Indra to develop smart traffic management projects in Algeria

Indra and SICE, two Spanish technology companies, have become part of a public-private partnership that will execute various projects in Algeria with the overall objective to modernise the country’s traffic management and urban lighting systems.

As part of this partnership, a public-private joint venture, called Mobeal, has been created in which the Algerian public companies EGCTU and ERMA hold equal shares of 51%, while the Spanish companies will hold equal shares of 49%.

Through this JV, Indra will execute projects for installing traffic lights, smart management systems and remote management of lighting in the cities of Algeria.

Road improvement scheme in North Lincolnshire to create up to 4,000 jobs by 2028

A road improvement scheme worth £13.3m in North Lincolnshire secured approval, which will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs and homes in the region.

The M181 Lincolnshire Lakes project will lead to the creation of over 6,000 new homes and up to 4,000 jobs by 2028, with up to 1,500 homes and 1,500 jobs estimated by 2021.

Out of the £13.3m, Highways England’s Growth and Housing Fund will provide £8.6m while the remaining amount will come from North Lincolnshire Council.

UK TRL joins CSAIL Alliance Programme to develop research initiatives for future transport needs

UK Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) joined Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) Alliance Programme to enhance its knowledge on artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics in the transport sector.

TRL will be joining the CSAIL Alliance Programme, along with other organisations such as BAE Systems, Intel, BT, Google and Apple.

The CSAIL programme provides intelligence on advanced technology, and by joining CSAIL, TRL will be able to access the largest research laboratory facility at MIT.

Jenoptik secures contract from Western Australia Police for traffic monitoring systems

Jenoptik Traffic Solutions secured a contract from the Western Australia Police (WAPOL) for the delivery, installation, maintenance and in part, operation of an initial 81 traffic monitoring systems.

The contract is for a period of seven years, with a scope for extension for another four years for additional camera systems.

The order value for these 81 systems including service for the first seven years is AUD28m (approximately €20m). The company anticipates the volume could increase to AUD60m (approximately €40m).

European Commission unveils low-emission mobility strategy

The European Commission unveiled a strategy on low-emission mobility, paving the way for the development of EU-wide measures on low and zero-emission vehicles and alternative low-emissions fuels.

This strategy lays down guiding principles to member states so that they are well equipped to respond to the increasing mobility needs of people and goods in the future.

EU Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said: “Transport accounts for a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and is a main cause of air pollution.

USDOT grants $484m to 40 projects under TIGER programme

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has given a total of $484m in grants to 40 projects through the eighth round of its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programme.

The new group of winners to receive the grants were selected following a tough competition. DOT received 585 applications seeking over $9.3bn.

Of the $484m, the DOT awarded $193m to applicants of highway and bridge projects, $97m for pedestrian and bicycle paths, $93m for transit projects, $54m for maritime infrastructure and $47m to freight and passenger rail projects, reported Engineering News-Record.

CCAV and Innovate UK to provide £35m for innovative autonomous vehicle technologies

The Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Innovate UK have invited businesses to apply for innovation project funding of up to £35m, as part of an initiative to encourage research and development of new connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.

Companies and organisations seeking to leverage the funding have to develop new technical solutions for connected and autonomous vehicles.

The technical solution developed by participants should provide real-world benefits to users.

Audi to launch cars with V2I technology

Audi of America and Traffic Technology Services (TTS) is launching the first V2I technology, called Traffic Light Information on select 2017 Audi Q7, A4 and A4 all-road models this year.

An Audi connect PRIME feature, Traffic Light Information allows the car to communicate with the infrastructure in select cities and metropolitan areas across the US.

Through an advanced traffic management system, which monitors traffic lights, the vehicle can receive real-time signal information.

Uber to launch self-driving cars in Pittsburgh

Uber, an American multinational online transportation network company, plans to deploy self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The ride-sharing firm stated that it has teamed up with Volvo, a Swedish multinational automobile manufacturing company.

A spokeswoman for the firm told the BBC: “Starting later this month, Uber will allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon self-driving cars from their phones, crossing an important milestone that no automotive or technology company has yet achieved.

BLIP Systems sensors deployed in Bangkok to ease traffic congestion

Thailand’s Department of Highways (DOH) is experimenting with a bluetooth-based monitoring system that will offer real-time traffic information to its engineers, which will ultimately allow road users to avoid congestion in Bangkok.

Bangkok has some of the worst traffic congestion points in the world, especially during holiday seasons.

BlipTrack sensors were placed at strategic points along the roads. These sensors, covering around a 600km section of highway in and around Bangkok, detect bluetooth or wi-fi devices found in mobile phones and in-car audio and communication systems.