Transportation Communications Newsletter: August 2011

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

BlueTOAD™ is hopping with over 500 installations across the USA.

BlueTOAD by TrafficCast is the industry's leading Bluetooth™ traffic monitoring system. It accurately measures travel times, road speeds and route choice behaviors through anonymous detection of Bluetooth signals from mobile devices inside vehicles, and the vehicles themselves. An advanced software interface is included that automatically calculates the traffic data, in real-time or over time. BlueTOAD minimizes the hassles of technology setup, and affords quick access to meaningful data. BlueTOAD can work independent of local power and data connectivity, or installs directly in traffic signal cabinets. And the new Mini-BlueTOAD is perfect to collect data for studies, performance measures and before/after analysis.

Agencies, consultants and planning organizations in all regions of the country have taken advantage of BlueTOAD's accurate travel time data, origin/destination analysis and cost-effective deployment options. Learn how you can benefit from advanced Bluetooth™ detection. And other options for advanced traffic data services from TrafficCast. Contact Paul Misticawi at (678) 575-0958, pmisticawi@trafficcast.com

CAMERAS

1) Victoria Auditor Backs Speed Camera Reliability

Link to article on ZDNet Australia:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/vic-auditor-backs-speed-camera-reliability-339321492.htm

Link to report from the Auditor-General:

http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20110831-Road-Safety-Cameras/20110831-Road-Safety-Cameras.html

OTHER

2) News from ERTICO

- The Orlando ITS World Congress Interview: US DOT

http://www.ertico.com/the-orlando-its-world-congress-interview-us-dot/

- The Orlando ITS World Congress Interview: Pat McGowan, World Congress Chair and President of Telvent North America

http://www.ertico.com/the-orlando-its-world-congress-interview-pat-mcgowan/

- The ERTICO Partnership at ITS World Congress

http://www.ertico.com/the-ertico-partnership-at-orlando/

PARKING

3) IBM Banks on Small Start-ups, Like Streetline, for Big Growth

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/08/31/ibm-banks-on-small-start-ups-for-big-growth

ROADWAYS

4) Virginia Awards Rest Area Contract that Will Include Kiosks with Travel Information

Link to article in The Free Lance-Star:

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/082011/08312011/648675

Link to news release from the Virginia Governor's Office:

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=894

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Boston's Logan Airport to House First Counterterrorism 'Nerve Center' Based at a US Airport

Link to article in The Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/08/31/bostons_logan_international_airport_to_house_terrorism_task_force/

Link to news release from the Massachusetts Port Authority:

http://www.massport.com/news-room/News/MassportandFBIAnnounceOpeningofJointTerrorismTaskForceAnnex.aspx

6) State Attorneys General Call for Reallocation of Spectrum for Public Safety Network

Link to article in the National Journal:

http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/08/state-attorneys-general-call-f.php

Link to letter from the National Association of Attorneys General:

http://www.ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/press_releases/2011/naag082611.pdf

TELEMATICS

7) Integration is the Key to the Future of Telematics

Interview with Newth Morris, President – Teleogis GeoBase and Route, Teleogis.

Link to interview:

http://uk.telematicsupdate.com/fc_tele_evupdatelz//lz.aspx?p1=0575795S851&CC=&p=1&cID=0&cValue=1

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

8) Mississippi DOT Upgrades Traffic Monitoring System

Link to story and video on WLBT-TV:

http://www.wlbt.com/story/15362977/modt-upgrades-traffic-monitoring-system

Link to news release from Mississippi DOT:

http://www.gomdot.com/Home/MediaRoom/NewsReleases/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?ID=830201194823

9) Complicated System Helps You Drive Through Roseville, California

Link to article in The Press-Tribune:

http://rosevillept.com/detail/186645.html

News Releases

1) QR Codes, Making It Quick to Get Your Cleveland RTA Schedule

2) Beat the Traffic Adapts Real-Time, 3-D Traffic Maps for International Broadcast Use

3) New Garmin StreetPilot onDemand iPhone App Offers Premium Navigation Starting at $.99

4) Smarteq Launches New Antenna Platform for Professional Automotive Applications

5) New White Paper Finds Usage-Based Insurance Can Help Prevent Distracted Driving

6) Love's Travel Stops to Install RFID Technology to Allow Wireless Fueling

Upcoming Events

ITS Ireland Annual Conference – October 6-7 – Galway, Ireland

http://www.itsireland.ie/?page_id=1574

Today in Transportation History

1811 **200^th anniversary** Louis-Antoine, Comte de Bougainville, a French admiral and explorer, died in Paris.

http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/LouisAntoineComtedeBougainville-QuebecHistory.htm

1961 **50^th anniversary** The first section of Toronto's Don Valley Parkway opened.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Valley_Parkway

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

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Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) Automation in the Air Dulls Pilot Skill

Link to AP article:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gdmYSGPD7TdQa-QsiKHXDoTd_uaA?docId=a4e56bdd941949d9b5f711277b56bdf5

GPS / NAVIGATION

2) A Driving Route Made Just for You

A research project provides personalized directions that adapt to weather, traffic conditions, and your own driving habits.

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/38454/?nlid=nldly&nld=2011-08-30&a=f

OTHER

3) Palm Beach County, Florida Considers Improving Development Alert Signs

Effort could include larger text, bigger signs and electronic message boards.

Link to article in the Sun Sentinel:

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/palm/blog/2011/08/palm_beach_county_considers_im.html

4) FixMyTransport Uses Crowdsourcing to Solve Travel Problems

Website will notify operators when commuters have complaints about rail, bus, tube and ferry services.

Link to article in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/aug/30/fixmytransport-travel-problems

Link to FixMyTransport: http://www.fixmytransport.com/

PARKING

5) Need a Parking Space? Look in Your Hand

Link to story and audio on NPR's All Things Considered:

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/29/140032852/need-a-parking-space-look-in-your-hand

6) Electronic Signage System Will Direct Overflow Parking at Gettysburg Battlefield Visitor Center

Link to article in the Gettysburg Times:

http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/news/local/article_8cc92de8-d257-11e0-b20b-001cc4c002e0.html

7) Valet Parking, the App

New Boston University application finds closest parking spots, best price.

Link to article on BU Today:

http://www.bu.edu/today/2011/valet-parking-the-app/

ROADWAYS

8) 'Common Sense' Prompts US to Scrap Traffic-Sign Deadlines

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/29/bloomberg1376-LQPINO1A74E901-5461LURP8RNHNH2U1KEEUI68UC.DTL

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1143.htm

9) Intelligent Systems at an Intelligent Price

The benefits of high-tech transportation may be surprisingly affordable today.

Link to article in Better Roads:

http://www.betterroads.com/road-science-5/

SAFETY / SECURITY

10) Dispatcher Fired for Failing to Tell Ohio DOT of Covered Stop Sign

Fatal accident occurred at intersection.

Link to article in The Chillicothe Gazette:

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20110829/NEWS01/110829006/Dispatcher-did-not-tell-ODOT-covered-stop-sign

11) Senator Rockefeller Tells FCC Secure Communications Needed in Disasters

Link to article in Government Security News:

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/24351?c=communications

TRANSIT

12) FCC Asked to Disallow Wireless Shutdowns on Public Transit

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/e-government/FCC-Asked-to-Disallow-Wireless-Shutdowns-on-Public-Transit.html

13) GPS Technology to Help Streamline Bus Riders in Montana Track Their Buses

Link to article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle:

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/article_3221acc6-d298-11e0-9b6f-001cc4c002e0.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

14) Vermont 511 Service Faces Challenge in Wake of Devastating Floods

Link to story on Vermont Public Radio:

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/91796/

15) New Phone Application Could Ease Drivers' Woes in Galway, Ireland

App will provide live journey information and may give five-day traffic forecast.

Link to article in The Connacht Sentinel:

http://www.galwaynews.ie/21259-new-phone-application-could-ease-drivers-woes

VEHICLES

16) No Driver Needed: Iowa Firm Develops 'Autonomous' Tractor

Link to article from The Des Moines Register:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/manufacturing/story/2011-08-29/No-driver-needed-Iowa-firm-develops-autonomous-tractor/50179858/1

Link to more news release from Kinze Manufacturing:

http://www.kinze.com/news/viewNewsArticle.html?id=38

News Releases

1) Air Transport Association Calls for National Airline Policy, Accelerated Implementation of New Air Traffic Procedures

2) Econolite Centracs Advanced Transportation Management System Enhancing Sustainability and Quality of Life in Orange County, California

3) New Traffic Information Service Goes Live in UK

4) Nav Canada Begins International Flight Trials to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Solicitation

- Request for Information – Traffic Data Sources Evaluation –SAIC/Metropolitan Transportation Commission

http://www.saic.com/transportation/trafficdatarfi/

Upcoming Events

IEEE ITS Conference – October 5-7 – Washington, DC

http://www.seas.gwu.edu/itsc2011/

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** The first Minuteman missile was launched from a silo. The launch was unsuccessful and the missile was destroyed.

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2001/March%202001/0301minuteman.aspx

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, August 29, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

AVIATION

1) FAA: Own-ship Position Display on iPads is a Problem

Link to article in Aviation International News:

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/faa-own-ship-position-display-on-ipads-is-a-problem-30914/

2) Gulf Outage Exposes ADS-B Oversight Vulnerability

Link to article in Aviation International News:

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/gulf-outage-exposes-ads-b-oversight-vulnerability-30915/

3) Hurricane Irene Exposes United Airlines' System Issues

Link to blog on ZDNet:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/projectfailures/hurricane-irene-exposes-united-airlines-system-issues/14094?tag=content;feature-roto

BICYCLES

4) New Alberta Distracted Driving Law Applies to Bicycle Couriers

Link to article in the Calgary Herald:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/distracted+driving+applies+bicycle+couriers/5320634/story.html

CAMERAS

5) New Zealand Transport Agency Grabs Radio Spectrum

Spectrum was earmarked for regional broadband but may now be used for traffic-light cameras.

Link to article in The Dominion Post:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/5520889/Transport-Agency-grabs-radio-spectrum

OTHER

6) Class Action Suit Says Florida Highway Patrol Illegally Tickets Motorists Who Warn Others About Speed Traps

Link to story and video on WTSP-TV:

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/207550/250/FHP-sued-for-giving-out-illegal-tickets

7) Cellphone Networks Unscathed by Hurricane Irene

Link to article on CNET News:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20098799-266/cell-phone-networks-unscathed-by-hurricane-irene

8) Next-Gen Data and Information Frameworks for ITS

Link to Terranautix blog:

http://terranautix.com/2011/08/27/next-gen-data-and-information-frameworks-for-its/

SAFETY / SECURITY

9) NHTSA Revamps Effort to Curb Drunken Driving

Link to article in The Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110829/METRO05/108290312/1409/METRO/NHTSA-revamps-effort-to-curb-drunken-driving

Link to news release from US DOT:

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/nhtsa1511.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) London to Use Sensors and Computer System for Olympic VIP Travels

Link to article in The Mail on Sunday:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030918/Traffic-lights-turn-green-Olympic-chiefs-ordinary-drivers-forced-bus-lanes.html

11) GEWI: The Intel of Traffic and Travel Information Software?

Link to article in GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/GEWI-The-Intel-of-Traffic-and-Travel-Information-Software_a3191.html

News Releases

1) TomTom Introduces World's First Navigation Device with Travel-Specific Apps and TomTom HD Traffic with Real-Time Updates

2) Colorado DOT Launches New App for Spanish-Speakers to Help Prevent Drunk Driving

Upcoming Events

Talking Freight Webinar: Advancing a Foundational Component of US DOT's Smart Roadside Initiative – National Standards and Specifications for WIM Technology – September 21

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/news/news_detail.asp?ID=753

Today in Transportation History

1961 **50^th anniversary** A French fighter jet accidentally severed the cable of the Aiguille du Midi Cable Car killing six people.

http://pistehors.com/news/ski/comments/aiguille-du-midi-cable-car-celebrates-50th-birthday/

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday.

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications

Become a TCN fan on Facebook!

Questions, comments about the TCN? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net.