IBTTA launches Twitter chat
The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has launched a series of monthly Twitter chats, #TranspoChat, that will focus on a range of transportation issues, including tolling, funding and investment.
The first of these chats begins on Tuesday 25 March 25 at 3:00PM EDT with an hour of discussion, debate, and learning moderated by Patrick Jones, IBTTA’s executive director and CEO, and featuring special guest, Lloyd Brown, communications director with the American Association of Sta
Technology holds the key to painless parking
Parking has been the most innovative of all the transportation sectors in the past five years. Richard Harris, Solution Director, Xerox Services outlines some of the key drivers and trends
Technology holds the key to painless parking
Parking has been the most innovative of all the transportation sectors in the past five years. Richard Harris, Solution Director, Xerox Services outlines some of the key drivers and trends
Technology holds the key to painless parking
Parking has been the most innovative of all the transportation sectors in the past five years. Richard Harris, Solution Director, Xerox Services outlines some of the key drivers and trends
Driver error is no barriers to road safety
Michael Dreznes, Executive Vice President at the International Roads Federation (IRF), is passionate about the use of the Safe System Approach to make roads more forgiving around the world
Scania to deliver bus rapid transit system to Ghana
Scania has signed an agreement with Ghana’s Ministry for Transport to supply buses and equipment for the bus rapid transit system under implementation in Accra. Scania will supply 300 buses and ancillary equipment and services such as ticketing machines, workshop services, operational support and infrastructure.
Accra, the capital and largest city in Ghana, is facing a severe traffic situation that needs to be addressed by the use of high capacity buses. The BRT solution provides an answer to the proble
Iteris adds wireless broadband to its video detection
Vantage Pegasus, the latest addition to the Iteris video detection range, is a wireless broadband communications system for the demanding requirements of transportation system communications networks.
According to Iteris, agencies now have the ability to safely connect remote intersections to a centralised monitoring/management location, avoiding the need for costly fibre optic cable installation. Vantage Pegasus wireless systems built with carrier grade radio components that deliver the high bandwidth
1 in 14 motorists admit to taking 'selfies' while driving
Research by price comparison website Confused.com shows that 1 in 14 motorists (seven per cent) admit to having taken a photograph while driving, and four per cent also use the social media app of the moment, Snapchat, to send photos to friends while at the wheel.
In addition, 36 per cent of motorists admit to using their mobile phone when driving, mainly to make or answer calls (75 per cent) and send or check texts (43 per cent). Yet, despite so many flouting the law, only eight per cent say they have
Jam buster and parking finder for Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Department of Transport has completed a US$2.45 million system that will provide real-time information on traffic congestion, route guidance and other conditions via smartphones, the internet and navigation devices in cars.
The Integrated Transport Information and Navigation System (i-TINS) collects real-time data from different sources – road side systems such as traffic counting systems and travel time measurement systems and central sub-systems such as taxi and bus GPS-based tracking systems
Queensland Police Service opts for Vitronic speed enforcement
Following extensive testing, Queensland Police Service (QPS) in Australia has opted to buy Vitronic Lidar-based PoliScan mobile laser speed enforcement systems to modernise its current mobile fleet of wet-film radar systems. The PoliScan systems will be installed in QPS vehicles, with integration into QPS’ existing PoliScan connect case processing software.
PoliScan systems for speed and red light enforcement utilise Lidar (light detection and ranging) to detect violations. A scanning laser records the
Additional functionality gives loops a continued lease of life
Two decades after the death of the inductive loops was predicted, Matt Zinn, technical services manager at Eberle Design says the technology still offers advantages.
More than 20 years ago the emergence of video detection systems led many to foretell the end of inductive loops. In the intervening years advocates of radar, infrared and wireless detection technologies have also claimed that loops were on their way out. But in fact, by all calculations, the use of loops has actually increased and although
Adaptive cruise control would suppress traffic instability
Professor Berthold Horn of Massachusetts Institute of Technology believes a modified adaptive cruise control could mitigate phantom traffic jamsthat occur for no apparent reason.
The phenomenon of the phantom traffic jam is all too common: they appear for no apparent reason and, having caused frustrating delays for all travelers, evaporate for an equally mystical reason. Phantom traffic jams usually occur on busy highways and often take the form of repeatedly stopping and then accelerating up to near the
ITS (UK) woos start-up companies
ITS United Kingdom has introduced a new membership category to support start-up companies in the sector. The UK public sector’s rapid uptake of open data principles and the restructuring of large ITS employers during the recession has prompted the growth of small, innovative companies. This new category allows small companies that have been trading for less than two years to join the Association for a third of the cost of the standard fee. Graeme Scott of IBI Group and the membership director of ITS (UK) s
New faces help Australia prepare for 2016
With momentum building towards 2016 and hosting the ITS World Congress in Melbourne, ITS Australia has appointed a new board of directors with John Hawkins, Manu Hingorani and Michael Watts elected for two-year terms.
ITS Australia’s president Brian Negus said efficient and environmentally sustainable transport is a goal for all communities and having been voted the World’s Most Liveable City, it is appropriate that Melbourne will host the 2016 World Congress.
He said the World Congress Organising Co
ITS Ireland explains Design Manual changes
ITS Ireland will begin its 2014 seminar program with an examination of the changes being made to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) as part of a major revision being carried out by the National Roads Authority.
The revision will be in three-stages (Infrastructure, Devices, and Procedures) first of which has been published and the second is currently in production.
ITS Ireland said the focus of the presentation in its seminar will be on the documents issued by the NRA and the package that
Auckland anticipates ITS Influx
Some 500 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the 2014 Asia-Pacific Intelligent Transportation Systems Forum which will be held between 28-30 April in New Zealand.
It is the first time in its 13-year history that the Forum has been held in New Zealand and it is being staged by ITS NZ. Delegates will hear 80 specialist papers delivered over 20 sessions by local and international ITS experts from Europe, the United States and Asia including Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
Some notable topics
Russia to bid for ITS congresses
Following the announcement in Vienna by Deputy Minister of Transport Alexey Tsidenov, Russia is bidding to host the 2018 ITS World Congress in Moscow and the 2016 European ITS Congress in Kazan.
ITS Russia and the GLONASS/GNSS Forum are part of an organising committee that includes the representatives of the Ministry, Federal Road Agency and city administrations. The committee aims to bring the World and European congresses to Russia for the first time and will start by preparing the Russian business da
Asking drivers what information they need: radical but effective
When Texas A&M Transportation Institute was asked to devise a temporary traveller information system for work zones, it started by asking drivers what they need. Robert Brydia explains the thinking, implementation and results.
US Interstate 35 (I-35) runs roughly north–south originating in Laredo, Texas and ends 1,500 miles away in Duluth, Minnesota having passed through Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Within Texas the I-35 splits into I-35E and I-35W passing through Dallas and Fort Worth respectiv
Videalert provides full time enforcement with part time workload
Videalert says its algorithms on automated enforcement can reduce the workload on staff while providing an effective deterrent to offenders. Colin Sowman reports.
While members of the public may believe that the enforcement of parking regulations, bus lanes and box junctions has no practical benefit and is purely a money-making operation, for many authorities the opposite is true. Enforcement is a loss-making but vital exercise as illegally parked vehicles create obstructions and dangers leading to gridl
Imtech - update on the Fritz & Macziol Schweiz investigation
Following media coverage which contained allegations of unethical business behaviour, Imtech began an internal investigation into the former management of Fritz & Macziol Schweiz. This behaviour allegedly included excessive gifts and entertainment offered to Seco civil servants.
The internal investigation initiated by Imtech was conducted by a substantial external team of lawyers, accountants and forensic experts. The office of the public prosecutor in Switzerland has also initiated criminal investigati