Monday, December 7, 2009 – ISSN 1529-1057

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Call for Papers Deadline Fast Approaching for ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition

ITS America’s 20^th Annual Meeting & Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas will provide transportation leaders with effective tools and strategies to create smart cities and communities that are safer, cleaner, more livable and less congested.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to submit a paper to this major ITS event!  Papers must be submitted online by Dec. 15, 2009.  The educational program will bring together a diverse community of transportation professionals, business leaders, elected officials, and federal and state public agency representatives for three days of thought leadership in the debate over the nation’s transportation future.  For a list of topics, key dates, guidelines, and to submit your paper online, visit www.itsa.org/amprogram.html.

AVIATION

1) Airport Kiosks do Nearly Everything but Check Luggage

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-briefcase5-2009dec05,0,3607899.story

CAMERAS

2) Cameras Enter All Corners of Life

Link to article in The Des Moines Register:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091206/NEWS10/912060351/-1/COMM07/Cameras-enter-all-corners-of-life

CARTOGRAPHY

3) Navteq to Supply Microsoft with 3D Map Data

Link to CNET News article:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10410320-2.html

4) Google Maps Inexplicably Mixes Chicago’s Past, Present

Link to article in the Chicago Tribune:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-google-maps-06-dec06,0,4018426.story

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

5) The European Electronic Toll Collection Service: One Vehicle, One Contract, One On-Board Unit

Link to publication from the European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/publications/doc/2009_eets.pdf

MARITIME

6) Eyeing Port of Los Angeles Security

Link to article in the Daily Breeze:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_13934290

SAFETY / SECURITY

7) Promoting the Car Phone, Despite Risks

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/technology/07distracted.html

8) Palo Alto, California is Increasing Lighting at Train Crossing to Discourage Suicides

Link to article in the San Jose Mercury News:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13933325

SPACE

9) NASA Launches App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Link to article in Computerworld:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141909/NASA_launches_app_for_iPhone_and_iPod_Touch

TRANSIT

10) Google Transit Your Next Bus Ride

California agencies doing study to improve statewide connectivity between transit operators.

Link to article in the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_13944521

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Feds Creating Real-Time Traffic Information Alerts

Link to article in The Examiner:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Feds-creating-real-time-traffic-information-alerts-8618087-78550827.html

12) Beating Bangkok Traffic

Google’s Thailand marketing manager explains how Google Maps will help Bangkokians get quickly and easily from point A to point B.

Link to article in The Nation:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/12/05/opinion/opinion_30118026.php

News Releases

1) US DOT Awards Funds to Dallas, San Diego for New Technology Initiative to Fight Congestion

2) US Coast Guard Begins Automated Application Status Notifications via E-mail

3) New Data Show that ‘Open Road Tolling’ Improves Safety at Toll Plazas

4) New Organization Launched to Help Create Digital Britain

5) FEMA and the FCC Announce Adoption of Standards for Wireless Carriers to Receive and Deliver Emergency Alerts via Mobile Devices

Solicitation

–  Call for Abstracts – ITS Canada Annual Conference and General Meeting

http://www.itscanada.ca/ottawa2010/documents/CallForAbstracts2010_EN.pdf

Upcoming Events

2010 Intertraffic China – May 26-28 – Beijing

http://www.china.intertraffic.com

Today in Transportation History

1994 **15^th anniversary** – Norfolk & Western steam locomotive 611 made its last run as the Norfolk Southern ended it steam excursion program.

http://www.retroweb.com/611lastrun.html

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© 2009 Bernie Wagenblast  www.bwcommunications.net