Features

The first technologically advanced acoustic barriers are being installed along Bandra-Kurla Link Road (BKLR), Mumbai by the “Fracasso” Group. The Group, a leading manufacturer of noise barriers and W beam crash barriers, is now in the process of introducing crash tested barriers and corrugated steel culverts in India.

The adoption of faster modes of transport has changed profoundly the spatial organisation of cities. The increase in average speed of a city's transport system calls for more space. The result is urban sprawl and reduced density. Dominant transport modes are, therefore, the determinants of urban structures. The increase in distance covered due to increased speed of travel and urban sprawl leads to an increase in energy consumption.

The Indian Railways (IR) has set up its first wind farm at Integral Coach Factory, Tamil Nadu in its efforts to use renewable energy. It has also committed itself to having all its buildings constructed after 2008 to comply with the Energy Conservation Building Code. A look at IR’s commitment to green energy.

Mumbai Metro, Mumbai’s first Mass Rapid Transit System, will cross Andheri’s JOG flyover on Western Express Highway at a height of 22m by a Cable Stayed Bridge for its first line – the VAG corridor. Extended Pier caps have been designed to avoid Piers at the centre of any traffic junction to allow larger spans – a first in the world for Metro Projects. 16 trains will be put in service with a four coach unit carrying 1500 passengers, reducing the travel time from 90 to 21 minutes.

Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah (Madinah City’s full name) is located in the centre of the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is called ‘The Hijaaz’. It is the second of Islam’s cities, after Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Mecca) and home to the second of The Two Holy Mosques of Islam. A few years back Madinah installed Vantage video detection systems to ...

Toll Collection systems should now make pre classification of vehicles mandatory. This means that the present toll systems in the country need upgrading.

ETC Systems, a vehicle indentification technology based on EPC, Gen-2 and ISO 18000-6C standards, will entirely transform toll collection in India. As it provides a centralised database and a unique ID to vehicles, it will enable the usage of many other applications too.

Janmarg, a project of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under JnNURM, is planned as an evolving system. A one of its kind project, it is sensitive to the needs of the people its vehicles carry.

Avery Dennison’s latest product OmniCube™ not only improves retro-reflectivity but its Intelligent Cube Technology efficiently returns light to drivers of all vehicles, including heavy Trucks, SUVs, Automobiles with the newest headlight designs and motorcycles.

Swedish Transport Authorities are planning to start discussions with leading telecom companies to provide in-built mobile phones in cars that will switch off or automatically slow down the car if the driver reacts in a dangerous manner due to a phone conversation. Italy, on the other hand, has developed a software that allows information on hazardous roads to be shared through all smartphones.