UTC

Singapore and China have teamed up on the development of smart cities opening up new opportunities for local enterprises. Singapore and China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a new smart city twinning initiative that also opens several opportunities for communications industries to collaborate in various sectors including intelligent transport, smart education and smart environment management.

Scottish service provider BEAR Scotland and Vaisala have been awarded the Highways magazine Excellence Award for Highways Industry Product of the Year for the DSP310 Condition Patrol system, an innovative solution to obtain comprehensive, real-time road condition weather data from a mobile automated weather station. Vaisala's DSP310 condition patrol solution uses sensors mounted in a vehicle to provide real-time monitoring of all road weather conditions. The in-cab display uses a smartphone running the V

The UK government has approved funds to tackle congestion in two of the UK’s major cities, Birmingham and Leeds. Work needed to tackle congestion on the regionally strategic A452 road in Birmingham can now start after receiving final approval from Transport Minister Baroness Kramer. The road carries heavy traffic, creating poor access and a lack of reliable journey times for road users. The US$13 million improvements will improve the network, improve bus journey times and improve pedestrian and cyclist

The European Commission (EU) is expected to invest around US$276 million to create smart cities in the next two years. The High Level Group of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for Smart Cities and Communities has agreed the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) which will serve as the basis for speeding up the deployment of Smart City solutions in Europe. The SIP is drafted by and based on a thorough consultation of representatives from industry, cities, civil society and research including UITP.

Q-Free is to acquire Serbian traffic management company Elcom in a deal worth US$1.8 million. Q-Free has signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) for the acquisition which it says reflects the company’s efforts to strengthen its business area within advanced transportation management systems (ATMS) and follows a US$1 million investment in ten percent ownership of US traffic management company Intelight. Established in 1994, Elcom offers traffic controllers, LED street lights and traffic control system sol

US-based detection technology company Aldis has received UK Highways Agency approval for its 3D vision-based vehicle and pedestrian detection system with tracking for traffic signal control and data collection. Aldis GridSmart replaces in-road detection technology with a single, static 3D camera at signal controlled junctions. The system can also be used for multi-directional traffic surveys, including complex turning movements and vehicle classification, as well as pedestrian detection and counting.

An innovative re-surfacing technology that generates its own energy during the day while enhancing visibility at night is being trialled by Cambridge City Council in the UK. Starpath, developed by Surrey-based Pro-Teq Surfacing, is a liquid-based re-surfacing product that absorbs and stores energy from ambient light (UV rays) during the day, then releases this energy at night, allowing the particles to glow. It has recently been applied to an existing pedestrian and cycle way pathway that runs through h

In a bid to improve work-zone safety, researchers from the University of Minnesota have developed the intelligent drum line (IDL) system prototype. The portable, dynamic system provides visual and auditory warnings to drivers who may have ignored or missed previous warning devices and pose a danger to the work-zone crew.

Texas-based Signal Group has appointed Ray Deer as chief technology officer, with responsibility for new product development across all Signal Group companies, as well as managing Signal Group’s strategic technology partnerships and initiatives. Ray joined Signal Group’s subsidiary, Peek Traffic Corporation, in January 2002 and most recently held the role of vice president of engineering.

The 2013 ITS World Congress has awarded the 2013 Intelligent Transport Systems Industry Award to Transport Certification Australia (TCA) for its pioneering work in telematics and cooperative intelligent transport systems. Congratulating TCA, ITS Australia Chief Executive Officer Susan Harris said the international recognition for TCA’s contribution was well deserved. “TCA has been a creative and confident leader in a complex sector of the ITS industry,” she said.