ITS Report™. The one-stop-shop for your ITS NEWS.
ITS REPORT Issue 14
Nov 16-30, 2007
Dear Reader:
We hope you enjoy this most recent edition of ITS Report.
GENERAL NEWS
1) HIDDEN TAXES ARE EASIER TO RAISE
"Because electronic toll collection systems -- such as E-ZPass in the Northeast or Fast-Trak in California -- automatically deduct the toll as the car drives through the toll plaza, and the driver therefore need no longer actively count out and hand over cash for the toll, electronic payment arguably reduce the visibility of tolls."National Center for Policy Analysis, Nov 16, 2007. Read more
2) RFID BASED E-TOLL SYSTEM INTRODUCED ON PAKISTAN MOTORWAYS
"Pakistan now joins the list of growing countries where RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) based electronic toll collection is in use."Pakistaniat, Nov 20, 2007. Read more
3) NOVELTY ON PRAGUE TRANSPORT SYSTEM: TICKETS BY SMS
"The Prague Transport Authority – Dopravni Podnik – launched a novel system under which passengers can buy single transfer tickets by mobile telephone text message."Czech Radio, Nov 22, 2007. Read more
4) TRANSLINK TOUTS IMOVE WEBSITE AS CONGESTION-BUSTING TOOL
"The regional transportation authority in Vancouver, B.C., Translink , today launched the operational Beta version of a new Web site called iMove that it says will integrate real-time traffic, construction and event data from across the region with transit routes and schedules, allowing motorists, commercial drivers and visitors to avoid roadway congestion, reduce stop-and-go traffic, save time and help cut greenhouse gas emissions."Cascadia Prospectus, Nov 27, 2007. Read more
5) US PLANS GPS SATELLITE NAVIGATION UPGRADE TO RIVAL EU
"The US military is working on super-powerful updates to its GPS satellite navigation technology to try to trump the rival European Galileo project which just received key funding, experts say."AFP, Nov 27, 2007. Read more
INDUSTRY NEWS
1) TALKING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SELF DRIVING CARS
"It's not just phones that are interacting with their surroundings these days - the latest safety enhancement for cars is a system from Toyota that gets vehicles speaking to traffic lights, street furniture, pedestrians and even each other."Tech.co.uk, Nov 27, 2007. Read more
2) NAVTEQ ENHANCES TRAFFIC INFORMATION SERVICES IN CHICAGO
"Almost exactly one year after its acquisition of Traffic.com Inc., global mapmaker Navteq Corp. opened its most sophisticated traffic hub in downtown Chicago Thursday."Medill Reports, Nov 29, 2007. Read more
3) GM TO LAUNCH TELEMATICS SERVICES IN 2009 IN CHINA
"General Motors Corp will provide in-vehicle safety, security and communications services in China, the world's second-largest auto market, from 2009 via a local joint venture, the automaker said on Thursday."Reuters, Nov 29, 2007. Read more
4) GUCCI TESTS ANTI-TERRORIST SATELLITE TRACKING FOR SECURING CLOTHING DESIGN
"Active RFID isn't just for tracking arms shipments any more. BetaNews has learned that luxury consumer goods designer Gucci is working with Xpondr to test an emerging mix of technology for preventing theft aboard ocean ships."BetaNews, Nov 29, 2007. Read more
5) IN-CAR BRAIN PROMISES SMOOTH JOURNEYS AND LOWERS EMISSIONS
"We all know that driving as smoothly as possible helps save fuel and cut carbon emissions, but how many of us have the patience or the foresight to ensure our journeys are undertaken without us jumping on the brake every few minutes?"VNUnet, Nov 30, 2007. Read more
Sincerely,
ITS Report