Transportation Communications Newsletter: Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Transportation Communications Newsletter

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

BlueTOAD™ On The Road

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, displayed in color-coded speed maps as well as a dashboard format. 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.

And BlueTOAD is on the road. Distributors are showcasing the technologies at regional trade shows across the country, including Tennessee ITS September 27-30 in Memphis, ITS-Midwest September 28-29 in Cincinnati, ITS-Arizona on September 29 in Mesa and OTEC in Columbus October 25-26. And, of course, the ITS World Congress - Booth #1771 - in Orlando October 16–20. For more information on these and other shows where BlueTOAD will be hopping, visit http://trafficcast.com/events/P0/

AVIATION

1) US Senate Spending Bill Fully Funds NextGen Air-Traffic Modernization

Link to article in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/avd/2011/09/21/02.xml

2) In Private System, Air-Traffic Technology Can Soar

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-20/in-private-system-air-traffic-technology-can-soar-peter-orszag.html

3) Android to Power In-Flight Entertainment for Boeing Dreamliner

Link to article on CNET:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20109546-251/android-to-power-inflight-entertainment-for-boeing-dreamliner

BICYCLES

4) Blogs Put Bikes on a Path to World Domination

Link to article on Grist:

http://www.grist.org/biking/2011-09-21-bike-blogs-and-the-path-to-world-domination

GPS / NAVIGATION

5) GOP Claims White House Interference in LightSquared's Broadband Plan

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110920_5081.php

6) LightSquare Says It's Solved GPS Interference with New Device

Link to article on CNET:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20109559-266/lightsquared-solves-gps-interference-with-new-device

OTHER

7) Interview with Phil Pettitt, Chief Executive Officer of innovITS Advance

Link to interview from ERTICO:

http://www.ertico.com/interview-with-phil-pettitt-chief-executive-officer-of-innovits-advance/

8) New Digital Tools for Travelers Mean New Questions About Public Space

Link to blog on techPresident:

http://techpresident.com/blog-entry/new-digital-tools-travelers-mean-new-questions-about-public-space

9) Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems, and Advanced Computing 2011

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Information_Systems_Geographic_Information_Systems_165941.aspx

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

10) New Transport Quebec Data Online Another Step Toward Transparency

Link to article in The Gazette:

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Transport+Quebec+data+online+another+step+toward+transparency/5427721/story.html

Link to news release from Transports Quebec:

http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/AD4CE9A0818874D9E04400144F0104BD

11) Commuters Called on for Ideas to Fix I-526 Congestion in South Carolina

Link to story and video on WCSC-TV:

http://www.live5news.com/story/15510976/commuters-called-on-for-ideas-to-fix-i-526-congestion

SAFETY / SECURITY

12) A Smarter Way to Evacuate

Link to article from the Texas Transportation Institute:

http://tti.tamu.edu/2011/09/20/a-smarter-way-to-evacuate/

TELEMATICS

13) OnStar to Keep Tracking Vehicles After Canceled Subscriptions

Link to story on WTOP Radio:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=628&sid=2555966

Link to revised OnStar privacy statement:

http://www.onstar.com/tunnel-web/webdav/portal/document_library/downloadable/PrivacyStatement-2011-USE.pdf

14) Garmin Discusses the Future of Commercial Telematics

Link to audio interview on Telematics Update:

http://uk.telematicsupdate.com/fc_tele_evupdatelz//lz.aspx?p1=0575795S572&CC=&p=1&cID=0&cValue=1

TRANSIT

15) Visalia, California Buses Get GPS Tracking, Offer Up-to-Date Schedules

Link to article in the Visalia Times-Delta:

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110921/NEWS01/110921002

16) A Rant on Using the New York City Subway PA/CIS as a Communications Tool

Link to blog on 2^nd Ave. Sagas:

http://secondavenuesagas.com/2011/09/21/a-rant-on-better-using-pacis-as-a-communications-tool/

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

17) Transport for Greater Manchester Plans New Information Infrastructure

Link to article in The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/government-computing-network/2011/sep/21/transport-for-greater-manchester-easynet

18) Traffic Information LLC Sues Over Traffic Patents

Link to article on GeekWire:

http://www.geekwire.com/2011/redfin-glympse-trulia-sued-traffic-patents

VEHICLES

19) Smart Cars on Show at Australian ITS Summit

Link to article and video in the Gold Coast Bulletin:

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/09/21/351185_gold-coast-news.html

20) Smart Set of Wheels

Sophisticated data processing technologies are enabling mid-range car brands to emulate the luxury marquees with systems that make the driving experience easier and safer.

Link to article in Marketing Week:

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/analysis/features/smart-set-of-wheels/3030351.article

21) Advanced Automotive Electronics Show Next Week in England

Link to article on Suite101.com:

http://www.suite101.com/news/advanced-automotive-electronics-show-gaydon-warwickshire-uk-a389628

News Releases

1) Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia Announces Election of Officers and Directors

2) Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia Announces Best of ITS Award Winners

3) Greater Rochester International Airport Website Goes Mobile

4) Abu Dhabi Incorporates Intelligent Traffic Systems to Improve Road Safety

5) Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Creates Web Page for Sherman Minton Bridge Detours

6) Updated Norfolk Southern Exhibit Car Highlights Benefits of Rail