Friday, November 7, 2008

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Friday, November 7, 2008 -- ISSN 1529-1057

TIC for Traffic Plans and Simulation – Create and Operate with Live and Historic Data

TIC can be used in off-line mode with historic data to create, simulate, and compare pre-defined traffic plans for expected traffic situations. TIC can then be used in on-line mode with both live and historic data to monitor the network. Once a situation is identified, TIC can recommend the best plans to operators within minutes, and if an unexpected situation is identified, TIC can be used to create and recommend new traffic plans, such as during evacuations. TIC can consider the complete road network, traffic patterns, weather, work zones, social events, sensors, CO2, NOx, and particle emissions, and more. TIC is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution proven in over 100 projects operating worldwide, and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions.

See TIC at GEWI booth #1025 at the ITS World Congress or contact jim.oneill@gewi.com to discuss your requirements.


AVIATION

1) Rise in Collision Hazards for Planes Spurs Changes
Link to story in The Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122600460761406097.html

2) FAA Says WAAS Instrument Approaches Now Outnumber ILS
Link to story on the Aero-News Network:
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=afa48813-1b7e-4b73-90a2-6162cb21f015
Link to additional information from the Federal Aviation Administration:
http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=6283

3) Pilots’ Concerns About ADS-B Reflected in Rulemaking Committee Report
Link to story on AOPA Online:
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2008/081106adsb.html

OTHER

4) Federal Highway Administration Releases Final Rule on Projects of National and Regional Significance Evaluation and Rating
Link to notice in the Federal Register:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-25382.pdf

ROADWAYS

5) A Kinder, Gentler Approach on Traffic Signs
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/06/a_kinder_gentler_approach_on_traffic_signs/
Link to additional photos from Needham, Massachusetts:
http://www.needhamma.gov/DocumentView.asp?DID=1891

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Air Freight Gets Tighter Screening in US
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-11-06-cargo_N.htm

7) Google Earth Helps Yet Worries Government
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/surveillance/2008-11-06-googleearth_N.htm

8) Massachusetts Legislative Panel Sounds Wake-Up Call on Drowsy Driving
Education, penalties considered.
Link to story in The Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/07/legislative_panel_sounds_wake_up_call_on_drowsy_driving/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

9) Kansas City Scout to Begin E-Mail, Text Message Alerts
Link to story in The Kansas City Star:
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/879046.html
Link to news release from Kansas City Scout:
http://www.kcscout.net/PressReleases.aspx

10) West Virginia to Open High-Tech Road Operations Center
Link to AP story:
http://www.dailymail.com/News/200811070114

11) Safer Roadways are On the Way in Western Massachusetts
Traffic management system will monitor highways.
Link to story and video report on WSHM-TV:
http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/34057594.html

VEHICLES

12) German Program Coordinates Driving
Link to story in Traffic Technology International:
http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=9008

13) Interview: Tim Davies, Founder of iFleet
Link to interview in Commercial Motor:
http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/11/07/132024/interview-tim-davies-founder-of-ifleet.html


Upcoming Events
APTA ITS International Best Practices Workshop: Transit Applications – December 9-10 – San Francisco
http://www.apta.com/conferences_calendar/itsbest/


Friday Bonus
You know those legal statements that appear at the bottom of your company’s e-mail? They can appear in the strangest places.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7702913.stm


Today in Transportation History
1885 – The last spike is driven on the Canadian Pacific Railway in Craigellachie, British Columbia.
http://tinyurl.com/5oevdc

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© 2008 Bernie Wagenblast