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Thales is to provide telecommunications systems for the Manaus monorail. The monorail will also be equipped with the Thales Seltra communications-based train control (CBTC) system to provide an integrated signalling and communications solution. “With Thales technology, the project will have a communications infrastructure that fully supports the operational, administrative and maintenance applications needed to operate the monorail, ensuring reliability, redundancy, high availability and security in station

The ITS Joint Program Office Professional Capacity Building program in partnership with the Consortium for ITS Training and Education (CITE) and the FHWA Road Weather Management Program are delivering the new web-based course on weather responsive traffic management starting 3 May 2013. The course is currently free of charge for a limited time to all government agencies at the state, local, city/municipal and federal levels. The course provides information and guidance to transportation system managers and

The next generation of Econolite’s advanced traffic controllers (ATC), Cobalt is said to be the first controller to feature a new platform in advanced communications and user interface designed to accommodate the mobile computing environment. Its new user interface makes its operations and access to essential functions the most intuitive and hassle-free controller on the market today. Developed on the industry ATC standards, Cobalt provides a combination of ATC controller functionality with a breakthrough u

Global engineering, management and development consultancy Mott MacDonald is to acquire Brazilian environmental engineering consultancy Habtec Engenharia Ambiental, as part of its strategy to create a regional base in Brazil from where it can expand across South America. Habtec has been operating principally in the energy, mining and transport sectors for over 20 years. The company’s project portfolio includes various environmental impact studies, compliance support, monitoring projects and environmental ed

Redflex Traffic Systems has announced that Dudi Cohen will become the company’s European Business Development Manager. Dudi will relocate to the United Kingdom to take up his new position. Dudi has been with Redflex for more than six years, starting in the research and development team and later as US Support Manager, liaising with Redflex’s sister office in the United States covering technical support, project management, pre and after sales support, back office operation, training, supply chain management

Researchers at Oxford University in the UK are testing a combination of off-the-shelf technology which could enable a car to drive itself for sections of a familiar route. Dr Ingmar Posner of the University’s mobile robotics group is part of a team working on the car which he believes could affordably reach the showrooms in ten or fifteen years.

Launched in October 2011, Transport for London’s Countdown real time bus information service has proven extremely popular. The latest research shows that around 830,000 bus journeys made in London each day are informed by live bus arrival information. Building on this success, TfL has developed a new way of delivering live bus arrival information to a range of public locations, such as hospital waiting rooms or shopping centre foyers. This means that real time bus arrival information can be provided to pa

On show for the first time at Traffex 2013 is Siemens’ Stratos, which the company says demonstrates the future of traffic management. Developed using the latest cloud-based technology, Stratos delivers scalable real-time traffic management, information and control; from basic monitoring to strategic control of complex urban traffic environments. According to Mark Bodger, product manager, Stratos is the latest generation of traffic management, information and control systems from Siemens and the most effect

As part of an initiative to create 3,000 public and workplace stations over the next five years and to put 40,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road in the state, New York is to have more than 360 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed throughout the state to help reduce fossil fuel use. Announcing the project, Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “Building this network of innovative charging stations will encourage New Yorkers to use fuel-efficient alternatives like electric vehicles as well as grow the

Road experts led by Australia’s University of New South Wales (NSW) professor Mike Regan are to conduct what is said to be the most thorough traffic safety study in Australian history. Cameras inside and outside cars will film 400 volunteers in Victoria and New South Wales in an effort to analyse the cause of crashes and change driver education and road safety campaigns. The cameras will record how drivers behaved and reacted in ''real world'' situations. John Wall, manager of road safety technology with N

Sick is taking advantage of Traffex to launch its TIC102 laser measurement system at Traffex 2013, part of the company’s growing portfolio of vehicle and traffic management solutions in the UK, Following the acquisition of the Swiss-based company ECTN. The TIC102 offers real time vehicle profiling and classification for multi-lane, free flowing or stop-go traffic. As well as providing collection data for tolls, it can be used for monitoring vehicle speed, vehicle dimensions and vehicle intervals, even with

Engineering and technology company Delcan has been awarded a five year contract to operate and maintain the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s freeway service patrol (FSP) program. Delcan will install, operate and manage the entire program, including procurement and maintenance of FSP vehicles and equipment; provide and train staff; and manage FSP vehicle dispatch. As a popular vacation destination, the Hawaii FSP program will benefit both local motorists and tourist who require motorist assistance, such

Schneider Electric will use the ITS America Annual Meeting to highlight its Integrated Transportation Management which it says is a unique solution that improves mobility through efficient operation of the transportation network and city resources. This provides the comprehensive structure necessary to foster information-sharing and coordination across multiple government agencies. The solution is part of Schneider Electric’s complete suite of SmartCity and SmartMobility solutions that promote more efficien

Daktronics comes to the ITS America Annual Meeting with an offer to help agencies ‘Sharpen the Image’ of their dynamic messages signs with the introduction of its new 20mm full-colour Vanguard product line. As the company points out, the dissemination of critical information to drivers is a leading priority for transportation agencies across the United States. Enabling this effort is the recent evolution of NTCIP and MUTCD standards encouraging the use of colour and legible graphics. These efforts allow age