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Five key questions to improve big data governance
August 22, 2013
According to ISACA, big data can improve decision making, reduce time to market and increase profits, but it can also raise significant risk, ranging from disastrous data breaches to privacy and compliance concerns. In the field of transportation, big data solutions can drive business results: dynamic pricing, optimised capacity planning and yield management. But inaccurate, incomplete or fraudulently manipulated data pose an increasing risk as enterprises become more dependent on the data to drive decis
Australian ITS summit focuses on solutions and benefits
August 22, 2013
ITS Australia’s third biennial Australian Intelligent Transport Systems Summit features a comprehensive program focused on the challenges of Australia's increasingly congested road and public transport infrastructure. While a full range of ITS technologies will be covered at the conference, to be held on 19-20 September at Australian Technology Park, Sydney, the emphasis is on the solutions delivered and the benefits gained, including case study examples.
At-home charging for new Fiat 500e
August 22, 2013
Fiat has selected AeroVironment as its preferred provider of home charging stations and installations for its all-electric Fiat 500e. The 2013 Fiat 500e features a 24-kWh Lithium-ion battery that will allow drivers to travel an estimated 108 miles and uses an industry-standard SAE J1772 recharge connector. The 240-volt refuelling station will charge the car in four hours or less versus the approximate twenty hours required using a standard 120-volt charging cable. AeroVironment’s UL-listed station can
Singapore and China develop dual-currency transit card
August 22, 2013
In what is claimed to be a world first, the world's first dual currency transport smart card is being developed for use in Singapore and the Chinese province of Guangdong. The contactless smart card, or Sino visitor pass, will be launched in the first half of 2014 by Singapore payment service provider EZ-Link and Guangdong Lingnan Pass Company, allowing commuters to travel in both cities with just one card. The smart card will store both Singapore dollars and Chinese Renminbi and will also be accepted
Hi-tech road surface scanner surveys West Midlands highways
August 21, 2013
The condition of highways in the UK’s West Midlands is to be surveyed using the latest vehicle-based technology from Yotta DCL under a contract awarded by the consortium of West Midlands Local Authorities. The highway technology and surveying company will use its new Tempest survey vehicle to capture road surface condition and forward facing video across the region’s road network, plus pavement images at normal traffic speeds. Yotta DCL will survey a total of 1250 km of roads under the terms of the co
Switzerland to improve traffic flow by 2020
August 21, 2013
The Swiss federal office for roads, Astra, has announced plans to implement a series of measures by 2020 to ease traffic flow on roads and to prevent congestion Plans include limited use of the emergency lanes for some traffic in peak hours, bans on overtaking for trucks, and a temporary reduction to the maximum speed on heavily congested roads, as well as a targeted management at traffic lights. The measures will be implemented according to the degree of congestion on the national roads. There will also
Tirana sets direction for road network development
August 21, 2013
The population of the Albanian capital, Tirana has grown rapidly in the past twenty years and the main form of mobility has changed from walking to driving. With 140,000 motor vehicles now on Tirana's roads, traffic jams and parking problems have become a major problem, while pedestrian areas and cycle lanes are disorganised or non-existent. The city’s new urban development plan proposes a number of measures, with a focus primarily on the road network and, to a lesser degree, on sustainable modes of
Government to take over Malaysian enforcement
August 21, 2013
Malaysia’s government is looking into taking over the operation and enforcement of the automated enforcement system (AES) from the concessionaires that were appointed to run it, following feedback from the steering committee of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu). A steering committee involving Pemandu, the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Economic Planning Unit, Attorney-General’s Chamber and the Public Works Department has been appointed to discuss the matt
Vienna tests energy saving tram
August 21, 2013
Vienna public transport operator Wiener Linien is testing an energy saving tram, the EcoTram, using it in daily operation until May 2014. The tram is part of a bigger project to make public transport vehicles more energy efficient. A Siemens ultra low floor tram has been equipped with intelligent control units that predict whether cooling or heating will be required. If the tram enters a tunnel where the ambient temperature is cooler, the air-conditioning will be turned down. The units control three air
Autodesk expands infrastructure design and analysis portfolio
August 20, 2013
Autodesk is expanding its portfolio of technology for Building Information Modelling (BIM) for infrastructure following the completion of the acquisition of certain technology assets from two UK-based software companies, Bestech Systems and Savoy Computing Services. From Bestech Systems, Autodesk has acquired technology including Sam, a suite of software modules widely used around the world by bridge designers and engineers for load analysis in the design of small to medium span bridges. The technology
Massachusetts moves ahead on AET
August 20, 2013
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has scheduled three public meetings to present all electronic tolling (AET) information and solicit comments from members of the public. MassDOT proposes to convert and replace the I-90 Western Turnpike and I-90 Boston Metropolitan Highway System interchange-based manual cash and electronic toll collection systems with a new system of tolling relying only on AET. The project will include both roadway tolling infrastructure and toll collection sys
TfL consults on proposals to withdraw cash fare payments
August 20, 2013
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a public consultation to seek customers’ views on proposals to withdraw cash fare payments on London buses. Since the introduction of the Oyster card in 2003, and the launch of contactless payment cards on London’s buses last year, fewer than one per cent of bus fares are now paid in cash, down from 25 per cent in 2000. TfL is now putting proposals to passengers that would see cash fare payments on London buses ending in 2014. Research shows that the majori
Singapore trials first driverless EV
August 20, 2013
Singapore’s first driverless electric vehicle, developed by the country’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), has taken to the streets in a test carried out along a two kilometre route. The vehicle can accommodate eight passengers and is able to travel at 20 kilometres per hour. The two-year test project, being carried out jointly by NTU, JTC and Induct Technologies, is the first of its kind in Singapore and aims to develop a vehicle that will replace shuttle buses in the country.
Upgrade for Humber Bridge toll system
August 20, 2013
Work has begun on an ambitious US$8 million project to implement an innovative new electronic tolling system at the UK’s Humber Bridge, where the existing systems have remained largely unchanged since the bridge opened in 1981. The project is set to be completed by autumn/winter 2014 and will include a major redevelopment of the tolling plaza and systems, together with the creation of some of the first open tolling free-flow lanes in the UK. These will enable drivers to cross the Humber Bridge without s
Rail opportunities in Saudi Arabia
August 19, 2013
Saudi Arabia has committed around US$97 billion between 2010 and 2040 into railway infrastructure, with approximately US$17 billion to be invested between 2010 and 2025 in an advanced and integrated multimodal transport system. In addition, the Kingdom will invest in multiple metro transport projects to address traffic and public transport challenges, including Jeddah, Riyadh and Mecca which will all break ground between 2013 and 2014. The Saudi Rail Forum 2013 will bring together local and internationa