News

Microsoft Research is working with Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil to tackle the problem of traffic jams. The immediate objective of this research is to predict traffic conditions over the next 15 minutes to an hour, so that drivers can be forewarned of likely traffic snarls. The Traffic Prediction Project plans to combine all available traffic data, including both historic and current information gleaned from transportation departments, Bing traffic maps, road cameras and sensors and the so

A new Memorandum of Cooperation for India-US transportation aims to foster cooperative work on key issues of mutual interest for all modes of transportation, coordinating public and private sector resources and expertise to advance safe, secure, efficient and integrated transportation systems. It would cover areas like highway transportation, urban transportation, safety and environmental protections, vehicle and behavioural safety, fuel efficiency, rail transportation, maritime shipping and intermodal

Streamlining schedules, stops, fares, and passenger information among subways, buses and commuter rail, will make it easier for passengers, cut down on operational costs and boost operational revenue, according to a new World Bank paper published today, Public Transport Service Optimisation and System Integration. The paper, which is part of the China Transport Notes Series produced by the World Bank in Beijing to share experiences about the transformation of the Chinese transport sector, claims lack of

The City of Toronto is investing in the power of data to help understand how, where and when people travel and how the City can use this information to better assist the public in moving around Toronto. The city is creating a Big Data Innovation Team which will build on some of the current big data work of Transportation Services, including: developing a Big Travel Data strategy for Transportation Services to determine ways to make this type of information available; partnering with McMaster University

The US-based Brookings Institution has commented on the highway funding debate in the US in a paper by Robert Puentes, a senior fellow with the Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program He says that, as uncertainties abound over federal transportation spending and another shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund looms, states and localities are stepping up to address their infrastructure challenges head on. By raising gas taxes, launching ballot initiatives, and forging public-private partnerships, regions ar

Jenoptik will present its complete product range for modern traffic monitoring Traffex 2015, together with solutions from its UK subsidiary, Vysionics. The SmartCamera IV is combined with a laser scanner or radar sensor in a compact module which can easily be integrated to address a variety of user needs. For mobile use, it can be mounted in a car or, by utilising the TraffiTop housing, on a tripod or on the container TraffiBase. For stationary use, the module is integrated into the TraffiTower 2.0,

Siemens is to launch new DC rapid electric vehicle (EV) charger at Traffex 2015, complementing the company’s proven range of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. Designed to conform to all industry standard charging protocols and interfaces, the new single-outlet, wall-mounted QC24S rapid charger provides a DC output at 24kW and can be supplied with a CCS or CHadeMO connector on a tethered lead, capable of charging all compatible vehicles. Charging from zero to 80 per cent in less than 60 minute

Following an international design competition, architecture and integrated design company Foster + Partners Team has been appointed to develop the architectural vision for Jeddah’s city-wide public transport plan. Taking a long-term, sustainable approach, which anticipates growth centuries from now, the vision for Jeddah’s transport network includes the design of metro, ferry, bus, cycle, public spaces and nodes of development. The comprehensive plan extends from the design of the stations to the trains

Transport software and consulting group, PTV, has expanded its board of directors with the appointment of Michel Zweers as chief financial officer. He will head the company with PTV’s CEO, Vincent Kobesen. Prior to joining PTV in 2011 as vice president of Finance and Internal Services, Zweers held leadership positions in finance at several organisations. As CFO, Zweers is responsible for Finance & Controlling, IT, HR, Legal & Compliance and Customer Service. "Thanks to the good results in the last two

The New Taipei City government has awarded Thales a US$18.5 million contract for the design and manufacture of signalling, communications and operational control centre (OCC) systems for the Danhai Light Rail Transit project, Taiwan’s second tramway line and one of the first tramway projects in Asia Pacific. Local Taiwan company China Steel, along with its subsidiaries United Steel Engineering and Construction and Taiwan Rolling Stock, will construct the project’s Phase 1 Corridors, including the Green M

WSI, the professional division of The Weather Company, and live traffic video aggregator TrafficLand have announced an agreement for WSI to integrate and resell TrafficLand network video. Under the agreement, WSI will offer TrafficLand video to television station clients for traffic and weather news reporting, either integrated with WSI’s Max Traffic real-time visualisation and street-level mapping solution, or as stand-alone content for integration with other on-air and digital platforms. TrafficLand

UK company Delphi Automotive has completed the longest automated drive in North America, travelling from San Francisco to New York in the first coast-to-coast trip ever taken by an automated vehicle. Nearly 3,400 miles were covered with 99 per cent of the drive in fully automated mode. The drive was used by Delphi engineers to research and collect information that will help further advance active safety technology – the most rapidly growing technology sector of the auto industry. The team collected nearly

Researchers at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand claim the impact of congestion in the country’s major cities could soon be greatly reduced. They are exploring how the movement of vehicles on New Zealand’s city roads can be more efficiently managed after accidents and breakdowns. University of Canterbury transport engineer Professor Alan Nicholson says their research shows drivers tend to divert off the motorway in large numbers only after a slow queue becomes visible. Along with Dr Glen Koorey and

Econolite and Sensys Networks have expanded their current sales and distribution agreement to offer customers in more regions new options for ITS. As part of the contract, Econolite will private-label and offer the Sensys Networks wireless vehicle detection system, including in-ground vehicle and bicycle detection sensors, software and accessories in select North American markets. The expanded agreement will provide more of Econolite’s customers with a turn-key integrated in-ground vehicle detection solutio

In a contract valued at around US$18 million, Indra is to implement a traffic monitoring system in Kuwait City on behalf of the Kuwait Municipality. The contract includes the technology for the traffic management centre, installation of over 200 permanent traffic sensors and gathering and integration of data from about 3,000 locations throughout the city within the new monitoring system, including integration of different vehicle detection technologies, with radar systems, loops, video cameras and weighing