News

A new report from IBISWorld estimates that revenue for the real-time traffic information providers industry will increase at an average annualized rate of 38.9 per cent to US$1.6 billion in the five years to 2016.

IBM Research has teamed with EKZ, the electricity utility provider of the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland, on a new pilot project that will allow consumers to conveniently charge electric vehicles and monitor their energy costs, using mobile devices. This near real-time information will also help utility providers better manage power grid loads during peak charging times, a challenge that is set to grow as more electric vehicles are on the road. The pilot is using onboard devices fitted in several vehicl

Kapsch Group has signalled major expansion in Romania with the opening of a new, larger branch office, plans to increase the number of employees, and estimated incomes of more than US$20million by 2015.

The organisers of the 14th Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australia (REAAA) being held from 26-28 March, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, have issued a call for papers from local and international authors, with a deadline for abstracts of 1 June, 2012. The theme of the event (www.14reaaaconf2013.com) is “The road factor in economic transformation” and as the organisers point out, roads are the arteries of a nation facilitating the transportation of the required synergy for economic transformation.

Capita Symonds and Telent Technology Services have announced the launch of a new traffic technology services partnership which has been awarded a framework agreement by the UK government procurement service in all 11 lots of the new traffic management technology framework. The new framework has been created to allow customers to efficiently and cost-effectively procure a wide range of traffic management solutions, services and products. Capita Symonds and Telent says they were the only bidders to be success

Gatso and the Traffic Enforcement Team of the National Public Prosecutor’s Office have signed a contract for a new section control system on one of the directions of the A2 highway in the Netherlands. According to Willebrord Freijsen, the team's director, director, the order was assigned to Gatso following a European tender procedure in which the company realised an excellent score.

The Nepalese authorities closed the incomplete third phase section of the BP highway to traffic following two fatal accidents recently. In all 58 people were killed in the two accidents on the Khurkot-Nepalthok stretch of the BP highway route, although construction work on the stretch has yet to be completed. So far 123km of the 158km route has been built by a Japanese contractor and these three stretches of the road have been opened to traffic. Of the remaining 37km being built, some 14km should be complet

Fresh talks are due to take place in January in a bid to kick-start the stalled Cork-Limerick motorway project in Ireland. Cork County Council (CCC) engineer Noel O'Keeffe will meet Leo Varadkar, the Transport Minister, and the National Roads Authority, to find a way forward for the €800million (US$1.04billion) scheme. The 80km motorway cost CCC €19.5million (US$25.42million) to design before it was recently shelved by the NRA due to the lack of funds.

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has named Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) as the recipient of a 2011 Tekne Award which honours companies and individuals who have played a significant role in developing new technologies that positively impact the lives and futures of people living around the world.

Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge (QC) network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge. These new points will boost existing networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car.

Solel Boneh International (SB) has won a US$210million contract to build a 2.1km bridge over Benue River in Nigeria. Besides the bridge, the Israeli company will also build 22km of access roads for a four-lane dual carriageway in the eastern part of the West African country. The project is expected to take three years to complete. Solel Boneh is the overseas contracting arm of Shikun u'Binui Holdings.

A new four-lane highway will boost connectivity in the Astana-Petropavlovsk-Kurgan region. The project is due for completion in 2014. Kazakhstan will allot $1.21 billion for the project, which will improve transport links with neighbouring Russia and boost trade between the two countries.

Nepal's Department of Roads is now analysing traffic data based on research work into congestion carried out by consultants. Two local consulting firms were appointed to carry out a study of flyovers, underpasses and ramps in congested areas.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has awarded TransCore a US$3.3 million contract to replace its existing traffic management software system and integrate the company's TransSuite traffic management software into the Gateway Guide programme, a system designed to relieve congestion and improve safety in the St. Louis area, the state’s largest city. With an existing TransSuite deployment in Kansas City, MoDOT looked to TransCore to bring its products to bear in their largest urban area. A detail

A two-year US$150million feasibility study has begun into plans to build a 33km bridge in Indonesia. Project planner Wiratman & Associates will co-operate with Streto di Messina of Italy during the study of the US$291.2million Sunda Strait bridge project, managed and funded by the Banten-Lampung consortium and Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia.