Wednesday, April 15, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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TIC for Traffic Plans and Simulation – Create and Operate with Live and Historic Data

TIC can be used in off-line mode with historic data to create, simulate, and compare pre-defined traffic plans for expected traffic situations. TIC can then be used in on-line mode with both live and historic data to monitor the network.  Once a situation is identified, TIC can recommend the best plans to operators within minutes, and if an unexpected situation is identified, TIC can be used to create and recommend new traffic plans, such as during evacuations. TIC can consider the complete road network, traffic patterns, weather, work zones, social events, sensors, CO2, NOx, and particle emissions, and more. TIC is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution proven in over 100 projects operating worldwide, and can be deployed faster, more affordably, and with less risk than build-your-own solutions.   See the new TIC3 at ITS America in GEWI booth #329 or contact jim.oneill@gewi.com to discuss your requirements.

AVIATION

1) Business Aviation Taps Twitter

Link to story in Aviation Week:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=busav&id=news/TWITTER041409.xml&headline=Business%20Aviation%20Taps%20Twitter

2) In-flight Wi-Fi Prices Still Up in the Air for Alaska Airlines

Link to story in eWeek:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Inflight-WiFi-Prices-Still-Up-in-the-Air-for-Alaska-Airlines-287834/

BUSES

3) Cameras to Keep Watch on Muni Bus Fleet in San Francisco

Link to story in the San Francisco Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/14/BALQ172H2I.DTL

CARTOGRAPHY

4) GIS Helps State Understand ‘Unintended Things,’ Says California’s Geographic Information Officer

Link to story in Government Technology:

http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/639802

Link to video from the California Office of the Chief Information Officer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-2WIR8ORtc&feature=channel_page

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) Taiwan Freeway ETC Contract Under Review

Link to story in the Taipei Times:

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/04/16/2003441213

GPS / NAVIGATION

6) China Launches Satellite for Positioning System

Link to IDG News Service story:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/041509-china-launches-satellite-for-positioning.html

OTHER

7) Albuquerque Newspaper Sues New Mexico DOT Over Public Records

Link to AP story:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_12146386

8) Traffic Knowledge Shared Across Canada Through University of Regina Project

Link to story in the Leader-Post:

http://www.leaderpost.com/Technology/Traffic+knowledge+shared+across+Canada+through+project/1499247/story.html

Link to news release from the University of Regina:
http://www.uregina.ca/news/newsreleases.php?release=568

9) Flying High

Profile of traffic reporter, Amelia Earhart.

Link to story in Denver Woman:

http://www.denverwoman.com/1007/rolemodel.html

ROADWAYS

10) Results of Deer Reflectors Inconclusive so Far

Link to story in The Daily Republic:

http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/articles/index.cfm?id=32801

11) Caltrans Criticized for Bypassing County Input on I-80 Detour

Link to story in the Sierra Sun:

http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20090415/NEWS/904159989/1066

12) Yale Launches Animated ‘Smart Streets’ Traffic Safety Education Web Site

Link to story on Design New Haven:

http://www.designnewhaven.com/2009/04/yale-launches-smart-streets-traffic.html  

Link to Smart Streets:  http://www.yale.edu/smartstreets/

13) The War on Short Yellows

Link to commentary in The Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975737976619187.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

14) Airport Credentials: What’s Going to Happen?

Many organizations are working on bringing biometrics to airports but obstacles remain.

Link to story in ContactlessNews:

http://www.contactlessnews.com/2009/04/14/airport-credentials-whats-going-to-happen

15) The Carlet Letter? New Jersey Tags New Drivers with Decal

Link to AP story:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jZ9H_nxvePTsGxo-LEtkmgOHLAHwD97J3P500

TRANSIT

16) Now Boarding the Bus: TV

City of Raleigh first to deploy mobile DTV.

Link to story in The News & Observer:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1486064.html

Link to story and video report on WRAL-TV:

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4948031/

17) SEPTA Charts New Route on Google

Link to story in Metro:

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/04/15/04/2415-85/index.xml

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

18) Global Traffic Network Provides In-Air Eye for Radio

Link to story in Radio World:

http://www.radioworld.com/article/78504

19) Trafficmaster Preps Mobile Phone Drive

Link to story on Register Hardware:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/04/15/trafficmaster/

VEHICLES

20) Abortion Debate Moves to Special License Plates

Link to AP story:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-14-license-plates-abortion_N.htm

News Releases

1) Toronto Transit Commission Extends Next Train Arrival Information

2) ITS Georgia Starts Twitter Page

3) US Transportation Security Administration Announces Appointment of New Head of Strategic Communications

Upcoming Events

International Conference on Models and Technologies for Intelligent Transportation Systems – June 22-23 – Rome

http://w3.uniroma1.it/its2009/

Today in Transportation History

1924 **85^th anniversary** – Rand McNally published its first road atlas, the Auto Chum.

http://www.randmcnally.com/rmc/company/cmpTimeLine.jsp?cmty=0

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Questions, comments about the TCN?  Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast at i95berniew@aol.com.   

© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast