Construction Technology News

The SICK versatile free-flow 3D Profiler scans vehicles on the move SICK has set a new benchmark in traffic monitoring technology with the launch of the Free Flow 3D Profiler vehicle measurement system that enables highly-accurate 3D profiling of vehicles across multiple lanes in free-flow traffic. The SICK Free Flow Profiler is versatile and adaptable …

I-405 Mobility in Los Angeles to improve with Parsons’ Artificial Intelligence solutions Parsons has been contracted by Caltrans District 7 to develop a decision support system using artificial intelligence that will help relieve hot spot congestion areas and improve travel reliability along the I-405 Sepulveda Pass corridor in Los Angeles, CA. The I-405 Sepulveda Pass …

COBOD 3D construction printer nominated for 3D printing awards COBOD has recently announced an order for the biggest mobile 3D construction printer in the world (sold to Saudi Arabia), new distributors, an expansion of the co-operation with German Formwork specialist Peri and the delivery of a BOD2 printer (10m x 10m x 10m) to Belgian …

Brieda Cabins pioneers ground control station for remote crane operations Brieda Cabins, a specialist in ergonomic cabins, control stations and desks for manned and remote crane operations, has developed a ground control station to remotely operate container cranes, with an ergonomic design and user-friendly interface that will boost productivity at marine container terminals, intermodal facilities …

Beat crime and protect your valuable assets with GPS Trackit247 technology Trackit247, a leading manufacturer of live GPS tracking technology is advising equipment owners to be on their guard after the latest NFU crime report, which highlights rural crime is rising at its fastest rate since 2010, with these crime figures increasing by a staggering …

Leica BLK3D imager powers real-time 3D measurement for visual construction Multivista has launched 3D Images as part of its suite of documentation services for the construction industry. The service will be powered by the Leica BLK3D, which is a handheld 3D imager that allows real-time, professional grade, in-picture 3D measurement. Like its construction photo documentation …

More than half of Brits willing to fund smart city traffic solutions New research has found an increasing appetite for smart city measures that aim to tackle urbanisation problems, such as congestion and security issues, with almost a quarter (24%) of Brits even saying they would be happy to fund these solutions using part of …

New job site product aims to put a stop to theft, data blackspots and downtime British technology company, Sunstone Systems, has unveiled the latest product in its range, the Autonomous Remote Communications Unit (ARC). Scalable, portable and modular, the ARC has been created to provide flexibility for a wide range of sites and events. The …

Samsung SDS and Telensa Partner to deploy Smart City Infrastructure Solutions Samsung SDS, the digital arm of Samsung, and Telensa, a leader in smart street lighting and smart city data, today announced that they are working together on smart city projects. The two companies are collaborating on smart streetlighting, in which Telensa is the global …

Self-Driving Cranes will be a reality thanks to Crane Operations Experts SMIE SMIE has entered the race to create automated self-driving crane technologies using ProSITE, their acclaimed anti-collision and jobsite monitoring system. In a series of tests carried out during the first quarter of 2019, the revolutionary technology has demonstrated great potential and moves the …

VolvoCE exploring the potential for 5G in construction In a global first, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is among a small number of pioneering companies trialling 5G mobile connectivity. With the program set to make a big impact on construction innovation, we find out more from 5G expert Calle Skillsäter, Volvo CE’s Technical Specialist for …

Harrisburg, USA trials Telensa connected Streetlight Smart City technologies Telensa, a world leader in Smart Street Lighting and Smart City data applications, today announced that it is working with the City of Harrisburg to trial smart city technologies featuring smart sensors for traffic, air quality and waste monitoring. The City deployed a Telensa smart street …

TRL looks at driver distraction and if it is time to update our evidence base The Chief Executive of Highways England recently expressed concerns about the safety of in-car touchscreens and the potential for distracting drivers. This is a concern echoed by many fleet managers, who have seen the in-vehicle environment become ever more filled …

Understanding the Future of Shared Mobility The global centre for innovation in transport and mobility solutions, TRL, is working on projects designed to tackle the questions around shared mobility. Societal factors such as commercial, economic and political pressures are shaping the evolution of shared mobility. These elements influence critical investments in public transport and the …

TE Connectivity to showcase latest products and technology at Battery Show Europe TE Connectivity (TE), a leader in connectivity and sensors, will showcase the latest innovations from its end-to-end power distribution, battery control and connectivity portfolio at the Battery Show Europe 2019. Visitors to Booth #940 at the May 7 – 9 trade show, in …

Advanced Construction Robotics announces their 2nd autonomous construction robot Last Wednesday morning at Bauma, the world’s leading construction machinery trade fair, Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR) announced to an international audience their next robotic construction solution, IronBot. IronBot is a rebar placement robot that is designed to lift, carry and place rebar in horizontal reinforced concrete …

ABB new digital application optimises dry bulk material handling for stockyard operations New ABB Ability Stockyard Management System enables fully integrated collaborative operation by connecting all available information and process data to optimize bulk material handling terminals and stockyards of coal-fired power plants, steel plants or mines. Offering sophisticated material tracking and quality management, the …

GSSI launches Ground Penetrating Radar video training series Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc (GSSI) a world leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment has, launched a new video series as part of their GPR training academy. The video series features short and informative videos focusing on individual product lines to help users through frequently asked …

MIT develop unique environmentally friendly manufacturing method for plastics and textiles The biggest source of global energy consumption is the industrial manufacturing of products such as plastics, iron, and steel. Not only does manufacturing these materials require huge amounts of energy, but many of the reactions also directly emit carbon dioxide as a by-product. In …

COBOD 3D concrete printer to print 2 storey Belgian Kamp C Following the announcement a couple of weeks ago that Danish COBOD International had received an order for the largest 3D construction printer in the world from Saudi Arabia, COBOD continues to make news with their 3D Construction printing activity. COBOD has now announced that …

Parking just got very smart and is closing in on illegal vehicles Alerting drivers about individual empty spaces, helping authorities maximise use, an end to Blue Badge fraud, using the car as a credit card, and using machine learning to crack down on offenders – the world of car parking has become smarter for users …

Advanced ITS solutions from Siemens Mobility at Traffex As the world-leader in traffic management technology, Siemens Mobility Limited will be exhibiting a broad range of integrated solutions on stand D010 at Traffex 2019, showcasing systems that help deliver safe, clean and efficient transport networks. With digitalisation solutions, Siemens Mobility enables mobility operators worldwide to make …

MIT algorithm kicking neural network automation into high gear A new area in artificial intelligence involves using algorithms to automatically design machine-learning systems known as a neural network, which are more accurate and efficient than those developed by human engineers. But this so-called neural architecture search (NAS) technique is computationally expensive. A state-of-the-art NAS algorithm …

Inductive loops or wireless magnetometers for traffic signal control The inductive loop has become so integral to the management of traffic signals that many of us working in the highways industry may simply assume it’s the right solution to provide the vehicle detection needed for the traffic signal control systems VA, MOVA and SCOOT. Yet, …

PERI to promote CADENAS for BIM CAD scaffolding component library at bauma At bauma 2019, the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, PERI GmbH will be presenting its new BIM CAD library for scaffolding system components, which was created in close cooperation with CADENAS GmbH. PERI, one of the leading international manufacturers and suppliers of …

Trimble T7 rugged, lightweight Tablet elevates productivity on the construction site Trimble has introduced the Trimble T7 Tablet, a rugged, lightweight and versatile device for construction surveying applications. Using Trimble Siteworks Software for construction surveying, the Trimble T7 provides real-time data to visualize cut/fill levels, calculate material volumes, check grade and communicate work orders to …

Global UNESCO Conference on Artificial Intelligence urge rights-based governance of AI A clear consensus emerged on the need to ensure a human-centred governance of artificial intelligence (AI) during UNESCO’s Principles for AI: Towards a Humanistic Approach? Global Conference on 4 March at the Organization’s Headquarters. As she opened the Conference, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said, …

The largest 3D construction printer in the world heads for to Saudi Arabia Elite for Construction & Development Co. decided to place the order at COBOD as a response to Saudi Arabia’s need for building 1.5 million private houses over the next 10 years and to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to improve the …

What do customers really want from Construction Automation? Automation technology is advancing, but what features do customers actually want from Construction Automation? In this article Volvo CE’s Tina Lefebvre, Global Director Connected Services and Koen Sips, VP Customer Solutions, highlight how automated services are making every operator the world’s best. We talk about ‘automation’ as …

VolvoCE to test RC Wheel Loaders when Sweden gets first industrial 5G network Telia, Ericsson and Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) have launched Sweden’s first 5G network for industrial use today at Volvo CE’s facility in Eskilstuna. Volvo CE will then become one of the first in the world to use 5G technology to test …

StreetLight Data now delivers 2018 on-demand Traffic Counts for nearly every road in the US StreetLight Data, a leader in big data analytics for mobility has launched Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for 2018 on the StreetLight InSight® platform. Providing accurate, on-demand traffic volumes for over 4 million miles of roadway, the company’s AADT numbers …

Sandvik supports digitalization of infrastructure construction projects and worksites Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has introduced connectivity between SanRemo remote monitoring system for Sandvik surface drilling equipment and Infrakit Cloud, a solution for connecting work machinery, field equipment and personnel on a single platform for more efficient construction, better quality, real-time accessibility of project data …

New Wildlife mobile app helps identify signs of protected species on construction sites CIRIA and The Ecology Consultancy have announced the launch of their new Working with Wildlife mobile app to identify protected species, which is now available as a free download from the App Store for Apple devices and from the Google Play Store …

Is artificial intelligence the future of construction? According to McKinsey, AI is the next frontier for construction technology. Without a doubt, the construction industry has still a long way to go before we can claim with confidence that artificial intelligence solutions have been properly implemented in the sector. The good news is that construction is …

All-wheel steering for Construction Machines enabled by EHLA PLUS Electro-hydraulic steering systems for rear axles have been standard in commercial vehicles and complex construction machinery for many years. In the case of commercial vehicles, the use of electro-hydraulic auxiliary steering is primarily to ensure compliance with the legal requirements. Without a steered rear axle the …

Bell Nexus Autonomous Pod Transport set to be the Air Taxi of tomorrow The Bell Nexus, Autonomous Pod Transport and more innovations designed to shape the future of flight were highlighted at the CES show. Bell Helicopter revealed the configuration and full-scale vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) air taxi vehicle during CES 2019. The air taxi, named Bell …

MIT’s first four-legged robot can do backflips MIT’s new mini cheetah robot is springy and light on its feet, with a range of motion that rivals a champion gymnast. The four-legged powerpack can bend and swing its legs wide, enabling it to walk either right-side up or upside down. The robot can also trot over …

Clearview will be installing knowledge with free CPD training courses Roadside engineers tasked with installing wireless vehicle detection can now benefit from free CPD-accredited training. Clearview Intelligence is offering the new half-day courses on selected dates in March and May at its headquarters in Milton Keynes. The course, delivered by Clearview’s Product Specialist Alastair King …

DJI improves Enterprise Drones for next level commercial drone operations Updated Matrice 200 Series Drones And FlightHub Software Lay The Foundation For BVLOS And Night Flights While Accelerating Organization-Wide Commercial Drone Deployments DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, today unveiled new hardware and software tools to give professional drone operators …

Liebherr to launch a new era of machine communication at bauma with INTUSI At bauma 2019, Liebherr will unveil INTUSI, its INTeractive USer Interface, to the public for the first time. This innovative, adaptive and intuitive operating concept will revolutionise the communication between and with construction machines. INTUSI connects Liebherr construction machinery and material handlers …

Trimble introduce groundworks machine control system for drilling and piling Trimble introduced today the Trimble Groundworks Machine Control System, a reliable and streamlined machine control solution for drilling and piling operations. The next generation system enables contractors to perform drilling and piling operations quickly, safely and accurately. “Engineered for ease of use, Trimble Groundworks features …

Brokk introduces SmartConcept B300, next generation Demolition Robot Brokk, the world’s leading manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition robot machines, introduces the new Brokk 300, which features 40 percent more demolition power than its predecessor, the Brokk 280. It also boasts Brokk SmartConcept™ technological features that improve power management, reliability, maintainability and ergonomics. The Brokk 300 is …

MIT inspired by a Lobster’s underbelly for the design of tough flexible body armour Flip a lobster on its back, and you’ll see that the underside of its tail is split in segments connected by a translucent membrane that appears rather vulnerable when compared with the Armour-like carapace that shields the rest of the crustacean. …

Lynch Plant Hire makes a long-term commitment to GKD Technologies Machine guidance manufacturer, GKD Technologies has been supplying nationwide plant hire specialists Lynch Plant for the past 18 – months. Lynch had a previous supplier who were providing the company’s height and slew restrictor systems – but with machine safety requirements growing – Lynch reported …

Telensa Smart City Sensors for Urban Data Project to be powered by Qualcomm chips Telensa, a leader in smart street lighting and smart city applications, today announced that its streetlight-based Multi-Sensor Pods, a key element of the Urban Data Project, will be powered by the Qualcomm® SDM845 processor from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The Qualcomm SDM845 …

Construction Technology advances are driving a whole new Traffex Bigger and better than any highways and transport event in its 40 year history, Traffex 2019 at the NEC in Birmingham is all about the future: of mobility and the road space; of the way transport is funded and operated; and of the people who will …

Trimble announces HoloLens 2 tech for Construction, Manufacturing and Mining Trimble has announced a new wearable hard hat compatible device that enables workers in safety-controlled environments to access holographic information on the worksite—the Trimble® XR10 with HoloLens 2. In addition, an expanded set of Trimble software and services will be available to provide field-oriented workflows …

New MIT platform ensures web services adhere to User’s privacy data restrictions In today’s world of cloud computing, users of mobile apps and web services store personal data on remote data centre servers. This data may include photos, social media profiles, email addresses, and even fitness data from wearable devices. Services often aggregate multiple users’ …

MIT develops keener Electric Eyesight for autonomous vehicles On-chip system that detects signals at sub-terahertz wavelengths could help steer driverless cars through fog and dust. Autonomous vehicles relying on light-based image sensors often struggle to see through blinding conditions, such as fog. But MIT researchers have developed a sub-terahertz-radiation receiving system that could help steer …

Topcon technology is integral to modern concrete paving Millimeter GPS raises the bar Beauty to behold for the concrete contractor is the smooth, uniform surface of freshly-paved concrete. For them, Concrete Gray is the color of choice in the 64 pack of crayons and nothing feels better than leaving a durable, quality finished concrete paved …

MIT using artificial intelligence to engineer materials’ properties Applying just a bit of strain to a piece of semiconductor or other crystalline material can deform the orderly arrangement of atoms in its structure enough to cause dramatic changes in its properties, such as the way it conducts electricity, transmits light, or conducts heat. Now, a …

Cutting edge PLPR tech helping Network Rail to almost double track maintenance capacity Network Rail is boosting its capacity to identify and fix track defects using cutting edge technology, reducing delays caused by track faults, improving safety and saving the taxpayer millions of pounds. A key part of Network Rail’s ‘predict and prevent’ strategy, Plain …

Computer vision gadget CarVi detects potholes in San Francisco pilot Game-changing intelligent ADAS technology combines sensor data with computer vision to learn specific road conditions and predict pothole locations CarVi, the company behind a new AI-powered video driving assistant device, today announced ‘Pothole Detection,’ a new feature to its flagship device which helps drivers stay …

Transport in lower income countries and the Fourth Industrial Revolution What is the main challenge (and attendant opportunity) of transport? It is the phenomenon called the fourth industrial revolution, a social and technological wave that merges the two effects of high-rate digital networks and a jolt in appreciation of the environment. Suddenly, the world is …

Shell and MachineMax launch digital service for customers to maximise profitability Shell and MachineMax have launched a new digital service that will help construction and mining companies to maximise the profitability of their off-highway fleets using smart sensors and next-generation analytics. Together the two companies plan to tackle a multibillion pound industry problem characterised by …

Diesel Laptops launch Virtual Diesel Technician Program Diesel Laptops, the leading distributor for commercial truck diesel diagnostic software, hardware, and services, has announced the launch of its innovative Virtual Diesel Technician Program. This program is a first in the commercial truck and off highway industry and is a real solution to the current diesel technician …

Fujitsu’s Transport Trends for 2019 Every week, there are headlines heralding a new age of transportation, with technologies emerging that could almost have come from a sci-fi novel. But in reality, the future, and transport trends are extremely hard to predict. There’s a myriad of moving parts, from the way that passengers live and work …

Telensa announces the Urban Data Project with Cambridge as Launch Partner City Telensa, a leader in smart street lighting and smart city applications has announced the Urban Data Project. Telensa has built a solution powered by the Microsoft Azure cloud platform that creates a trust infrastructure for urban data, one that enables cities to collect, …

MIT researchers observe hydrogen’s effects on metal to design safer storage tanks Hydrogen, the second-tiniest of all atoms, can penetrate right into the crystal structure of a solid metal. That’s good news for efforts to store the fuel safely within the metal itself, but it’s bad news for structures such as the pressure vessels in nuclear …

Gothenburg drive to electrify takes to the water with Volvo Penta In the next phase of Gothenburg’s drive to connect its residents with a seamless citywide low emission commuting network, a Volvo Penta powered electric ferry service is being introduced into the ElectriCity transport ecosystem. Building on the growing success of Gothenburg’s ElectriCity project, an …

Two design prizes for HAMM Autonomous Roller F1 study In the past six months, HAMM AG has been accoladed with two design prizes for their “Autonomous Roller F1”, a study on autonomously operating rollers: The international Automotive Brand Contest 2018 jury awarded HAMM the label “Best of Best”. A short time later, the compaction specialists …

ADEPT SMART Places winners announced with 7 projects going forward to Live Labs The winners of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s ( ADEPT ) SMART Places Live Labs competition were announced by Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling today. The winning bids, who will each receive a share of £22.9million funding, are: …

When does new technology become part of the mainstream? Early adopters take the risks of new ideas but see that as a necessary way of keeping ahead of competitors or the marketplace, and they know that where they lead others will soon follow. They also understand that by being ahead of the industry there may …

MIT algorithm helps robots take calculated risks in dangerous environments We know far less about the Earth’s oceans than we do about the surface of the moon or Mars. The sea floor is carved with expansive canyons, towering seamounts, deep trenches, and sheer cliffs, most of which are considered too dangerous or inaccessible for autonomous …

Liebherr Construction Equipment introduces Intelligent Assistance Systems Liebherr’s new Intelligent Assistance Systems increase comfort and safety in daily operation in a range of ways. One of their advantages is that they enable machine operators to concentrate more on operating their Liebherr wheel loader by removing additional distractions. As a result of digitalisation, the construction site …

Leica BLK3D recognised for Innovation, Engineering and Design Leica BLK3D Recognised by Prestigious Global Awards Industry-first solution for real-time, in-picture 3D measurement for Innovation, Engineering, Design Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, today announced its ground-breaking Leica BLK3D 3D imager has earned multiple prestigious global design and innovation awards. The first BLK3D units began shipping to …

Drone technology is reaching new heights The number of companies using drone technology has increased significantly, although more advanced digital/reality capture outputs continue to be underutilised. The use of digital/reality capture information from drone technology continues to increase in the UK and Irish construction industries, with 52% of respondents now using the technology compared with …

New Mobile App gives Surveyors a Speedy Experience Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading provider of tools and equipment hire and services, has launched a new mobile app for customers as an extension of its digital strategy. The app makes it easier for surveyors to do business with Speedy by enabling them to complete a full …

MIT model identifies artificial intelligence blind spots A novel model developed by MIT and Microsoft researchers identifies instances in which autonomous systems have “learned” from training examples that don’t match what’s actually happening in the real world. Engineers could use this model to improve the safety of artificial intelligence systems, such as driverless vehicles and …

Siemens Mobility receives Home Office Type-Approval for SafeZone II Siemens Mobility Limited has received Home Office Type-Approval for its SafeZone II average speed enforcement system, which incorporates the company’s market-leading Sicore II camera. Approval means that evidence from the system is now fully admissible in court for offences under the Road Traffic Offenders Act, 1988. …

London welcomes the world’s most sophisticated air quality monitoring network The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the world’s most advanced and comprehensive network of air quality monitors to help investigate and improve London’s toxic air. ‘Breathe London’ will use a range of cutting-edge fixed and mobile sensors to build up a real-time, hyperlocal …

Volvo Financial iLabX – an innovation Lab for Technology Entrepreneurs At the end of 2018 Volvo Financial Services (“VFS”) announced its launch of ‘iLabX’, an accelerator program that will provide entrepreneurial companies from around the world in fintech and other fields with the opportunity to collaborate with VFS to develop and implement new innovative solutions …

The building materials of the future will be all about Sustainability What if we could use mushrooms to warm our homes? Or use shape-memory alloys to make our infrastructure more sustainable? Volvo Construction Equipment has taken a look at some of these future technologies which put sustainability at the forefront and have the potential to radically …

Ritchie Bros webinar on Asset Solutions will help you manage your fleet with data analytics Launched in 2018, RB Asset Solutions is an end-to-end asset management and disposition system Ritchie Bros. has been an industry leader for more than 60 years, and its latest solution for the market, RB Asset Solutions, is designed to make …

Trend Micro warns handheld remote controllers for construction equipment can be hacked Trend Micro  a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, has released a new report detailing inherent flaws and new vulnerabilities in radio frequency (RF) remote controllers found and disclosed through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). The report, A Security Analysis of Radio Remote Controllers …

VolvoCE brings electromobility to their smaller loaders and excavators In an industry-first move, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced that in 2020 it will bring electromobility to the market with the launch of an electric range of Volvo branded compact wheel loaders and compact excavators. In a pioneering commitment to future technology, Volvo CE …

LLEAP Award for Skyjack ELEVATE Telematics Skyjack took home a Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Award last month. The OEM’s off-highway telematics solution, ELEVATE, won in the category of OEM Features or Essential Components. The mobile first solution was launched in early 2018 and has since garnered attention from rental companies and …

Success for the Small Robot Company with £1.2 million Crowdcube campaign Small Robot Company, a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, today announced that it has raised £1.2 million on Crowdcube equity crowdfunding platform. It reached its initial funding target of £500,000 within minutes of its launch thanks largely to support from the farming community. …

MIT developing tools that automatically generate models from complex datasets MIT researchers are hoping to advance the democratization of data science with a new tool for non-statisticians that automatically generates models for analysing raw data. Democratizing data science is the notion that anyone, with little to no expertise, can do data science if provided ample …

Volvo invests in Momentum Dynamics wireless electric car charging Volvo Group Venture Capital AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, today announced an investment in Momentum Dynamics Inc – a leading company in high power wireless charging of electric vehicles. Momentum Dynamics is a Philadelphia-based company developing and commercializing high power inductive charging for the …

Cities are undergoing transport revolutions The privately owned car has long been the leading means of transportation in big cities. But car pools, electric bikes and self-driving vehicles can challenge the car’s dominant position. Over the past 70 years, the car has had a major impact on urban planning and the way our cities are …

StreetLight Data unveils all-in-one system to measure Bike, Pedestrian and Vehicle data StreetLight Data, Inc, a leader in big data analytics for mobility, today debuted an industry-first with the capability to measure bicycle and pedestrian traffic, virtually anywhere, in addition to vehicular traffic. The addition of bike and pedestrian analytics to StreetLight InSight® is the …

Kia looks at AI emotion technology for post-autonomous driving Kia Motors previewed a range of new technologies including emotion technology, developed for the post-autonomous driving era at the 2019 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). Kia’s interactive ‘Space of Emotive Driving’ exhibit looks to a future when autonomous driving is the norm and priority is given to …

BIRAL looking forward to a strong 2019 Following a successful 2018, leading meteorological specialist Biral is excited to be starting 2019 with a number of high profile projects and company expansion under way. Biral’s Marketing Director Nathan Neal is delighted with the company’s progress commenting, “During 2018, we won some very significant projects around the …

Actibump proves a success in Australia In January 2018 Curtin University installed four active speed bumps called Actibump at the University’s campus in Perth, Western Australia. The goal was to reduce the number of speeding drivers, particularly on semester week days when there are a lot of pedestrians and vehicles on campus. Mr Graham Arndt, …

The right data infrastructure is crucial for running of our roads Knowing who and what are using the UK’s roads has never been more important. As the world moves towards an autonomous future it’s important to note that we are not starting from scratch in being able to create a data infrastructure that guides us …

Boschung fixed automated ice spray technology upgraded on the A4 in France In 2002, the first BOSCHUNG fixed automated spray technology (FAST) system was installed on some sections of the A4 in France which were endangered by black ice. After more than 15 years of uninterrupted service, it was now time to replace this system …

Continental’s vision combines autonomous shuttles and delivery robots The technology company Continental steadily pushes the boundaries of autonomous vehicle technology, exploring new use cases and advancements every day. At CES 2019, Continental will exhibit how a autonomous shuttles could be used to stage and deploy delivery robots, taking packages all the way to the consumer …

MIT computer program can translate 2-D drawings into DNA structures Researchers at MIT and Arizona State University have designed a computer program that allows users to translate any free-form drawing into a two-dimensional, nanoscale structure made of DNA. Until now, designing such structures has required technical expertise that puts the process out of reach of …

City dwellers are demanding smart traffic measures to cut commute times The UK is among the most congested countries in the world, with a reported 37.5 million vehicles registered for use on UK roads last year – and now a new report, by ATG Access reveals that almost two-thirds (65%) of city-dwellers are frustrated with …

GSSI showcases innovative PaveScan RDM Asphalt Density Assessment Tool GSSI, a world leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, announces that it will feature its industry-leading PaveScan RDM asphalt density assessment tool at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 98th Annual Meeting, which takes place January 13-17, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center …

Hyundai Transformers may be the way forward for Emergency and First Responders Any first responder will tell you that the first 72 hours following a natural disaster are the most crucial to saving lives. However, often times due to the nature of the disaster (forest fire, earthquake, hurricane, or flood), it can be difficult for …

New Holland Tractor wins 2018 Good Design Award for methane powered concept New Holland received the prestigious Good Design® Award for the methane powered Concept Tractor from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies The Good Design® international jury panel of design professionals, …

MIT system monitors radiation damage to materials in real-time In order to evaluate a material’s ability to withstand the high-radiation environment inside a nuclear reactor, researchers have traditionally used a method known as “cook and look,” meaning the material is exposed to high radiation and then removed for a physical examination. But that process is …

Metso introduces Industrial 3D Metal Printing for valve parts Metso has delivered the first valves with 3D printed parts from its Helsinki plant. The valves include 3D metal printing for components that allow the valves to perform in a particularly demanding application where they need to withstand numerous fast open-close cycles without maintenance. “We are …

Setting up and managing a wireless vehicle detection system Compared to traditional inductive loops, wireless vehicle detection sensors are much quicker to install, the system negates the need for costly ducting and trenching and keeps the road surface more durable. With the Clearview system now coming with an improved five-year warranty package we thought it would …

Honda testing off-road autonomous ATV work vehicle Honda will be seeking potential business and technology partners for its prototype off-road vehicle, the Honda Autonomous Work Vehicle, at CES 2019. Combining Honda’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and emerging advanced autonomous technology, the Autonomous Work Vehicle was designed by Honda R&D Americas to enhance efficiency and safety for …

The road innovations of the future In the past 50 years there have been huge advancements in the automobile industry but the roads we drive on remain nearly unchanged. As cars get smarter so too should the infrastructure that supports them. Our planet is covered in roads. And by 2050 our global network of highways …

Technique inspired by dolphins could improve tests of soft materials such as drying cement When you deform a soft material such as Silly Putty, its properties change depending on how fast you stretch and squeeze it. If you leave the putty in a small glass, it will eventually spread out like a liquid. If you …

Farmbots for a robocrop as farming robots begin trial in UK The John Lewis Partnership has announced a three-year trial with the Small Robot Company to test its revolutionary farmbots at the company’s farm in Leckford, Hampshire. The Leckford Estate, which grows produce for Waitrose & Partners including mushrooms, rapeseed, apples and many other products, …

Townsville chooses Yotta Horizons Platform to drive Pavement Asset Optimisation Townsville City Council (TCC), one of the largest local government authorities in Queensland, is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest roads network in Australia. TCC regularly commissions civil engineering consultancy, Pavement Management Services (PMS) to conduct road condition surveys and sophisticated laser …

UK Autodrive pilot proves Siemens Mobility intelligent roadside infrastructure Following the successful conclusion of the UK Autodrive pilot in Coventry and Milton Keynes, a series of demonstration days have been held to showcase the technology used in the programme. This includes the roadside infrastructure which was supplied and installed by Siemens Mobility Limited for the …

INRIX Parking wins BMW Supplier Innovation Award INRIX, the global leader in connected car services and mobility analytics, has received the BMW Supplier Innovation Award from BMW Group for its work in the area of connected driving. The coveted award is based on the development and implementation of the industry’s first real-time on-street parking service …

MIT’s Sun in a Box would store renewable energy for the grid MIT engineers have come up “Sun in a Box”, a conceptual design for a system to store renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, and deliver that energy back into an electric grid on demand. The system may be designed to power …

Boschung salt measuring device SOBO 3+ comes with new reporting app Besides showing the r-weather multi-sensor, Boschung exhibits at the Pollutec tradeshow in Lyon another new product: the SOBO 3+. The SOBO 3+ is a mobile measuring device that works without external energy and determines within a few seconds the residual salt content (in g/m2) …

Industry leaders give mandate for autonomous vehicles to deliver benefits beyond safety New research from the Smart Mobility Living Lab: London (SMLL) has found that almost two-thirds (65%) of senior industry leaders are confident that connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) will be made available for use on UK roads in the next five years. The study …

MIT addresses the privacy risks of compiling mobility data A new study by MIT researchers on mobility data finds that the growing practice of compiling massive, anonymized datasets about people’s movement patterns is a double-edged sword: While it can provide deep insights into human behavior for research, it could also put people’s private data at …

HERE and INRIX partner to Move Mobility Forward INRIX, the world leader in connected car services and mobility analytics, and HERE Technologies, a global leader in mapping and location services, today announced a partnership to deliver industry-leading services and products. INRIX will leverage map content from HERE in more than 50 countries, with the specific …

New Cat Remote Services for diagnostics and improved jobsite efficiency Caterpillar introduces a new suite of Cat® Connect technology that offers remote equipment diagnostics and software updates to reduce machine and engine downtime and increase jobsite efficiency. New Cat Remote Services include two key offerings – Remote Troubleshoot and Remote Flash – that leverage telematics …

Ericsson and Volvo Cars sign five-year Connected Vehicle Cloud worldwide deal Ericsson has been selected by Volvo Car Group to provide the industrialized Ericsson Connected Vehicle Cloud (CVC) platform to further enable its digital vehicle services in more than 120 markets worldwide for the next five years. Volvo Cars, like other major players in the …

Over two thirds of people don’t know what a Smart City is Almost 70% of the UK public (68%) do not know what a smart city is or the benefits it can bring, according to new research. Despite widespread global investment in the digital transformation of public spaces and the smart city concept, a study …

REFORM’s Metron P48 RC is the first radio remote-controlled equipment rack The Metron P48 RC is the first radio remote-controlled equipment rack with a real plug-in hybrid drive. The vehicle concept is based on a battery pack with 8.5 kWh capacity, a Kubota gasoline engine with 48 hp, a directly flanged on the flywheel generator …

ITS professionals in the UK split over driverless car investment The UK’s Intelligent Transport Industry seems to be split over whether taxpayers’ money should be spent on the development of driverless cars. At the ITS (UK) Summit in Bristol, a panel of experts debated the motion “This House believes that driverless vehicles are the biggest …

Sarcos overcomes major obstacle to deployment of full-body, powered industrial exoskeletons Sarcos Robotics, a global leader in robotic systems that augment, rather than replace humans working in the industrial, public safety and military sectors, today announced a number of significant technology advancements for its highly anticipated Guardianä XO Max full-body, powered industrial exoskeleton robotic system. …

New Cat SmartPhone App delivers simplified, streamlined equipment data to mobile devices Caterpillar launches the industry’s first mobile app designed to allow customers who spend their time in a truck, at the job site and on-the-go to take advantage of equipment telematics data. The new Cat® App delivers simplified, streamlined data directly to mobile devices, …

Measuring the benefits of flexible Journey Time Monitoring A new journey time monitoring system that can be set up in minutes to generate automatic traffic alerts for temporary and permanent routes has been launched by Clearview Intelligence. Unlike traditional route monitoring systems which require hardwired roadside technology for Bluetooth or WIFI detection, Clearview Intelligence’s Journey …

The promise of integrating Road Weather Conditions in Vehicle Telematics Delivery of better weather guidance to drivers is essential, especially real-time updates on the elements drivers face on the roads. This data combined with Vehicle Telematics enables pre-planning of employee schedules, supply chains, and assets that could be in jeopardy when there are dangerous road …

New app from SANRAL puts South African’s ahead of the flow Commuters on the go now have access to the new SANRAL App that enables them to check and top-up the balances on their electronic toll accounts in real time. This app helps to make travelling on the SANRAL road network easier and more comfortable …

VolvoCE and Skanska’s electric quarry reduce carbon emissions by 98 percent Volvo Construction Equipment and its customer Skanska have recorded groundbreaking results from their Electric Site research project – including a 98% reduction in carbon emissions, a 70% reduction in energy cost and a 40% reduction in operator cost. Volvo Construction Equipment and its customer …

Is the UK public ready for driverless cars? While more than half of the UK public (53%) feel positive about the way technology is driving change in the country, there is some discomfort around one of the most discussed and potentially impactful innovations: driverless cars. According to Fujitsu’s Tech in a Transforming Britain report, distinct …

Volvo Trucks delivers autonomous transport solution to limestone quarry in Norway Volvo Trucks has just signed a landmark agreement with Brønnøy Kalk AS in Norway to provide its first commercial autonomous solution transporting limestone from an open pit mine to a nearby port. The solution for Brønnøy Kalk AS consists of limestone being transported by …

Network Rail seeks major digital railway transformation programme partner Network Rail is seeking a private sector partner to deliver a major digital railway transformation programme on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The Railway Systems Integration Partner (RSIP) will be appointed via a framework contract worth up to £45 million over eight years. The successful …

Telematics and IoT technology makes driving safer, cheaper and greener At the CBI Annual Conference, Anne Sheehan, Enterprise Director for Vodafone outlined how Internet of Things (IoT) technology and a partnership with Admiral Insurance is helping to make driving safer, cheaper and greener. On stage with Gunnar Peters, Admiral’s Head of Telematics, she outlined how …

MIT explores the plummeting cost of solar power The dramatic drop in the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, which has fallen by 99 percent over the last four decades, is often touted as a major success story for renewable energy technology. But one question has never been fully addressed: What exactly accounts for that …

GPS rover and level/slope measuring system help landfill gain 2.3 million yards of space Ask the average person on the street where garbage goes after the garbage truck picks it up and takes it away, and most will likely say, “the dump.” At one time, most communities had a town dump located near the edge …

Hyundai partners with Top Flight UAV start-up to drive mobility to new heights Hyundai Motor Company has announced a strategic partnership with Top Flight Technologies, Inc., a leading start-up in hybrid-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, as part of its broader effort to cement leadership in future mobility solutions. Hyundai will team up with the …

Yotta signs 7 year deal with CGI for Asset Management and Solutions to Glasgow CC Technology company, Yotta has won a seven-year contract with CGI, a leading independent IT and business process service firm, to deliver asset management services and solutions to Scotland’s largest local authority, Glasgow City Council. The contract is the largest Yotta …

The visionaries shaping healthy cities of the future Did you know that cities account for three quarters of all global carbon emissions? Here we highlight the experts who are striving to create a cleaner and more socially responsible urban environment. According to the United Nations, by 2050, more than two thirds of the world’s entire …

Metso and Rockwell Automation bring predictive maintenance to the mining industry Metso is expanding its digital Metso Metrics offering with the launch of a new predictive maintenance solution for mining equipment, aimed to help maximize the uptime and performance of comminution circuits. The solution will be introduced at Automation Fair, hosted by Rockwell Automation, on …

ITM Monitoring announces updates to Calyx Online Monitoring Software ITM Monitoring a leader in the design and installation of bespoke geotechnical, structural and environmental monitoring systems, has released a new version of its data visualisation platform, Calyx™ Online Monitoring Software (OMS). The updated version provides additional functionality and flexibility, improving user experience within the feature-rich …

Sunstone secures £590k Crowdcube investment for Solar innovations UK technology company, Sunstone, has raised more than £590,000 (£592,000) via the crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. The round, which ran for just over five weeks, saw over 450 investors back the company to help it reach a level of overfunding against an initial target of £500,000. One of …

COBOD receives grant to develop the next generation 3D construction printer The N3XTCON project running from 2018 to 2021 involves all aspects of 3D construction printing from materials recipes over reinforcement solutions and software control systems to new architectural solutions. Besides from COBOD, it involves materials suppliers, as well as construction companies, architects, building owners, …

New Trimble Earthworks GO! Grade Control for Compact Machine Grading Attachments Trimble announces the release of the Trimble® Earthworks GO! Grade Control Platform, a 2D grade control solution for compact machine grading attachments. Trimble Earthworks GO! enables high-accuracy grading in an easy-to-use, portable platform. It is the only Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) compact machine …

The benefits of using Drones in Construction As the demand grows for increased safety and productivity on the job site, the construction industry finds itself turning to new technology. One innovation that has revolutionized the industry is the commercial drone. With an estimated $11.2 billion to be spent on drones in construction within the next …

Clearview traffic innovations improve safety and traffic flow at hospital junction An innovative scheme integrating wireless vehicle detection traffic signals, vehicle activated signs (VAS) and a hurry call system has reconfigured a hospital junction to address safety concerns and assist ambulance response times. Tasked with improving safety for the 11,400 motorists who use the junction daily, …

Small Robot Company unveils Harry the prototype farming robot The Small Robot Company, a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, has announced the official unveiling of its Harry digital planting robot at Agri-Tech East’s REAP 2018 Conference in Cambridge. Just one year on since Small Robot Company first previewed its ‘Farming as a Service’ model …

Trimble Earthworks Grade Control revamped with Motor Grader and tiltrotator features Trimble announced today the release of Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform version 1.7 with support for motor graders and automatic guidance for tiltrotator attachments. Trimble Earthworks for Motor Graders is a GNSS-based, 3D grade control solution designed to make fine grading more accurate, faster …

The path to driverless cars is full of potholes Christian Wolmar argues there is still a long way to go before we throw our driving licenses into the sea. What might this mean for personal mobility and what are the repercussions for the commercial road transport sector that we represent? Join in the debate at …

MUJI and Sensible 4 create first Autonomous Shuttle Bus for all-weather conditions MUJI and Finnish autonomous driving company Sensible 4 have combined their expertise to create an elegant robotbus, first in the world to function in all weather conditions. The vehicle will be displayed to public in its premiere March 2019 in Helsinki. For this …

Highways England innovates to tackle road noise in Wakefield An innovative noise barrier which will reduce the level of noise for residents living close to the M1 is being used in the UK for the first time. The barrier will be installed by Highways England along a section of the M1 at Wakefield and not …

Kia and Hyundai reveal solar charging system for electric vehicles Kia Motors and Hyundai Motor have today announced plans to introduce ‘solar roof’ charging technology on selected Hyundai Motor Group vehicles. Electricity-generating solar panels will be incorporated into the roof or the hood of vehicles, and will support internal combustion, hybrid and battery electric vehicles …

Truck Simulation 19 features MACK Trucks Astragon Entertainment and developer Jujubee are have announced the next license partner of their mobile game Truck Simulation 19. The originally licensed trucks of US manufacturer MACK® will give virtual truckers the opportunity to drive along the iconic United States highways and make their American dream come true. The …

Revolutionary Stirling Engine converts residual gas into electricity With a groundbreaking Stirling engine from the Swedish environmental technology company Ripasso Energy, the largest “waste-to-energy” project of its kind ever implemented in Africa may be realised. Carbon dioxide emissions are reduced dramatically when residual gases are converted into electricity. Lesjöfors supply a punched and bended part …

PERI Group acquires stake in 3D Concrete Printing company COBOD International Strategic Partnership with Danish technology leader in 3D concrete printing, Weissenhorn/Copenhagen The PERI Group, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of formwork and scaffolding for the construction industry, acquires a stake in the Danish 3D concrete printing specialist COBOD International A/S …

Cleverciti Systems and FoxNet announce distribution partnership in Canada Cleverciti Systems Corp., a leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions for outdoor and on-street parking detection, monitoring and guidance, and FoxNet, a Waterloo-based IT service provider, announced today a partnership to bring Cleverciti’s innovative parking solutions to FoxNet’s distribution network in the Canadian market. FoxNet will offer …

A connected world is in sight A simple Google search for ‘connected autonomous vehicles UK’ brings up over nine million hits, with most notably the UK Governments website providing a useful central point for their efforts (spoiler alert: there is a lot about funding opportunities and pictures of pods) in bringing together what is undoubtedly …

The future of earthworks monitoring is to be showcased at ICE Lecture ‘Priming the Industry: An Innovation in Earthworks Monitoring’ Monday 26th November, 6pm to 8:30pm – Institution of Civil Engineers, London The increasing number and severity of failures in flood defences, transportation and utilities earthworks – predominantly due to extreme weather and aging assets …

Hitachi Construction partners with KTEG to expand European market and develop electric machinery Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd announced earlier this month that they have formed an agreement with KTEG Kiesel Technologie Entwicklung GmbH, the group company of European Hitachi Construction Machinery’s distributor Kiesel GmbH, to establish a new company to develop electric construction machinery …

StreetLight Data unveils accurate on-demand Traffic Counts for 4 million miles of roadway StreetLight Data the leader in big data analytics for mobility, today announced another major transportation market innovation with the launch of its new Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) metrics available on-demand through the StreetLight InSight platform. Annual traffic counts available on-demand for …

MIT researches Syncells – mass produced cell sized robots Tiny robots no bigger than a cell could be mass-produced using a new method developed by researchers at MIT. The microscopic devices, which the team calls “syncells” (short for synthetic cells), might eventually be used to monitor conditions inside an oil or gas pipeline, or to …

PCM Digital Job Box transforms construction site management and communications PCM, Inc. launched its Digital Job Box, a rugged solution that will transform the way the construction industry manages job site projects and connects remote workers to their office counterparts. The Enterprise Technology Group at PCM worked closely with construction industry leaders to create a …

New ways of controlling access Access control is defined as “the selective restriction of access to a place or other resource”. For an automatic access control system to function, it requires a means of identifying individuals to determine their access rights. The form of identification can be anything from a memorised password or PIN (personal …

Costain enables major milestone for connected and autonomous vehicles in the UK Costain, the smart infrastructure solutions company, provided the technology to power pioneering work led by Highways England to transform journeys with innovative technology allowing vehicles and the roads to ‘talk’ to each other which was showcased to an international audience last week. A …

Cleverciti Systems debuts CIRC360 Parking Management at NPA Convention Cleverciti Systems Corp., a leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions for outdoor and on-street parking detection, monitoring and guidance, announced today it will debut its new CIRC360 solution during the 2018 National Parking Association (NPA) Convention and Expo, Oct. 22-25, in Las Vegas, at booth #213. CIRC360 …

MIT announces $1 billion commitment to AI and world-changing breakthroughs MIT today announced a new $1 billion commitment to address the global opportunities and challenges presented by the prevalence of computing and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative marks the single largest investment in computing and AI by an American academic institution, and …

How to improve driver experience with your ELD’s Since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the US mandated that all commercial vehicles over 10,000lbs be installed with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), organizations operating vehicle fleets have been pushed into reporting their Hours of Service. While there are many benefits, beyond compliance, to organizations …

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness month October is National Cybersecurity Awareness month and cyber security company eSentire has shared some tips and best practices on a variety of topics  with us. This week’s focus is phishing attacks and the importance of security awareness training. According to eSentire, phishing continues to be a popular attack vector. …

The Future of Construction in America Exciting change will reward the aware contractor Hop in a car and drive anywhere and chances are the drive will be on roads and highways that need patching, resurfacing, or widening, and bridges often show signs of needed maintenance. Sadly, things are in bad shape. On the last two …

Komatsu showcases new technologies at CEATEC JAPAN Komatsu  President and CEO Tetsuji Ohashi is participating in CEATEC JAPAN for the first time. In this four-day event held in Makuhari Messe from October 16 to 19, Komatsu is introducing new challenges taken up by its SMARTCONSTRUCTION initiative under the theme of safer, more productive and smart …

Volvo Trucks to introduce all-electric trucks in North America As part of an innovative partnership between the Volvo Group, California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), and industry leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure, Volvo Trucks will introduce all-electric truck demonstrators in California next year, and commercialize them in North America in 2020. …

Driverless vehicles – Snake Oil or Salvation? Hailed as the solution to traffic congestion and pollution and offering freedom for those with restricted mobility, autonomous vehicles have the potential to make our towns and cities models of clean air and seamless movement. But are the millions of pounds, dollars and euros being poured into driverless …

Ringway takes part in innovative autonomous and connected vehicle trials in Milton Keynes Ringway has helped to pioneer new technology on the UK’s roads by taking part in an innovative three-year trial of autonomous and connected vehicles which will shape the future of mobility. Connected and autonomous vehicles were demonstrated and operated in live conditions across …

Volvo presents future transport solution with autonomous electric trucks Volvo Trucks is now presenting a new transport solution consisting of autonomous electric commercial vehicles that can contribute to more efficient, safer and cleaner transportation. The long-term goal is to offer companies that need continuous transport services between fixed hubs a complement to today’s offerings. Growing …

NIC competition winners pave the way for Roads for the Future Smart traffic lights and hi-tech public transport could become an everyday part of people’s journeys, according to ideas put forward by the joint winners of the national Roads for the Future competition. The two winners, City Science and Leeds City Council, will each receive …

DAV Foundation raises US$24m for open-source network for autonomous vehicles The DAV Foundation, a non-profit start-up building a decentralised global network for autonomous vehicles has completed a US$24 million fundraising to develop an open source platform for self-driving vehicles, on the ground, in the air and on the water. The DAV platform allows vehicles to …

MIT Chemists discover unexpected enzyme structure that breaks down carbon dioxide Many microbes have an enzyme that can convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. This reaction is critical for building carbon compounds and generating energy, particularly for bacteria that live in oxygen-free environments. This enzyme is also of great interest to researchers who want to …

INRIX reveals the UK roads best suited for autonomous trucks INRIX, the global leader in connected vehicle services and transportation analytics, has identified corridors in the UK best suited for autonomous truck trials and deployment. The INRIX Automated Freight Corridor Assessment report, which also analyses Germany and the United States, concludes that a commercially viable …

Slipform paving kerbs on AutoPilot Producing kerbs as if by magic: in Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico in the US state of Alabama, a Wirtgen slipform paver SP 15i operated fully automatically. When a new residential area is developed, the individual contract work sections are often very detailed. Roads and paths have to …

Hyundai presents new Truck Fuel Cell Powertrain Hyundai Motor today presented a first look at a render image of a new truck with fuel cell powertrain which is set to be launched in 2019. After the ix35 Fuel Cell and the NEXO, Hyundai presents yet another milestone for its leadership in fuel cell technology with …

SMART Scaffolder launches upgraded SMART Apps SMART Scaffolder, the access and scaffolding industry’s leading professional software solution – has launched the latest update of its innovative SMART Inspector and SMART Handover apps. Version 4.0 of the ground-breaking scaffolding apps is a major upgrade – adding enhanced functionality that allows users to record diary notes, photos, …

MIT model helps robots navigate more like humans do When moving through a crowd to reach some end goal, humans can usually navigate the space safely without thinking too much. They can learn from the behavior of others and note any obstacles to avoid. Robots, on the other hand, struggle with such navigational concepts. MIT …

AGC awards the 2018 Innovation Award to Brayman and Advanced Construction Robotics Advanced Construction Robotics (ACR) and its integration partner Brayman Construction Corporation (Brayman) have been awarded the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Inaugural Innovation Award at the AGC Centennial celebration held in Washington, D.C. Monday, October 1, 2018 for their autonomous rebar-tying robot, TyBot. …

Parsons iNET Software integral to USA Northwest Corridor reversible express lanes The Metro-Atlanta Northwest Corridor’s reversible express lanes, made possible with Parsons iNet Software were officially opened to the public in a dedication ceremony that was held in September. Parsons was the lead designer for the Northwest Corridor project, which included the design and construction …

VolvoCE unveils electric compact wheel loader concept Volvo Construction Equipment demonstrated the LX2 electric compact wheel loader at the Volvo Group Innovation Summit in Berlin. The prototype machine delivers zero emissions, significantly lower noise levels, improved efficiency and reduced operational costs. Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) unveiled its latest concept machine – known as the …

Ground-breaking innovations for autonomous and electric transport solutions The Volvo Group continues its far-reaching drive to develop next-generation transport solutions. The latest examples include a system in which autonomous electric vehicles are coordinated to ensure as efficient, and safe goods transport as possible, as well as a new electric compact wheel loader concept. On September …

Construction at risk from hacking as attacks increase from 2K to 1.7M over last quarter IIS, Drupal, and Oracle WebLogic web technologies experienced increased attacks in Q2 2018. According to a new threat report from eSentire, Inc., the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, IIS attacks showed a 782x increase, from 2,000 to …

Snowtonomous connected and autonomous cars for Scotland “Snowtonomous driving” is the new buzz-phrase in the world of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) according to the Finnish Transport Agency, which has developed a 10km stretch of “intelligent” road for testing self-driving technology. Director of the Finnish Aurora project, Reija Viinanen, is one of the world’s leading …

Energi Mine partners with eGen Scooters to drive down emissions with ETK rewards Energi Mine and eGen Scooters have partnered up to help reinforce energy efficiency thus encouraging carbon emission reduction. eGen, the provider of high-quality electric scooters for universal use, will integrate Energi Mine’s blockchain-based EnergiToken (ETK) Rewards Platform, which incentivises people to act …

Siemens deploys 1,000th Traffic Enforcement Camera Siemens, a global leader in traffic management technology, has supplied and installed its 1,000th traffic enforcement camera in the UK this year to monitor traffic on the newly-constructed A612 Daleside Road bus lane, the first in the UK to allow exemptions to Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs). The milestone …

Smart Machines herald a digital future for Road Construction Rollers The “Quality Road Construction Baden-Württemberg 4.0” project needs machines that can communicate with one another digitally – and it also needs people who can operate these technologies. A machine operator reports on his experiences with a high-tech Ammann compactor that was deployed during the project. …

Automation and the global transport industry – what’s next? The global transport industry is asking just how smart, how safe and how secure transport can become? The potential is huge and the World Congress in Oman wants to bring the industry together to lay the ground for intelligent change. Attending the ITS World Congress in …

Exploring Construction Telematics – the power of the network Modern construction equipment needs telematics and telecoms networks. While there is significant machine-to-server activity there is far less vehicle-to-vehicle communication than many people think. In this article Michele Mackenzie, Principal Analyst for M2M (machine to machine) & IoT (internet of things) services at Analysys Mason explains …

Telensa Partners with FarSite for Wireless Bin Sensing for Smart Cities Telensa, the world leader in smart street lighting and smart city applications, today announced that it is working with FarSite Communications to integrate its wireless bin monitoring into the Telensa smart city dashboard. By deploying FarSite wireless netBin sensors, local authorities and their contractor …

Aviva, BP, Hastings Direct and Honda R&D Europe unite for the evolution of transport The founder members of a Shared Research Programme (SRP) have been announced today: Aviva, BP, Hastings Direct and Honda R&D Europe. These major companies have confirmed their investment into a 3 year foundation research programme, led by TRL in a strategic …

Nortech launches colour LED VMS Variable Message Signs Nortech has just launched a new range of Variable Message Signs (VMS) to add to its range of counting products. The high intensity, full colour LED sign is fully compliant with the European VMS standard EN12966, and offers bright, clear messages indicating available spaces and status messages. …

Driverless vehicles could allow London to reclaim over 6,300 hectares of land The push towards introducing driverless vehicles in the UK will have a significant impact on the shape of our cities, potentially freeing up over 6,300 hectares of land in London alone – enough space to build the equivalent of 180,000 much-needed new homes …

MIT designs new battery that gobbles up carbon dioxide A new type of battery developed by researchers at MIT could be made partly from carbon dioxide captured from power plants. Rather than attempting to convert carbon dioxide to specialized chemicals using metal catalysts, which is currently highly challenging, this battery could continuously convert carbon dioxide …

Clearview Intelligence offers long-term solutions for vehicle detection The annual JCT Symposium is the largest forum for signal engineers, bringing together traffic signal practitioners and manufacturers to foster relationships and drive innovation in signal engineering. A regular highlight in our event’s calendar, last week’s event did not disappoint. The event offered insight into innovations such …

Eurovia paves the future with automated surfacing Eurovia Contracting, experts at delivering highways and infrastructure schemes, is paving the future using an array of new technology including automated surfacing to increase safety, productivity and quality assurance on paving and surfacing contracts. A recent contract, renewing the road surface on the A505 Offley bypass near Hitchin …

How people are transforming the connected car The past decade has seen a radical transformation sweep the motor industry as global electric vehicle sales continue to gather pace. The British plug-in fleet is now the third largest in Europe and the pace of change shows no sign of slowing. New UK government initiatives, such as …

MIT Machine learning system observes objects change in only a few key frames Given only a few frames of a video, humans can usually surmise what is happening and will happen on screen. If we see an early frame of stacked cans, a middle frame with a finger at the stack’s base, and a late frame …

Ford introduces Inspection Drones to keep Engine Plant workers safe Imagine if a simple innovation suddenly allowed you to carry out an arduous – but essential – chore in a tenth of the time it would normally take and without the safety risks of working at height. That’s been the case for Ford employees who are …

New VMS Sign app delivers greater speed and flexibility Traffic managers are now able to control their variable message signs (VMS) with greater flexibility and speed, with a new app from VMS manufacturer and creator of intelligent transport system (ITS) products and integrated solutions, Bartco UK, and its sister company MVIS. BartcoLiveTM enables users of …

Sarcos Robotics raises US$30 Million in funding Sarcos® Robotics, a global leader in robotic systems that augment, rather than replace, humans working in the industrial, public safety and military sectors, today announced that it has secured $30 million in Series B funding from a consortium of investors co-led by DIG Investment and Alex. Brown. Each …

Out of the loop with wireless vehicle detection Delivering an effective traffic management solution whilst minimising the risk to road workers can be a difficult balance to strike. However, Clearview Intelligence is proof of how to bring about successful and practical benefits which satisfy the needs of road users whilst prioritising the welfare of roadworkers …

Jaguar Land Rover’s Virtual Eyes and Intelligent Pods study trust in self-driving vehicles Jaguar Land Rover has fitted ‘virtual eyes’ to intelligent pods to understand how humans will trust self-driving vehicles, as research studies suggest that as many as 63% of pedestrians worry about how safe it will be to cross the road in the …

AGD introduces key enhancements to its 318 Traffic Control Radar AGD Systems, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ITS product solutions, has just announced two major enhancements to its highly successful 318 Traffic Control Radar. Premiering at this year’s JCT Symposium and Exhibition, the 318 now includes an important new function: the ability to …

Energi Mine announces latest partnership with EV-port provider Solisco Energi Mine, the blockchain platform that financially rewards energy-saving behaviour has announced a partnership with Solisco, an electric vehicle charging solutions provider. The partnership will see Solisco work on a variety of projects with Energi Mine, integrating the company’s EnergiTokens (ETK) rewards platform into their commercial …

MIT research makes sprayed droplets hit and stick to their targets A team of MIT researchers has found a way to balance those properties and get the best of both — sprays that don’t drift too far but provide tiny droplets to stick to the surface. The team accomplished this in a surprisingly simple way, …

Sunshine Coast pilots Smart Street Lighting with Telensa in Australia Telensa, the market leader in connected street lighting and smart city applications, announced that it has been selected by Sunshine Coast Council to deploy its PLANet intelligent street lighting system, for a 24 month pilot in the Maroochydore City Centre development, and in nearby Evans …

Atkins explores the benefits of 5G connectivity for British roads Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, will be carrying out a 5G feasibility study to explore the benefits of increased investment in upgrading the connectivity on UK roads. The study will identify the short- and medium-term demand for connectivity, to ensure the road network …

Siemens Mobility supports UK CITE live testing for connected cars Following an extensive programme of laboratory and test-track testing, UK CITE, the project to create an advanced environment for connected and autonomous driving has now entered its second phase of trials which sees connected cars being tested on public roads. The trials are being undertaken …

Innovative solutions for time-consuming tasks Recent technical advancements have resulted in new and creative solutions that make time-consuming tasks quicker and more precise than ever before. From the highly technical to the wonderfully simple we look at four industry innovations that are boosting uptime. 1. Digital Twinning Dubbed the Fourth Industrial Revolution digital twinning is …

ORBCOMM adds data analytics to industrial IoT solutions ORBCOMM, a global provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, announced that it has released a new Cloud-based analytics service that leverages their extensive telematics expertise and industry-leading portfolio of IoT solutions to provide greater insights into the operations of its customers’ enterprises. With …

Road safety solutions could bring National Road Victim Month to an end With good weather enticing people out of their homes, into their cars and onto their bicycles, most of us associate August as the heart of summer. It’s a chance to enjoy the sunshine, head to the beach and enjoy days out with the kids. …

How Artificial Intelligence can impact your Civil Engineering career Artificial intelligence has made an impact in almost every industrial sector, and civil engineering is now joining the bandwagon as well. According to a report by McKinsey, the civil construction sector has a net worth of more than $10 trillion a year, and while it has …

Ford’s cycling jacket makes bicycles smarter and safer Finding the way through busy streets on two wheels can be daunting and for cyclists who take their eyes off the road to glance at navigation apps, this can also increase risk – both for them and for other road-users and pedestrians. Now, a group of cycle-enthusiast employees …

Back to the Future for transport In the film “Back to the future II” from 1989, the main characters Marty McFly and his friend Doc are seen taking advantage of futuristic transport, driving around in a car up in the sky. It all takes place in the year 2015, and they are probably some thirty …

Pro Rail Services choose GKD Technologies RCI’s for new Doosan RRV fleet Pro Rail Services is a family owned and run rail project management business, established in 2012, based in Rudgwick, located in the heart of the West Sussex countryside. Richard Rowell is the company’s Operations Manager, who is responsible for looking after the Plant …

SICK LiDAR sensor technology raises the bar for accurate and reliable sensing With the launch of the LMS1000 and MRS1000 infrared LiDAR sensors, SICK has raised the bar in high-precision, reliable distance sensing and ranging. They deliver more accurate and reliable distance sensing and measurement, especially in difficult environmental conditions. Ideal for outdoor traffic control, …

Wireless vehicle detection installation is cheaper and better than inductive loops Efficient traffic light control systems are dependent on knowing where vehicles are and where traffic is building on the roads leading up to them. This intelligence relies on vehicle detection data, which can come from inductive loops or magnetometer sensors. The method of vehicle …

Audi and Ericsson pioneering 5G for automotive manufacturing Premium automobile manufacturer Audi, and 5G innovation leader, Ericsson are announcing plans to pioneer the use of 5G technology for automotive production. At Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, the two companies agreed on a range of activities exploring the potential of 5G as a future-proof communication technology …

Sunshine lighting up the A38 in England’s East Midlands As England basks in a heatwave, the power of the sun is helping light the way for motorists in the East Midlands. Highways England has installed more than 4,500 innovative solar road studs that harness sunlight in the daytime and light up the road at night, helping …

Tarmac boosts highways productivity with cutting-edge logistics software Tarmac, the UK’s leading highways services and sustainable construction solutions business, has become this first in the UK to adopt a cutting-edge planning and real-time software technology to optimise road construction logistics and boost productivity. Developed by consulting and process optimisation company Volz Consulting GmbH, the BPO …

Mapping the impact of electric vehicle uptake Chris Evans, Deputy Managing Director at Rolton Group explores how electric vehicle uptake will impact power supply, energy security and the highways of the future. With almost 168,000 electric vehicles (EVs) registered in the UK, the British plug-in fleet is the fourth largest in Europe – and the …

Five of the cleverest environmentally friendly innovations Climate change is a reality and we know that it is accelerated by our actions. But humans are by nature innovative and although our industrial revolution may have had huge environmental impacts, it is our technological revolution that might just save the day. Here we look at some …

Construction is getting ready for Clean Technology Technology has the power to make construction cleaner, smarter and more efficient – yet progress has been slow. How can the industry take full advantage of intelligent automation? Alastair Hayfield, Research Director at Interact Analysis, shares his insights. Alastair Hayfield has over 10 years’ experience leading research activities …

Cleverciti Systems Americas gets a high-flying General Manager Cleverciti Systems delivers high-tech solutions for outdoor and on-street parking detection, monitoring and guidance. They have just announced that Steve Gorski has joined the company as General Manager of the Americas. He will leverage his expertise with innovative technology and high-growth-focused organizations to spearhead opportunity for Cleverciti’s …

Scott Parnell launches new product to support digital railway future Network Rail-approved supplier Scott Parnell has launched its latest product for the rail industry. The ARCOsizeZERO is an elevated troughing system for the easy installation of lightweight fibre optic cables which will form the backbone of the digital age. The new product is an extension …

NIC calls Ofgem proposals a good step to preparing UK for Electric Vehicles Sir John Armitt, Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), today welcomed moves by energy regulator Ofgem to prepare the UK’s electricity network for the onset of electric vehicles. The chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission said the proposed initiatives would help …

MIT Study finds climate determines the shape of river basins According to MIT, there are more than 1 million river basins carved into the topography of the United States, each collecting rainwater to feed the rivers that cut through them. Some basins are as small as individual streams, while others span nearly half the continent, …

Envenio launches BIM and CFD survey Engineering software developer, Envenio, has launched an online BIM (Building Information Modeling) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Survey. The 5-6 minute survey has been designed to collect baseline data directly from industry, and aims to find out more about BIM and the role for CFD in building design and …

Ofgem proposes electricity reforms to support electric vehicle revolution Ofgem has set out proposals to take forward reforms to support millions of new electric vehicles forecast on Britain’s roads in the coming decades while keeping costs down for their users and all energy consumers. More flexible use of the energy system will allow more electric …

MIT cell-sized robots can sense environment as they flow through pipelines Researchers at MIT have created what may be the smallest cell-sized robots yet that can sense their environment, store data, and even carry out computational tasks. These devices, which are about the size of a human egg cell, consist of tiny electronic circuits made …

Telensa Smart Streetlight deployed in Edinburgh’s 64,000 light Energy Efficiency Program Telensa, the global leader in connected street lighting and smart city applications, today announced that its smart streetlight controls are being deployed in 64,000 LED lights as part of the City of Edinburgh’s energy efficiency program. Telensa was selected by digital transformation leader CGI …

Small Robot Company crowdfunds £50,000 to transform farming The Small Robot Company, a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, today announced it has successfully raised £50,000 with its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. The company harnesses the power and precision of robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the way that food is produced and minimise chemical …

Urban Observatory monitors Newcastle with new generation of sensors Air Monitors is playing a key role in the UK’s first Urban Observatory which has been designed to provide a digital view of how our cities work. The company has supplied air quality monitoring equipment which has been deployed across Newcastle and Gateshead in conjunction with …

Yotta’s Horizons helps drive enhanced asset management for Cheshire East Highways Cheshire East Council is the local authority of Cheshire East in England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. It provides a full range of local government services. The highways department within the council is …

Baron releases solution for Departments of Transportation Enables live, statewide, real-time monitoring of roadway weather conditions Baron Services, the worldwide provider of critical weather intelligence, has released a new product offering specifically designed for Department of Transportation services across the U.S. The solution will provide a single comprehensive source for the display and monitoring of …

Eurovia Surfacing takes part in innovative automatic braking system trial Eurovia Surfacing has joined forces with key supply chain partner Sims Milling to help trial a new innovative automatic braking system that could save the lives of workers and pedestrians. The ‘Banksman Auto Braking’ radar system is designed to remove the risk of accidents whilst …

New autonomous vehicle system connects Road Authorities with vehicle operators Highly Automated Vehicles (HAV) are currently testing on public roads in fewer than 50 cities around the world, but more markets are interested in bringing this new technology to their streets. INRIX, the leader in connected car services and transport analytics has announced a new …

Aston Martin introduces flying car concept at Farnborough British luxury brand Aston Martin is today presenting the Volante Vision Concept, a luxury concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities. Produced in partnership with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Rolls-Royce, the concept aircraft aims to bring luxury personal transportation to the sky. The …

Simple and smart parking solutions for council car parks Parking is one of the few sources of revenue for Britain’s local councils, who received a record £819 million from parking fees in the 2016/17 financial year. While the headlines framed this as pure profit, in the industry it is recognised how vital this revenue is …

MIT Chip upgrade will help honeybee-sized drones navigate around us Researchers at MIT, who last year designed a tiny computer chip tailored to help honeybee-sized drones navigate, have now shrunk their chip design even further, in both size and power consumption. The team, co-led by Vivienne Sze, associate professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering …

Biral launches road weather sensor designed for road tunnel applications Meteorological equipment specialist Biral has just launched its new RWS-30 Road Tunnel Weather Sensor. The sensor is easily integrated with systems in road and tunnel applications and monitors obstruction to vision caused by fog, smoke and exhaust fumes. The RWS-30 is designed for use in …

Geotab interactive infographic showcases the Evolution of America’s Interstate Highways Geotab, a global leader in IoT and connected transportation, today announced the launch of its interactive infographic depicting the evolution of America’s iconic Interstate Highway System. The interactive timeline allows users to watch the network expand over the years, providing a detailed look at the …

BIM there, done that? In our recent review of the second edition of the CIC BIM protocol (Second Helpings) we noted references to an Asset Information Model (AIM), which had been introduced into the second edition and suggested that the implications of using the protocol for the Facilities Management (FM) phase of a project needed …

New IoT SmartWater technology launched to revolutionise gully management A new Internet of Things predictive technology software, called SmartWater, for gully management, developed with support from Lancaster University, Innovate UK and the Department of Transport, has been launched nationwide after effective trials took place. The product created by software and technology SME InTouch Ltd, is …

Renault Trucks unveils its second generation of electric trucks After ten years of experimentation under actual operating conditions with its customer-partners, Renault Trucks unveil its second generation of all-electric vehicles: the Renault Master Z.E., Renault Trucks D Z.E. and Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E., a complete range from 3.5 to 26 tonnes ideally suited for …

AGD Systems exhibiting at Traffex Seeing is Believing at Bruntingthorpe AGD Systems, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of ITS product solutions, is to exhibit at this year’s Traffex Seeing is Believing (SIB) – 27-28 June 2018 at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire. At Traffex SIB AGD will showcase its WiFi-enabled, IP-capable 645 Pedestrian Detector – now with …

Highways England A14 Team lights up with Prolectric Solar lighting The Highways England A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme has become the first UK project to switch to temporary lighting powered by Prolectric sunshine in preference to diesel. The A14 Integrated Delivery Team (IDT), working on behalf of Highways England, is currently the largest user …

Grayhill updates CANbus Keypads and MMI Controllers for Off-highway machines Grayhill announces the release of an exciting line of updated CANbus keypads and MMI Controllers for off-highway vehicles. As the originators of CANbus Keypads and Jog Dial controls intended the Off-Highway marketplace since 2003, Grayhill has developed the new line of CANbus keypads and MMI …

Marking a future for autonomous self driving cars Good signing and road markings could cut run-off crashes by up to 80% over the next 30-40 years with the car of the future. These may be the easiest crashes to prevent in cars that can “read” road signs and white lines. But worn out road markings …

Oregon DOT integrates and modernises legacy systems with AssetWise The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is responsible for managing over 8,000 miles of state and interstate highways within Oregon as well as managing programs related to highways, roads and bridges, railways, public transportation services, transportation safety programs, and motor carrier regulation. Until recently, ODOT managed …

Energi Mine and Electra Commercial Vehicles partnership set to bring zero-emission heavy goods vehicles to urban areas Energi Mine, the blockchain platform that financially rewards energy saving behaviour using EnergiTokens (ETK), has announced a partnership with Electra Commercial Vehicles, the UK company that aims to provide commercial vehicle operators with clean, zero-emission solutions for heavy …

Small Robot Company a finalist in Tech4Good Awards for sustainable farming robotics Small Robot Company, a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, today announced that it is a finalist for the prestigious AgilityNet Tech4Good Awards. The company harnesses the power and precision of robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the way that food is …

GKD Technologies launch new Road Rail Rated Capacity Indicator with SpaceGuard GKD Technologies design, develop and produce height, slew and load safety control systems for Road Rail vehicles (RRV’s) and general construction equipment such as excavators. GKD’s rated capacity indicators are the preferred system across the UK rail network, and the systems are now sought …

Alternative vehicle detection for MIDAS magnetometer and radar-based detection The Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling (MIDAS) system uses various types of vehicle detection technology to monitor traffic flow and speed. This is used to generate alerts for congestion on the road ahead and to drive variable speed limit signs such as those now being …

Technology Award for smart hydraulic Hybrid Excavator from VolvoCE A concept for a smart hydraulic hybrid excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment has received the Volvo Technology Award 2018. Engineers from Volvo Construction Equipment are celebrating after winning the Volvo Technology Award for their smart hydraulic hybrid excavator concept. The innovation – which is currently just …

Thatcham Research and Association of British Insurers warn Autonomous Cars a danger Thatcham Research and the ABI (Association of British Insurers) are today issuing an urgent call to carmakers and legislators for greater clarity around the capability of vehicles sold with technology that does more and more driving on behalf of motorists. The call comes …

Volvo pushes Load Assist real-time on-board weighing accuracy to one percent The updated Load Assist, On-Board Weighing, from Volvo Construction Equipment provides payload accuracy within ± 1% on every bucket, while the machine is moving. Volvo Construction Equipment has updated the Load Assist application for its L110H to L260H wheel loaders and, together with a …

Glaston is participating in Finland’s first industry oriented machine learning project Launched within the framework of DIMECC Oy’s LIFEX programme, the MIDAS project, which focuses on artificial intelligence, is Finland’s first machine learning project in industry. In addition to Glaston, the key actors of the two-year group project are Novatron, Nokia Technologies, Epec and Tampere …

Trace Software exhibiting for a second year at Intersolar Europe For its second consecutive year, Trace Software International confirms it will be an exhibitor at Intersolar Europe, taking place 20th – 22nd of June at the Messe München exhibition center in Munich, Germany – Stand B3-575. With a unique know-how and more than 30 years …

MIT develops novel transmitter to protect wireless IoT data from hackers Today, more than 8 billion devices, including construction machinery, are connected around the world, forming an internet of things (IoT). By 2020, experts estimate that number will rise to more than 20 billion devices, all uploading and sharing data online. But those devices are …

Hong Kong Highways Department selects Telensa for Yuen Long Smart Street Lighting pilot Telensa, the market leader the leader in connected street lighting and smart city applications, today announced that it has been selected by the Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) to deploy its PLANet intelligent street lighting system …

Moonshadow Mobile partners with INRIX to deliver Travel Pattern Analytics Platform Moonshadow Mobile, Inc. announced a partnership with INRIX, the world leader in transportation analytics and connected car services, to incorporate INRIX Trips Reports into Moonshadow’s DB4IoT platform. The solution offers transportation agencies an intuitive, cloud-based origin-destination analytics platform for understanding the trips consumers and …

Inrix Emergency Alert Service connects Transportation Agencies with drivers INRIX, the world leader in connected car services and transportation analytics, and Information Logistics (ILog) has announced a new emergency alert service for transportation agencies to assist with detecting and managing large-scale highway emergencies. Highway Emergency Link Platform (HELP) is a turnkey service that enables agency …

Brokk highlights SmartConcept technology for next generation Demolition Machines Brokk, the world’s leading manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition machines, launches Brokk SmartConcept™, a set of technological features that offer improvements in power management, reliability, maintainability and ergonomics. Included with the four new next generation Brokk remote-controlled demolition machines —launched at INTERMAT Paris 2018 — the technology …

New British technology turns windows into solar panels turning skyscrapers into power stations Britain’s estimated 1 billion windows could become the power generators of the future, letting light through while harnessing solar energy. A Cambridge firm, Polysolar, which is manufacturing transparent solar panels, predicts that they could eventually replace conventional carbon emitting energy sources, such …

StreetLight Data launches initiative to assess how different types of travel interact StreetLight Data, Inc., the mobility analytics company that brings real-world travel patterns to light by launching their Multimodal Measurement Initiative (M²Initiative) to measure the way all modes of travel interact. This includes trips made by personal vehicles, public transit, walking, biking, commercial trucks, …

Mack Trucks plan to have a fully electric refuse vehicle in 2019 Mack Trucks, a part of Volvo Group, plans to have a fully electric Mack LR refuse model equipped with an integrated Mack electric drivetrain operating in North America in 2019. The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), one of Mack´s largest customers, …

Calculator App for dump trucks and construction puts everyday math in your pocket This morning, MyLogic, Inc., announced the launch of Dump Truck Math, a mobile app available for both iOS and Android devices. Dump Truck Math was designed with estimators, foremen, and truck owners in mind and includes a variety of calculations to help …

The Volvo Ocean Race signals the start for electric articulated buses in Gothenburg When Gothenburg, Sweden, welcomes the Volvo Ocean Race on June 14–21, the city will also welcome two concept all-electric articulated Volvo buses which will carry visitors between downtown Nordstan and the event venue in Frihamnen. From June 25 the new buses, which …

Scientists invent Bio-Bitumen to pave roads using plastic and other mixed wastes Scientists at Aston University have developed Bio-Bitumen, a new way to convert organic bin waste such as decomposed food, paper and plastic into a substance suitable for laying roads and pavements. The process, developed by academics at the university’s European Bioenergy Research Institute …

GKD Technologies safeguarding both man and machine GKD Technologies is a leading provider of systems designed for safeguarding personnel and machines. The company, based in the South of England, was founded by current CEO, Nick Ground in 1992. Here Nick Ground talks about the company’s origins and the journey to global success… Nick’s background was …

A first in Pavement Striping Assessment for the USA Striping Service and Supply, Inc. (SSS) is the first USA striping contractor certified by TxDOT to operate the RetroTek-MU road striping Retro-reflectometer. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) stringent certification program provides a quantitative basis for evaluating the ability of a contractor to operate their retro-reflectometer …

Metso updates Expertune PlantTriage software with advanced analysis and cybersecurity Metso has announced a new version of its Metso Expertune PlantTriage control loop monitoring software. The newest version further improves process plant operational efficiency, reduces cybersecurity risks, and helps to improve profitability. This version provides a clearer view of PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) tuning benefits via a …

Enhanced vehicle detectors by Nortech now connect to your smartphone People and Vehicle Access control system specialists Nortech have designed a range of enhanced vehicle detectors that can be set up using a smartphone app and can identify the presence of vehicles through an inductive loop buried beneath a road. The latest range of easy-to-install …

Intelligent Compaction and Infrared Scanning improving road construction in Missouri The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) executed a year-long project throughout 2017 to demonstrate the use of intelligent compaction (IC), infrared scanning (IR), and Veta software to improve pavement construction operations. “We were looking for ways to assess quality in asphalt projects,” said Bill Stone, …

Autonomous cargo boat fleets could service cities, reducing road traffic The future of transportation in waterway-rich cities such as Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Venice — where canals run alongside and under bustling streets and bridges — may include autonomous boats that ferry goods and people, helping clear up road congestion. Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and …

Green light for research project with HGVs using overhead power lines on German roads The German Federal Ministry for the Environment today gave the green light for a subsidised pilot project to conduct research and development on the electrification of long-haul HGV trucks. The electricity supply for the heavy goods vehicles is provided by means …

GKD Technologies featuring the SensorSafe Rail Range at Rail Live GKD Technologies design, develop and produce height, slew and load safety control systems for Road Rail vehicles (RRV’s) and general construction equipment such as excavators. The company will be exhibiting at the forthcoming Rail Live exhibition 20–21 June 2018, Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Warwickshire, showing …

The top five technologies to make construction safer As one of the most hazardous industries in the world, it’s no surprise that construction workers need to take care every day on the job. The complex nature of construction sites means they can be a health and safety nightmare – electricity cables, moving objects, working at …

Technology will evolve the Parking Industry With the pace of change in technology and the hype surrounding the arrival of autonomous cars, the parking industry needs to look at the likely developments in the parking sector and need to be thinking of how to maintain a positive parking experience for all. The first step is …

John Deere adds Grade Guidance to 210G LC Excavator and updates 130G – 470G LC models John Deere added grade guidance technology to the 210G LC excavator and made numerous other customer-inspired updates to improve productivity, uptime and lower daily operating costs on the 13 to 47 ton models. The grade guidance system provides operators …

MIT Researchers develop virtual reality testing ground for drones Training drones to fly fast, around even the simplest obstacles, is a crash-prone exercise that can have engineers repairing or replacing vehicles with frustrating regularity. Now MIT engineers have developed a new virtual reality training system for drones that enables a vehicle to “see” a rich, virtual …

Developing current technology is just as important as new ideas Having disruptive shifts in technology seems to have gathered a lot of support over the past 10 years with an autonomous future promising many benefits, but it is only through concentrating on how to utilise existing technology in new ways that this promised future stands …

telent Technology playing an important part of Britain’s railway technology transformation A technological transformation across more than 70% of the UK rail network is on its way, delivering faster, more frequent, safer services to millions of passengers across the country and due for completion by the time HS2 arrives in Manchester. Network Rail’s vision for …

2018 proves a promising year for Biral Following a strong start to 2018, leading meteorological specialist Biral has been busy showcasing its popular products at exhibitions around the world and featuring in a number of high profile projects. Biral’s Marketing Director Nathan Neal is delighted with the company’s progress commenting, “Further products will come out …

Road Resurfacing Simplified – Critical data collected at highway speed Traditionally, highway resurfacing projects have been a challenge, not only for the contractor, but the inconvenienced community through which the road passes. To collect the project data needed to perform the resurface, typically required lane closures and a team of surveyors collecting data points from …

Drone technology for Asset Inventory Management Every year, companies carry out expensive and time consuming inventories within their warehouses and outside storage areas. Undertaking an inventory can require a huge mobilisation of material and human resources, which often involves stopping onsite activity. This can have a detrimental impact on a company’s business. ProDroneWorx has developed …

ELE launches new geotechnical testing software ELE International has launched a new version of its dedicated software for soils testing to BS, ASTM and AASTHO standards. Designed specifically for geotechnical laboratories, the new DS 7.3 software contains a range of advanced features including compatibility with Microsoft Windows 10, Office 2016 and 365. Providing the ability …

New CAN-Bus Keypad and MMI Controller Tech delivers enhanced functionality in a smaller package The introduction of Controller Area Network (CAN-bus) architecture for the engine control interface in off-highway vehicles has opened up a new world of user interface possibilities. CAN-bus offers vehicle owners greater flexibility and functionality in a much smaller package, while offering …

Volvo Trucks presents their second electric truck model in three weeks Just three weeks after the unveiling of Volvo Trucks’ first all-electric truck, the Volvo FL Electric, the company is expanding its product range with yet another electric truck. The Volvo FE Electric is designed for heavier city distribution and refuse transport operations with gross …

Deliver effective route safety solutions for complex road safety challenges If you are responsible for reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on your road network you likely already know where the issues lie. Similarly, if you’re committed to keeping traffic flowing, you understand the drastic effect that even a minor accident can …

Digital Metso Metrics solution for waste recycling to be launched at IFAT Germany Metso will launch Metso Metrics solution for mobile M&J pre-shredders at IFAT 2018, which takes place from May 14 to May 18 in Munich, Germany. The digital solution enables further optimization of shredder capacity, efficiency and reliability with near real-time data. “Tracking …

StreetLight Data unveils congestion beating traffic diagnostics tool StreetLight Data, Inc., the mobility analytics company that brings real-world travel patterns to light, today officially launched its new Traffic Diagnostics tool to better diagnose the cause of traffic jams and identify high-value solutions. The Traffic Diagnostics tool also integrates lessons from leading transportation thinkers. The result …

Volvo cars and trucks communicate to increase traffic safety Volvo, the premium car maker, and leading truck maker Volvo Trucks will share real-time data to expand coverage of the companies’ connected safety technology, a cloud-based system that allows vehicles to communicate with each other and alert drivers of nearby hazards. This is the first instance of Volvo Cars sharing …

Brigade showcases new Radar for construction OEM and specialist applications Brigade Electronics returns to Hillhead this year with a range of robust vehicle safety devices including Backsense®, the most affordable radar on the market and NEW Backsense® Network-radar designed for OEM’s. Brigade’s Backsense® emits a continuous wave radar which is faster than competitor pulsed radar …

The Here and There of Dirt Providing dirt contractors with critical cut and fill quantities for their projects In the early 2000s, Jim Hammond did something historic in his life. He decides to shift his highway and heavy civil construction career to begin working for the toughest boss he’s ever known… himself. Hammond launched Hammond …

Driver Alerts: Your Headlights into Hazardous Weather Conditions Drivers are on the front lines of every ground transportation operation – they experience first-hand the weather and road conditions that define the transportation experience from origin to destination. And, the job isn’t an easy one. They have to manage schedules and plan for efficiency to keep …

MIT Chemical Engineers discover how to control knots that form in DNA molecules Just like any long polymer chain, DNA tends to form knots. Using technology that allows them to stretch DNA molecules and image the behavior of these knots, MIT researchers have discovered, for the first time, the factors that determine whether a knot …

PODFather delivers Track and Trace for Tarmac’s 1,800 strong fleet network Tarmac, the UK’s leading building materials and construction solutions business is now working with Edinburgh-based PODFather to deploy a logistics planning and live customer delivery tracking solution across its 1,800-strong vehicle fleet and that of its extensive subcontractor network. The fleet, which operates from …

Citilabs leverages location data to create US wide analytics with pedestrian movements Leading mobility analytics solution provider Citilabs, harnessing smart phone and mobile app data, today announced that its revolutionary population movement analytics platform, Streetlytics, now includes the first-of-its-kind pedestrian analytics dataset. The Citilabs’ Streetlytics platform leverages information from billions of data points to measure …

Jaguar Land Rover and INRIX awarded grant to increase Autonomous Vehicle safety   INRIX, the world leader in connected car services and transportation analytics, and the AutopleX consortium, led by Jaguar Land Rover, have announced that the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles has awarded £4.7 million to significantly enhance autonomous vehicle (AV) capabilities in …

Volvo Assist and Co-Pilot in-cab display unveiled at Intermat 2018 Volvo Construction Equipment showcases the full range of Volvo Assist solutions, all powered by the state-of-the-art Volvo Co-Pilot in-cab display. At Intermat 2018 Volvo Construction Equipment showcases its most advanced approach to machine management in the industry with an expanded range of intelligent machine control systems. …

Tarmac’s digital delivery tracking system boosts efficiency and customer service Tarmac, the UK’s leading construction solutions company, has enhanced its logistics capabilities for customers with the roll out of an innovative new digital delivery tracking solution across its 1,800-strong vehicle fleet, which is set to deliver improved efficiency and boost customer service. Delivered in collaboration …

Helix Core from Perforce chosen for Transurban’s IoT Urban Road Infrastructure Projects Perforce Software, a provider of solutions to enterprise teams requiring productivity, visibility, and scale along the development lifecycle, announced that Helix Core is the chosen version control system to support Transurban’s extremely large DevOps-based development projects. Transurban’s projects include express lanes and tunnels …

Protect your business against Cyber Attacks As companies introduce connected technologies into the workplace and on the jobsite, they increase the risk of cyber attacks. Cyber attacks are affecting companies of all sizes. Smaller companies may actually be at higher risk if they don’t think it can happen to them and don’t take precautions. Don’t …

Trimble announces new Surveying solutions Trimble has launched the Trimble® TSC7 Controller, a new field solution for land and civil construction surveyors. The TSC7, combined with specialized software, defines the next generation of data collection and computing for mobile workers. The Trimble TSC7 brings powerful enhancements to the field and was designed based on customer …

Self-healing metal oxides developed by MIT could protect against corrosion An ultrathin layer of aluminum oxide, though solid, can flow like a liquid instead of cracking. Researchers have found that a solid oxide protective coating for metals can, when applied in sufficiently thin layers, deform as if it were a liquid, filling any cracks and gaps …

Innovations that will bring construction equipment costs down The cost of owning a machine is much more than just the initial purchase price. As soon as the engine is started, construction equipment operating costs start to mount up. So knowing the combined life cycle costs and equipping machines with the right features is crucial in getting …

HiQ and Ammann develop Q Point open digital platform for the construction industry Austrian construction process specialist hiQ solutions GmbH is joining forces with the Ammann Group’s Digital Products team to create Q Point: the brand name for the new, high-performance provider of a manufacturer-independent, open digital platform for the construction industry. Q Point opens …

Cape Verde to host first SINN Power wave energy project With the signed agreement between SINN Power and Fazenda de Camarão, SINN Power is all set to begin the company’s first commercial wave energy project on Cape Verde. For hundreds of years, huge waves have crashed onto the long, rocky shores of São Vicente. Still, …

Safer roads to beat the holiday traffic The Easter break is traditionally a time when the UK population hit the roads to visit friends and family, or just take a hard-earned break from work. This year will likely be no different with drivers expected to complete nearly 19m separate leisure journeys by car this coming …

Ammann trench roller features ACEecon Intelligent Compaction System The system, ACEecon, eliminates guesswork by measuring compaction progress in real time. The information is communicated to the operator via an LED display on top of the machine. Without the system, the operator must estimate the compaction level. If the operator overestimates compaction, he might depart prematurely …

TyBot and Brayman Construction selected as national finalist for 2018 Innovation Award The TyBot / Brayman team was recently selected as a Top 3 National Finalist for the inaugural 2018 Innovation Award presented by The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). As finalists, the team will present at the AGC Centennial Celebration in Washington D.C. …

Ammann brings telematics to small rollers for accurate networked fleet monitoring Since the beginning of the year, Ammann has made it possible to optimise maintenance as well as fleet control and rental by way of an innovative tool: Ammann ServiceLink, which provides practical digital control of key machine data for compactors of the APR, APH …

John Deere adds SmartGrade capabilities to the Power-Angle-Tilt Dozer North America’s largest Power-Angle-Tilt (PAT) crawler dozer now boasts the benefits of John Deere SmartGrade™. Adding SmartGrade technology to the Dubuque, Iowa, manufactured 950K PAT improves the quality of work and job site accuracy through the complete integration of the Topcon 3D-MC2 Grade-Control System. The system …

Innovation is Here Conference explored the 4th industrial revolution The recent CEA Annual conference (One Great George Street London) was attended by over 190 delegates from the Construction Equipment sector, including guests from leading contractors Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall and Keltbray. The conference also attracted guests from Government departments such as the Department for International …

3 things you should know about 3D Printing Construction Equipment If you were at CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2017, you may have seen the unveiling of the world’s first 3D-printed excavator at the event’s inaugural Tech Experience. It was more than just an attention-getter, 3D printing has slowly but surely developed into a disruptive technology poised to …

MIT looks for a better approach in battery material design A new approach to analyzing and designing new ion conductors — a key component of rechargeable batteries — could accelerate the development of high-energy lithium batteries, and possibly other energy storage and delivery devices such as fuel cells, researchers say. The new approach relies on …

Volvo Electric articulated buses being tested in Sweden In June, regular traffic with electrified buses will expand in Gothenburg. Two prototype all-electric articulated buses will be tested on part of route 16, which has frequent departures and carries a large number of passengers. The trial is being run within the framework of ElectriCity, which since …

Volvo Construction starts 3D printing spare parts Volvo Construction Equipment moves into a new dimension to assist customers in supplying spare parts, and as part of its commitment to the research and development of new products. As the construction industry looks to new methods for efficient production, equipment manufacturers are likewise exploring additional ways to …

Construction Simulator 2 celebrates first anniversary In order to fittingly celebrate the first anniversary of the successful Construction Simulator 2 for iPhone and iPad as well as smartphones and tablets using Android™, astragon Entertainment GmbH und weltenbauer. The games of the Construction Simulator franchise offer players a unique opportunity to become true construction heroes and …

British workers demand more automation A new report suggests that fear of automation among British workers is not as prevalent as people assume. Findings indicate that in many cases, employees would actually welcome greater automation in the workplace – with nearly half claiming they could get between 25 and 50 per cent more work done …

FLIR Launches Thermal Traffic Sensor for Vehicle-to-Everything Communication FLIR ThermiCam V2X Thermal Sensor to be Critical Component in Smart City and Connected Vehicle Applications FLIR Systems has announced the launch of the FLIR ThermiCam™ V2X, a thermal traffic sensor for the emerging vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology market. The FLIR V2X-enabled traffic sensor for urban traffic will …

Milton Keynes takes part in autonomous vehicle trial on public roads A team from Ringway East Midlands Milton Keynes contract has taken part in the groundbreaking trial of autonomous vehicles on public UK roads. Two Ringway trucks provided a rolling roadblock behind an autonomous Jaguar Land Rover vehicle being trialled on the city’s roads for …

SCRAPER for remote control of construction machines via augmented reality at Intermat DIGGER DTR has designed and produced machines for use in the most dangerous and exposed areas of the world for the past 20 years and in almost 15 countries. Their priorities are the safety of the operators and the efficiency of their work. …

Optimise your car park to remove stress and help drivers find every last space UK drivers spend an astonishing average of four days a year looking for a parking spot and more than half of UK drivers report suffering stress as a result of not being able to park according to a recent survey. In …

Trace Software will be showcasing their engineering software at NAPEC in Algeria Trace Software International, the innovative company committed to the development of software solutions for the engineering industry since 1987, is thrilled to announce that will exhibit at the 8th North Africa Petroleum Exhibition & Conference – NAPEC – at the Oran Convention Centre …

MIT develops depth-sensing imaging system that can peer through fog MIT researchers have developed a system that can produce images of objects shrouded by fog so thick that human vision can’t penetrate it. It can also gauge the objects’ distance. An inability to handle misty driving conditions has been one of the chief obstacles to …

BIRAL returns to Intermet Asia in Singapore Meteorological specialists, Biral is attending the InterMet Asia show in Singapore next month to showcase its new and popular meteorological products. Biral’s Marketing Director, Nathan Neal, will be at the show demonstrating a wide variety of meteorological equipment. These are the BTD-300 Thunderstorm Detector, VPF-730 and SWS-200 Visibility …

Max Fordham’s SoundSpace makes a noise about the importance of acoustic design   It is essential for engineers and architects to demonstrate how a project will look to a client before building gets underway. As well as being an intrinsic part of the design process, technology makes it possible to produce photo-realistic images and to-scale …

MIT research into seismic imaging could map the interior structures of the Earth When an earthquake strikes, nearby seismometers pick up its vibrations in the form of seismic waves. In addition to revealing the epicenter of a quake, seismic waves can give scientists a way to map the interior structures of the Earth using seismic …

Cruise Control: Better transportation through seasonal and hyperlocal weather forecasts For freight and logistics firms, the spring and summer months might not have the hazards of black ice and snow, but dangers are still a very present part of the safety and efficiency discussion. Severe storms, ponding, and wind gusts are all top concerns that …

Volvo Buses has sold 4,000 electrified buses Volvo Buses has now sold more than 4000 electrified Volvo buses to customers the world over. The latest order is for 90 hybrid buses from Brussels. Volvo Buses is one of the world´s leading developers of electric and hybrid buses. The advanced technology used in Volvo´s electric buses is …

Robotic process automation, AI and biometrics to drive digital change in transport 6-in-10 transport leaders believe technology is key to helping Britain overcome the socioeconomic issues it faces today, according to Fujitsu’s Technology in a Transforming Britain. The findings highlight the industry’s belief that technology is central to its future success; 87 percent believe technology …

Atlas Copco Power Technique unveils vision for Powering the Future of global industry The leadership team of the Atlas Copco Power Technique business area has presented a strategic vision outlining how mega-trends such as digitalisation and the construction of smart cities will be powered by cleaner and more connected energy source technologies. Under the theme …

GKD Technologies upgrade 2RCi load indicator to include virtual wall functions UK based, GKD Technologies designs electronic sensor technology and software for use as safety warning devices to protect people, machines and equipment in construction, earth moving and rail industries. The company has recently upgraded its GKD 2RCi rated capacity load indicator, which is designed …

MSU developing high-strength Concrete to save Montana time and money In a lab at Montana State University, researchers use massive hydraulic pistons to crush samples of concrete in order to determine the material’s strength. To test what’s called ultra-high performance concrete, they’ve had to ratchet up the force. “One little square inch of this concrete …

MIT and newly formed company launch novel approach to fusion power Goal is for research to produce a working pilot plant within 15 years. Progress toward the long-sought dream of fusion power — potentially an inexhaustible and zero-carbon source of energy — could be about to take a dramatic leap forward. Development of this carbon-free, …

hiQ and Ammann join forces to create Q Point for the construction industry Austrian construction process specialist hiQ solutions GmbH is joining forces with the Ammann Group’s Digital Products team to create Q Point: the brand name for the new, high-performance provider of a manufacturer-independent, open digital platform for the construction industry. Q Point opens …

Komatsu celebrates 10 years of Autonomous Haulage with plans to accelerate mining automation Komatsu is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the commercial deployment of their Autonomous Haulage System. More than 100 Autonomous Haulage System trucks now operate in Australia, North and South America. Based on the 10-year proven record of safety, productivity, environmental resistance and …

Boels Elevates their new Skyjack fleet Skyjack has announced the launch of their Elevate off-highway telematics solution (powered by Trackunit) at The Rental Show in New Orleans. Skyjack’s whole approach to telematics is that they a’re incorporating their customers’ goals into their own to create a solution that is fully customized for off-highway fleets. Dutch …

Essex and Hertfordshire County Councils pilot UK innovation in smart city services Essex County Council and Hertfordshire County Council have announced that they are working together to pilot new smart city services. The project, a partnership with Cambridge-based technology firm Telensa, will assess the potential quality-of-life and economic benefits of a range of smart city technologies. …

Fingerprint drug testing for drivers now a reality for Transport and Logistics industry Intelligent Fingerprinting is bringing new levels of convenience, hygiene and speed to workplace drug testing for the transport and logistics industry with the availability of a simple, end-to-end drug testing solution based on fingerprint sweat analysis. Unlike traditional urine or saliva-based drug …

Clearview Intelligence wins Newcastle City traffic signal tender As leaders in the provision of alternatives to traditional vehicle detection loop technology, Clearview Intelligence has announced that their wireless vehicle detection tender has been successful for the Newcastle City Council’s ITT. The tender covers the provision of wireless vehicle detection kit, using Clearview’s M100 product range …

The Traffic Group acquires market-leading ANPR specialist MAV Systems The Traffic Group Limited (TTG) – formerly AGD Group Limited – has today announced the acquisition of MAV Systems Limited (MAV). MAV is a leading global supplier of ANPR cameras that has achieved continued success from its ability to meet specific partner requirements across multiple sectors. …

SINN Power CEO looks at wave energy – a new chapter in renewable energy supplies Philipp Sinn, CEO of Sinn Power discusses wave power: How did it eventually come to the founding of your start-up? “During the time of my doctorate I got acquainted with Dr. Lothar Stein, a big name in Munich’s start-up scene. …

Techrules partners with CRRC on transport turbine technology Techrules has signed an agreement with CRRC Times Electric Co., Ltd. (TEC), a subsidiary of CRRC, the world’s largest supplier of rail transit equipment. The agreement was finalised at a signing ceremony held during the Geneva Motor Show, attended by Matthew Jin, Chief Technology Officer, Techrules; Yu …

Productivity failings in the Construction Industry blamed for project delays Investment in building and infrastructure is booming, yet on average large-scale projects run more than 20 months behind schedule. According to research by the McKinsey Global Institute, an astonishing 98% of large-scale schemes around the world run 80% over budget and almost two years behind …

Continental and CITC JV to manufacture 48-Volt Battery Systems for electric vehicles Technology company Continental, and Chinese automotive supplier and battery manufacturer CITC (Sichuan Chengfei Integration Technology Co., Ltd.) will, through their respective subsidiaries, establish a joint venture for the development and production of 48-volt battery systems for the automotive industry. The partners signed the …

Innovation will keep traffic flowing Keeping traffic flowing across UK roads requires both good infrastructure and detailed information. No matter what type of road, from motorways to urban, or type of operator, from Highways England (HE) to local authorities, all need accurate and reliable information. Road operators need to know what type of traffic is …

ZÜBLIN conducting research on moss that can swallow up fine particulate matter European cities regularly exceed the established limits for fine particulate matter (PM). Congestion charges, speed limits or bans on diesel vehicles, as now is the case in Germany, are often imposed to remedy the situation. STRABAG subsidiary ZÜBLIN is currently researching an alternative …

MIT launches Task Force on the Work of the Future MIT has launched its Task Force on the Work of the Future, an Institute-wide effort to understand and shape the evolution of jobs during an age of innovation. “The MIT Task Force on the Work of the Future takes as a guiding premise that addressing …

One in three fear their job will be replaced by a robot A new report from Mercedes-Benz Vans, released today during National Careers Week, has highlighted a potential skills crisis that could create ‘business gridlock’; almost one in five van drivers, owners and operators are so concerned about skills shortages, they fear it could prevent …

Siemens SafeZone delivers safer roads in Sussex, UK Two SafeZone average speed schemes installed by Siemens in Brighton and Hastings in 2017 have received high acclaim from Sussex Safer Roads Partnership following the first six months of operation. Both schemes are recording almost 100% speed compliance. “Not only are both schemes reporting very high levels …

Are we doing enough to future proof our roads? In recent times, more and more discussion has been brought forward for the discussion of roads, with the need of automated vehicles and reducing accidents to get families home safe. Are we doing enough in preparation? The idea of “smart roads” isn’t especially new, and in …

Irish EPA chooses FIDAS PM Air Monitors for air quality network Following a public consultation in 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland has awarded a contract for up to 44 FIDAS PM particulate matter (PM) monitors to enhance and expand the existing monitoring network. The successful bid was submitted jointly by EMS Environmental …

Automated vehicles get the green light in Victoria, Australia The Andrews Labor Government is leading the way on automated vehicle technology with historic legislation passing Victorian Parliament this week that allows driverless vehicles to be trialled across the state. Under the changes to the Road Safety Act, VicRoads will be able to grant permits to …

Veta 5 Mapping Software released with data collection and analysis   Veta is a free map-based software tool for contractors and highway officials to standardize, display, analyze, and report data collected by intelligent compaction (IC) and paver‐mounted thermal profiling (PMTP) technologies during construction. Veta can import data from various IC machines and PMTP scanners to …

Grayhill launches Touch Encoder Development Kit with Tap, Swipe, and Turn Functions Grayhill introduces the Touch Encoder Development Kit, which provides product development engineers simplified designs for industrial, digital audio and visual, medical, and off-highway markets. With tap, swipe, and turn functions, the Touch Encoder Development Kit can meet a wide range of interface application …

Smart Parking is a vital component of a modern workspace Smart buildings use network-enabled building management systems to operate more autonomously. This means sensors from across the building all feed into a single system to control the entire workspace from heating to security. This smart approach is most powerful when applied to both the building …

On the road to improve Ground Transportation businesses The one constant in every organization is that things will change. Oftentimes, the necessary steps to achieve this change can be overwhelming and complicated, touching more parts of the organization than is possible in one fell swoop. However, it’s the small changes at departmental levels that can …

GKD Technologies unveil new machine control safety systems at Intermat 2018 UK based, GKD Technologies designs electronic sensor technology and software for use as safety warning devices to protect people, machines and equipment in construction, earth moving and rail industries. The company is using the forthcoming Intermat exhibition (23rd-28th April, Paris) to launch two new …

Skyjack launches the Elevate solution to disrupt Telematics Skyjack is disrupting the telematics industry with its newest service: Elevate, a fully customized solution designed specifically for off-highway rental fleets. Launched at The 2018 Rental Show, Skyjack’s Elevate solution leaves behind the legacy of on-road telematics and breaks down the barriers to adoption, by providing our …

Tarmac introduces Smart Cards to drive HGV fleet safety Tarmac has become the first in its industry to roll out a new smart card for HGV drivers, which aims to further enhance safety and support driver training while delivering increased customer confidence on the competency and quality of its entire supply chain. The UK’s leading …

Skyjack launches mobile game to reinforce load capacity guidelines Skyjack is leveraging gaming technology to educate and raise awareness around load capacity and safety with their first mobile game, CAPACITIES. Launching February 20th, the game combines interactive fun that requires players to divert falling balls from overloading Skyjack mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs). ““We hope …

AGD launches larger zone AGD 645 Pedestrian Detector AGD Systems has today announced a significant enhancement to its highly successful 645 Pedestrian Detector. From 1 March 2018, the AGD 645 optical kerbside detector will cover a 10m x 3m zone in standard build format. Until now, the 645 has offered a 5m x 3m detection …

Is the EU in danger of making construction less productive Proposed European data privacy laws could hinder the flow of data around construction sites. Secretary General of the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE), Riccardo Viaggi, discuss here how the EU can be both a force for good and ill when it comes to boosting construction’s …

NXP GreenBox Dev Platform accelerates transition to Hybrid and Electric Vehicles NXP Semiconductors has announced the availability of its GreenBox vehicle electrification development platform. GreenBox allows automakers and suppliers to begin early development of next-generation hybrid and electric vehicle applications on NXP’s S32 automotive processing multicore platform based on Arm Cortex technology. With increasing regulatory …

Trimble partners with Aquarius Spectrum to deliver Leak Detection and Monitoring Trimble has formed an exclusive relationship with Aquarius Spectrum Ltd. to distribute a branded version of the Aquarius Spectrum wireless leak detection and monitoring solutions for water utilities throughout the U.S. The collaboration will extend Trimble’s portfolio of smart water management sensors and software …

Six tools to save time, control costs and Go Green on the Jobsite The search for efficiency in terms of labor, materials and timelines has come with the territory in the construction industry from the moment someone first made a brick out of mud and then wondered if there was a better way. Now is …

Washington State introduces truck transponders to bypass weigh stations Commercial truck drivers now have another option for bypassing state weigh stations – by opting into a system that uses truck transponders to save time and money. A new agreement allows drivers in Washington to use the PrePass weigh station transponder, doing away with having to …

AGD traffic radar ideal for above-ground, non-intrusive, loop-replacing detection As more local authorities aim to eradicate in-ground detection from their road networks, AGD Systems’ 318 Traffic Control Radar provides the intelligent solution they need. Councils are seeking to cut the costs of installation, repair and ongoing maintenance of detection at junctions, and the new breed …

Can we beat traffic congestion with technology? A new INRIX report was released last week that analysed and ranked the impact of traffic congestion worldwide in 2017. The report ranked the UK in the top ten of most congested countries and in the top three in Europe, beaten only by Russia and Turkey. 111 cities …

CEO of SINN Power discusses his inspiration to generate electricity from ocean waves Philipp Sinn, CEO and founder of start-up SINN Power looks at the inspiration behind his wave power company: “At SINN Power, we develop a high-tech solution that generates renewable electricity from the power of waves. Our technology is among the globally leading …

Volvo infographics highlight Top Tech Trends to boost construction productivity Construction is one of the largest industries in the world, yet construction productivity record lags behind that of the world economy, growing at just 1% a year. In this bitesize collection of infographics, VolvoCE looks at the top tech trends driving the industry forward and …

MIT chip reduces neural network power consumption by 95% for better performance Most recent advances in artificial-intelligence systems such as speech- or face-recognition programs have come courtesy of neural networks, densely interconnected meshes of simple information processors that learn to perform tasks by analyzing huge sets of training data. But neural nets are large, and …

Volkswagen looks at safe spaces for robots An industrial robot is moving, we see a pattern of lights with green, yellow and red areas. Group employee Karl-Heinz Häfner moves confidently towards the robot, he is still in the green zone. As soon as he enters the first yellow area with his foot, the robot slows …

Technology is key to driving down contracting costs Managing equipment data and machine control systems lies at the heart of providing safe, productive equipment at the lowest possible cost, says Hubbard Construction’s John Sharp With some 1,500 pieces of equipment – nearly 400 of them heavy equipment – Florida, US-based highway specialist contractor Hubbard Construction …

MIT develops energy-efficient encryption chip that keeps Autonomous Systems secure The most sensitive web transactions are protected by public-key cryptography, a type of encryption that lets computers share information securely without first agreeing on a secret encryption key. Public-key encryption protocols are complicated, and in computer networks, they’re executed by software. But that won’t work …

New Holland pilots autonomous tractor at E and J Gallo Winery New Holland Agriculture has partnering with E. & J. Gallo Winery, the largest family-owned winery in the world, and loyal customer of New Holland specialty tractors, in a pilot project testing its NHDrive autonomous technology applied to T4.110F vineyard tractors. This collaborative pilot program …

Cities of the future may be built with volcanic ash Study finds adding volcanic ash reduces the overall energy required to manufacture concrete. MIT engineers working with scientists in Kuwait have found that volcanic rocks, when pulverized into a fine ash, can be used as a sustainable additive in concrete structures. In a paper published …

Trimble acquires e-Builder to expand its Construction Management Solutions Trimble has announced the acquisition of privately-held e-Builder, a leading SaaS-based construction program management solution for capital program owners and program management firms. e-Builder extends Trimble’s ability to accelerate industry transformation by providing an integrated project delivery solution for owners, program managers and contractors across the …

Airbus flying car completes successful test flight Vahana, the all-electric, self-piloted, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft built by Airbus’ innovation outpost in Silicon Valley – A³ (“A-cubed”), successfully completed its first full-scale flight test, reaching a height of 5 meters before descending safely. The test was completed January 31, 2018 at the Pendleton UAS Range …

MIT Intelligence Quest looks to drive positive influences on virtually every aspect of society MIT has announced the launch of the MIT Intelligence Quest, an initiative to discover the foundations of human intelligence and drive the development of technological tools that can positively influence virtually every aspect of society. The announcement was first made in …

Self driving delivery vehicles set to transform local commerce Leading autonomous car developers have formed their own company, called Nuro, and have debuted a self-driving vehicle designed to transform local commerce. Nuro’s fully autonomous vehicle reshapes the cost structure of goods transportation, creating a powerful platform for a variety of everyday goods and services. Nuro …

MIT engineers invent microfluidic manufacturing from LEGO bricks MIT engineers have just introduced an element of fun into microfluidics. The field of microfluidics involves minute devices that precisely manipulate fluids at sub-millimetre scales. Such devices typically take the form of flat, two-dimensional chips, etched with tiny channels and ports that are arranged to perform various …

Air Monitors wins contract for UK Particulate Matter monitoring network Air Monitors Limited is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a contract by the Environment Agency to supply real-time particulate matter (PM) monitors to support the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN). According to the terms of the contract, Air Monitors will supply …

MATOS CONNECT, the digital assistant for trucks and machines rental companies MATOS is a young company founded in Nantes, France, who recently won the prestigious Intermat Start-up Innovation Award with their innovative MATOS CONNECT software. The company aims to become the first digital assistant for trucks and machinery rental companies with their innovative software tool to bring …

Maintaining machinery is clear and simple with the Trackunit smartphone app Trackunit, a leader in the design, development and deployment of fleet management systems, has introduced an advanced version of its Trackunit On smartphone app, enabling equipment rental companies and fleet owners to stay right on top of machine and operator health. The new Trackunit …

Trimble introduces Trimble Connect for HoloLens construction AR solutions Trimble has announced at the World of Concrete Show their Trimble Connect™ for HoloLens, along with a new hard hat solution for the Microsoft HoloLens that improves the utility of mixed reality for practical field applications. “With the rise in acceptance for mixed-reality solutions in business …

Intermat Innovation Award for Sika in 3D Concrete Printing At the 2018 INTERMAT Innovation Awards, Sika has won the special “World of Concrete Europe” prize for its achievements in 3D printing for the construction industry. The prize was awarded at the INTERMAT international trade show for construction and infrastructure in Paris. The INTERMAT jury was …

UBIWAN SMART wins Intermat Innovation Award UBIWAN®SMART, the connected management solution for outdoor construction equipment has won the 2018 Intermat Innovation Award in the Components & Accessories – Earthmoving & Demolition category. DMIC was presented with the winners’ award at a grand gala dinner which took place January 18th in Paris at Parc des Expositions …

Will Toyota’s T-HR3 Humanoid Robot be coming to your construction site? Remote, safe, smooth operation of T-HR3 Humanoid Robot enabled through new, advanced Torque Servo Module and Master Manoeuvring System. Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has revealed T-HR3, the company’s third generation humanoid robot. Toyota’s latest robotics platform, designed and developed by Toyota’s Partner Robot Division, …

SICK introduces all-weather 3D Sensor System for Traffic Management SICK, the global sensor and machine vision technology leader, has launched the TIC502 LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) traffic monitoring and warning system setting a new a benchmark for all-weather traffic control in all climate zones, day or night. The SICK TIC502 incorporates vehicle speed detection …

Help prepare Britain’s Roads for the Future and driverless cars Britain’s leading lights from across industry have the chance to help ensure the country has roads fit for the future and ready for driverless cars, through a new competition. Deputy chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt said the Roads for the Future …

INTERMAT Innovation Awards 2018 at the heart of technological challenges in construction INTERMAT, the international trade show for construction and infrastructure, announced the winners of the INTERMAT Innovation Awards on Thursday 18 January in Paris (Maison de la Mutualité). In its role as a springboard for worldwide innovation in the building and public works sector, …

MIT invents new approach to rechargeable batteries A type of battery first invented nearly five decades ago could catapult to the forefront of energy storage technologies, thanks to a new finding by researchers at MIT. The battery, based on electrodes made of sodium and nickel chloride and using a new type of metal mesh membrane, …

VolvoCE is Building Tomorrow at Intermat Paris 2018 Under the theme ‘Building Tomorrow’, Volvo Construction Equipment will showcase its evolving approach to customer success, focusing on services, dealer capability and new technologies. The demands of megaprojects such as ‘Grand Paris’ mean that customers today are no longer looking to buy just machines, but entire solutions …