Monday, July 21, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, July 21, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems Preliminary Program Available

The preliminary program and conference registration for the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems is now available. Scheduled for November 16-20, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, this is the only global Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) event in 2008 that provides a superior technical program, peer-to-peer networking with worldwide counterparts, and hands-on demonstrations of innovative new products and vehicle communications technologies operating on the streets of New York. Registration is open at www.itsworldcongress.org. Accredited members of the press can receive complimentary registration. To view a copy of the preliminary program, go to http://itsworldcongress.org/images//15th_world_congress_on_its_preliminary_brochure_iwc08.pdf.


AVIATION

1) Emirates Flies the Paperless Plane
Removing airline magazines and other seat-pocket paper that adds up to an extra ton of weight will save on fuel.
Link to story in The Sunday Times:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article4364034.ece

2) Orlando International Airport on Cutting Edge of High-Tech for Travelers
Link to story in the Orlando Sentinel:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-cover2108jul21,0,2282244.story

3) American Airlines to Run More In-Flight Wi-Fi Tests
Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:
http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2008/07/18/american-to-run-more-in-flight-wi-fi-tests/

CAMERAS

4) CCTV Traffic Plan Sparks Spy Fury at Dublin City Council
Plan would install 25 foot-high traffic cameras in residential areas -- and broadcast the images on the Internet.
Link to story in the Evening Herald:
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/cctv-traffic-plan-sparks-spy-fury-at-council-1436756.html

5) Jenoptik to Boost North American Traffic-Camera Sales
Link to Bloomberg News story:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aQ4fw.byWfAM&refer=germany

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) GPS-Equipped Car Camera Voyager Pro Logs Fender Benders
Link to story on Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/19/gps-equipped-car-camera-voyager-pro-logs-fender-benders/

MARITIME

7) Port of Tacoma Improves Access to Public Information
Link to story in The Cunningham Report:
http://www.cunninghamreport.com/news_item.php?id=384

OTHER

8) Los Angeles’ Traffic Miracle During 1984 Olympics
Link to Xinhua story:
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/los-angeles-traffic-miracle-during-1984-olympics_10073289.html

9) Hispanic Commercial Drivers Caught in Language Crackdown
Link to story in the Montgomery Advertiser:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS02/807180326/1009/news02

PEDESTRIANS

10) Site Makes Strides to Score Walkable Cities
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-07-20-walk-score_N.htm
Link to Walk Store: http://walkscore.com/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

11) Texas DOT Defends Marketing Strategy to House Committee
Link to story on KLBJ Radio:
http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=95771

ROADWAYS

12) Bricks Tell Story of Delaware Highway Deaths
Link to story in The News Journal:
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080721/NEWS02/807210347/1006/NEWS

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) UAE Roads and Transport Authority Conducts Workshops on Speed Management
Link to story on AME Info:
http://www.ameinfo.com/164000.html

14) US Travelers Start Applying for Pocket-Sized Passport Card
Link to story from The Arizona Republic:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-20-passport_N.htm

15) US VISIT Update
An interview with Bob Mocny, director of the US VISIT program.
Link to podcast on SecureID News:
http://www.secureidnews.com/news/2008/07/22/episode-18-us-visit-update/

TRANSIT

16) Dutch Court Allows Publication of Mifare Security Hole Research
Link to CNET News story:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-9994120-83.html

17) Verizon, Chicago Transit Ink Subway Deal
Link to UPI story:
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/07/19/Verizon_Chicago_Transit_ink_subway_deal/UPI-35651216471927/

18) Chicago Transit Authority Bus Tracker Online Program Adding More Routes
Link to column in the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-getting-around-21jul21,0,2541174.column
Link to news release from the CTA:
http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=120946
Link to CTA Bus Tracker: http://www.ctabustracker.com

19) Should We Pipe Music Into the London Tube?
A playlist of classical tunes now greets many commuters on the London Underground. Have we forgotten how to listen?
Link to column in the Guardian:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/07/wrong_tracks_should_we_pipe_mu.html#comments

VEHICLES

20) Zero Crashes: A Preview of the Car of the Future
Link to story in The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4357361.ece

21) Mercedes Updates A-Class with Technology Emphasis
New technology such as crash responsive cabin lighting, adaptive brake lights and optional self-parking offered.
Link to story on just-auto:
http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?ID=95478&lk=dm

22) Startup Brings Virtualization to Automotive Software
Link to story from Automotive Design Europe:
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209102251


News Releases
1) New Regulations to Improve Travel by Air for Blind and Partially Sighted in Europe
2) Driving Convergence of Mass Transit and Banking Markets Using Contactless Smart Cards
3) Vodafone UK Find & Go: Web Maps, Local Search, Mobile Satnav
4) FCC Announces Public En Banc Hearing in Brooklyn, New York on Public Safety Interoperable Communications and the 700 MHz D Block Proceeding
5) US Deputy Secretary of Transportation Announces $1 Million Grant to Help Reduce the Leading Causes of Rail-Related Deaths
6) The Holy Grail of Traffic Management - La Trobe University graduate invents a battery-powered device for detecting traffic gridlock


Upcoming Events
ITS Midwest Annual Meeting – October 30-31 – Columbus, Ohio
http://www.itsmidwest.org/news/2008/042008002.html


Today in Transportation History
1873 **135th anniversary** - Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang complete their first train robbery near Adair, Iowa.
http://www.rits.org/www/histories/jjstory/JJ.html

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast