Despite the bold predictions (75% of vehicles on road will be autonomous by 2040!!!), the infographic below visually captures some of the benefits of autonomous vehicles.. 

From: Bankrate Insurance’s InsuranceQuotes.com

via CNET

Ever wondered what happens to a driver behind the wheel of a vehicle traveling at 60mph on a highway when he/she is bombarded with information pouring out from the electronics suite on his/her dashboard?  We all know how distracted driving  can lead to crashes that can kill or main road users and the vehicle occupants.  Today’s driver is constantly enveloped in data about not just the car’s operational elements but also from the infotainment systems that aim to bring to you the latest and greatest information via social media tools such as Twitter, facebook, etc. many argue that these internet-connected drivers (and cars) are often a detriment to driver safety but the truth is far from it.  Auto companies want to make sure that they are not just providing a better driving experience for the driver but also a safer trip while in their vehicles.  Here is an interesting walk and talk through the bowels of Ford’s advanced research facilities with Ford’s CTO Paul Mascarenas that shows what Ford is doing to mitigate the dangers of distracted driving.

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via ITS America

The Program Manager is a mid -level position (to be located in Washington, DC) with day–to-day oversight of our contractual relationships with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and other organizations as well as managing multiple task orders as project manager.  The Program Manager will also be responsible for engaging and acting on behalf of ITS America’s membership and the broader ITS community to help save lives, time, and money and sustain the environment through broad deployment of ITS technologies.

The position will report to the Chief Technology Officer / Vice President of Programs and will support the oversight of a staff of professionals who support the U.S. DOT and other contracts as well as ITS America’s Coordinating Councils and Forums.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Manage ITS America’s contracts with the U.S. DOT and others (50% of the time): Perform duties as the Program Manager on task orders with the U.S. DOT and other projects, including project management, budget tracking, and budget forecasting.  Supervise technical staff that supports the various task orders of the contracts, ensuring all deliverables and milestones are met on time and on budget.  Translate all technical tasks into tangible member benefits, and channel member feedback into a benefit to clients.  Take on management of new contracts with ITS America clients, as appropriate.
2. Provide substantive, technical input to task orders and offer guidance and support (20% of the time) on how best to promote awareness and knowledge transfer on the content and products of task orders to serve the ITS community.
3. Support ITS America’s councils and associated technical, policy, and educational programs (15% of the time):Help carry out member-driven projects by identifying DOT or member funding resources, and supervise subject-matter experts on staff.  Supervise development of educational programs for major events, and work closely with Member Services team in support of membership recruitment and retention, helping grow the society.
4. Support Business Development (15% of the time): Support business development including identifying new opportunities, proposal responses and grant application preparation, cost estimates, and other related activities.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of five years in Project and Program Management positions including budget tracking and budget forecasting in the transportation field, preferably in ITS.
• Experience with managing government contracts, preferably with the U.S. DOT and/or State DOTs.
• Bachelor’s ’s degree is required, preferably in engineering—in a technical area related to transportation, policy, and/or telecommunications.
• Experience in managing 5-10 employees and/or consultants.

Skill Requirements

• Relationship builder – able to work as a team member and provide courteous service to internal and external clients.
• Superior written and oral communications.
• Organized – able to manage multiple projects at the same time and demonstrates a real attention to detail.
• Consistently demonstrate cooperative attitude—assumes responsibility and is flexible in working with others.
• Demonstrates a commitment to follow through; results oriented.
• Initiative – actively engaged in continuous improvement, provides suggestions for improvement, offers solutions to challenges/issues.
• Ability to make dynamic personal presentations to key partners and stakeholders in the ITS community.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated competencies in the Microsoft Office Suite of software products used by ITS America.

To be considered for this opening:

• Include a cover letter with salary requirements.
• Attach resume as either a MS Word document or PDF.
• E-mail cover letter and resume to hr@itsa.org.

via YPT Boston

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An interesting competition announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation encourages college students to design a better way to help consumers make smart decisions when booking their bus travel.  This is what you need to know about the challenge:

• Who: Creative college students with imaginative ideas.
• What: A mobile app or web-accessible tool that presents our safety information in a simple, intuitive way that would help the average person choose the safest bus available.
• When: January 31st, 2013

Here is an embed of the announcement, as seen on USDOT Sec. Ray LaHood’s blog.  Please share widely.

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There are many exciting developments in the world of robotics and here is one from the European Union, funded under the EU’s  7th Framework Programme.  The video below shows how a drone can take over command and control responsibilities of a swarm on the ground, without any external communication channels like GPS (i.e., Spatially Targeted Communication and Self-Assembly).  Some of the example applications shown here are cool, i.e, moving chairs, bringing snacks to a guy watching TV, pushing the water container, etc.  But this one has far more devastating implications when deployed for the military in remote battlefields.

Positions available in both Richmond, VA and Northern Virginia area.

• Degree in a transportation related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in surface transportation systems or traffic engineering.
• Responsible for supervising the day to day operations activities of a TOC to include control room operations and the Safety Service Patrol
• Has experience with transportation specific field hardware and their interface with control software and equipment.
• Possesses a thorough knowledge of Intelligent Transportation Systems

If you are interested, please e-mail your resume: Transportgooru@gmail.com

ITS America is looking for a dynamic leader to be our new Communications Director and we wanted to reach out and see if you know of any qualified candidates who may be interested in applying.  Among other responsibilities, the Communications Director manages ITS America’s outreach to mainstream and trade media; serves as media spokesperson and functions as communications liaison to ITS America’s staff, state chapters and 400+ member companies and organizations; researches, writes and edits articles, press releases, online content and other promotional materials; and assists with the planning and promotion of meetings and events for the transportation industry, news media, policymakers and other key audiences.  Candidates should have at least 4-5 years of relevant experience, plus exceptional writing skills and attention to detail.  The position description is online at http://www.itsa.org/aboutus/itsamericapositionopenings, and candidates can submit their resume and writing samples to pfeenstra@itsa.org.

(via ABC News on YouTube)

You can steal but you can’t hide! Stupid thieves never realize that these days they can be easily tracked down after stealing a digital device. That’s exactly what happened in this case. ABC NEws did an investigation into this allegation that TSA staff are swindling gadgets and other valuables at 10 airports and found out that 9 out of time times their valuables (incl. money and iPads) made it back.  Except at that one airport – Orlando, FL. Too bad the crooked staffer who stole the iPad didn’t realize that he was caught handling it on the surveillance system at the airport.  To make it worse, ABC staff turned on the “Find my iPad” app that does exactly that – homes in on an iPad device – and ended at the front door of this TSA employee’s house.  Too bad for him! His face after getting caught is one that he will never want to see ever in his life!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLxsLbl16IM&hd=1′]

Note: It is worth adding this bit – TSA says 381 of its officers have been let go for alleged thefts.  For more on this story, click here.

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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has an exceptional opportunity for a proven professional as the Division Administrator for Operations and Security. This position offers the challenges and rewards of building, directing and overseeing the statewide operations and Security Division within VDOT. 

The selected individual will manage policy, process, program direction and support to regions and other VDOT Divisions such as Statewide Incident Management, Regional Smart Traffic Operations, Emergency Operations, Operations Management Systems, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and real-time Traveler Information & Services. You will evaluate division functional program areas and staffing needs, recommend and implement desired changes. Provide strategic leadership and oversight to the activities of the Operations and Security Division and ensure alignment with overall agency goals and performance measures. Responsible for overall leadership in the program areas of Intelligent Transportation Systems, operability of Smart Traffic Centers, and various file operations and services in conjunction with the regions and critical infrastructure and Homeland Security implementation and data integration for traveler information, Incident Management, and Safety Service Patrol.

For complete details to apply, click on this link .

Related articles

• Job Alert: Program Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office @ USDOT – Washington, DC(transportgooru.com)

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