Monday, January 24, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, January 24, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Loss of Contract Weather Observers Worries Alaska Pilots

Link to article in the Anchorage Daily News:

http://www.adn.com/2011/01/23/1663692/loss-of-contract-weather-observers.html

2) Eye in the Sky: Pentagon Tests New Spy Plane

Unmanned aircraft could also serve as a communications platform.

Link to story and video on ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/eye-sky-pentagon-tests-spy-plane/story?id=12744955

3) Need an Airline Ticket? Meta-search is Where Most Travelers Start

Link to Tribune Media Services article:

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/22/2600022/need-an-airline-ticket-meta-search.html

CAMERAS

4) CCTV-Based Surveillance System to Monitor Major Gujarat Cities

Link to PTI article:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/article1120510.ece

CARTOGRAPHY

5) Groups Urge Freer Access to California GIS Map Info

Link to article in Government Security News:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/22285?c=state_local_security

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) Audi Introduces Internet-Based Nav

Link to article on CNET:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20029213-48.html

Link to news release from Inrix:

http://inrix.com/pressrelease.asp?ID=121

7) GPS Testing Might Affect Pilots in Southeastern US

Link to article in The Augusta Chronicle:

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-01-24/gps-work-might-affect-pilots

OTHER

8) Iran Bars Tehran Mayor from US Transport Ceremony

Link to Reuters article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70L16X20110122

Link to additional information from the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy:

http://www.itdp.org/index.php/news/detail/sustainable_transport_award_cities_tehran/

9) News from ERTICO

- HeERO Triggers the Final Countdown for eCall Deployment

http://www.ertico.com/heero-triggers-the-final-countdown-for-ecall-deployment/

- Interview with Ronald Adams, Chairman of EasyWay Project 2011

http://www.ertico.com/the-ertico-january-2011-interview/

- P3ITS Does the Spadework on Pre-commercial Procurement Legal Questions for the ITS Community

http://www.ertico.com/p3its-does-the-spadework-on-pre-commercial-procurement-legal-questions-for-the-its-community/

10) Intelligent Cities

The evolving, deep-rooted connections between technology and ever expanding cities, including transportation.

Link to articles and video in Time:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2026474,00.html

11) Strategic Approaches to Developing a Social Networking Page

Link to further information from the Transportation Research Board:

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/dva/ccc/TRBSocialNetworkingGuidance.pdf

12) US DOT's ITS Joint Program Office Debuts Redesigned Web Site

Link to site:

http://www.its.dot.gov/

13) Opportunity to Provide Feedback to the US DOT ITS Professional Capacity Building Program

Link to further information from the Research and Innovative Technology Administration:

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/strat_direction.asp

PARKING

14) Huge Parking Fines Inspired Parking Watch App

Link to Reuters article:

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINTRE70K4R320110121

Link to additional information from ParkPatrol:

http://www.parkpatrolapp.com/

PEDESTRIANS

15) Two States Take Aim at Distracted Pedestrians Who are Texting, Listening to iPods on Street

Link to CP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iAkPpZ72ST9EgjpaRx3GtkldGpgw?docId=5745733

16) Crossing Solutions at Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for Pedestrians with Vision Disabilities

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Crossing_Solutions_at_Roundabouts_and_Channelized_164715.aspx

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

17) Washington State Bill Seeks to Increase Driver Awareness of Bikes, Walkers

Link to article in The News Tribune:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/24/1514667/bill-seeks-to-increase-driver.html

ROADWAYS

18) Putting Numbers to Drivers' Misery

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012200147.html

19) New Jersey Mayor Criticizes State DOT Communications on Rush Hour Bridge Reopening

Link to column and video in the Daily Record:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110124/COLUMNISTS21/110121089/1005/NEWS01/Commuting+column++Dover+mayor+slams+NJDOT+s+Route+46+rush-hour+reopening+fiasco

20) Re:Streets Web Site Available

Project plans to create manual for designing streets to accommodate people of all ages and abilities and to serve a wide range of purposes.

Link to site:

http://www.restreets.org/

SAFETY / SECURITY

21) Man Who Refused to Show ID to TSA at Airport Acquitted

Link to AP article:

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_nm_sunport_id_refusal.html

22) Privacy Issues Hover Over Police Drone Use

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012204026.html

TELEMATICS

23) Telematics Takes Off

Smart phone technology pushes providers to offer new services.

Link to article in Automotive News:

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110124/OEM06/301249994/1436

TRANSIT

24) Customer Service the Focus of GO Transit's High-Tech Control Center

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/transportation/article/926901--customer-service-the-focus-of-go-transit-s-high-tech-control-centre

25) Cutting-Edge GPS Bus Tracking System Comes to Syracuse's Connective Corridor

Link to article on Inside SU:

http://insidesu.syr.edu/2011/01/21/cutting-edge-gps-bus-tacking-system-comes-to-connective-corridor/

26) Using GIS for Measuring Transit Stop Accessibility Considering Actual Pedestrian Road Network

Link to article in the Journal of Public Transportation:

http://www.nctr.usf.edu/jpt/pdf/JPT13-4Foda.pdf

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

27) Making Life Easier on the Fast Lane

A look at operations on the North Luzon Expressway.

Link to article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20110122-315983/Making-life-easier-on-the-fast-lane

News Releases

1) US Department of Transportation Announces Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge

2) Victoria Regional Transit System Launches Google Transit Pilot

3) TrafficCast Releases BlueTOAD/Connect for Direct Installation in Traffic Signal Cabinets

4) TomTom Makes the Largest Historic Traffic Database in the World Available for Governments and Enterprises via Its Online Web Portal

5) New Research Identifies Trucking Safety Compliance Alternatives

6) New Zurich Fleet Intelligence Uses Telematics Data to Reduce Fleet Operating Costs and Improve Driver Safety

7) Asia Leads in ITS Deployment

Solicitation

- Request for Proposals/Qualifications – Community-Based Outreach and Involvement for the 2013 Sustainable Communities Strategy/Regional Transportation Plan – Metropolitan Transportation Commission

http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/contracts/SCS-RTP_CBO_Public_Involvement.pdf

Upcoming Events

i-Mobility Network Webinar: Cooperation Needs on Field Operational Tests – February 3

http://www.ertico.com/webinars/

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** A B-52 Stratofortress, carrying two hydrogen bombs, broke up in flight over Musgrave's Crossroads, North Carolina.

http://www.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchistory/jan2008/index.html

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