[TCN] Monday, June 8, 2009

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

 

Monday, June 8, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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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

2^nd International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations – June 21-24 – Honolulu, Hawaii

http://2isfo.eng.hawaii.edu/

 

 

Today in Transportation History

1959 **50^th 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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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast