ITS Report™. The one-stop-shop for your ITS NEWS.
ITS REPORT Issue 9
Sept 1 - Sept 15, 2007
Dear Reader:
We hope you enjoy this most recent edition of ITS Report.
GENERAL NEWS
1) NOW, DIAL YOUR WAY OUT OF JAMS
"Tired of those long hours in traffic jams on your way to office and back? Your problems will soon be over. You could find out about roadblocks in advance and plan a different route to avoid delay. Bharti Airtel and Bangalore-based tech firm Mapunity Information Systems are joining hands with the Mumbai traffic police to help you reach on time."Sify, Sept 3, 2007. Read more
2) TECHNOLOGY HELPS PUT THE BRAKES ON SPEEDING
"Researchers testing new computer technology say cars that know the speed limit and adjust their speed accordingly could stop motorists from getting booked and reduce deaths on the road."ABC News, Sept 5, 2007. Read more
3) POOR REPUTATION DOGGING THE TELEMATICS INDUSTRY
"The telematics market is still trying to throw off its 'double-glazing' image according to the European vice-president of one of the sector's biggest firms."Road Transport, Sept 6, 2007. Read more
4) NY TAXI DRIVER STRIKE IS NOT REALLY ABOUT GPS
"Some New York taxi drivers are striking to show their unhappiness with the new mandated GPS/credit card systems installed in their cabs. The stated concern appears on the surface to be one of privacy, and one of the large drivers unions is using this as a platform."Telematics Journal, Sept 6, 2007. Read more
5) VIRGINIA HOT LANE PROJECT TO START EARLY NEXT YEAR
"Construction of express toll lanes on the Capital Beltway in Virginia will begin early next year and last five years, state transportation officials said yesterday as they detailed significant changes to a privately backed project that is intended to provide a quicker commute through one of the region's most clogged corridors."Washington Post, Sept 10, 2007. Read more
6) AZERBAIJAN TO LAUNCH INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM LATE THIS YEAR
"Azerbaijan's Transport Ministry has submitted the Draft Intelligent Traffic Control System to the presidential administration."Azeri-Press Agent, Sept 13, 2007. Read more
7) OKI: TRAFFIC JAMS COST US $200M A YEAR
"A single solution is unlikely to the traffic jams in Greater Cincinnati that a new study predicts will cost travelers and businesses 75,000 hours and $1.2 million in lost time and money each day by 2030."The Cincinnati Post, Sept 14, 2007. Read more
8) TOLL PLAZAS ALONG E-470 COULD BE GONE IN '09
"The approximately 30 toll booths along the 47-mile stretch of E-470 may soon be left in the dust."KMGH Denver, Sept 14, 2007. Read more
9) HAULAGE FIRMS SHY AWAY FROM TELEMATICS
"Road transport operators are scared of admitting that the use of technology, such as vehicle tracking, can help save them significant amounts of money."Road Transport, Sept 14, 2007. Read more
INDUSTRY NEWS
1) MARKET RESEARCHER PUTS SPRINT AT TOP OF U.S. LBS
"The market demand for location-based services (LBS) delivered over mobile phones will grow rapidly early next year, and the best-prepared U.S. wireless carrier in LBS is Sprint Nextel, market research firm Pike & Fisher said today."GPS World, Sept 6, 2007. Read more
2) MICROSOFT LICENSES TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY IT DEVELOPED ITSELF
"In an unusual twist, the very first company to license technology from Microsoft Research is now licensing it back to Microsoft. Inrix, based in Seattle suburb Kirkland, initially licensed predictive, real-time traffic technology from Microsoft Research in 2005. Since then, Inrix has built onto that technology and now offers traffic data for 106 markets in the U.S. and the U.K."Info World, Sept 6, 2007. Read more
3) SCOTT F. BELCHER NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA
"The Board of Directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), the leading advocate for ITS development and deployment in the United States, today announced the appointment of Scott F. Belcher as President and CEO effective September 10, 2007."ITS America, Sept 10, 2007. Read more
4) TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. DEVELOPS MOBILE E-ZPASS UNIT TO MANAGE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR PARKING
"Traffic Technologies, Inc. is introducing ETC technology combined with cellular broadband transmission to provide parking fee collection and enhanced traffic flow in temporary remote parking areas during the popular Fair."Parking Network, Sept 10, 2007. Read more
5) AVIS AND BUDGET INTRODUCE ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION IN FLORIDA, COLORADO AND PUERTO RICO
"Avis Budget Group, Inc., the parent company of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car, today announced the expansion of electronic toll collection with new services in Florida, Colorado and Puerto Rico."CNN Money, Sept 11, 2007. Read more
6) MAPS AND MORE: NOKIA REVAMPS ITS LOCATION-BASED EXPERIENCES
"A better UI for more devices and more coverage illuminate Nokia's navigation plans."CNN Money, Sept 11, 2007. Read more
7) FLEET & FREIGHT MANAGEMENT
"Shaw Mobile is a mobile fleet- and freight-management system available now. It was specifically designed, Shaw Tracking says, for LTL, P&D, courier, and private fleets, including store delivery operations."Today's Trucking, Sept 12, 2007. Read more
8) SWRI TEAMS UP WITH FRENCH INSTITUTE ON AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES
"Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has signed a collaborative agreement with France's Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA) to conduct joint research and exchange intellectual property on vehicle autonomy research."San Antonio Business Journal, Sept 13, 2007. Read more
Sincerely,
ITS Report