Wednesday, September 8, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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IVBSS Program Public Meeting October 20, 2010 in Ypsilanti, MI

U.S. DOT will host a one-day public meeting on October 20, 2010 to provide a report on results from the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) field operational test to members of the vehicle safety research community and other interested parties.

The IVBSS program is a five-year cooperative research agreement to combine several crash warning subsystems — including forward collision, lane departure, lane change, and curve speed warning — into a single, integrated concept to enhance the safety of both passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. Field tests using a fleet of light vehicles and heavy trucks were recently completed and the resulting reports are being finalized. The Key Findings report for the Heavy Truck field test will be available by the end of August. Clickhere for registration and additional information. Online registration deadline is October 15.

GPS / NAVIGATION

1) Japan’s First Navigation Satellite Good for GPS

Link to article from the Yomiuri Shimbun:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/T100908001888.htm

OTHER

2) Real-Time Data: A Recipe for Happier Citizens

Link to article in Next American City:

http://americancity.org/columns/entry/2586/

3) ‘Every Day Counts’ Web Site Launched by FHWA

Link to site:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Exploring the Effectiveness of Transit Security Awareness Campaigns in the San Francisco Bay Area

Link to report from the Mineta Transportation Institute:

http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/2914_09-19.pdf

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Airport ‘Naked Image’ Scanners in US May Get Avatars to Increase Privacy

Link to Bloomberg article:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/airport-naked-image-scanners-in-u-s-may-get-avatars-to-increase-privacy.html

6) Drunk? There’s an App for That: ‘You the Man’ Campaign Helps Keep Boozy Drivers Off the Road

Link to article in the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/08/2010-09-08_too_drunk_to_drive_app_knows.html

7) TSA Sows Fear of Photographers

Link to commentary in Reason:

http://reason.com/blog/2010/09/07/tsa-sows-fear-of-photographers

TELEMATICS

8) GM’s OnStar to Allow Access to Facebook and Texts in Car

Link to article the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100908/BUSINESS01/9080369/GM-s-OnStar-to-allow-access-to-Facebook-and-texts-in-car

9) Ford Adds Fuel-Efficient Routing to Sync

Link to article in Automotive Engineering International:

http://www.sae.org/mags/AEI/8772

TRANSIT

10) First Look at Metro-North’s New Operations Control Center

Link to article in the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/metro_north_safe_from_lirr_disaster_LJ3p3NL8NoGqsGXqj1B7gP

11) NJ Transit Introduces ‘Quiet Train Cars’ on Northeast Corridor Express Trains

Link to article in The Star-Ledger:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/09/nj_transit_introduces_quiet_tr.html

12) Animation Experiment to Begin on Seattle Rail Construction Wall

Link to article on CHS Capitol Hill Seattle:

http://capitolhillseattle.com/2010/09/01/wallrus-animation-lumbers-onto-broadways-big-red-light-rail-construction-wall

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

13) Saudi Arabia’s Saher System Expanded to Cover More Expressways

Link to article in the Saudi Gazette:

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2010090783026

VEHICLES

14) Family Car Tech that Matters

Link to article on Family Car Guide:

http://www.familycarguide.com/blog/1049095_family-car-tech-that-matters-part-one (Part 1)

http://www.familycarguide.com/blog/1049096_family-car-tech-that-matters-part-two (Part 2)

News Releases

1) GVF Launches Maritime Satcom Forum to Expand Deployment of Satellite Technology in the Maritime Industry

2) CEA-Leti Demonstrates New Contactless Communication Technology for RFID Smartcards

3) TBD.com Helps Washington, DC Drivers Using Beat the Traffic’s API

Upcoming Events

The Second International Summit on the State of the Connected Vehicle – September 29-30 – Troy Michigan

http://www.sae.org/events/scv/

Today in Transportation History

1810 **200^th anniversary** The Tonquin left New York en route to the Pacific Northwest to establish a fur-trading outpost.

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8673

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

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation will soon be seeking a Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).  BTS, which is part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), is charged with advancing rigorous analysis and the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our Nation’s transportation system.

The Director position would lead the BTS, which is responsible for leading the development of high quality transportation data and information.  As a federal statistical agency, BTS provides an objective source of statistical analysis for decision making at all levels.

RITA is looking for a dynamic and visionary leader who can apply their expertise in the collection, analysis, and use of transportation statistics towards positioning BTS as an integral part of a Department of Transportation that bases its very significant investment and policy decisions on sound science and rigorous analysis.

In addition to possessing superior technical acumen, candidates must demonstrate an ability to lead a diverse team and promote cross-office collaboration in the pursuit of achieving organizational excellence.

RITA will soon be posting this position (on USAJobs).  If you know someone interested in this Washington, D.C. based leadership role with relevant experience and proven results please encourage them to contact Linda Riggins, Human Resources, at (202) 366-4847 or Linda.Riggins@dot.gov.

Note:  Received this from a USDOT source; please stay tuned for the official announcement on USAJobs.

(Source:  RealTalkies)

I can relate to almost everything in this nice blog post. I enjoyed a fair share of the experiences described by the author, who fondly recollects her memories riding a bus during her college days (in the 1990s) in the Southern India city of Chennai (formerly known as Madras)!  For those not in the know, Chennai is one of the top four cities in India – in terms of population, investment, etc and has a relatively good transportation network that is affordable for the masses.

These days I should not be complaining about my daily commute after living through some of these experiences. As dangerous as it sounds, most of my commutes to work and school back in India involved holding on to a window grill for dear life with just one hand and only one foot on the bus’ steps  as it whizzed by at 60km/hr. For crying out loud, the country has 1.3 billion people and at times it felt like as if the entire citizenry of the nation decided to ride the very bus that I took to school/work!

Those days all the Chennai Metro buses where painted with green and off-white stripes. When a large rectangular mass of green and off-white stripes appears on the horizon, everyone in the bus stop perks up and strains to see the number on the white board over the large windshield. The ones with better vision are lucky, because after seeing the number, they get 30 seconds more to decide where to position themselves to improve their chances of boarding the bus.  My vision was terrible and hence my strategy was as good as a coin toss.

On a few lucky days, I am the first at the entrance. Drones of people embark and disembark the bus through the two entrances in no particular order. The goal is to get in and out of the bus before the conductor blows the godforsaken whistle and the bus begins to move. People still continue to board the moving bus.

Inside the bus,  I manage to pull out my free bus pass and the conductor punches a hole to mark my free government permitted ride to school for the day. It is almost impossible to explain how crowded the bus gets. The closest analogy I can give is, it feels like sardines packed in a can.  I am swept into the bus and get jammed in the middle. I am suspended in that space. My body is in physical contact with several bodies at various points inside that tight packed space. It is like I have been mapped in the cosmos.

The Chennai Metro bus is a social space; one that is  similar to a school, hospital, church, sports club, gym or dance studio. There are certain set of unwritten rules for engagement and obligations to fulfill. By default there are more assigned seats for men than women, generally women sit in the right side of the bus and men on the left. When the bus is crowded a man has to vacate a designated woman’s seat but the converse is not true.

If a woman or a really old man is getting on a moving bus, then more than a few concerned citizens will bang on the steel bus and it will screech to a halt to allow them to get in. If it is just a bunch of guys they would just have to hang for dear life on the windows bars and somehow swing and get their feet on the steps of the bus or just cling to the bus. They still have to pay their fare for the bus ride, as it is gets them to their destination faster than if they run or walk.

If a man is hanging outside, then it is your duty as a passenger who is secure inside the bus to grab their belongings – backpack, lunch bag, etc and keep it secure. If you get off the bus before the guy does, pass it on to someone else for safekeeping. A woman, no matter how agile or skilled is not supposed to hang onto the window or stand on the steps of a moving bus. For some weird reason a disabled or incapacitated woman is more of a societal liability than a handicapped man. Therefore, again the dutiful citizens in the bus tell the woman to get to safety.

Click here to read the entire article.  Here are some fun pictures

Related articles by Zemanta

• Incredible India – Chennai [Guenther Schmidt] (ecademy.com)

Source: The Economist

Car-sharing programs have been gaining a lot of popularity and building up momentum over the years, especially in urban environments such as Washington, DC, NYC, etc.  The Economist has done a good coverage of the growing trend and here are some of the interesting nuggets that caught my attention:

• One rental car can take the place of 15 owned vehicles
• By 2016 the market will be worth $6 billion a year, half of that in America, with a total of some 10m users
• Zipcar already has 400,000 members, mostly in America where it is thought to have 80% of the market.
• A car owner doing 12,000 miles (19,000km) a year can save $1,834 by shifting to a car-sharing service

Car-sharing started in Europe and spread to America in the late 1990s, when the first venture opened in Portland, Oregon, a traditional hangout of tree-huggers. For years it was organised by small co-operatives, often supported by local government. It still has a green tinge. One in five new cars added to club fleets is electric; such cars are good for short-range, urban use. But sharing is no longer small.

Frost & Sullivan, a market-research firm, estimates that by 2016 the market will be worth $6 billion a year, half of that in America, with a total of some 10m users. Outside America, most of the growth is in Britain and other north European countries such as Germany. The market leader is a company called Zipcar, founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is now headed for a public listing. Zipcar already has 400,000 members, mostly in America where it is thought to have 80% of the market. It recently bought Streetcar, the market leader in London, though competition authorities are still scrutinising that deal.

The sharing trend is now seeping into another prominent area of transportation – the bicycles.  Many cities around the world, including London and Washington, DC,  are beginning to install innovative bike-sharing programs that offer a great advantage for those who prefer to check the city by biking than by driving.   Looks like the “sharing” trend is only going to intensity in the years ahead given the state of our poor economies and shrinking wallets! the societal, ecological and environmental benefits resulting from such sharing schemes are definitely a big plus for many more cities to consider implementing such schemes for car as well as bikes.   After all didn’t we  already know the saying  “Sharing is Caring”.

Click here to read the entire article.

[polldaddy poll=3731727]

Related articles by Zemanta

• Car-sharing: Wheels when you need them (economist.com)
• Zipcar to launch car-sharing service for under-21 drivers (green.autoblog.com)
• Zipcar IPO Update: Lawsuit Dismissed, Streetcar Still on Hold (earth2tech.com)
• Streetcar Acquisition Referred to Competition Commission (prnewswire.com)
• Zipcar Expands Harvard Cars Sharing Program (abcnews.go.com)
• Car-sharing becomes big business (theglobeandmail.com)
• City working to make car-sharing more popular (sfgate.com)

Monday, September 6, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Tech Fixes to Wind Turbine-Radar Conflict Face Hurdles

Link to CNET News column:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20015611-54.html

ELECTRONIC TOLLING

2) Atlantic City Expressway May Require E-ZPass

Link to story and video on WTXF-TV:

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/ac-expressway-may-require-e-zpass

GPS / NAVIGATION

3) Pay-as-You-Drive Meter Poised to Enter Market

Link to article in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/article/856900–pay-as-you-drive-meter-poised-to-enter-market

OTHER

4) English: Is a Car Crash an Accident?

Link to column in the Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/article/856651–english-is-a-car-crash-an-accident

5) Traffic Technology International August/September Issue Online

Link to magazine:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e8eddeaa

SAFETY / SECURITY

6) Cameras and GPS to Track Detroit School Buses

Link to article in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100904/NEWS01/9040314/1003/news01/Cameras-and-GPS-to-track-Detroit-school-buses

7) US on High Alert – But Do Travelers Really Care?

Link to article in the Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100906/NEWS05/9060334/U-S-on-high-alert-but-do-travelers-really-care-

8) Clever Crosswalk Squashes Jaywalking, by Making It Legal

Link to article on Co.Design:

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1662244/clever-crosswalk-squashes-jaywalking-by-making-it-legal

TRANSIT

9) UK’s Transport Minister Signals Way Ahead for National Transport Card

Link to article in Railnews:

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2010/09/06-baker-signals-way-ahead-for.html

10) Altered Movie Poster Puts the Spotlight on a San Francisco Agency’s Gun Ban

Link to article in The New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/us/06guns.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Michigan to Install New System on I-94 that Warns of Traffic Problems, Poor Road Conditions

Link to article in the Kalamazoo Gazette:

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/09/michigan_to_install_new_system.html

12) Delhi Traffic Police and Business Organizations Team to Provide Traffic Alerts

Link to article in the Hindustan Times:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/BPOs-police-to-provide-traffic-alerts-to-staff/Article1-596574.aspx

13) The Jam Busters: Can Maths Keep Us Moving?

Can the calculations of mathematicians and engineers keep us moving?

Link to article in The Independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-jam-busters-can-maths-keep-us-moving-2071152.html

VEHICLES

14) Texas Specialty License Plate Vendor Defends Its Designs

Link to article in The Dallas Morning News:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-xgrplates_04tex.ART.State.Edition1.3615aa7.html

News Releases

1) Sensys Networks, Inc. Ranked 80^th Fastest Growing Private US Company on 2010 Inc. Magazine 500/5000 List

Upcoming Events

International Road Federation North America Regional Congress – October 3-6 – New York

http://www.irfnews.org/news-events/event-detail/north-america-regional-congress-narc/

Today in Transportation History

1985 **25^th anniversary** Midwest Express Flight 106 crashed in Milwaukee.  All 31 aboard died.

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1987/AAR8701.htm

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

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

Friday, September 3, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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GPS / NAVIGATION

1) Smartphone Guide to Put Dublin on the Map

Link to article in The Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2010/0903/1224278109942.html

OTHER

2) The Smart Growth Set

How 32-year-old Google veteran David Alpert — and his band of bloggers — are shaping 21^st Century Washington, DC.

Link to article in the Washington City Paper:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39679/how-32-year-old-google-veteran-david-alpert-and-his

3) In a Crash? Don’t Panic

A review of an app which includes an accident assistance tool as well as parking, public transit and live traffic information for Singapore.

Link to article in Today:

http://www.todayonline.com/Tech/Mobileapps/EDC100903-0000041/In-a-crash?-Dont-panic

PUBLIC INFORMATION / EDUCATION

4) Brutal Video Aimed at Saving Lives in Construction Zones

Link to article in The Vancouver Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Brutal+video+aimed+saving+lives+construction+zones/3477363/story.html

Link to further information and video:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Video+woman+being+used+shock+drivers+into+slowing+down/3475704/story.html

5) Nevada DMV to Warn Motorists About Pet Laws

Link to AP article:

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100902/NEWS/100902050/1321/news

RAILROADS

6) New Device Installed on Indian Trains to Prevent Accidents

Link to article in The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/New-device-installed-on-trains-to-prevent-accidents/articleshow/6477250.cms

ROADWAYS

7) I-81 Session May Mull Transportation, Bring Six States Together

Link to article in The Roanoke Times:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/259137

TRANSIT

8) Augmented Reality Coming to DC Bus Stops Today

Link to blog on ReadWriteWeb:

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/qr_codes_coming_to_bus_stops_in_dc_photo.php

9) Los Angeles Transit Officials Release Free iPhone App

Link to article in the Los Angeles Times:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/la-metro-iphone-app.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

10) Traffic Center to be Indonesian Government’s Eyes and Ears for Idul Fitri

Link to article in the Jakarta Globe:

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/traffic-center-to-be-govts-eyes-and-ears-for-idul-fitri/394514

11) Monterey Bay-Area 511 Traffic System Moves Forward

Link to article in The Californian:

http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20100903/NEWS01/9030340/Monterey-Bay-area-511-traffic-system-moves-forward

Link to further information: http://511montereybay.org/

12) Early in the Morning

Local TV stations across the US are embracing the 4:30 am newscast with traffic updates a part of the package.

Link to article in the American Journalism Review:

http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4912

13) BBC to Revamp Travel News Site with Added Mapping

Link to article on journalism.co.uk:

http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/09/03/bbc-to-revamp-travel-news-site-with-added-mapping/

Link to further information from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelbeta/birmingham/faq/

14) How Technology Can Help Beat Traffic Woes

Link to article on Rediff:

http://business.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/03/slide-show-1-how-technology-can-help-beat-traffic-woes.htm

15) Why We Can’t Hear Highway Radio Alerts

Link to column in The Record:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/102129839_Pump_up_the_volume_on_traffic_alert_system.html

VEHICLES

16) Taking Over a Car

Researchers ‘break in’ with software and a laptop.

Link to article in Technology Review:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/26045/?a=f

17) In-Vehicle Internet Grows Slow and Steady

Link to blog in EE Times:

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-blogs/other/4207309/In-vehicle-Internet-grows-slow-and-steady

News Releases

1) US Surface Transportation Board to Include a ‘Plain Language’ Summary with Board Decisions

Friday Bonuses

Some interchange designs you may have run into during your travels.

http://xkcd.com/253/

When I’m not involved with transportation communication, I’m doing transportation mastication.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/dining/index.ssf/2010/09/munchmobile_2010_readers_choic.html

Upcoming Events

Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council Meeting – September 22-23 – New York

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=a386d1d2-341f-4038-b707-4b37c22eaee0

Today in Transportation History

1945 **65^th anniversary** In a ceremony onboard the USS Missouri, Japan surrenders to end World War II.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm

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

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

Thursday, September 2, 2010 – ISSN 1529-1057

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AVIATION

1) Tampa Airport Director Interviews Closed to Public

Link to article in The Tampa Tribune:

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/sep/02/interviews-for-tampa-airport-director-will-be-clos/news-breaking/

2) Going Paperless: Tech-Savvy Air Travelers on Board

Link to story on MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38940640/ns/travel-travel_tips/

RAILROADS

3) Amtrak is All Aboard with Electronic Ticketing in 2011

Link to interview on Elliott.org:

http://www.elliott.org/blog/amtrak-is-all-aboard-with-electronic-ticketing-in-2011/

ROADWAYS

4) Motorists Struggle with 59 Traffic Lights at One Roundabout

Link to article in The Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7977421/Motorists-struggle-with-59-traffic-lights-at-one-roundabout.html

SAFETY / SECURITY

5) Agencies Use Old and New Tech to Monitor, Prepare for Hurricane Earl

Link to article on Nextgov:

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100831_2000.php

6) Driving a Message Home with an Optical Illusion

Link to article in The Globe and Mail:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/driving-a-message-home-with-an-optical-illusion/article1693547/

7) Indian Government to Roll Out a Single Emergency Number

Link to article in The Economic Times:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Government-to-roll-out-a-single-emergency-number/articleshow/6482372.cms

8) Five Ways to Use Social Media for Better Emergency Response

Link to article in Government Computer News:

http://gcn.com/articles/2010/09/06/social-media-emergency-management.aspx

TRANSIT

9) NJ Transit Seeks to Add Wi-Fi to Rail Lines, Train Stations

Link to article in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100902_NJ_Transit_seeks_to_add_WiFi_to_rail_lines__train_stations.html

10) Cat Reunited with Owner via Twitter and CCTV After Transit Ride to Dublin

Link to story and video on RTÉ:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0827/cat.html

TRAVELER INFORMATION / TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

11) Transport Quebec to Launch Traffic Radio Station

Link to CBC News story:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/09/02/transport-quebec-radio-station.html

VEHICLES

12) Sirius XM Plays FUD Card: Satellite Radio 2.0

HD Radio and Internet radio provide competitive pressure, including traffic data services.

Link to blog from Strategy Analytics:

http://blogs.strategyanalytics.com/auto/?p=143

News Releases

1) Real-Time Next Train Arrival Information Now Available by Phone from DC Metro

2) StrongPoint Safeguards the Intelligent Transportation Systems Network

3) Washington State DOT Adds New Tools to Deliver Travel Information

4) Strategy Analytics: Automotive Usage-Based Insurance Opportunity Expanding

5) Leave the Car, Take the Concierge with You: Mercedes-Benz Launches New Version of mbrace Mobile Application

6) Navteq First to Give Navigation a ‘Human Touch’

7) Global Intelligent Transportation Systems Market to Reach US $18.5 Billion by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

8) Integraph Introduces 3D Capabilities in Geospatial Software

9) Aviation Week Launches Unmanned Horizons Web Channel

10) GE – Satcom Reveals Triple-Play Service for Merchant Vessels

Upcoming Events

NG9-1-1 What’s Next Forum and Webinar – September 23-24

http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s100923_NG911.asp

Today in Transportation History

1945 **65^th anniversary** In a ceremony onboard the USS Missouri, Japan surrenders to end World War II.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm

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

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

(Source: ABC)

Why doesn’t these things NEVER happen in my flights? Hmmm..  I am happy for these folks who had a bit of entertainment to cheer up during their long flight and a story to tell when they land. After battling the hassles of baggage check-ins and security checks, these folks probably appreciated this nice musical treat..

Note:  Silly me can’t help but think aloud about these questions: what would the reaction be if these guys were a bunch of middle-eastern musicians wearing traditional robes – how would the airline staff react to such a spontaneous request to play music?  Thank god, KLM staff were not so uptight about letting some musicians to get off their seats and play their gear..