Belgium
New intelligent real-time parking system in the city of Ghent
Traffic Technology Today 01.12.2021
By mid-2022, the city of Ghent, Belgium, will introduce a new dynamic traffic management system. The system will inform drivers in real time about the current situation in parking lots, their occupancy, serious traffic disruptions and much more.
A consortium led by Jacops, a company specializing in the installation of intelligent transport infrastructure, will be involved in the implementation of the project. In addition to Jacops, the consortium includes Be-Mobile, a leader in intelligent traffic solutions, and Q-lite, a Belgian manufacturer of LED displays.
As part of the project, the city of Ghent will replace the existing digital information displays showing the fullness of parking lots. By the second half of 2022, new color LED displays will be installed at 50 locations, offering the ability to exchange additional real-time information about traffic, road works, or travel time.
In addition to replacing the physical signs, a new central control system will be created that controls the displays according to the current traffic situation.
Jacops uses Be-Mobile software for a new management system that integrates various areas such as parking and traffic management.
The most up-to-date information about parking and traffic is automatically distributed to road users or other interested parties through digital LED screens from the Belgian manufacturer Q-lite. The information on the new displays will be available via open data so that parking apps and route planners can incorporate it into their platforms.
With this project, the city of Ghent will be able to meet both current and future needs in the field of traffic management and analysis. Drivers are guided by new LED displays to the most suitable parking lot based on current information about its occupancy and travel time.
The total investment in this new traffic management system, including maintenance and all software development, is 2.7 million euros. https://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news/smart-parking/new-real-time-smart-parking-system-for-ghent-belgium.html
United Kingdom
Osprey Charging has opened the UK's first charging center for electric vehicles using Kempower technology
Traffic Technology Today 01.12.2021
The UK's first dynamic electric vehicle charging center has opened in Wolverhampton. It is the first of more than 150 charging centres that Osprey Charging will install across the UK as part of a £75 million programme aimed at addressing concerns about charging infrastructure ahead of a ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2030.
The Osprey Center in Wolverhampton is the first in the UK to use a revolutionary new technology - Kempower, which allows you to place several powerful chargers on one site with more seats than ever before.
Kempower chargers are able to optimize the charging of multiple vehicles when multiple electric vehicles are connected. They allow you to distribute power depending on the need, which varies significantly between individual cars due to the maximum charging speed of each model and the current battery charge.
This can significantly reduce the waiting time, maximize the speed and availability of chargers for drivers, as well as increase the attendance of centers.
This technology also means that network connections can be optimized and provide higher charging speeds without the need to increase network power. The physical footprint of each charger is also reduced by 74%, allowing more chargers to be placed, increasing their accessibility and reducing the visual impact on the landscape.
1,500 Osprey fast charging centers with a capacity of 150-175 kW will be installed over the next four years. Each center will include up to 12 high-power chargers.
Tests of an autonomous passenger shuttle have begun in Oxfordshire
Intelligent Transport Magazine 01.12.2021
Tests of the new autonomous shuttle will help demonstrate the potential of unmanned vehicles to operate in real conditions, which will be a step towards wider use of this technology in the UK.
On November 29, 2021, British Science Minister George Freeman announced that tests of a fully autonomous passenger shuttle had begun on UK roads.
The tests are being conducted at Darwin Innovation Group with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency. The autonomous shuttle will transport passengers around the science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire, home to some of the UK's largest innovation companies and research organizations.
The shuttle, created by Navya, uses LiDAR sensors, cameras and ultrasonic sensors to safely bypass any obstacles. It is also equipped with satellite navigation (GNSS) for location determination. There is no steering wheel, but there are safety elements that the on-board operator will control throughout the test.
Darwin will track the location of the shuttle and collect information about its operation during movement. Telematics data will be transmitted from the shuttle in real time using Hispasat satellite communication channels and 4G and 5G O2 networks.
The use of satellite communication is of great importance. In previous tests, autonomous vehicles relied on ground-based
Wi-Fi to stay connected. Using satellites in addition to 4G and 5G, autonomous vehicles can operate even in rural or remote areas that do not yet have full terrestrial Wi-Fi coverage.
Science Minister George Freeman said: "Autonomous vehicle technologies are widely used in key industries, and the UK is striving to become a leader in their implementation, as well as in technological innovation. "
This shuttle will help demonstrate the potential of unmanned vehicles to operate in real-world conditions, which will be a step towards wider use of this technology in the UK. Similar Navya shuttles were used in urban conditions in Switzerland and safely transported tens of thousands of passengers.
The battery-powered shuttle shows that future public transport can be environmentally friendly and autonomous. The ability to carry zero-carbon passengers, if implemented on a larger scale, could help the UK achieve its emissions targets.
In addition to Darwin, Navya, ESA and the UK Space Agency, a number of organizations have supported the new shuttle transportation service. Mobile operator O2 and satellite operator Hispasat have helped Darwin with connectivity research, and the shuttle will use their networks while traveling around the university campus. O2 also provides Darwin with additional investments as well as patent development. The Harwell Science Campus and STFC provide hosting services, and AWS provides storage for data produced by the shuttle.
The shuttle is insured by Aviva, which will use the data to better understand the emerging mobility market. With this information, Aviva will be able to create innovative insurance products to serve this rapidly changing market, including autonomous vehicles and related technologies.
USA
Iteris received a $1.4 million order to support intelligent mobility in Florida
Traffic Technology Today 03.12.2021
Iteris has received a $1.4 million work order from Metric Engineering as part of the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) Regional Intelligent Mobility, Safety and Sustainability Program.
The FDOT Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) program aims to ensure the accuracy of travel time, reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, while improving safety and mobility, as well as comfort for all road users, including drivers of cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
By reducing traffic jams and stops on the main corridors for light and heavy vehicles, the project will help reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption, which, in turn, will contribute to a sustainable improvement in environmental conditions and air quality.
Under the terms of a five-year subcontract agreement with Metric Engineering, Iteris will become the lead highway consultant at the regional traffic control center, and will also manage the signal synchronization program together with three other companies.
Jeff Gerken, Regional Vice President of Iteris Consulting Solutions, notes, "This initiative represents a continuous expansion of Iteris' specialized consulting services in Florida and will ultimately help increase the value, efficiency and sustainability of the region's existing transportation infrastructure, as well as improve air quality and reduce fuel consumption."
Environmental achievements of individual mobility devices
Intelligent Transport Magazine 03.12.2021
According to the calculations of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2021, trips on electric scooters Bird reduced gasoline consumption by 5.1 million liters, which is equal to about 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere. This is comparable to the amount of CO2 absorbed by almost 460,000 trees in one year.
In other words, trips on Bird devices in 2021 had the same effect on carbon sequestration as 6.5 km2 of the Amazon rainforest. It's not enough, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.
It is important to note that calculating the environmental impact of electric scooters and e-bikes is a very complex process that must take into account everything from research and development to detailed assumptions about service life and recycling.
In addition to the environmental impact, Bird devices played an economic role in 2021, as cities around the world tried to reopen and adapt to the COVID-19 world.
In 2021, Bird became the first operator serving more than 350 cities around the world, and on November 5, 2021, it became the first company in the field of micromobility to be publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This is important not only for the stability of the industry and long-term growth, but also because it gives Bird access to a public market to advance its mission and take meaningful measures to protect the planet.
https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/131073/bird-riders-save-gasoline-carbon-2021/