Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 -- ISSN 1529-1057

Registration Now Open for ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

Registration for the 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is now open. The three-day conference, held June 1-3, 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland (just inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area), provides the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry with a forum to learn about and share insights on the latest advancements in ITS technologies. Don’t miss this opportunity to find answers to your toughest transportation challenges, meet your legislators on Capitol Hill, see ITS solutions in action, and take home ideas for implementation, and learn from your peers. Be sure to take advantage of the early-bird registration rates which are available through March 31. Click here to register at the early bird rate or here for more information on the 2009 Annual Meeting.


AVIATION

1) Airports Court Airlines in Speed Dating Event
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/030309dnbusdfw.3c2e364.html
Link to further information from Network USA 2009: http://www.networkusa09.com/

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) Navigon Talks Up the Role of Voice in Safe Driving
New features on navigation devices include parking information and learning motorists’ driving styles.
Link to IDG News story:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/160465/navigon_talks_up_the_role_of_voice_in_safe_driving.html
Link to news release from Navigon:
http://navigonusa.com/about/press/default.aspx?d=2009-03-02b

3) Garmin Introduces Nuvi GPSs with Pedestrian Navigation
Link to story in PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342262,00.asp
Link to news release from Garmin:
http://tinyurl.com/aaz3m3

4) TomTom Keeps Up with Tech, Costs
Link to story in Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/03/tomtom-gps-goddijn-markets-face-0303_geneva_21.html

OTHER

5) Council Formed to Improve Access to Emergency Phone Services
The N11/8XX Essential Services Interoperability Council will promote interoperability and access to the suite of services provided through N11 and 8XX numbers.
Link to story in Government Computer News:
http://gcn.com/articles/2009/03/03/nesic-formed.aspx

6) Add-On Software Apps Make iPhone a Great Travel Partner
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-03-02-iphone-travel-apps_N.htm

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

7) US Stimulus Projects to Feature New Emblem
Link to story in the Washington Business Journal:
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/03/02/daily42.html

ROADWAYS

8) Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications Launches Road Safety Program vs Giant Billboards
Link to story in The Daily Tribune:
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20090303met2.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) Some Texas School Districts Seek End to Bus Evacuation Drills
Link to story in The Dallas Morning News:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/DN-schoolbus_03met.ART0.State.Edition1.4a8b2b4.html
Link to further information from the National Transportation Safety Board:
http://www.ntsb.gov/events/journalist/lessons/LL_school_bus_training.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Tennessee DOT Investigates Massive Backup
Agency plans new Web site procedures to alert drivers and improved information on 511 system.
Link to story and video on WMC-TV:
http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?s=9932373

11) The View from Above: Take Mass Transit
A profile of New York City traffic reporter Tom Kaminski.
Link to story in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/nyregion/03experience.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all
Link to further information from WCBS-AM:
http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/2432.php?contentType=4&contentId=93014

VEHICLES

12) BMW Explores the New ‘Key’ to Payments
Carmaker hopes to use vehicle keys for purchases and other purposes.
Link to story in ContaclessNews:
http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/03/03/bmw-explores-the-new-key-to-payments


News Releases
1) Hughes Telematics Completes Successful Testing in Europe with Its Aftermarket Solution in-Drive Device - Testing Fuels European Telematics Initiatives
2) Transite Technology Launches New Web Site and Marketing Initiatives
3) Connected Vehicle Proponents to Ask: Is It Time for Internet in Cars?
4) International Association of Fire Chiefs and SkyTerra Publish Information Paper on Communications Interoperability
5) Networks In Motion Strengthens Accuracy of Traffic Services on NAVBuilder Platform with Acquisition of TrafficGauge


Upcoming Events
Maritime Security Forum – March 25 – New London, Connecticut
http://www.navysna.org/CGForum/Index.htm


Today in Transportation History
1879 **130th anniversary** - The United States Geological Survey was created.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1050/

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast