[TCN] Tuesday, August 31, 2010

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

---

Countdown to IBTTA's 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition — September 12-15th in San Diego, CA – Register Today!

Join your colleagues in San Diego, September 12-15, 2010, for IBTTA's 78th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, the year's most highly-anticipated learning and networking event -- attracting more than 700 toll industry experts and decision makers from across the globe. Under the theme, Sustainable Transportation, the technical program offers tracks focused on innovation, policy, the economy, and the California tolling experience. Hosted by the California Toll Operators Committee (CTOC), this event features interactive seminars, influential speakers, technical tours and special events, informative exhibits and more! Register and make your hotel reservations today! Visit IBTTA's website for details.

 

AVIATION

 

1) Tracking Planes that Aren't in the Sky

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704340504575447852785706396.html

 

2) Simulator Training Flaws Tied to Airline Crashes

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-08-31-1Acockpits31_ST_N.htm

 

3) Inconvenience Not an Excuse for Ignoring First Amendment

Link to editorial in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/aug/29/ed-wilk29-ar-476766/

Link to decision by US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:

http://snpainfo.org/eBulletin/print/AppealsCourtRuling-07.13.10.pdf

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

4) GPS Tracks Students on School Buses

Link to story and video on WGN-TV:

http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-gps-school-bus-aug10,0,1008369.story

 

5) US Air Force Reorganization May Drastically Affect GPS Program

Link to article in GPS World:

http://www.gpsworld.com/gnss-system/gps-modernization/news/air-force-reorganization-may-drastically-affect-gps-program-10413

 

6) Do We Need Maps in Our Location-Based Apps?

Question is explored it in the context of navigation apps, weather and traffic apps, social apps and augmented reality.

Link to podcast from Directions Magazine:

http://www.directionsmag.com/podcasts/podcast-do-we-need-maps-in-our-location-based-apps/130733

 

7) Best iPhone Navigation Apps

Link to reviews from Good Gear Guide:

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/roundup/358425/best_iphone_navigation_apps/

 

RAILROADS

 

8) CSX Partners with Alabama, Mississippi for Safety Measures

Link to article in Progressive Railroading:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=24218

 

ROADWAYS

 

9) Flashing Stop Signs – Now in Use in Kansas City and Elsewhere – Send a Clear Message

Link to article in The Kansas City Star:

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/29/2186131/flashing-stop-signs-send-clear.html

 

10) Minnesota Gives Yellow Arrows a Green Light

Link to article in The Daily Reporter:

http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/08/31/minnesota-gives-yellow-arrows-a-green-light/

 

11) Keeping Tabs on Traffic

Data provide great details about traffic but driver unpredictability challenges models.

Link to blog in The Wall Street Journal:

http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/keeping-tabs-on-traffic-986/

 

12) Can Eye Contact Enhance Road Safety and a Sense of Place?

Link to blog from the Project for Public Spaces:

http://www.pps.org/can-eye-contact-enhance-road-safety-and-a-sense-of-place/

 

13) Public has Right to Know Status of New Inlet Bridge in Delaware

Newspaper says state and DelDOT need to provide a status report on span's problems.

Link to editorial in The News Journal:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100831/OPINION11/8310317/1004/OPINION/Public-has-right-to-know-status-of-new-inlet-bridge

 

SPACE

 

14) NASA Brings Historical Photos to Flickr Commons

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20015106-17.html

 

TRANSIT

 

15) Transit Systems Easier to Predict with Smartphone Apps

Link to article in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/phones/2010-08-30-transit-apps_N.htm

 

16) New Interactive Transit Kiosk in Seattle

Link to blog and video on seattlepi.com:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/archives/219785.asp

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

17) Digital Life: Never Get Stuck in Twaffic Again

A report on the first satnav system in Ireland to report live traffic information.

Link to article in the Irish Independent:

http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/digital-life-never-get-stuck-in-twaffic-again-2317917.html

 

18) Inrix Launches iPhone App in Europe

Link to article on GPS Business News:

http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/INRIX-Launches-iPhone-App-in-Europe_a2438.html

 

VEHICLES

 

19) US Wants Report Cards for Cars

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461602043868916.html

 

20) Cars: The Next Hacking Frontier?

Link to column on CNET News:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20015184-245.html

 

 

News Releases

1) Frost & Sullivan: Smart Transit Card Users Promote Smart Card Adoption for Multiple Applications

2) UC Berkeley Researchers Launch High-Tech Transit Study in Bay Area Commute Hot-Spot

3) Lockheed Martin Delivers Prototype Threat Warning Systems to US Navy for Testing

4) NTSB Commends Operation Lifesaver as a Leader In Reducing Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Accidents Since Organization's Founding

5) Glenn, Hakey Named Recipients of Operation Lifesaver 2010 National Safety Award

6) Vail Resorts Announces a New Application for Skiers to Track Activity, Mountain and Traffic Reports

 

 

Upcoming Events

InnoTrans 2010 – September 21-24 – Berlin

http://www1.messe-berlin.de/vip8_1/website/Internet/Internet/www.innotrans/englisch/index.html

 

 

Today in Transportation History    

1940 **70^th anniversary** A Pennsylvania Central Airlines flight en route from Washington, DC to Detroit, crashed near Lovettsville, Virginia.  All 25 on board, including US Senator Ernest Lundeen from Minnesota, died.

http://www.baesel.net/capaccidents/1940.08.31_PennsylvaniaCentralAirlinesCorp_DouglasDC-3-A.pdf

 

======================================================================

The Transportation Communications Newsletter is published electronically Monday through Friday. 

To subscribe (for free) or unsubscribe, please contact me at bernie@bwcommunications.net.

TCN archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications  

 

Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast atbernie@bwcommunications.net.      

© 2010 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net