Tattile consolidates and restructures
Italian machine vision system supplier Tattile has announced a significant re-launch plan that will see European private equity fund Ambienta take a 70 per cent shareholding in the company. Ambienta focuses on the environmental industry and is seen by Tattile as the deal partner to support the company’s plans and business internationalisation. Ambienta’s investment will be a key factor in the company’s growth strategy and will enable Tattile to conclude a number of important projects that the company has r
Traffic sensors give cyclists green lights
Transport officials in Columbus, Ohio, are following in the footsteps of Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon and Berkeley, California and recalibrating their traffic signal sensors to accommodate the growing number of cyclists in the city. Nearly all the city’s 1,000 traffic lights are connected to road sensors that detect the presence of vehicles at the intersections and adjust the lights accordingly. Cycles are another story; they don’t contain enough metal to trigger the sensor. This has caused some cyclis
U.S. parking sector to help grow workplace electric vehicle charging
The American parking industry is backing a government initiative to expand electric vehicle charging stations in the workplace. The International Parking Institute (IPI) has become a founding ambassador in the US DoE’s Workplace Charging Challenge, the latest element of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, announced by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the recent Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Day. The Workplace Charging Challenge is assisting the growth of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) by urging emp
New USB3 vision standard released
The USB3 Vision specification, the result of many months of collaboration between some of the machine vision industry's leading technology companies, has been successfully ratified by the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and members of the USB3 Vision Technical Committee. The aim of the standard is to enable interoperability between USB 3.0 imaging components such as cameras, accessories and software. Like the popular GigE Vision standard, USB3 Vision will provide a framework for transmitting high-speed
LaHood steps down as Transportation Secretary
US transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that he will not serve a second term in President Obama’s Cabinet. LaHood, one of the few Republicans in Obama’s Cabinet, said he will stay in his position until his successor is confirmed. “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the department, and I am grateful to President Obama for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity,” LaHood said in a statement to Transpiration employees. “As I look back on the past four years, I am proud of what we h
LeddarTech increases d-tec sensor range
LeddarTech, Canadian supplier of advanced 3D detection and tracking systems based on patented Leddar (Light Emitting Diode Detection and Ranging) technology, has launched the second generation of its d-tec 3D traffic sensor. Leddar d-tec emits non-visible light into the area of interest and measures the time taken for the light to reflect off of objects and return to the sensor. The second generation provides a range increase of 25 per cent for all d-tec products without comprising the accuracy and performa
Jenoptik expands Asia-Pacific business
German optoelectronics group Jenoptik is expanding its business in the Asia-Pacific region with the acquisition of 100 per cent of Australian company DCD Systems, a provider of traffic safety technology based in Sydney and Melbourne. DCD was previously the sales and service partner for the Jenoptik Traffic Solutions division in Australia; Jenoptik has maintained a close working relationship with the company for more than 10 years. Within the framework of the acquisition DCD Systems will be integrated into t
EU Compass4D project begins work
The new EU co-funded project Compass4D recently launched by Ertico-ITS Europe is designed to prove the benefits of cooperative systems and deploy services for road users to increase road safety and energy efficiency, while reducing the level of congestion in road transport. Compass4D target users are drivers of buses, emergency vehicles, trucks, taxis, electric vehicles and private cars. They all need information to make their driving safer, less stressful and more energy efficient. As a consequence, bus dr
Report identifies Nashville region transportation needs
The results of an IBM study of transportation in Nashville and the surrounding region to accelerate its move to better, safer and more reliable transportation for the Nashville region’s citizens released by the Transit Alliance of middle Tennessee and IBM pinpoints areas that could benefit from immediate investment and would help relieve current stress. It also identifies long-term initiatives that could help spur future economic growth and livability in the region. The Transit Alliance commissioned IBM to
Schneider Electric to create smart cities in China
Schneider Electric is using its expertise in developing smart mobility management systems and smart transportation systems in a collaboration with Chinese cities of Liuzhou and Wuzhou to transform mobility management in these cities and improve urban efficiency by optimising city building administration. Schneider will implement its efficient building management solutions and SmartMobility technology that it says will enable local authorities to reduce current traffic delays by over 35 per cent and achieve
UK police forces implement StarTraq offence processing
Three UK police forces, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) are to implement a StarTraq traffic offence management and enforcement system across all three forces, to improve overall efficiencies and assist them with road safety. Under the multi-year contract, UK-headquartered StarTraq will provide BCH with an integrated, user-friendly and dynamic solution that provides adjudication and document management capabilities.
California DOT installs driver information signs
California DOT (Caltrans) is installing electronic message signs in an effort to prevent or reduce congestion on the heavily used Interstate 10. Vehicle detection systems have also been installed on the 133 mile stretch of freeway to monitor traffic. The detection systems monitor speed and traffic volume, processing the data and transmitting it to the freeway message signs to give motorists real-time journey time estimates. "Changeable message signs will allow us to deliver information directly to drivers
EU proposes minimum of 8 million EV charging points by 2020
The European Commission has unveiled measures to boost the deployment of alternative fuels, including electricity and hydrogen, in EU transport. Under the Clean Power for Transport package, the Commission proposes a minimum number of recharging points per country with common standards for interoperability throughout the EU. Even though alternative fuels, such as electricity and hydrogen are available in the market, there are several obstacles that prevent their wider deployment. According to the European Co
Manchester to get intelligent transport system
The UK’s Transport for Greater Manchester is planning a "Dynamic Road Network Efficiency and Travel Information System Solution", designed to enable the administration and delivery of schemes to improve the management of the transport network in Greater Manchester. The city is tendering a contract worth up to US$23.5 million over six years to build an intelligent transport system, covering active traffic management of the highway network, traffic signal priority measures (initially for the local bus network
ITS America 23rd annual meeting highlights life-saving vehicle technology
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s (ITS America) 23rd Annual Meeting and Exposition will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN from April 22 – 24, 2013, and will showcase the latest ITS technology solutions with an exhibit hall and panel discussions featuring national, regional and local transportation officials and innovation leaders. The three-day event will highlight the latest transportation innovations that are being developed and implemented acr
US DOT's ITS JPO selects dynamic mobility applications for development
The US Department of Transportation's (US DOT) Dynamic Mobility Applications program is exploring the future possibilities for connected vehicles where cars, trucks, buses, the roadside, and smartphones will talk to each other. They will share valuable safety, mobility, and environmental information over a wireless communications network that is already connecting and transforming transportation systems. Such a system of “connected vehicles,” mobile devices, and roads will provide a wealth of transportation
Confidex to supply smart ticketing for Glasgow subway
Finland-headquartered contactless fare media supplier Confidex is to supply Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) with contactless ITSO (the UK technical standard for interoperable smart ticketing) smart tickets to replace the magnetic stripe tickets currently in use across the Glasgow underground system. The tickets will be encoded and issued from vending machines, parking machines and ticket offices. SPT assistant chief executive Eric Stewart says: “A key part of SPT’s subway modernisation work is
US study finds cameras reduce red light running
The latest research by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that red light running rates declined at Arlington, Virginia, intersections equipped with cameras. The decreases were particularly large for the most dangerous violations, those happening 1.5 seconds or longer after the light turned red. "This study provides fresh evidence that automated enforcement can get drivers to modify their behaviour," says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at IIHS and the study's lead au
Kapsch to offer radio systems for public transport
Kapsch CarrierCom, supplier of GSM-R railway safety systems, is to partner with Dutch technology manufacturer Rohill Engineering to offer Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) solutions for public transport. Rohill’s TETRA infrastructure solution uses soft-switch technology and a real-time Linux operating system to provide numerous benefits including increased flexibility, speed and integration of IP. Kapsch has already equipped more than 70,000 kilometres of railway with GSM-R technology, supporting both safet
Cubic adds NextBus to solutions portfolio
Cubic Transportation Systems has broadened its portfolio of transportation solutions with the acquisition of NextBus from Webtech Wireless. The US-based integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions says the acquisition also positions NextBus to accelerate its growth by leveraging Cubic's global presence and customer base. NextBus is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that accurate, real-time arrival information for buses, subways and trains. The system