via YPTransportation.org

SAFE is looking to hire someone to lead their transportation initiatives. This position will cover all of their work on advanced transportation technologies and alternative fuels, automotive efficiency, and emerging innovations like autonomous vehicles. The job consists of research and analysis on industry trends, public policy development, some outreach, and support of their deployment community projects in Orlando and Northern Colorado. The job description is here: SAFE – Policy Lead Transportation.

SAFE is looking for a proactive person with strong writing and analytical skills. They are thinking young and hungry, but are open to all types. It really is a critical hire for the organization.

via PTV

Did you know that for every 1km/h reduction in average speed, there is a 2% reduction in the number of crashes? With the growing population of humans and vehicles globally, the safety of road users is becoming more and more important.  The 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths is ~1.24 million per year. Only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints.  What’s more scary is the fact that this number is going to rise sharply – 1.9 million fatalities /year by 2020 if we don’t take any action.

So,  how do we achieve a better safety record for the rest of the 93% global population?  How do we build communities where every one can access the transportation infrastructure safely? One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of crashes is by reducing the speed of vehicles, which can have immediate and direct impact on the number of crashes according to this infograph from PTV.  If you want to learn more about road safety, download PTV’s free white paper and register to participate in webinars on this topic in early September. 

Image Courtesy: PTV Group Traffic Inside

The Clean Air Asia India Office calls for applications from young, dynamic candidates as Project Assistant/Researchers to be based in Nepal (Clean Air Network Nepal) and Hong Kong (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) under the Fredkorpset Norway South- South exchange program. The duration is for twelve months starting from 1st November 2014.

Please see enclosed Terms of Reference or refer to link http://cleanairinitiative.org/portal/opportunities.

Eligibility Requirements

• A university (bachelor) or a masters degree in a course related to transport, environment fields, mass communication or social science e.g. environmental engineering, environmental sciences, urban planning, transport,*
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in a comparable position on transport and/or climate change project management and networking.*
• Strong interest in research and data analysis.
• Ability to communicate effectively with excellent oral and written communication skills, proficient in English, with good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team
• Age requirement: 22-35 years old
• Open to Indian Nationals only

* Requirements for both the position are different. Please refer to the attached ToRs before applying.

Quoting reference application Research/ Project Assistant-Hong Kong or Research/ Project Assistant-Nepal on subject line, applicants should email their application letter and current CV (as Word attachments) to Ms. Gianina Panopio, center@cleanairasia.org, by27 August 2014.

All applicants should state the reasons for their interest in the position, relevant details of qualifications and experience, and contact details for three referees. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. For further information on the position you may contact Parthaa Bosu,parthaa.bosu@cleanairasia.org

Someone shared this incredible slideshow (with commentary )of the Antonov An-22 Mriya, the largest plane ever built.  Stunning to say the least.

A few nuggets of data from the slideshow:

• It takes a crew of 6 people to fly this plane.
• Wingspan: 88 meters (290 feet) Length: 84 meters (275 feet)
• 32 wheels supporting a maximum take-off weight of 640 tonnes (1,411,000 pounds).
• hold up to 300 000 kg of jet fuel; about 98,000 gallons (apparently, the cargo hold is longer than the Wright Brother’s first flight!)

Pretty crazy numbers.  Anyways, enjoy the slide show below.

And here is a video of the plane taking off at the Zurich airport.  To see this beast of a plane gliding in the air is a sight to behold.

Related articles

• Pictured: World’s biggest plane, the Antonov 225, touches down at Manchester Airport
• The World’s Largest Plane Was Just In Minneapolis And Is Ginormous
• World’s Largest Plane Set to Depart from MSP Wednesday
• The World’s Largest Cargo Plane Can Swallow a 737 Whole
• The Largest Plane In the World: An 225

via Visual.ly

Infographs are always a nice way to tell a story visually and this one below gets adopts that visual story telling to explain the complex societal impacts that are in the offing as the auto & tech heavy-weights like Google are vying to bring their self-driving technology to the mass market.. Imagine a world with no crashes, no traffic lights and no parking?  Mind boggling stuff for today’s drivers but that future doesn’t seem too distant anymore.. Though I think  Level 4 automation (i.e.,  completely autonomous) is at least a decade away, anyone would get excited about the prospect of not waiting for a light to turn green (or for that matter to not drivearound in circles looking for parking)…

The Amazing Ways The Google Car Will Change the World

via WSJ

And an interesting infograph accompanying the WSJ article that succinctly captures the details of this street fight:

Image Courtesy: WSJ

via WSJ

Today’s Wall Street Journal has an interesting piece that covers the various efforts underway in the world of autonomous vehicles (aka driverless cars i lay people speak) and how manufacturers are working with legislators to introduce their products to the tech-hungry driving public at least in a few states across the  country.. here is a video that accompanies that article.

What caught me by surprise is the sheer volume of activity and how certain people are that they will see autonomous vehicles on the roads in just a few short years.. As much as I would like to believe, full automation (Level 4) is still a decade away and we still have a lot of hurdles on the technology, policy and infrastructure side.  As one of the interviewed researchers points out, there are many concerns that dog this challenge incl. the high cost of laser vision, the risk that radar and camera sensors won’t see properly in bad weather, and complex legal issues raised by giving control to a robot. Let’s hope we overcome these hurdles soon because we, as a society, are paying a heavy price in terms of human lives and hard earned treasure as we continue to drive with manual control (~33K people killed on American roads during 2012).

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here to register.

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2014
Time: 11:00 AM PT | 2:00 PM ET

Join Governing and ITS America Thursday, Aug. 14 at 2:00 p.m. EST for a state and local government market briefing webinar to learn what and where the biggest transportation infrastructure opportunities are; the outlook for the intelligent infrastructure market — from autonomous vehicles and connected cars to “cities on sensors,” smart traffic, parking and emergency response opportunities; the latest on the federal highway trust fund stopgap measures and what it means for states; and how to keep up with new opportunities as soon as they happen and grow your state and local business

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• What and where the biggest transportation infrastructure opportunities are for companies
• How new transportation funding models are spurring growth
• The outlook for the intelligent infrastructure market—from autonomous vehicles and connected cars to “cities on sensors,” smart traffic, parking and emergency response opportunities
• The latest on the federal highway trust fund stopgap measures and what it means for states
• How to keep up with new opportunities as soon as they happen and grow your state and local business

This webinar will help you map your state and local strategy for the year ahead, so join us August 14 and bring your questions for our market experts.

SPEAKERS:
Marina Leight
Associate Publisher
Transportation Infrastructure, Governing
Joseph Morris
Director of Market Intelligence
Governing Institute

Scott Belcher
President and CEO
ITS America

For questions or more information, contact:
Anne Dunlap-Kahren
916-932-1488
adunlap-kahren@governing.com

Click here to register for the webinar.

Related articles

• The Future of Car Technology
• Mercedes-Benz presents autonomous Future Truck 2025 research vehicle; “Highway Pilot”
• Mercedes Future Truck 2025 Is A Self Driving Truck
• Belle Isle traffic to go high-tech for transport conference