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The UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has launched MAAPcloud, the new generation version of its MAAP road traffic collision data software which TRL has supplied in the UK and globally since the 1980s. TRL says this brand new version provides a better fit with today’s technological environments, and offers additional capabilities for the road safety professionals who use it. MAAPcloud has been designed to allow flexible deployment; police forces, local authorities and other road safety stakeholders ca

The three-year iMobility Support, launched by Ertico-ITS Europe will support the deployment of intelligent mobility in Europe by assisting with the work of the iMobility Forum. The project builds on eight years’ experience in similar initiatives and will assist with important activities such as stakeholder networking, product deployment and communications. The iMobility Forum is a broad consortium of stakeholders who have an interest in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and services and works to de

The city of Glasgow has won a Future Cities Demonstrator grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), a body set up by the UK government in 2007 to stimulate technology-enabled innovation. The grant, worth US$37.8 million, is intended to make Glasgow one of the UK's first smart cities; the money will be used on projects to demonstrate how a city of the future might work. Plans include better services for citizens, with real-time information about traffic and apps to check that buses and trains are on tim

TomTom Business Solutions has joined forces with stolen vehicle recovery specialist LoJack to expand the North American distribution network for its fleet management technology. LoJack will use its extensive dealer network to market, sell and support TomTom’s range of fleet management solutions, including TomTom PRO, TomTom Link 510, TomTom Webfleet, ecoPlus as well as the Live services including HD Traffic. “This strategic alliance enables both companies to strengthen their position as best-in-class provid

Danish wireless technology company Blip systems has supplied engineering and technology services provider Beca with its BlipTrack Bluetooth traffic monitoring system, which has been deployed in Waikato, New Zealand. The Te Rapa Bypass project is the first of a planned US$2 billion investment by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) in the Waikato region’s transportation network over the next eight years. The BlipTrack solution has been established in advance of these projects and will continue to assess

The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Traffic Signs Policy paper entitled “Signing the Way” sets out the policy framework for ensuring that the traffic signing system in Great Britain meets the future needs of all road users, whilst building upon the existing and established traffic sign system. Within this framework the issue of how traffic signs will be illuminated in the future is considered. In response to this, visitors to Traffex 2013, the 26th international traffic engineering, road safety, parking an

The Ministry of Transport of Quebec (MTQ), Canada, is to acquire thirty-seven new safety cameras, following an announcement in 2012 that it planned to add twenty-five photographic speed measuring devices in areas with a high accident risk, near schools and along road works. Fifteen devices have already been successfully tested. In total, thirty-seven cameras will be installed, including eighteen mobile speed cameras, fifteen red light cameras, which can be used at traffic lights to detect vehicles that spee

Thailand’s government has announced a USD 74.01 billion investment package to boost the country's transport system. According to Transport Minister, Chadchat Sittipunt, 78 per cent of the total investment will cover transport infrastructure projects including rail, roads, air and water transports. He added that the infrastructure upgrades will lower logistics expenses by as high as 13.2%, by shifting transportation mode from roads to rail network. The huge spending on infrastructure was crucial for the cou

Transport Scotland has announced a US$3.8 million package to replace safety cameras across the country. The safety cameras, which detect motorists driving above the speed limit, will be upgraded to digital technology. The new cameras will offer a number of benefits including improved reliability, faster processing of offences and clearer images of offending vehicles. A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "Road safety is a priority for this government and we are making good progress towards meeting the amb

ABI Research’s Intelligent Transportation Systems vendor Competitive Assessment analysed fifteen leading intelligent transportation systems vendors against six “innovation” and seven “implementation” criteria in addition to a market share analysis. The analysis ranks Kapsch TraffiCom first, saying it performed strongly across hardware, software, and solutions and excelling in toll collect and road use charging, traffic data, monitoring, and management, road and vehicle safety systems, and hardware. In secon

West Palm Beach is to significantly expand its red-light camera program in 2013 after commissioners approved plans to install cameras at twenty-five new intersections, bringing the number of intersections equipped to catch drivers who illegally run red lights to thirty-two. The move comes despite a recent city police report that tracked five of the existing seven red-light cameras and found crashes nearly doubled in those locations between February 2011 and January 2013, to 66 from 36. Police Chief Vince De

Intelligent traffic management information solutions provider Iteris has added a new product to its Vantage video detection product suite. SmartSpan uses proprietary Dynamic Zone Stabilisation (DZS) algorithms to provide accurate and cost effective advance detection and stop-bar detection of vehicles at intersections equipped with span wire mounted signal lights. According to Iteris, the new solution addresses the unmet needs of many traffic management agencies that have not been able to cost-effectively de

In an open letter to UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, thirty-two leading transport academics have said that in order to cut emissions and tackle congestion the government should introduce pay as you drive road charging. The academics argue that traffic will increase with further investment in the road network. They say smart demand management measures need to be accelerated, while cities are not equipped for further road traffic growth. The previous government considered pay as you go road chargin

Bus passengers in San Bernardino, California now have up-to-the-minute, accurate bus arrival information at their fingertips with bus operator Omnitrans’ new NexTrip technology. Passengers can access NexTrip real-time bus information via mobile web browser, desktop computer, SMS/text, or by calling 1-800-9-OMNIBUS and selecting the NexTrip option. Online, customers can view buses and stops on a route map with real-time tracking. They even can sign up for automatic alerts, such as notification when the bus i

Compass3D, the latest EU project, aims to prove the social and environmental benefits of cooperative systems by deploying services for road users, including drivers of buses, emergency vehicles, trucks, taxis, electric vehicles and private cars, to increase road safety and energy efficiency, while reducing the level of congestion in road transport. With a total budget of more than US$13 million, this new pilot project will involve 574 users and 334 vehicles in the deployment of co-operative ITS (C-ITS) in s

German vehicle manufacturer BMW, through its brand BMWi, is continuing its strategy of electro-mobility based on the needs of the customer by forming a partnership with French electrical equipment and energy management specialist Schneider Electric to create a recharging system for electric vehicles. The agreement includes supply and installation of a wall-mounted recharging station for the BMWi3 and BMWi8, maintenance and other services, which will enable drivers to recharge the vehicle in their own garage

Electric car owners in British Columbia (BC), Canada, are to benefit from electric vehicle charging stations to be set up in twelve communities across the province the provincial government. Environment minister Terry Lake said that a total of US$1.31 million will be invested to set up the stations, which will also meet the West Coast Green Highway agreement that BC has signed with three US states, in which charging stations will be set up along the Pacific West Coast, from California to BC.

Capitalising on its investment in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is to install permanent dynamic message signs (DMS) along New Jersey’s interstate highways. The signs display major waypoints, such as intersecting highways or significant roadway features, and indicate how many minutes it will take to reach that waypoint. The DOT has completed the testing phase on fifteen DMS on I-287 and I-195 and is planning further signs on other major

As part of a plan to enhance asset management and drive efficiencies, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in the UK has implemented street lighting software from UK supplier of local authority service management systems, Mayrise Systems. Supported by £400,000 worth of funding from the Department of Transport the council has developed a number of projects designed to develop a model for highway asset management, to be achieved through innovative use of IT and the continued delivery of safety schemes.

In response to recent comments by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and the ongoing study of spectrum sharing being undertaken by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) urged spectrum policymakers not to fast track a decision on opening the 5.9 GHz band to unlicensed users. A complete record and fair opportunity for all affected parties to participate in the process needs to be addressed, particularly since life-saving v