Monday, June 8, 2009

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Monday, June 8, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

Siemens and Sensys Networks Partner to Simplify Data Collection in Adaptive Traffic Management Systems

Siemens Traffic Solutions and Sensys Networks have formed a technology partnership to integrate Sensys wireless vehicle detectors with the Siemens SCOOT® Adaptive Control System. The collaboration of Siemens and Sensys has unleashed the ability for cities and municipalities to implement SCOOT® Adaptive systems without the infrastructure and cost barriers of traditional loop detectors. Sensys wireless detectors are renowned for their ease of installation and dependability. Integration with Siemens products further facilitates their use by making it easier to implement at all levels of traffic management systems and for a variety of applications. Siemens plans further integration with additional systems beyond adaptive control. Working closely with Sensys, Siemens expects to see integration with regional, central and on-street systems. For more info on how you can simplify your SCOOT® Adaptive Control System with Sensys wireless detectors and eliminate street trenching all together, email Ray Schreiber at ray@sensysnetworks.com or call 510 898 2251. Visit us at www.sensysnetworks.com for more info.


AVIATION

1) Paris-Miami Flight a Step Forward for Aviation
An intercontinental flight from Paris to South Florida by a US passenger jet will use new fuel-saving and satellite-based navigation procedures.
Link to story in The Miami Herald:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1086729.html

2) Airlines Expanding Self-Serve Check-In
Many passengers can now check in for a flight and even change or select a seat using their mobile phones.
Link to story in the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-briefcase6-2009jun06,0,4717445.story

3) Air France Replaces Speed Sensors
Link to BBC News story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8087573.stm

4) E-Boarding Pass Use Expands; Baggage Carousel Ads Make the Rounds
Link to story in USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2009-06-07-airport-checkin-delta-american_N.htm

BICYCLES

5) Baffled About Pedaling to Work? Web Will Get You Rolling
Link to story in the Chicago Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1611705,CST-NWS-ride08a.article

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) TomTom Brings Turn-by-Turn Navigation to iPhone
Link to CNET News story:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10259662-233.html

MARITIME

7) Stimulus Funds for Coastal Charts Yet to be Sighted
Link to story in The Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.mapping06jun06,0,3316044.story

OTHER

8) Human Ear Inspires Universal Radio Antenna
It may lead to electronics that can pick up any radio frequency.
Link to story from Discovery:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31172567/

RAILROADS

9) Amtrak Late to Station with Onboard Wi-Fi
Link to commentary on Reason Online:
http://reason.com/blog/show/133989.html

ROADWAYS

10) Ohio Turnpike to Let Drivers Pay Tolls with Credit, Debit Cards
Link to story in The Plain Dealer:
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/ohio_turnpike_to_let_drivers_p.html

11) Can Twitter Help Fix San Francisco’s Potholes?
Link to story in The Christian Science Monitor:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0606/p02s01-usgn.html

12) ShakeCast: Caltrans Deploys a Tool for Rapid Postearthquake Response
Link to further information from the Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=10437

SAFETY / SECURITY

13) MBTA Expands Cell Phone Ban to Rail, Boats
Link to story on WCVB-TV:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/19682978/detail.html

14) 'Bluetooth' Signals Show Airport Security-Line Waiting Times
Link to AScribe Newswire story:
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20090608.103514&time=11%2058%20PDT&year=2009&public=0

TRANSIT

15) Bus Drivers Say Seattle Metro’s New Smart Card Isn’t so Smart
Link to story in the Seattle PostGlobe:
http://seattlepostglobe.org/2009/06/07/bus-drivers-say-metros-new-smart-card-isnt-so-smart

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

16) Technology Allows Sandy Springs, Georgia to do Real-Time Traffic Fixes
Link to story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/northfulton/stories/2009/06/08/sandy_springs_traffic.html

17) Clear Channel Readies New Digital Apps
Link to story in MediaDailyNews:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=107418


News Releases
1) New TrafficFlow Manager Works with Traffic Signal Timing to Eliminate Traffic Congestion and Reduce Fuel Consumption
2) Despite Bankruptcy, General Motors Tops New ABI Research Global OEM Telematics Vendor Matrix Ranking
3) NOAA, US Army Corps of Engineers to Build Alaska Satellite Operations Facility
4) New Center Provides Traffic Information for Townsville, Australia Area
5) Improvements to Official UK Highways Agency Traffic Web Site Allows Coach Crews to Check Data on the Move


Upcoming Events
2nd International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations – June 21-24 – Honolulu, Hawaii
http://2isfo.eng.hawaii.edu/


Today in Transportation History
1959 **50th anniversary** - The first and only delivery of ‘missile mail’ by the US Post Office Department took place when the USS Barbero fired a missile with some 3,000 letters to Mayport, Florida.
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/airmail/historicplanes/unusual/historicplanes_unusual_missile.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast