News

A partnership of the UK’s department for Transport (DfT), British telecom (BT) and Cambridge-based wireless firm Neul is working on a project to transform the A14 between Felixstowe and Birmingham into the country’s first internet-connected road. The smart road, which aims to prepare the country for future technology from wireless toll chargers to automated cars, will include a network of sensors along an eighty-kilometre stretch, with data transmitted over white space, temporarily unused gaps in the dig

According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, "Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019," the global market for ITS is expected to reach a value of USD 30.2 billion by 2019, at a CAGR of 11.1 per cent from 2013 to 2019. The demand for ITS systems is rising globally due to increased congestion in metropolitan areas. Development and deployment of intelligent transportation system not only r

The Iowa Department of Transportation has developed proposed administrative rules to govern implementation and placement of automated traffic enforcement systems on the primary highway system. The proposed rules will cover both fixed and mobile speed and red light enforcement camera systems. Adoption of rules for automated traffic enforcement will provide local governmental agencies with a defined process for documenting a critical traffic safety issue at a specific location and implementing the warrant

The Philippines’ government has recently approved a US$612 million contract for the Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) Stage 3 Project which will connect the Southern Luzon Expressway to the Northern Luzon Expressway. The flood free, mostly elevated six lane expressway, is approximately 14.2 kilometres long and is expected to reduce congestion and reduce travel times on major roads in Manila.

Brazil's federal government will launch tenders by 12 October for three new federal highway concessions totalling 2,765 kilometres, according to transport minister César Borges. Falling under the country's US$110 billion transportation logistics program, the largest concession involves 1,100 kilometres of highway through the Federal District and the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais. An 851 kilometre stretch in the state of Mato Grosso will also be tendered, while an 814 kilometre highway segment between

The Spanish cities of Malaga, Zaragoza and Santander are the first cities to join CIUDAD 2020, the R&D&I (research, development and innovation) smart cities reference project, led by Indra in partnership with Ferrovial Agroman, Atos, Fagor Electrónica, GFI Informática, Fractalia, Daedalus, Tekia and iSOCO. One of the most novel aspects of the project, which has is aimed at developing a new, efficient and sustainable smart city model in which citizens play a central and active role. People generate a lar

Machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions supplier Orbcomm has completed the acquisition of Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation’s (Comtech) sensor enabled notification system (SENS) operation, which includes satellite hardware, network technology and web platforms. This acquisition supports Orbcomm’s multi-network operator strategy and strengthens its position as a provider of satellite and cellular communications for the M2M industry. The opportunity also complements Orbcomm’s recently acquired GlobalTrak busi

Infotainment and safety solutions provider Delphi Automotive is to debut its MyFi connecting with safety concept car at the IAA Frankfurt show, which the company says is unique in that it connects infotainment with active safety. By locating important information in the driver’s forward view, MyFi uses voice recognition, text-to-speech, large touch screens, reconfigurable displays and workload management technologies to tailor information to the driver depending on the driving environment. When linked wi

Speaking at the launch of South Africa’s 2013 Transport Month, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters pledged to spend more than US$500 million on planning, building and operating integrated public transport networks in more than thirteen cities in the country. The major cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town have already constructed over 20 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes. Both cities will expand operations to carry up to 100 thousand passengers a day on each system, while the bus rapid transport system in Joh

According to Ingo Flomer, director of Product Management of UK company Axell Wireless, UK transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin’s intention to upgrade the rail network to enable passengers to access high-speed mobile broadband does not go far enough to promote an integrated communications infrastructure that supports cellular (3G and 4G) coverage on-board trains. Flomer says the UK has significant technological hurdles to overcome to connect rail passengers to the cellular network. The coverage would ha

The forthcoming IBTTA (International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association) global technology workshop will highlight current and future technologies for the toll industry and will showcase the differences and similarities among the technologies used in the global tolling market. Hosted by French ASECAP member, ASFA (French Federation of Motorways and Toll Facility Companies) and supported by ASECAP, the workshop takes place in Deauville, France, from 27 to 29 October.

According to a new research report from analysts Berg Insight, the number of fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in North America was 3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6 percent, this number is expected to reach 6.8 million by 2017. In Latin America, the number of installed fleet management systems is expected to increase from 1.6 million in quarter four 2012, growing at a CAGR of 16.3 per cent to reach 3.3 million in

A new digital CCTV system from UK civil enforcement supplier Videalert for the enforcement of stopped vehicle offences has been specifically designed to reduce the incidence of stopping and parking on the zig-zag lines outside schools. Using a single camera, the Videalert system continuously monitors the restricted area and automatically zooms in to capture the number plate of any vehicle that stops during the period defined by the local traffic order, typically twice a day during the school opening and

Cubic Transportation Systems’ NextWave mobile business system is, says the company, a comprehensive platform that enables transit operators to rapidly and securely provide new mobile services to their customers. NextWave provides a cloud-based platform that integrates with both closed and open loop contactless fare systems, payment processors, mobile networks, NFC platforms and both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, for the introduction of mobile phone-based contactless fare cards, mobile fare pur

Odense municipality in Denmark has installed Bluetooth sensors along the city’s ring road to gather data on travel times and traffic flow. The BlipTrack system, manufactured by Danish company Blip Systems, utilises sensors at strategic points in the road network to detect signals from Bluetooth-enabled devices in passing cars to collect traffic and travel time information. The data will enable Odense traffic officials to improve the capacity of existing roads and detect changes in traffic patterns. In