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Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

Telematics Newsletter: 16Feb09 – 22Feb09

TV fitted with a GPS device on the track of illegal waste disposal in Africa    21/02/2009 Tonnes of toxic waste collected from British municipal dumps is being sent illegally to Africa in flagrant breach of this country’s obligation to ensure its rapidly growing mountain of defunct televisions, computers and gadgets are disposed of safely. … read more RFID technology to develop m! ore effective tools for screening of food products    21/02/2009 The EPC, Electronic Product Code, is a technology of radio frequency that enables you to make a full and reliable screening, covering the entire supply chain.  The EPC number is global and unique. Available in Brazil since 2002, it accommodates the information identifier of Global Trade Item (GTIN), which identifies the products in the GS1 System. … read more Toyota to Join Public ITS Tests in Tokyo    21/02/2009 Tokyo, Feb 19, 2009 – (JCN Newswire) – TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATIO! N (TMC) announces it will demonstrate its vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems on public roads in Tokyo from February 25 to 28 in a joint intelligent transport systems (ITS) verification effort sponsored by Japan’s private-public ITS Promotion Council. … read more The face behind the GPS voice finds fame    21/02/2009 If you’ve ever used a GPS device for directions, you might already be acquainted with Karen Jacobsen. As the voice of “Australian-English Karen” in Garmin GPS products, she calmly instructs harried drivers to turn left, go 1.8 miles or “recalculate” their trips every day … read more Latin American drug gangs use GPS to outwit police    21/02/2009 GUATEMALA CITY, Feb 19 (Reuters) – Drug smugglers are using sophisticated devices like satellite positioning systems to outwit police and move more South American cocaine by sea, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday. … read more Aepona partners with UbiEst to offer LBS to its wireless carriers worldwide     21/02/2009 This week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ubiest and Aepona have signed an agreement under which UbiEst will provide its leading suite of location-based applications for Aepona to integrate with its award-winning Universal Service Platform and take to its mobile operator customers. … read more PHDCC presents pre-budget Delhi govt    21/02/2009 New Delhi, Feb 18: The PHD Chamber of Commerce has presented a pre-Budget Memorandum to Finance Minister Ashok Walia. As per the memorandum, efficient transport, traffic management, trade and investment promotion policy for Delhi, upgrading water supply, e-governance and administrative reforms should be the focus areas for Delhi. … read more CRRI to forward suggestions to make Delhi pedestrian-friendly     21/02/2009 New Delhi, Feb 18: Assuring that it was committed to making Delhi roads pedestrian-friendly, the Government today said it has asked road researchers to come up with viable options “as soon as possible” after rejecting some suggestions forwarded by them. … read more!  Microsoft is expanding and investing in Thailand    21/02/2009 Microsoft is considering expanding its research and development capabilities in Thailand in various sectors, notably software development, high-performance computing and mobile computing, according to Microsoft (Thailand)’s Managing Director, Patama Chantaruck. … read more Vehicle tracking leader calls for telematics standards initiative    20/02/2009 Vehicle tracking specialist, Navman Wireless is calling on the government to protect businesses against unscrupulous telematics operators. The UK’s largest manufacturer of tracking, messaging and navigation equipment believes the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) should establish a TrustMark initiative for the industry. … read more GLONASS by 2010 will become a real competitor to the American GPS (NAVSTAR)    20/02/2009 On Friday 13 February in the Information Agency «Interfax» held a press conference on «Prospects of development of Russia’s orbital group of navigation and communication satellites». Before reporters were made by the General Designer and General Director of JSC «Information satellite systems» of Academician MF Testoedov Nicolai, General Director of FSUE «Satellite Communications» Alexey Ostapchuk and Head of the Federal Space Agency Anatoly Shilov. … read more Dmitry Medvedev signed the federal law on navigation activities    20/02/2009 Federal law establishes the legal framework for implementation in the Russian Federation, the navigation activities aimed at creating conditions for meeting the requirements of navigation, and service! s within the area of navigational activities. … read more Mumbai cops in US with GPS and satphone, FBI helping retrieve data    19/02/2009 New Delhi : Technical experts of the FBI are examining the Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and satellite phones used by the Mumbai attackers to retrieve information that the terrorists might have deleted before the instruments fell into the hands of Indian investigators. … read more Pharos, Inventec Unveil New Line of GPS Smartphones    19/02/2009 Pharos and Taiwanese hardware maker Inventec on Saturday announced three new smartphones armed with Pharos GPS navigation software and travel information running on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.1 OS. … read more Find love with GPS    19/02/2009 A Valentine’s Day, it seems they are all out. Lovers. All walking with flowers, kissing on park on benches. Only wander a few souls wander in pain, in search of their half. Twi! ns of Vésinet, Wael and Sami Chahrour have thought of them with a partner, they created the Zoda, a sort of GPS for love. … read more Black box to prevent death on the roads    19/02/2009 TIM, Telecom Italia and Mac&Nil have developed Remote Angel to help the number of deaths following car accidents. … read more Control-Alt Lock the Car     19/02/2009 WHY stop at downloading traff! ic and news to the dashboard? Why not download your own software applications to the family sedan? … read more Cisco to build Bangalore roadmap    16/02/2009 BANGALORE: The Karnataka government and the US-based networking technologies major Cisco Systems will jointly develop a roadmap for a sustainable Bangalore CityThe state government and the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the subject in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Cisco chief executive John Chambers. … read more

23 February 2009 TENDERS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBER There are several new tenders available. For information about tenders and business opportunities for ITS South Africa members, please click here to access the ITSSA Knowledge Management section. ABSA PUTS THE BRAKES ON FINANCE FOR TAXIS Absa has suspended all taxi vehicle finance approvals because of its inability to verify the authenticity of taxi operating licences after the alleged theft of 800 000 operating permits at the end of 2008. Marcel de Klerk, the managing executive of Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance, said yesterday the division had stopped approving taxi vehicle finance applications about two weeks ago after it had noticed that some operating licences were fraudulent or stolen.  Business Report, Roy Cokayne, 20th February 2009 – Read more TAXI STRIKE SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE – BOSSES The impact of the three-day taxi strike on the provincial economy was an indication that a “clear message” had been sent to the government, said leaders of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA). Last week the taxi operators went on a three-day strike against the new Bus Rapid Transit system that plunged the city into chaos.  Cape Argus, Staff Reporter, 20th February 2009 – Read more WORRYING R186BN FUNDING GAP Since late last year, this publication has been championing the public infrastructure programme as South Africa’s main economic stimulus opportunity. We have written over and over again that government departments and State-owned enterprises must be given the strongest possible signal that they need to continue with their previously-announced implementation schedules, and even seek to enlarge there programmes.  Engineering News, Terence Creamer, 20th February 2009 – Read more BRT ON THE HIGHWAY The Lagos State Government should urgently address the reckless way and manner the drivers of Bus Rapid Transit behave on the highways. Most of them drive with reckless abandon, thereby giving other road users a tough time. They don’t slow down for other road users who may accidentally cross their way – where there are no BRT lane markings, that is.  Punch, Felix Gabriel, 16th February 2009 – Read more COPS OUT IN FORCE IN CAPE TOWN As the taxi strike entered its second day on Thursday, police were out in force to prevent further violence, as commuters switched to trains and buses. Since the start of the unprotected, three-day strike against the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system, scores of residents and bus drivers have been injured and more than 50 people arrested for malicious damage to property, attempted murder and public violence.  Cape Times, Babalo Ndenze and Michelle Jones, 13th February 2009 – Read more For more information visit the ITS South Africa website at www.itssa.org.  Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter.

Friday, February 20, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

Register Now for ITS America‘s Cap and Trade Webinar – Feb. 25

 ITS America is offering a series of webinars on transportation technologies and the environment. The first webinar, which will be held February 25, 2009 from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST, is intended to provide a basic understanding of cap and trade systems and how transportation technology projects may profit from participation in a cap and trade plan. Leslie Bellas, Director of Environmental Affairs at ITS America, will be the first presenter.  Leslie will be discussing: how the mandatory federal cap and trade system is working; how regional cap and trade markets for carbon emissions are functioning; and how transportation technology projects could fit into a cap and trade program of action. The webinar is free to ITS Americamembers and non-members are welcome to join for $99. Click here to register or contact Lori Vintilescu at loriv@itsa.org for more information.

 

AVIATION

 1) Pilots’ Union Calls Buffalo Airport Landing System Flawed

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/nyregion/20beacon.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

 

2) RTCA Task Force Assisting FAA on NextGen Rollout

Link to story in Aviation International News:

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/rtca-task-force-assisting-faa-on-nextgen-rollout/

Link to additional information from RTCA:

http://www.rtca.org/comm/Committee.cfm?id=130

 

BUSES

 3) San Francisco Muni Buses Will Take a Noisy Turn

Audible warning system will sound whenever a bus makes a right turn.

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/18/BAMR15TDN6.DTL&hw=beep+muni&sn=002&sc=543

 

4) Bus Tracking System at Slippery Rock University to Decrease Carbon Footprint

Link to story in The Rocket:

http://media.www.theonlinerocket.com/media/storage/paper601/news/2009/02/20/News/Bus-Tracking.System.To.Decrease.Carbon.Footprint-3639798.shtml

 

CAMERAS

 5) Loophole for Leased Vehicles Found in Cleveland’s Red-Light Camera Law

Link to story and video report on WEWS-TV:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/18761568/detail.html

 

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

  6) Study Looks at High-Tech Tolls in Connecticut

Link to AP story:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct-xgr–highwaytolls0219feb19,0,1146435.story

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 7) Company Demos Development Turn-by-Turn iPhone App

Link to story in Macworld:

http://www.macworld.com/article/138927/iphone_gps.html

 

8) The Face Behind the GPS Voice Finds Fame

Link to story in the Houston Chronicle:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6271616.html

 

MARITIME

 9) RFID Tag Problems Cause Jams at Los Angeles, Long Beach Ports

Link to story in Land Line Magazine:

http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Feb09/021609/021909-01.htm

 

OTHER

 10) US DOT: Obama Will Not Pursue Mileage Tax

Link to story on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/20/driving.tax/

 

11) Web Site Will Let Public Track Rhode Island DOT Road and Bridge Projects that Use Federal Stimulus Money

Link to story in The Providence Journal:

http://www.projo.com/news/content/bz_stimulus_website_02-20-09_D4DCURT_v7.3321d99.html

Link to site:  http://www.gov.ri.gov/recovery/

 

12) Police in Australia Go Online to Track Down Hoons

Link to story in The Advertiser:

http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/police-go-online-to-track-down-hoons/1439942.aspx

 

ROADWAYS

 13) Chicago Alderman Proposes Countdown at Traffic Lights

Link to story and video on WLS-TV:

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6668175 

 

TRANSIT

 14) Integrated Cash-on-Card Solution Gets Green Light in Taiwan

Link to story in the Taiwan Journal:

http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?CtNode=122&xItem=48451

 

VEHICLES

 15) Japanese Automakers Get Ready to Strut Advanced Safety Technology

Link to story in Edmunds Inside Line:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=142412

  

Upcoming Events

Transportation Safety Advisory Group Case Studies Workshop & Webinar – March 4

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s090304_tsag.asp

  

Friday Bonus

That’s one step forward and two steps back.

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=16193

  

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – The Avro Canada CF-105 aircraft program is cancelled by the Canadian government.

http://www.avroarrow.org/AvroArrow/index.html

 

=============================================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

 Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

19 February 2009 INTRODUCTION As a service to our clients and associates Corporate Communication will distribute a regular newsletter with updates on transport preparations for SWC 2010. If you don´t want to receive this newsletter in future please click here to unsubscribe. KZN 2010 PROJECTS ‘ARE WELL ON TRACK’ KwaZulu-Natal will meet all deadlines and obligations for the much-awaited Soccer World Cup, the provincial government said on Thursday. Addressing editors on the province’s readiness for the soccer tournament, Premier Sbu Ndebele said the 2010 projects were well on track. IOL, SAPA, 12th February 2009 – Read more MANUEL: MORE CASH FOR 2010 STADIUMS Trevor Manuel, the finance minister, said the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be one of the sources of output growth improvement next year. Presenting his Budget in Parliament, Manuel said he expects output growth to improve then, supported by public infrastructure spending, lower interest rates and a recovery in the world economy as well as the World Cup. The Times, Michael Hamlyn, 11th February 2009 – Read more BUS MANUFACTURERS RUN OUT OF TIME FOR 2010 THE delay in awarding bus contracts to meet demand for the 2010 Soccer World Cup is causing concern for local bus manufacturers, who warn that the longer they have to wait, the more strain it will put on delivery and that necessary job training will suffer. Business Times, Don Robertson, 9th February 2009 – Read more IT’S ALL GOING TO HAPPEN IN ‘FAN PARKS’ More South African soccer fans are likely to watch the 2010 World Cup matches in so-called fan parks than in the 10 designated stadiums. “The fan parks may constitute a ‘bigger’ World Cup than in the stadiums,” SA Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan told MPs on Thursday. IOL, SAPA, 5th February 2009 – Read more FIFA 2010 TICKETS ON SALE IN JUST THREE WEEKS Tickets for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup go on sale on the Internet in just under three weeks at a prominent South African bank. With Monday having marked 500 days to the World Cup kick-off on June 11, 2010 — today there are 495 days to go — tickets for the event go on sale in 20 days’ time, on February 19. Witness, Marc Strydom, 30th January 2009 – Read more SOUTH AFRICANS FEAR CRIME COULD MAR WORLD CUP A survey by football’s governing body FIFA has found that more than half of South African people are worried about the country’s high crime rate impacting the 2010 World Cup.South Africans are happy to have the World Cup, but worried about crime during the event. CNN, Mike Steere, 29th January 2009 – Read more 10 REASONS TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WORLD CUP 2010 IN SOUTH AFRICA It’s no big secret that we’re all a bit worried about World Cup 2010 in South Africa right now. And though those concerns are very much legitimate, I think it’s time someone offered a few rays of light to counterbalance all the World Cup 2010 doom and gloom. www.worldcupblog.org, Daryl, 29th January 2009 – Read more FIFA SHIFTS FOCUS TO ATTRACTING TOURISTS AS 2010 STADIUMS NEAR… With only 500 days remaining until the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the governing body would focus its attention on the infrastructure and arrangements surrounding the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. FIFA secretary-general Jérôme Valcke said during a press conference in Johannesburg that the organisation was satisfied with the… Engineering News, Chanel Pringle, 26th January 2009 – Read more For more information visit the Corporate Communication website at www.corpcomm.co.za. Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter.

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

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Regional Managers – Imago North America

 Imago North America (formerly ADDCO) is hiring Regional Managers to help grow its Fixed Dynamic Message Sign Business in the USA. Experienced transportation sales & business development individuals should submit resumes to jobs@addco.com.  Candidates should thrive in a fast-paced, professional global company.  For more information on Imago, please visit www.imagoscreens.com. 

AVIATION

1) FAA Not Ready to Approve Wind Farm Off Cape Cod

Concern structures could provide radar interference.

Link to story in The Barnstable Patriot:

http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17238&Itemid=152

2) FAA to Airline Pilots: Turn Cell Phones Off

Link to story in Air Transport Intelligence:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/17/322696/faa-to-airline-pilots-turn-cell-phones-off.html

3) Innovative Web Site Captured Air Crash’s Radio Traffic

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7GIO9vFBE6vKsvkIQ6CCz5nUiAwD96DG76G0

Link to LiveATC:  http://www.liveatc.net/

4) Delta Sued for In-flight Wi-Fi Service

Link to story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

http://www.ajc.com/search/content//business/delta/stories/2009/02/18/aircell_delta_lawsuit_wifi.html

5) Opponents of O’Hare Expansion Unveil New Ad Campaign

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ohare-expansion-18-feb18,0,56548.story

Link to news release from the Stop O’Hare Modernization Program:

http://www.stop-omp.org/uploads/Release_Chicago_Feb_17_09.pdf

 

CARTOGRAPHY

6) Google Wins Street View Privacy Suit

Link to CNET News story:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10166532-93.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

GPS / NAVIGATION

7) ‘Kosher’ GPS Device Gets Official Launch

Link to story in The Jerusalem Post:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304821336&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

 

OTHER

8) Hackers Break Into US Government Travel Web Site, Feed Users Attack Code

Link to story in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128173

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Body Scanners Replace Metal Detectors in Tryout at Tulsa Airport

Link to story in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-02-17-detectors_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

 

10) No Photo Ban in New York City Subways, Yet an Arrest

Link to column in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/nyregion/18about.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

 

11) Orange County, California May be Successful Model for Interoperable Communications

Link to story in Emergency Management:

http://www.govtech.com/em/articles/596643

 

TRANSIT

12) Los Angeles Public Transit Replaces Passes with New TAP Cards

Link to story on KCBS-TV:

http://cbs2.com/consumer/Metropolitan.Transportation.Authority.2.937293.html

 13) New Signs Will Keep London, Ontario Transit Users Informed

Link to story in The Londoner:

http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1438104

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Denver‘s Latest Traffic Plan Depends on Getting You Out of Your Car

Link to story in Westword:

http://www.westword.com/2009-02-19/news/denver-s-latest-traffic-plan-depends-on-getting-you-out-of-your-car/

15) New Cell Phone Traffic Program in Louisville, Kentucky

Link to story in the Lexington Herald-Leader:

http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/698310.html

Link to news release from WHAS-TV:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-17-2009/0004973481&EDATE

 

News Releases

1) Calgary Transit Collaborates with Google to Give Users More Options in Trip Planning

2) New Cameras to Monitor Melbourne on the Move

3) Traffax Inc. Introduces a Unique Line of Data Collection Equipment

 

Upcoming Events

Workshop on Identifying Traveler Information Research Needs to Achieve All Roads-All Modes-All the Time – April 15-17 – Irvine, California

http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9253

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1899 **110^th anniversary** – The White Pass & Yukon Railway reached the summit of White Pass on the border of British Columbia and Alaska.

http://www.wpyr.com

=============================================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-subscribe@googlegroups.com

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to:  TCNL-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast

18 February 2009 Invitation to e-Transport Conference and Exhibition Exhibition space is selling fast and ITS companies from South Africa and abroad are invited to become sponsors and / or exhibitors at the e-Transport Conference and Exhibition The overall theme is Moving People Smartly: Transport Solutions for FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 and beyond. It takes place on 24-25 March 2009 at the Sandton Convention Center. The biennial e-Transport Confex is the premier ITS event to network with key decision-makers and ITS professionals and exploit business opportunities in South Africa’s booming ITS market. With a current infrastructure spend of R600 bilion, there are numerous ITS projects in the pipeline. The mega transport projects to the value of several billion Rand transforming South Africa transport environment are attracting huge local and international interest. If you want to be part of this rapidly growing market, explore the sponsorship and exhibition opportunities to raise your profile in the South African ITS Market. The e-Transport Conference has been accredited for Continuous Professional Development points.  The CPD number is ProvSAICEtr09/00456/09. To view the programme, click here. You are cordially invited to register now. Click here. For sponsorship and exhibition packages, click here. For the exhibition floor plan, click here. For the stand reservation form, click here. For general information about South Africa, click here. International ITS Master Class – 26 March 2009 With the support of the World Road Association (PIARC), the National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the ITS Centre of Excellence, ITS South Africa is proud to host an International ITS Master Class on Thursday 26 March as a post conference event to the e-Transport Conference, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday 24-25 March 2009. The venue is the Sandton Convention Centre. With several mega transport projects underway – and more in the pipeline – international-level training is vital to better equip us with the skills and best practice examples required to raise the standard of planning, deploying, managing operations and undertaking maintenance. The ITS Master Class will help you improve your skills with the guidance of a panel of international presenters. The ITS Master Class has been accredited for Continuous Professional Development points.  The CPD number is ProvSAICEtr09/00455/10. Click here to register. Communication Applications for Transport As ITS deployment intensifies, the need to expand and improve the communication layer becomes increasingly important Different technologies provide divergent benefits and the challenge is to find an inclusive solution. On 11 February ITS South Africa hosted a workshop in Durban on Communication Applications for the Transport Environment in cooperation with the ITS Centre of Excellence and the eThekweni Transport Authority. 70 delegates attended it. Click here for the presentations. Business Opportunity An SME company based in Italy is looking for a partnership. It is a leading Italian player in the Intelligent Transport Systems market, with advanced technology products and system solutions. Main addressed markets and applications: Public Transportation: AVM/AVL, DRTs (on Demand Responsive Transportation system) Fleet management: Fleet of vehicles (included the goods transportation), Containers, Vehicle “Pay-as-you-drive” insurance schemes applications Satellite anti-thief systems: Self managed, Managed by Operative Center Infomobility: Systems based on processed data through vehicle tracking devices, GPS based devices able to supply infomobility audio messages The company is looking for technical and commercial partnerships suitable to value any possible existing synergy with international members of ITS National Associations. If you are interested, please click here. ITS Canada Annual Conference ITS South Africa members can attend ITS Canada’s Annual Conference in Edmonton at the “member rate” if they register and pay before March 6. Full details about the Conference are available at www.itscanada.ca/edmonton2009 Member News Q-Free Friday 23rd of January is going down as the most successful day ever in the history of Q-Free: In the morning we signed a contract in Bangkok, Thailand to deliver a turn-key ETC/MTC system for the customer BECL. This is an existing customer of Q-Free and it is very satisfying that they are placing additional orders with us. Contract value: 60 mill NOK (7 mill EUR) At lunchtime we signed a contract in Porto, Portugal with the customer AENOR to supply a turn-key system based on free flow DSRC and Central System. Contract value: 220 mill NOK (24 mill EUR) In the evening we signed the contract to deliver the complete enforcement system on the roadside and the complete Central System in Slovakia. The installation will be used for the truck tolling project and payments will be calculated based on GPS positions. Contract value: 450 mill NOK (50 mill EUR) This sums up to a total value of 730 mill NOK (81 mill EUR) which represents a value well above a normal year’s revenue for us. It will mean a major leap forward in the size of our company and our ability to deliver large scale projects in short time. All the three systems will be built mainly during 2009. Osma Elevators Germany selects DigiCore’s C-track GPS / GPRS Solution DigiCore Holdings, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed vehicle telematics company, recently increased it’s shareholding in it’s DigiCore Deutshland subsidiary from 50% to 100%. The group has over the last 3 years followed a policy of purchasing 100% shareholding in the offshore entities over a period in order to exploit synergies and align strategies throughout the Group. Following the conclusion of this transaction It is exciting to announce that after two years of testing C-track in a pilot phase, Detlef Ruthemeyer, technical managing director of the family-owned enterprise Osma-Aufzuge, has decided to fully rely on C-track for his fleet’s needs. In the coming weeks, the technicians’ vehicles and all trucks will be equipped with DigiCore’s fleet management system. Click here to read more. Kapsch: Success in France, the Czech Republic and Italy Kapsch TrafficCom AG recently had great success in France, the Czech Republic and Italy.  In the next three years, Kapsch TrafficCom France will impelement four orders for the biggest French road operators (Vinci, APRR and Sanef Groups) and the tag issuer Axxes. In total, Kapsch will supply over half a million on board units and related accessories to France for an order value of around 10 million EUR. “Despite our many successes in other continents, Europe has lost none of its importance for us.  To date, we have repeatedly supplied France with equipment for single lane electronic toll collection.  Kapsch TrafficCom on-board units will be in use on the most important routes in France,” Explains Erwin Toplak, Member of the Board, Kapsch TrafficCom AG. Revenues from the toll system installed by Kapsch TrafficCom in the Czech Republic has grown with around 10% as the state has collected around 245 million EUR last year. Development in the previous year was extremely positive with a total growth of 23 million EUR. Erwin Toplak underscores the economic importance of collecting tolls: “The income generated by our system allows the state to invest actively in the area of infrastructure.  The maintenance and improvement of highway infrastructure places enormous demands on funds, which cannot be covered by the normal budget.” Kapsch had further success when it secured a City Access order in Italy, as the town of Cremona in Lombardy has chosen Kapsch-Busi to implement its City Access control solutions.  Kapsch-Busi will implement the order together with partner company, Famas System Spa in around eighty days.  The order is worth more than half a million euro. “Winning the tender in Cremona secures the status of Kapsch-Busi in Northern Italy. We are also counting on good changes of winning other upcoming City Access control projects in Italy,” Explains Viktor Hatwagner, Member of the Management Board of Kapsch-Busi. Kapsch products are set to be used on over 8 000km of French motorways.  In the Czech Repulic tolls are currently levied on 1 000 km of motorways and expressways, while Kapsch-Busi in Italy will be responsible for the technical operation and maintenance of the system for the next three years. New members Intelligent Devices is an international company with an office in Cape Town and focuses on Advanced Traffic Management Systems. They are represented by Peter Ashley. Please contact him at Telephone +27 21 552 0794. His e-mail is petera@idisa.co.za or visit their website at www.intelligentdevicesinc.com. MaxID’s focus is on the design and development of rugged mobile terminals and the ancillary technologies for data acquisition and communications such as biometric applications, RFID, Barcode scanning, GPS positioning, and GSM/GPRS. They are represented by Mr Selwyn Jackson. Please contact him at Telephone  +27 11 234 2110 or selwyn@maxidgroup.com or visit the website at www.maxidgroup.com. Welcome to Johannesburg-based Mncedisi Ndlovu & Sedumedi Consulting. They are represented by Mr Tebogo Moremi, Project Manager for Integrated Public Transport. You can contact him on Telephone +27 11 447 3811 or tebogo@ndlovu-sedumedi.co.za.

ABOUT ITS SOUTH AFRICA The ITS South Africa ensures that ITS and related organisations are kept up to date with the technology revolution, and allows one to harness the technology and gain the benefit it offers. ITS South Africa is a membership-based organisation. It consists of government bodies and its implementation agencies, manufacturers, suppliers, users and potential users of ITS technology.

Find out more about ITS South Africa by visiting our website at www.itssa.org, or email us at paul@itssa.org.

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Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 — ISSN 1529-1057

Register Today for IBTTA’s Toll Road Summit of Australia, New Zealand & the Asia Pacific Rim, March 15-18, 2009 in Sydney, Australia 

 

If you are interested in public-private partnerships, innovations in customer service and next generation technologies, you need to attend this meeting! Join IBTTA and ITS Australia in Sydney, Australia and learn about the explosive growth of tolling in Australia, New Zealand and the countries in the Asia Pacific Rim. Learn about toll concessions and operations, including the political, regulatory, public affairs and customer service aspects of startup and mature facilities, and lessons learned from successive implementation of all electronic toll collection. Visit IBTTA’s website to view the preliminary agenda, make your travel arrangements and register today

 

 

AVIATION

 1) Abu Dhabi Air Traffic Center Opens in June

Link to story in The National:

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090217/BUSINESS/740809544/1005

 

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

 2) Shanghai‘s High-Tech E-Toll System Stuck in First Gear

Link to story in the Shanghai Daily:

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200902/20090218/article_391425.htm

 

OTHER

 3) US Transportation Department Now on US Government Science Site

Link to story in The Oak Ridger:

http://www.oakridger.com/news/x426328318/U-S-Transportation-Department-now-in-Science-gov

 

RAILROADS

 4) Metra to Add ‘2nd Train’ Warnings

Link to story in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-metra-14feb14,0,2563912.story

 

ROADWAYS

 5) Massachusetts May Consider a Mileage Charge

Tentative plan would use GPS chips to charge motorists a quarter-cent for every mile behind the wheel.

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jSFVVWawIJRrWzFM1ICyVaVAy93wD96D9QHO0

 

6) ‘Motorcycle Detection System’ on UK Roads by Easter

Link to story in Motorcycle News:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2009/February/16-22/feb1609-new-surveillance-system/?R=EPI-106287

 

7) Smart Roads. Smart Bridges. Smart Grids.

If we are going to spend billions of dollars to fix our ailing infrastructure, let’s make sure we do it right. Here are the technologies to make that happen.

Link to article and video in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123447510631779255.html

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 8) Garden Grove, California to Put Amber Alert Signs on City Streets

Link to story in The Orange County Register:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/signs-grove-traffic-2310737-garden-amber

 

TELEMATICS

 9) Fiat Drives Home the Eco Message

Eco:drive computer application is said to reduce fuel costs and reduce a driver’s carbon footprint.

Link to story on Fleet News:

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/story/Fleet-technology-Fiat-drives-home-the-eco-message/49447

 

TRANSIT

 10) Technology Aids, Innovates, Leads

Link to story in Passenger Transport:

http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/aptapt/issues/2009-02-16/8.html

 

VEHICLES

 11) That Mobile Hotspot Now has Four Wheels

Link to story in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/automobiles/15WEBCAR.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

 

12) Intelligent Transportation Systems and Vehicle-Highway Automation 2008

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9999

  

News Releases

1) ‘Mobility in 2030’ Research Project Seeks Survey Responses

2) Navteq Signs Agreement with AutoroutesTrafic, French Motorway Operations Partnership, for Traffic Data in France

3) I-95 Corridor Coalition Validates Quality of Inrix GPS-Enabled Traffic Probe Data in Comprehensive Study Across 4 States

4) Mazda Participates in ‘ITS-Safety 2010’ Combined Trials

 

 Job Postings

–  Senior Research Analyst – Center for Urban Transportation Research – Tampa, Florida

http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=6597

 –  Director of Policy and Strategic Planning – North County Transit District – Oceanside, California

http://www.transittalent.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=6716

 

Upcoming Events

How ITS is Used on the Campus of Georgia Tech – February 26 – Atlanta

http://www.itsga.org/activities.htm

 

 Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th anniversary** – Vanguard 2, a weather satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1959-001A

 

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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast ati95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast