Major US toll contract for Q-Free
Q-Free is to implement its enhanced imaging processing (EIP) solution for the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX), USA in a contract worth around US$6.9 million.
EIP utilises automatic licence plate reader (ALPR) and vehicle signature recognition (VSR) software and enables toll authorities to achieve high automation and low error rates using artificial intelligence and self learning capabilities. The system interfaces with existing toll road back office systems, minimising operational cost, errors, an
Driverless vehicles ‘need quality road markings’
UK company Quality Marking Systems has released its comments on a recent road safety article in the Road Safety Markings Association’s (RSMA’s) Top Marks magazine entitled ‘ERF at the forefront of improving road safety in Europe’.
The article examines the growing importance of a well maintained road infrastructure and indicates that the European Union Road Federation (ERF) has initiated a very promising cooperation with the European Road Assessment Programme and the European Association of Vehicle Manuf
Can ADAS impact middle-income countries?
Recent research by SBD shows that road-related fatalities are the eighth leading cause of death globally with more than a million people dying each year.
Middle income countries, which include most ASEAN economies, account for 72 per cent of the world’s population and contribute to about 80 per cent of road traffic fatalities.
Oregon sets up road usage charge summit
Vendors, service providers and US states who want to seek and share information about the new road usage charge legislation recently passed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) should attend a day-long meeting on 13 November at the World Trade Centre in Portland, Oregon.
ODOT wants to share details as well as gather information that can help it craft the nation’s first road usage charge program. The ODOT team will be available to meet with specific vendors in scheduled one-on-one sessions.
Lancashire road and rail improvements announced
Plans for projects to update the road and rail networks in Lancashire have been announced by Transport for Lancashire, a new body comprising Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Borough Council.
The projects will develop, approve and fund major transport infrastructure work with a US$152 million budget from the (DfT) Department for Transport the City Deal for the Preston area, and developer contributions.
Funding agreed for reconstruction of Fort Worth I-35W
A significant milestone in the redevelopment and expansion of Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, one of the most critical and most-congested corridors in the North Texas region and in the country has been achieved by NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC (NTEMP3). They have reached financial agreement on Segment 3A of the North Tarrant Express (NTE), paving the way for the reconstruction and expansion of the interstate.
The project is being financed through a unique combination of public and private funds: US$
Driver feedback causes rise in Queensland speed limits
Following a public review of speed limits on Queensland’s roads, the Queensland police service has revealed a further reduction in speeding tolerances will begin in a bid to reduce the state's road toll.
Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the speed review was one of 60 actions announced as part of the Newman Government's $350 million, two-year Road Safety Action Plan and revealed most of the 3,300 submissions to the review wanted increased limits. "About 52 per cent of the submissions identified speed
Image Sensing Systems shows support for ONVIF security solutions
Image Sensing Systems’ widely deployed licence plate recognition (LPR) software will soon be available with support for the ONVIF protocol; following IP camera interoperability testing, ONVIF software support is expected to be generally available in November 2013.
ONVIF is an open industry forum promoting and developing global standards for interfaces of IP-based physical security products.
Maine to trial rail-trespasser detector
Brunswick, Maine, will be the site of an unusual three-year research project involving testing an automated trespasser detection and deterrent systems in high-risk areas along the Pan Am railways and Amtrak Downeaster rail lines, the Maine Department of Transportation has said.
Researchers will install and operate systems that automatically detect trespassers, capture video with wireless cameras and issue recorded warnings to tell them to get away from the tracks. The systems also can be used to alert lo
Netherlands to invest in roads, public transport
The Dutch government is to invest US$3.74bn in 2014 to build 149 kilometres of roads in the Netherlands, according to minister for transport Melanie Schultz. Projects include the Blankenburg Tunnel west of Rotterdam, improvements to traffic flow around Utrecht and extension of the A15 ring road.
A further US$2.3 billion is to be spent on public transport, including railway projects to improve travel between Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Nijmegen and improvements to the public transport trav
Brazil’s government to privatise roads with lowest tolls
Brazil’s government announced plans in 2012 to sell state asset to private investors through long term concession deals that would give the winning bidder the right to operate roads, rails and ports, many once built by the government, for around 30 years.
The government is now looking to contain the risk involved with high tolls during the privatisation process for roads, and will initially auction off motorways with the lowest tolls.
Russia to spend US$2.3 billion on developing St Petersburg Metro
St Petersburg, Russia anticipates a 1.5 fold increase in subway development financing in 2014, and has allocated around US$2.3 billion in its draft budget for 2014-2016.
One of the deepest metro systems in the world, St Petersburg's Metro has a total length of 113.5 km and 67 stations, one of which is 86 metres below ground. Serving 2.15 million passengers daily, it is also one of the busiest metro systems in the world.
Researchers develop remote traffic pollution detection system
A group of research centres and companies in Madrid has created what is said to be the first infrared and remote system able to detect pollutants from cars on highways up to three lanes. The goal is to be able to conduct a global test of automobile emissions.
According to the researchers, the prototype, which is ready to be marketed, can make an intelligent measurement of highway traffic by collecting real-time data on traffic density, emissions and consumption associated with each vehicle, and weather c
Australia ‘must choose an electric car charging norm’
According to Professor Thomas Braunl, director of the renewable energy vehicle project at the University of Western Australia, it’s time for Australia to choose a standard for vehicle charging connectors.
When the university started Australia’s first electric vehicle trial in Western Australia in 2010, there were no manufacturer-built cars available and locally built conversions had to be used. As of today, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Holden and Tesla offer electric cars in the Australian market. Nearly all inte
Strabag to build Bosnian motorway
A consortium led by Strabag and comprising its partners Euro-Asfalt and ZGB is to build the Svilaj-Odžak section of the international motorway corridor 5c in Bosnia. Work on the 10.4 km long section will begin in October 2013 and includes the construction of the roadway, the border crossing at Svilaj, the Svilaj toll station, two service areas and two motorway exits. The contract value amounts to around US$112 million.
Car navigation systems market in three ASEAN countries to reach 2.08
The car navigation systems market in three ASEAN countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2 percent (2011-2018) to reach 2.08 million units in 2018, says a new report by Frost & Sullivan. Personal navigation devices (PNDs) are expected to dominate the ASEAN navigation systems market. The new analysis, Strategic Growth Opportunities in Navigation Systems Market in ASEAN, finds that the PND segment had a market share of 93 percent in 2011
New report: technology is a game changer
For decades, planners and engineers have gathered traffic data using expensive, time-consuming surveys and processes. A new AirSage white paper, "The Future of Transportation Studies: A Comparative Review" looks at the emerging trends that are transforming the transportation planning industry and examines traditional traffic data collection methods and new complementary technologies at the forefront of the transportation industry.
Cross-border public transport
A recent cross-border study by PTV and transport consultant ProgTrans in the tri-national Eurodistrict Basel (TEB), which has borders with Germany and France, examined ways in which public transport could be strengthened in the region and the need to make the most of mobility options.
Stronger penalties needed for texting drivers says IAM
Drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous driving should be given stronger and more consistent penalties, according to road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). An IAM analysis of eleven recent prosecutions involving mobile and smartphone use revealed that the average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is four-and-a-half years in prison and a disqualification from driving for seven years. In all of the cases analysed, the convicted drivers were found to have lost the
Tenders in for Brazil’s highways
Brazil's national ground transport agency Agência Nacional de Transportes Terrestres (ANTT) has received eight bids for its US$1.34 billion BR-050 federal highway concession between the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais. The thirty-year concession involves the construction of the BR-050 highway, including restoration, maintenance, road widening and other improvements to provide a 437 kilometre highway along the Minas Gerais and São Paulo border, with six toll booths.