Australia
ITSAustralia and Intelematics have published a white paper on the implementation of the technology eCall
Traffic Technology Today 02.09.2021
The Australian connected car technology company Intelematics and ITS Australia, a leading manufacturer of advanced transportation technologies, have called on the government to introduce mandatory electronic safety technology for all new Australian cars to reduce and prevent future accidents.
In a published white paper entitled "Reducing Emergency Response Times in Road Accidents," Intelematics describes how the mandatory eCall safety technology can save up to 200 lives in Australia each year.
"The task of eCall technology can reduce the number of deaths on the roads and is a significant contribution to achieving the goals set by the government of the country in the National Road Safety Strategy," says Nick Marks, Director of Intelematics.
Susan Harris, CEO of ITS Australia, notes: "European new car buyers now have the safety benefits of eCall, while the low level of technology adoption in Australia means we are missing out on this opportunity to protect road users and build a safer transport network."
eCall is a system that allows a car to automatically call for help in the event of an accident, even if passengers are unconscious or unable to leave the vehicle. Using geolocation sensors and car sensors, trained personnel can determine the location of the vehicle, the speed and direction of movement, as well as the number of seat belts involved in a collision.In 2018, the European Union demanded that all new cars
sold in Europe, were compatible with eCall. In Australia, Toyota is leading the way, which has implemented eCall technology in some of its new models since the end of 2020.
In Australia, over the past 12 months, there have been about 1,100 deaths and about 40,000 serious injuries as a result of road accidents. The bipartisan National Road Safety Strategy for 2021-2030 aims for a 50 percent reduction in deaths and a 30 percent reduction in serious injuries by 2030.The Intelematics white paper outlines a seven-point plan for the introduction of eCall in Australia, including the modernization and application of eCall for both commercial and consumer vehicles.
Andy Rook, vice president of the British security organization APCO, who advised European member states on the deployment of eCall, noted: "Europe has become a leader in the deployment and implementation of eCall. Australia can benefit from three years of active deployment of eCall in Europe by learning the lessons and experience of its deployment and improving existing processes and technologies. "
United Kingdom
Egis has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract to help create the largest clean air zone in the UK
Traffic Technology Today 02.09.2021
The Egis-led team will consist of key supply chain partners Yunex Traffic (new name Siemens ITS) and Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions.
Egis has signed a groundbreaking contract to create and operate a comprehensive service for the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) program over the next five years. This should comply with the government instruction on the introduction of a Class C clean air zone, which includes charging for vehicles of all types that do not meet environmental safety requirements.
CAZ is expected to be launched on May 30, 2022 and will operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day. It will be provided by a network of ALPR cameras supplied by Yunex Traffic.
The goal of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone is to ensure compliance with the statutory limits on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on local roads as soon as possible and no later than 2024 by: reducing the use of non-compliant vehicles with high emissions; changing the behavior of users of the transport network; and encouraging the transition to more environmentally friendly cars. As part of this project, Egis will be responsible for the successful installation and provision of the following key aspects of the service, including the installation and maintenance of about 900 ALPR cameras, a public CAZ service for processing payments, discounts, benefits and financial reconciliation with any Penalty Notices (PCN) that are issued to non-payers of fees. City councillor Andrew Western, leader of Greater Manchester, says: "We, as an urban region, strive to combat air pollution, which is the biggest environmental public health problem and leads to approximately 1,200 deaths in Greater Manchester every year. That's why we have developed a Clean Air Plan that not only helps us meet government requirements to prevent air pollution with nitrogen dioxide, but also provides significant health benefits to our residents and financial support for those businesses, individuals and organizations that need to upgrade their vehicles to meet the requirements."The CAZ test period will last four months from February to May 2022. It is expected that the clean air zone will be put into operation at the end of May 2022. The term of the contract will be five and a half years with the possibility of extension for another three years.
Building on this success and the work already underway in different regions from Amsterdam to Paris, Egis aims to expand its services in this area in more than 50 cities in Europe and in many other countries around the world.
Iteris introduces a new sensor based on artificial intelligence for intelligent intersections
Traffic Technology Today 02.09.2021
Iteris, a provider of intelligent mobile infrastructure management systems, has announced the launch of its new 1080p HD video and 4D radar with built-in artificial intelligence algorithms - the first of its kind, according to the company.
The sensor, called Vantage Apex, identifies objects using the Iteris AI video analysis program - an extensive library of images, GPU/CPU-based high-performance computing, machine learning and neural network algorithms. This makes it possible to classify many different types of vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, with high accuracy.
Todd Kreter, senior vice president and head of the Iteris high-performance sensor Technology section, said: "With Vantage Apex, transportation agencies now have access to unsurpassed accuracy in detecting and tracking vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists to achieve the goals of improving the safety, mobility and sustainability of complex transportation networks. "
The Vantage Apex hybrid sensor uses industry-leading 4D/HD radar technology with a field of view exceeding 200 meters. The Vantage Apex system provides safety, decision-making, collision avoidance and lane detection functions. The Vantage Apex is ready to be connected to vehicles with the ability to provide critical infrastructure data through vehicle-to-vehicle (V2X) communication and connected automated Vehicles (CAV).
Germany
Autotalks platform uses V2X to improve the safety of two-wheeled vehicles
Traffic Technology Today 02.09.2021
Autotalks has announced the launch of a platform to prevent accidents on bicycles and scooters. The ZooZ platform based on the V2X device will connect micro-mobility with the vehicle safety network, increasing drivers' awareness of bicycles and scooters and helping to prevent accidents.
The company is already negotiating with partners on the production, integration and implementation of the platform. Autotalks is adapting its own V2X solutions to reduce the growth of accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles and will officially present ZooZ on September 7-12 at the IAA Mobility Show (Hall B5, Stand D50) in Munich, Germany.
Autotalks was the first company to create V2X chipsets. These chipsets are now used by leading car manufacturers. In 2018, Autotalks became the first company to offer a global V2X solution combining DSRC and C-V2X communication technologies on a ready-to-deploy chipset. The company is currently working on creating a V2X-based micromobility security network.The ZooZ V2X device is installed on the steering wheel of all types of bicycles and electric scooters. The compact device emits an alarm when a V2X-equipped vehicle threatens a cyclist, and also informs other V2X-equipped vehicles about the cyclist. The device will be integrated into bicycle computers. It reliably warns drivers, even those who do not have a V2X device, about the entry of a bicycle or scooter into an intersection. All road users, including cars, scooters, motorcycles and pedestrians, will be able to exchange information with each other via V2X to form a safety network.
The ZooZ device is expected to handle a wide range of use cases, including scenarios such as blind spot warning, bicycle traffic warning, intersection safety, and group information exchange. The warning signal informs drivers about the presence of vulnerable road users even if they are hidden behind a bend and are not visible due to weather conditions.
The ZooZ smart sign is designed to be installed at intersections. The sign lights up when a bike or scooter with V2X approaches an intersection, and warns all drivers, even those who do not have V2X. It is expected to be inexpensive, easy to install and maintain. The sign does not require line of sight for cyclists.
"The growth in the use of micro-mobility has changed the structure of traffic and led to a sharp increase in the number of accidents," says Onn Haran, founder and technical director of Autotalks. "The share of motorcycles and scooters in the total number of deaths in road accidents is constantly growing. 75% of accidents are caused by the mistake of a driver who does not notice cyclists. V2X is the only automotive communication technology for safety. This is the only technology that can connect bicycles and scooters to vehicles, adding them to the safety net. ZooZ is the future of micromobility safety and the concept of what we expect to see in every bike, scooter and car within five years. We plan to take another step forward and install our technology on all vehicles, two-wheeled vehicles and road infrastructure elements."
USA
The COTA modernization project will benefit the local community while increasing sustainability
Traffic Technology Today 31.08.2021
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has embarked on a project to modernize its main McKinley Avenue transit center. The project will create a more sustainable vehicle fleet, while providing staff training for the surrounding community.
The $65 million renovation of the McKinley Avenue facility will include enhanced electric vehicle charging capabilities, which will simplify the transition to diesel-free vehicles. COTA fulfills its obligations to abandon diesel fuel by 2025, by converting all cars to compressed natural gas and further launching an experimental fleet of electric vehicles."This project is aimed at transformation aimed at improving the quality of life of all people," says COTA President and CEO Joanna M. Pinkerton. "These are ambitious, necessary and achievable goals that will ensure the next generation of employees a healthy region for prosperity."
It is planned that the reconstruction of the McKinley Avenue facility in COTA will be completed in June 2023.