News

The first US installation of the latest Iris Matrix automatic passenger counting system will be on Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's PHX Sky Train, scheduled to begin service early next year. The new technology with 3D sensors, developed by German company Iris Gmbh and being installed by Bridge Technology, generates a 3D-image of the door space, so that individual people are detected even in tightly packed crowds. “Sky Train customers will benefit with less congestion, which means getting to their

A dummy in motorcycling gear sliding into a guardrail was displayed in the European Parliament in Brussels, to present the Smart RRS project which developed a road restraint system effectively protecting motorcyclists from impacting against guardrail posts. The system also features sensors to warn road users of hazards and call the emergency services after an accident. It was the final event of Smart Road Restraint Systems, a project co-funded by the European Commission.

Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air link between central London and Gatwick Airport, has introduced new barcode ticket scanners on the gates at London Victoria and Gatwick Airport stations for people who print their e-tickets or have their tickets sent to their UK mobile when booking online

The UK's Department for Transport has unveiled new guidance that will make it easier for 40mph (64km/h) speed limits to be imposed on quiet rural roads. These roads currently have a typical speed limit of 60mph but the Government is keen to change this in a bid to reduce road casualties. The latest figures from the government show that there were 1,901 road deaths in 2011, a three per cent increase on 2010. In 2010, 68 per cent of road deaths occurred on rural roads, of which almost 50 per cent had a speed

An important and significant step on the road to construction of a railway line to Eilat has been announced. Israel and China began initial negotiations for the possible construction, via the Chinese government, of the t railway line that will transport passengers and cargo from Eilat to the centre of Israel.

Research from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) shows that ‘black box’ motor insurance sales have increased five fold in the last two years, and are set to snowball to around 500,000 in the next two years. BIBA says that the telematics technology can offer savings on motor insurance of around 2530 per cent and some young drivers can save up to US$1,554.

Clever Devices, a technology solutions for all modes of public transportation, including fixed-route, bus rapid transit, paratransit and rail, has closed a transaction to acquire substantially all of the assets of Digital Recorders. Formerly, Digital Recorders, a provider of ITS to public transit agencies throughout North America, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digital Recorders, (DRI), which filed for bankruptcy in March, 2012.

In October 2012, an electric car rental service will be unveiled by Seoul City in South Korea to promote eco-friendly transportation. A total of 200 electric cars will be provided by the city for the car sharing service programme that will be unveiled in collaboration with two firms, with a target to ease traffic congestion, cut air pollution and save energy. The two companies that will join the programme are Korea Car Sharing and LG CNS, under a deal sealed with the city.

TomTom has announced a partnership with MapQuest, wholly owned by AOL, to power the company’s mobile app with TomTom maps. Available for Android and iOS, MapQuest’s free apps provide access to a wireless version of the well-known MapQuest website.

Tom Blair, an experienced software industry leader, has joined Iteris and assumed the new position of senior vice president of Iteris’s recently established iPerform group. The group was established in 2011 to focus on the development and deployment of software-based performance measurement and information management solutions. It was expanded with the acquisition of Berkeley Transportation Systems in October 2011, and has since made several key management appointments.

Vital Technology has supplied a data communications network system to Egis Road & Tunnel Operation Ireland (ERTO) for the Dublin Port Tunnel which opened to traffic in 2007 and is the longest urban tunnel in Europe as well as the largest civil engineering project ever undertaken in Ireland. While core components are proving durable, communication systems became subject to early obsolescence and were causing networking problems and unscheduled closures which prompted the upgrade.

GreenRoad, a specialist in driver performance and safety management, has announced that Big Bus Tours, the largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours in the world, is expanding its use of GreenRoad from London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to its fleet of 17 buses touring San Francisco. It is also considering deploying GreenRoad in a further 88 buses in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Miami.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed into law a bipartisan bill that requires all convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlocks on their vehicles to prevent future offences. Missouri is the 17th US state to mandate this requirement. Beginning in October 2013, the new law requires first-time drunk driving offenders use an interlock for 75 days. If the interlock shows a vibolation during this period of restricted driving privilege, the person's license will not be reinstated until they complete an addi

Garmin International has announced Glo, a portable GPS and Glonass that provides significant new benefits. When using both GPS and Glonass satellites, the time it takes for the receiver to “lock on” to a position is (on average) approximately 20 per cent faster than using GPS alone. Moreover, when using both GPS and Glonass, the receiver has access to 24 more satellites than using GPS alone. Garmin says this is particularly helpful for users who need reliable satellite navigation in challenging environments

ITS America has welcomed 17 companies and organisations from around the country as new members during the second quarter of 2012. Recent new members include American Council on Renewal Energy; Addco; Bishop Consulting; Cadogan Consulting; Cellcontrol; DriveCam; Enterprise Pooled Fund; EPV Group; Infrastructure Corporation of America; Mixon Hill; Naztec; Novavia Solutions; Pemcco; Raymond James; AMSchoka Consulting; TrafficVision; and Treehaven Technologies.