Friday, November 2, 2007

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, November 2, 2007 -- ISSN 1529-1057

IP Video Solutions for ITS Systems workshop offered in Long Island (11/6) and NYC (11/8)If your district is migrating toward Ethernet video technology, or if you just want to learn more about it, this free workshop is designed for you.
> Video Acquisition: IP-enabled cameras or integrating encoder/decoders into existing analog systems; properties and benefits of MPEG-4 encoding; varying frame and bit rates and resolution for efficient bandwidth utilization; image stabilization.> Video & Data Transmission using Ethernet Basics: Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethernet; Prevalent Ethernet Technologies and protocols necessary for an Intelligent Traffic System; Addressing the necessary products for an Ethernet run traffic system.> Wireless Video: Using point-to-point, point to multipoint, mesh networks, and the latest technologies for a wireless architecture.> Video Wall Design and Display for TMCs: planning for and understanding distribution, management, display, and display placement of high-resolution computer and video signals.Only a few seats remaining. For more details and to register: www.cctvworkshop.com


1) US DOT Seeks to Lower Motorcycle Deaths, Educate Riders
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-01-motorcycledeaths_N.htm
Link to news release from US DOT:
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot11507.htm

2) Upgrades Coming for Maine Turnpike Radio
Will connect to stations via satellite.
Link to story in the Kennebuc Journal:
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/4430025.html

3) Camera Plans Worry BART Passengers
Link to story in the Contra Costa Times:http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_7350202

4) US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report on TB Traveler Urges Better Coordination, Communication with Airlines
Link to Reuters story:
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN01483220

5) Transportation Security Administration Moves Forward with Transportation Worker Smart-ID Initiative
Today the biometric cards; another two years or so from now, devices that can authenticate them.
Link to story in Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9045319&intsrc=hm_list

6) System for Emergency Radio Links in Wyoming Progressing
Link to AP story:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/11/01/news/wyoming/30-radiolinks.txt

7) Automotive Dreams in the Queue
Link to story from AOL:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/wayoflife/11/02/future.car.trends/index.html

8) Best US Airports for Wi-Fi
Link to story on Jaunted:
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/23/17597/827/travel/Best+US+Airports+for+WiFi
Airport Wi-Fi: Smaller Airports for the Win
http://www.jaunted.com/tag/Airport%20WiFi

9) Flying with a Green Conscience
Worried about an airliner's pollution? Web sites offer a way to assuage guilt.
Link to story in The Gazette:
http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/story.html?id=e15b286d-0264-4f9a-8969-978a84d8dedc

10) A New Perspective on the Virtual World
A startup hopes to compete with Google Earth by building a more natural world.
Link to story in Technology Review:
http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/19351/?a=f
Link to EveryScape: http://www.everyscape.com

11) November Issue of Florida DOT’s SunGuide Disseminator Available Online
Link to newsletter:
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/trafficoperations/Newsletters/2007/11_2007/11_2007.htm


News Releases

1) Toll Plaza Changes Coming to San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge – Timing changes for metering lights for FasTrak users
2) Tourism Ireland Launches the World’s First Tourism Marketing Drive in ‘Second Life’
3) Kansas Department of Transportation Selects GeoDecisions for Pavement Marking Application
4) Moovera Powers In-Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot Billing with HotSpotSystem.com


Upcoming Events
ITS Texas Annual Meeting – November 14-16 – Farmers Branch, Texas
http://www.itstexas.org/Meetings/2007meetingoverview.stm


Friday Bonus
Here’s what happens when a certain radio traffic reporter doesn’t get enough sleep and forgets who he is early on a Monday morning.
http://transportcommunications.googlepages.com/JackPackard.mp3 (circa 1979)


Today in Transportation History
1947 **60th anniversary** - The Spruce Goose makes its only flight.
http://www.sprucegoose.org/aircraft_artifacts/exhibits.html

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.
© 2007 Bernie Wagenblast