[TCN] Thursday, December 1, 2011

 

Transportation Communications Newsletter

 

Thursday, December 1, 2011 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Changing to a Management and Operations Culture - The Road Ahead by Phil Tarnoff

 

For many years, members of the ITS and management and operations communities, have agonized over the failure of the general public and their elected officials to recognize the importance of our field.  I am pleased to announce the completion of a book titled The Road Ahead that addresses this shortcoming.  It is written for those inside and outside of the transportation profession, to spread the word that new construction is not the only solution to the Nation's increasing congestion problems.    Reviews of this new publication have been gratifying, indicating that "a book of this type is long overdue."  The contents of The Road Ahead are captured by its subtitle:  "Why Are We Driving 21^st Century Cars on 20^th Century Roads with 19^th Century Thinking?"

 

The Road Ahead is available from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Preview on YouTube at http://youtu.be/Zh0Nfgk6bcA.

 

AVIATION

 

1) China Eastern Airlines to Improve Pilots' English After Safety Breach

Link to story from BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-15980197

 

2) The World's Best Airport?

Some interesting communication features make Singapore's Changi International Airport notable.

Link to article in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204397704577070502443425304.html

 

3) Manassas, Virginia Airport Wants to Spread the Word About Its Services

Link to article in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/manassas-airport-wants-to-spread-the-word-about-its-services/2011/11/29/gIQAMh6qDO_story.html

 

4) Lessons Learned During My iPad Year

Link to article in General Aviation News:

http://issuu.com/flyermedia/docs/20111202/1 (page 16)

 

CAMERAS

 

5) Dutch to Install Cameras at Busy Border Crossings

Link to AP article:

http://www2.wsls.com/news/2011/dec/01/dutch-to-install-cameras-at-busy-border-crossings-ar-1506617/

 

6) How Common Protocols for Automatic Number Plate Recognition Can Enhance Local Agency Cooperation and Reduce Costs

Link to article in World Highways:

http://www.worldhighways.com/features/article.cfm?recordID=4827

 

CARTOGRAPHY

 

7) Oregon, Montana, Utah and Colorado Partner to Share GIS Data in the Cloud

Link to article in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/technology/Oregon-Montana-Utah-and-Colorado-Partner-to-Share-GIS-Data-in-the-Cloud.html

 

GPS / NAVIGATION

 

8) Nokia Tweaks Bluetooth for Indoor Navigation

Link to article in EE Times:

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4230993/Nokia-tweaks-Bluetooth-for-indoor-navigation

 

MARITIME

 

9) Trials Prove GPS Technology Helps Habitats and Fisherman

Link to article on Fishnewseu.com:

http://www.fishnewseu.com/latest-news/uk/7187-trials-prove-gps-technology-helps-habitats-and-fishermen.html

Link to news release from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/12/01/fishermen-technology-trials/

 

OTHER

 

10) Lack of Standards Threatens Digital Signage Market, Says ITU

Link to article on iTWire:

http://www.itwire.com/it-industry-news/market/51504-lack-of-standards-threatens-digital-signage-market-says-itu

Link to news release from the International Telecommunication Union:

http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2011/49.aspx

 

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

 

11) Mayor of Galway, Ireland Launches Forum to Promote Engagement on City Transport

Link to article in the Galway Advertiser:

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/47082/mayor-launches-forum-to-promote-engagement-on-galway-transport-

 

12) Operation Lifesaver Keeps Arizona Off-Tracks

Link to interview on Arizona Public Media's Arizona Illustrated:

http://www.azpm.org/news/story/2011/11/29/1830-operation-lifesaver-keeps-arizona-off-track/

 

SAFETY / SECURITY

 

13) Predicting a Red-Light Runner? MIT Has an Algorithm for That

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/predicting-a-red-light-runner-m-i-t-has-an-algorithm-for-that/

Link to further information from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/driving-algorithm-1130.html

 

TELEMATICS

 

14) Telematics Drives Big Savings on Commercial Auto Insurance

Link to article in Business Fleet:

http://www.businessfleet.com/Article/Story/2011/11/Telematics-Drives-Big-Savings-on-Auto-Insurance.aspx

 

TRANSIT

 

15) BART Limits Cellphone Service Blackouts

Link to article from the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19445437

Link to news release from Bay Area Rapid Transit:

http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2011/news20111201.aspx

 

16) King County, Washington Bars 'Buy American' Ads on Metro Buses

Link to article in The Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016900774_busads01m.html

 

17) New York MTA Project Makes Subway Navigation Easier for Hard of Hearing

Link to story on NY1:

http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/health/151567/new-mta-project-makes-subway-navigation-easier-for-hard-of-hearing

 

18) Wireless Technology Blooms Los Angeles Poet's Words on Buses

Link to blog on KCET-TV:

http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/movie-miento/wireless-technology-blooms-la-poets-words-on-buses.html

Link to further information from Out the Window:

http://out-the-window.org/news/riding-and-writing-on-the-bus/

 

19) California Light-Rail Bridge Will Feature Wiring to Detect Earthquake Damage

Link to article in Engineering News-Record:

http://enr.construction.com/infrastructure/transportation/2011/1205-65279los-angeles-rail-structure-to-feature-tradition-high-tech-.asp

 

20) Google Transit Data Tool for Small Transit Agencies

Link to report from the Transportation Research Board:

http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166356.aspx

 

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

 

21) New Mexico DOT Keeping a Watchful Eye on Road Conditions from Command Center

Link to story on KOB-TV:

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2394116.shtml?cat=500

 

VEHICLES

 

22) South Carolina DMV System Will Let Customers Check Wait Times Online

Link to story on WSPA-TV:

http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/nov/30/dmv-system-will-let-customers-check-wait-times-onl-ar-2778816/

 

 

News Releases

1) Aviation Forum Highlights Ways to Improve Information Sharing to Better Manage Flight Diversions

2) Poll: Most US Drivers Engage in 'Distracting' Behaviors

3) Survey Shows Cellphones as California's Biggest Traffic Safety Problem

4) Air Transport Association Changes Name to Airlines for America

5) Inthinc Launches Telematics and Fleet Management Webinar Series

6) GetTaxi, New App to Order Cabs in London

7) Upgrades of Indian Aviation Technology

8) Magna Launches Camera-Based Driver Assistance System Which Offers Safety and Convenience

9) Barcelona Joins Forces with Cisco, Telefonica, Abertis, Agbar and Schneider-Telvent to Create Smart City Campus

 

 

Solicitation

 -  Request for Information – Commuter Rail Mobile Ticketing Solutions – Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Business_Center/Bidding_and_Solicitations/Materials_Management/Invitation_for_Bids/MBTA-RFI-CR-Mobile-Payments-2011-12-1.pdf

 

 

Upcoming Events

Webinar: Find Out How AirTran Airways Has Increased the ROI of Their Notification System – December 7

http://disaster-resource.com/newsletter/2011/partners/everbridge-email-112911.html

 

 

Today in Transportation History    

1866 **145^th anniversary** The John A. Roebling Suspension bridge, originally called the Covington and Cincinnati Bridge, was opened to pedestrians.

http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html

 

1961 **50^th anniversary** Britannia Airways was established as Euravia (London).

http://www.zoggavia.com/Euravia.html

 

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