One of the world’s largest C2X communication trials hits the road
One of the largest ever field trials of car-to-X communication (C2X) is getting underway in Germany in a trial that consists of 120 vehicles that will take to the roads of the Rhine-Main region until the end of the year. Each car has a network link to the others, as well as to the traffic infrastructure, and they will keep each other updated about the current traffic situation.
Construction begins on $1 billion I-95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia
Surrounded by elected officials, transportation engineers, and dignitaries, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday to begin construction of the I-95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. The project will build 29 miles (46.7kms) of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County, and will connect the I-95 Express Lanes to the I-495 Express Lanes currently under construction to provide a seamless network of new lanes to reduce
Chrysler and Sprint developing a new wireless in-vehicle connectivity experience
Chrysler Group and Sprint have developed a new wireless in-vehicle connectivity experience for the Ram 1500 pickup and SRT Viper. The companies are evolving Uconnect to include a variety of new, easy-to-use connected features and services that are designed to help keep drivers focused on the primary driving task. Chrysler Group has enlisted the network, systems integration and consumer market expertise of Sprint in a strategic partnership designed to seamlessly integrate wireless technology into Chrysler Gr
Rail and tram projects approved for Palermo
The Italian Transport Ministry has approved two significant projects aimed at improving public transport links in Palermo, Sicily. The tram project involves the construction of three lines covering a total of 15 kilometres. Work on Line 1 began in 2007 and is scheduled to be open for testing by the end of this year. Line 2 is 30 per cent complete while Line 3, between Cep and Corso Calatafimi, will be the last to be finished.
Automotive industry's first award dedicated to light-weighting
Altair, a leading provider of simulation technology and engineering services to the world's automakers, has announced what it claims is the automotive industry's first award programme created specifically to acknowledge innovations in vehicle light-weighting, thereby improving fuel economy and performance. The inaugural Altair Enlighten Award, presented in collaboration with the Centre for Automotive Research (CAR), will recognise achievements in weight reduction across the automotive industry from motorcyc
Contracts awarded for Doha metro
Doha's Qatar Railways Company (QRail) has now awarded contracts for project management and construction for its Doha metro development. Three project managers have been selected and are made up of US firm Louis Berger with French Egis Rail for the Gold Line, US firm Jacobs Engineering for the Red Line and US firm Hill International for the Green Line.
Philips working to improve lighting and safety on roads in Spain
Dutch electronics firm, Philips, is working with the Ministry of Industry in Spain to improve the efficiency of lighting and safety on roads. The collaboration has involved a series of pilot projects and tests on the main roads in Madrid. A kilometre of LED SpeedStar lights with CityTouch control and management systems has been installed on the M11, for example, which links Madrid with Barajas Airport. Initial results indicate that there has been a 67 per cent improvement in energy consumption as a result o
Auto industry on cusp of revolutionary change
The automotive industry appears to be on the cusp of revolutionary change, which will be engendered by the advent of autonomous or ‘self-driving’ vehicles - and the timing may be sooner than you think, according to a new report unveiled by KPMG and the Centre for Automotive Research (CAR).
5.7 million fleet management systems in Europe by 2016
According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Europe was 2.5 million in Q4-2011. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9 per cent, this number is expected to reach 5.7 million by 2016.
Bigger and more focused Traffex for 2013
Traffex 2013, the 26th international traffic engineering, road safety, parking and highway maintenance exhibition will take place in Hall 5 at the NEC Birmingham from 16 - 18 April 2013. According to the organisers, the event is set to be one of the largest in its thirty year history, and will once again be co-located with Parkex; Europe’s largest dedicated parking exhibition. The combined Traffex, Parkex Exhibition will provide visitors with the unique opportunity to see over 500 exhibitors from the worl
GE, Ford, University of Michigan working to extend EV battery life
GE researchers, in partnership with Ford Motor Company and the University of Michigan, are working together to develop a smart, miniaturised sensing system that has the potential to significantly extend the life of car batteries over conventional battery systems used in electric vehicles today.
Malaysia to deploy over 1,000 cameras in AES
The Malaysian the government will use over 1,000 cameras to monitor roads nationwide under its Automated Enforcement System (AES) scheme. The programme will see 250 mobile cameras, 566 fixed speed cameras and 265 traffic light cameras being used to monitor the roads. It is claimed that each camera will be able to capture around 600 road offenders daily.
Traffic alert app from Pennsylvania company launches in UK
Motorists using major highways in England can now access real-time, personalised traffic and roadway travel information on their smartphones by downloading a free app developed by Philadelphia-based Information Logistics. The Hands-Free Traffic Talker England (HFT England) app audibly broadcasts information about a motorist's specific travel route, freeing the user from the distractions of touching the phone, reading messages, or listening to irrelevant traffic alerts.
Traffic alert app from Pennsylvania company launches in UK
Motorists using major highways in England can now access real-time, personalised traffic and roadway travel information on their smartphones by downloading a free app developed by Philadelphia-based Information Logistics. The Hands-Free Traffic Talker England (HFT England) app audibly broadcasts information about a motorist's specific travel route, freeing the user from the distractions of touching the phone, reading messages, or listening to irrelevant traffic alerts.
Kapsch TrafficCom strengthens presence in Mexico
Austria-headquartered Kapsch TrafficCom has announced that its subsidiary, Kapsch TrafficCom Canada (KTCC), has made a significant investment in Simex, Integracion de Sistemas, a Mexican systems integration company with 28 years of experience in the Mexican market in the fields of automation and control, toll collection, security and parking systems.
Precise costs and emissions for uphill driving
Germany-headquartered PTV has announced the new map&guide service pack that significantly improves the calculation of pollutant emissions in road transport. The software now includes altitude data for all European countries so that transport operators have access to precise information on CO2 emissions and other pollutants depending on uphill and downhill gradients. Consequently, the software delivers results that are far more precise and meaningful. Moreover, PTV states that costs (diesel consumption) can
ComNet managed Ethernet switch
Communication Networks (ComNet) has introduced a high-capacity managed Ethernet switch. The Comworx CNGE2FE24MSPoE is the company's first environmentally hardened Managed Ethernet Switch to provide a high port density in a compact package and provides Power over Ethernet to peripheral devices such as IP cameras and video encoders. The device makes available 24 10/100TX ports and two 1000Mbps combo ports that utilise easily interchangeable small form factor pluggable optic devices as optical interfaces.
UHF RFID Reader
Sirit has introduced the latest addition to its IDentity series of high-performance, fixed-position, UHF RFID readers, the IDentity 5200. A ruggedised, multi-protocol reader, the device provides increased flexibility in configuration options for the user. Designed for various automatic vehicle identification applications, including electronic tolling, traffic management and electronic vehicle registration, it provides similar performance to Sirit's ID5100 reader with the added capability of being deployable
New MySpot barrier
Designated Parking has announced the MySpot 30 parking barrier. According to Dori Teich, President of the company, it combines physical and visual features that will deter even the most determined unauthorised parker.
PB wins on-call contract for Detroit-Chicago high speed rail project
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDoT) has awarded an on-call contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff for construction services in support of the agency’s efforts to implement accelerated rail services along a high-speed rail corridor between Pontiac/Detroit and Chicago.