By automatically adjusting traffic signal timing in response to real-time traffic conditions, the traffic signals will be able to handle routine, planned and unexpected traffic conditions. Meanw
USDOT launches Connected Vehicle 102 Course
May 15, 2015
The Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) will unveil a new connected vehicle training workshop at ITS America's 25th Annual Meeting and Expo. The course, based on the successful Connected Vehicle 101 classes that the ITS JPO has been conducting since 2013, will be held on May 31, 2015, in the Welk Room of the Omni William Penn Hotel. This instructor-led workshop builds on the Connected Vehicle 101 workshop by providing additional details about future vehicle-to-vehicle and vehi
V2I Deployment Coalition workshop follows ITS America annual meeting
May 15, 2015
The newly formed Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Deployment Coalition (V2I DC) will hold a workshop to form technical working groups (TWGs) and increase stakeholder participation in V2I deployment activities. The workshop is open to the public and will be held at the Omni William Penn Hotel on June 4 and 5 in Pittsburgh, PA. Formed earlier this year, the V2I DC includes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and ITS Ame
ATTRI research showcased at ITS America annual meeting
May 15, 2015
Nearly 20 per cent of the US population has some form of disability. Of that number, 40 per cent are in the workforce today. If you have ever wondered how ITS can help members of the disabled community, be part of ITS America’s Special Interest Section 24 – Innovative Technology Solutions for Accessible Transportation.
eCall mandate: a cost burden for car manufacturers?
May 14, 2015
The European Parliament has mandated that all newly approved car and light-van models will have to be equipped with eCall boxes as standard fitment from 31 March 2018. eCall boxes are emergency call devices enabling rescue services to respond with faster road assistance based on knowledge of the exact location of the accident. The 2014 ban on telephone roaming charges across Europe will establish a favourable scenario for an interoperable eCall or telematics solution. However, while the European Commissi
Johannesburg roads to be upgraded
May 14, 2015
Key sections of the Johannesburg, South Africa, highway system will soon be upgraded to world-class standards, but none of these roads will be toll roads, according to the Mayor, Parks Tau, in his 2015 State of the City Address. A capacity assessment will be undertaken on the M1 and M2 network, crossing the City, as well as the Soweto Highway to evaluate the extent of the upgrades required as well as potential innovative solutions that can be introduced to address congestion challenges. Repairs on the
Low speed AEB technology ‘reduces rear-end crashes’
May 14, 2015
The findings of Euro NCAP and ANCAP, the independent safety bodies for Europe and Australasia, on the effectiveness of low speed autonomous emergency braking in real-world rear-end crashes have concluded that low speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) technology needs widespread fitment for maximum benefits. Published in the online edition of the Accident Analysis & Prevention journal, the publication says that AEB is one of the more promising safety technologies that are becoming increasingly common o
Belgium to implement road charging for trucks
May 14, 2015
A tax per kilometre is to be implemented for all lorries weighing over 3.5 tonnes throughout Belgium from 1 April 2016. The system will be based on satellite technology, using on board units (OBUs), which drivers will collect at a distribution point. The OBU will register the distance travelled by the vehicle and on which roads. Mileage data will be transmitted to a data centre and an invoice generated, which the driver will pay on returning the OBU. The rate of road pricing will vary depending on t