News

The market for RFID transponders, readers, software, and services will generate US$70.5 billion from 2012 to the end of 2017. The market was boosted by a growth of $900 million in 2011 and the market is expected to grow 20 per cent YOY per annum. Government, retail, and transportation and logistics have been identified as the most valuable sectors, accounting for 60 per cent of accumulated revenue over the next five years. “To date, the automotive sector has been a strong proponent of RFID, largely for immo

Inrix announced today that it has completed the acquisition of ITIS Holdings, a UK-based traffic information company. The acquisition adds US$27 million in revenue and 155 employees to Inrix, and extends its reach to more than 200 leading customers in 30 countries around the world.

Fugro Roadware has won a two-year, US$3 million, contract from the US SHRP 2 (Strategic Highway Research Programme 2), for the collection of roadway data at highway speed, using ARAN’s (Automatic Road Analysers) on selected roads, within the six SHRP 2 naturalistic driving study sites.

As part of Portugal's programme to promote electromobility (Mobi.e), Siemens Portugal has concluded a framework agreement for up to 300 charging points. A binding order for 100 of these charging points was placed by Intelli, the coordinator of the Mobi.e programme. Intelli intends to install the charging points in 25 cities by 2012.

Under a SuperTruck contract established with the US Department of Energy, Volvo Technology of America is scheduled to receive US$19 million in federal funding to be used by the Volvo Group’s North American truck-related operations to improve the freight-moving efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and reduce greenhouse gases.

The Israel National Roads Company has begun to install the first electronic signs in interurban bus stations that will provide passengers with real time information about bus arrival times at the station, with plans to deploy thousands of smart signs throughout the country.

BMW has announced a new enhancement for customers who have subscribed to the BMW Assist and BMW Online features in the company’s ConnectedDrive telematics service. Access to the latest traffic reports via real-time traffic information (RTTI) from the web portal with any internet-enabled device is now being offered. Previously users could only access this service while in the vehicle.

Germany's conservative CSU party has said that it will issue a draft bill on a new road toll for cars in autumn 2011. It says that even if car taxes were lowered, extending the national tolling system from trucks to cars, would raise billions of euros over the next few years. However, Chancellor Angela Merkel is on record as saying that no tolls for cars will be introduced during the current legislative period.

Friday’s proposal by the Obama Administration to increase fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks to an average 54.5 miles per gallon (4.32 litres/100 km) between 2017 and 2025 would result in the loss of more than $65 billion in federal funding for state and local highway, bridge and transit improvements, an analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shows.

A total of 102 school buses in Cobb County, Georgia have been installed with digital video cameras to capture number plate information of drivers who refuse to stop when a school bus is unloading or loading children. The district has 1,188 buses and almost 10 per cent of that total will be equipped with the $200 cameras. Those who violate the law will face a fine of $300 for an initial offence. For a third offence within five years, the fine would increase to $1,000. The cost for the cameras will be covered

PB/RK&K, a joint venture of Parsons Brinckerhoff and RK&K in association with AECOM, has been selected to serve the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) as an on-call general engineering consultant for statewide transportation projects.