Monday, August 4, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, August 4, 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) ‘Poor Communication’ in Australian Plane Crash
Link to story on News.com.au:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24127502-29277,00.html

2) Senses Working Overtime
US Air Force researchers aim to help pilots and others operate increasingly complex aircraft and mission support systems.
Link to story in Federal Computer Week:
http://www.fcw.com/print/22_24/features/153355-1.html
US Air Force Examines Cognitive Training
http://www.fcw.com/print/22_24/features/153356-1.html

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Google’s Street View in New Zealand Soon
Link to story in The Dominion Post:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4642693a28.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

4) Some Toll Agencies Eye Automatic Increases
Link to AP story:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--tollinflation0802aug02,0,1269518.story

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) New Irish Roads and Bypasses Won’t be on Sat-Navs Until 2010
Link to story in the Herald:
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/new-irish-roads-and-bypasses-wont-be-on-sat-navs-until-2010-1446209.html

OTHER

6) New York’s Video Vigliante, Scourge of Parking Enforcers
‘Jimmy Justice’ posts images of officers breaking the law.
Link to story in The Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201503.html
Link to YouTube videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/JimmyJustice4753

ROADWAYS

7) Traffic Signs Upgraded for Olympics
Link to China Central Television story:
http://www.cctv.com/program/bizchina/20080804/106018.shtml

8) Chattanooga Improving Signs of the Future
Federal mandate creates minimum retroreflectivity standards.
Link to story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press:
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/aug/04/chattanooga-improving-signs-road/

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Intelligent Roads to Prevent Accidents
Cars that warn motorists about accidents before they happen and ‘intelligent’ roads that direct drivers to empty parking spaces are being developed in Britain.
Link to story in the Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2008/08/03/mnroads103.xml

10) Sounding Alarm When Pipelines are Threatened
Link to story in the Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5920646.html

TELEMATICS

11) Challenges Travel with OnStar to China
Link to story from Automotive News:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10001467-48.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

12) America’s Traveler Information Network – a Smart Call
Link to column in the Kalamazoo Gazette:
http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette_community_extra/2008/08/trips_with_a_twist_americas_tr.html

13) HopStop vs. Google Maps: It’s a ‘Walk-Off’
Link to review on Mashable:
http://mashable.com/2008/08/01/googlemaps-vs-hopstop/

14) Surprise, Arizona Provides Traffic Alerts with High-Tech System
Link to story in The Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/02/20080802gl-nwvalert0802.html

15) TrafficCast Ups Ante with Yahoo on Traffic Information
Link to story on MidwestBusiness:
http://www.midwestbusiness.com/news/viewnews.asp?newsletterID=19360

VEHICLES

16) Nissan Gas Pedals to Push Back When Drivers Floor It
Link to AP story:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-08-04-nissan-gas-pedals_N.htm

17) TV, GPS, Safety All In One
New nationwide service will combine mobile television, navigation and vehicle safety in one device.
Link to story in The Washington Times:
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/04/tv-gps-safety-all-in-one/


News Releases
1) Iteris and Delphi Team to Market Active Safety Technologies for Commercial Truck Market


Upcoming Events
5th Cycling and Society Symposium – September 8-9 – Bristol, UK
http://www.transport.uwe.ac.uk/cycling_and_society/cycling_and_society.asp


Solicitation
- Prequalification Notice - SANRAL Open Road Tolling Prequalification - South African National Roads Agency Limitedhttp://www.nra.co.za/live/pagebuilder/components/tenders/display-tender.php?Tender_ID=170


Today in Transportation History
1978 **30th anniversary** - A bus plunged into a lake in Eastman, Quebec. Forty-one people drowned in the incident.
http://www3.gendisasters.com/drownings/5676/eastman-qb-bus-plunges-lake-drowning-fortyone-aug-1978

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast