Idesco readers improve flexible access control
Finnish identification solutions provider Idesco is deploying its access control readers for the expansion of the City of Oulu’s access control system. City systems integrators Stanley Security and Capitis Control chose the readers to enable access by thousands of municipal employees across two distinctive systems, in almost one hundred buildings. Idesco says the City of Oulu’s expanding access control system will begin saving money through its ongoing deployment of the latest generation of eco20 energy-sa
Consortium wins Polish ERTMS contract
Polish infrastructure manager PKP PLK has awarded a consortium of Bombardier (ZWUS) Poland, Thales Poland, and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) a $US153 million contract for the country's first commercial European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 installation. The project covers the 340km line E65 between Gdynia and Warsaw, which also forms the northern section of Pan-European Corridor VI from Gdynia to Katowice and Zilina in Slovakia. Bombardier and Thales will supply the ETCS Level 2 equipment,
Econolite enhances ITS reach with expanded distributor agreement
Transportation solutions provider Econolite is to expand its long-standing distributor agreement with Traffic Control Corporation (TCC) from January 2013. TCC, currently a channel partner in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota, will now enhance access to Econolite’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategies by reaching additional key midwest regions of Kansas and Nebraska. According to TCC president John Lizzadro, TCC expects its successful
Integrated passenger transport system for Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s integrated passenger transport system is to benefit from a new system for control, passenger information and electronic fare collection (e-ticketing). Init has been awarded a contract by the Luxembourg transport association to equip thirty-four private and three public transport companies with the system over the next three years. The contract also includes control centres and providing around 920 vehicles with hardware and software.
Imtech to provide technology for Antwerp’s new tram project
Technology supplier Royal Imtech (Imtech) has announced an agreement with the Flemish transport authority De Lijn for improvement of Antwerp’s sustainable public infrastructure. The Livan 1 Antwerp design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) tram project will be implemented by a consortium called NV Livan Infrastructure comprising Lijninvest as a public shareholder and Poseidon Infrastructure (Imtech, Denys and Macquarie Capital Group) as a private partner. The total investment is around US$132 million. M
San Antonio GPS-based BRT gets the green light
San Antonio, Texas, is launching a new GPS-based bus rapid transit system (BRT) that keeps San Antonio’s new VIA Primo bus fleet on-schedule with minimal impact on individual traffic flow. Siemens Road and City Mobility business has worked together with Trapeze Group to create a new transit signal priority (TSP) solution that they say is the first of its kind to use a ‘virtual’ GPS-based detection zone for transit vehicle traffic management without the need for physical detector equipment at the intersectio
Dubai Police choose Vitronic enforcement
Dubai Police continues its road safety initiative by awarding a further contract to Vitronic for fixed traffic enforcement systems; the contract includes PoliScan speed enforcement, combined red light and speed enforcement systems as well as violation processing software. The stationary PoliScan speed systems monitor all vehicles in the surveillance zone equally, even if they are tailgating, changing lanes, driving in the vicinity of road works, tunnels or taking bends. In Dubai the systems come with automa
US drivers turning to alternative fuel vehicles says research
Increasing numbers of US customers are turning to alternative fuel vehicles, according to the latest research from Mintel, which shows that sales are up 73%, with nearly 440,000 hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrics sold thus far this year. The rapid sales growth in hybrid and electric vehicles makes the segment the fastest growing in the US for 2012, supplanting the still fast growing, compact car vehicle segment. The number of plug-in and electric models available to the public has nearly quadrupled over
Call for preservation of Europe’s Horizon 2020 budget
European associations representing industry, research providers, academia, infrastructure, operators and users in the road, rail, air and waterborne transport sectors combine their voices to call for an appropriate budget share for transport research in the future Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Transport is the backbone of the European economy, being fundamental to the four freedoms of the European Union, and underpins social interaction and development throughout the Member S
TfL allocates funds to improve London’s traffic
Transport for London (TfL) has allocated more than US$240 million transportation projects in London, aimed at improving traffic flow and making both walking and cycling safer. The funding has been allocated through the Local Implementation Plan (LIP), allowing the money to be spent on projects that support the Mayor's Transport Strategy. "This funding will benefit all of London and everyone living in, working in or visiting the capital," London Mayor Boris Johnson said. "A world class city deserves a world
Washington gets real-time parking information
A custom-built application, powered by ParkMe, enables drivers in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to instantly locate available parking at the touch of a finger with the introduction of parking operator Colonial Parking's new website location finder map and mobile app for iPhone. ParkMe allows the data from Colonial's 250 locations to be streamed to mobile apps, in-car navigation systems and GPS devices and provides drivers with parking information, such as rates, entrance points and even real-time oc
New large-scale initiative towards Europe smart cities
The Smart Cities Stakeholder Platform, part of the Smart Cities and Community Partnership, which was launched by the European Commission in early 2012, works as an advisory body for the EU’s leading research initiative on the future of cities. Members include technology producers, energy providers and urban visionaries. The open-invitation group is already 1,000 members strong, and is currently building a database of high-tech solutions to help build the smart cities of tomorrow. The ideas, coming from the
Sydney gets real-time bus information
Sydney bus passengers can now track whether their bus service is running late, with the New South Wales (NSW) government making real-time information on bus movements available to mobile app developers. The latest versions of TripView, Arrivo Sydney and TripGo allow users to locate the nearest bus stop and ticket machine, predict when a bus is to arrive and see where a bus is on its route using GPS data from the Public Transport Information Priority System (PTIPS). The real time information will initially b
Sacramento to trial EV charging
The city of Sacramento in California is to trial electric vehicle (EV) charging on its own EVs. Evatran, developer of Plugless Power wireless electric vehicle charging technology, has announced that the city is to take part in its Apollo Trial Program, joining industry participant such as Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Duke Energy, Google, DTE Energy, and the Hertz Corporation. Plugless Power technology, based on the 100 year old principle of magnetic induction, was developed to allow electric vehicle
Light rail network planned for Wellington
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is developing a transport study to upgrade the public transport system in the city of Wellington, New Zealand, with the study due to be wrapped up by April 2013. The council plans to build a light rail network to connect Kilbirnie and the Central Business District (CBD), and is also considering upgrading bus lanes or constructing a bus corridor under the transport study. Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Fran Wilde said stretching the study to include the sout
US transport agencies get ITS from Mentor Engineering
Canada-headquartered Mentor Engineering is to provide several agencies with comprehensive Intelligent Transportation Systems to help them better manage operations and enhance customer service. Capital Area Rural Transportation (CARTS) in Austin, Texas, has been a long-time Mentor paratransit client. Now, CARTS will be implementing Mentor’s fixed route solution, which includes the Mentor MyRide passenger information system. With MyRide, passengers are able to get real-time schedule and bus information anywhe
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads ARRB Group agree
Australia’s Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and transportation consultants ARRB Group (ARRB) have signed a new partnership agreement that provides committed funding for capability development, research and technology transfer. The agreement builds on the long history of successful collaboration between ARRB and TMR and is precisely aligned to the strategic goals of both organisations. The primary technical focus of the agreement will be to create a national asset research centre of e
Kapsch to maintain UK rail GSM-R network
Austrian rail telecommunication systems integrator Kapsch CarrierCom has been awarded the contract to maintain the entire GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) network on behalf of British railway infrastructure operator Network Rail. The multi-year agreement will see Kapsch supporting Network Rail’s control centre team to ensure the highest levels of network availability, enabling higher frequency of train services and greater safety standards. GSM-R is an international wireless communi
Houston traffic technology ‘going global’
A real-time traffic data collection system developed by the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute (TTI) is going nationwide and could go global, according to the university. The development, known as AWAM (Anonymous Wireless Address Matching), uses the first portion of the MAC address from anonymous wireless devices, such as Bluetooth-enabled devices, carried in vehicles to measure the travel time between two points along freeways and arterial roads in rural and urban environments. It provides real-
Siemens introduces 3G wireless for UTC
A new 3G wireless communications solution which allows Siemens UTMC OTUs to be connected to the company’s PC SCOOT UTC instation has been launched by the company following extensive field trials. The newly released 3G option is available on Gemini2 and is provided by the use of an approved 3G router and antenna kit and is quick and easy to install. It allows junctions to be added onto the UTC system without the need for physically wired or fibre links, reducing installation and civil engineering costs.
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