May’s top news stories

Trimble introduces automatic screed control system for asphalt paving

US-based software-as-a-service technology company Trimble introduced an automatic screed control system to optimise asphalt paving applications.

The solution, named Trimble Roadworks 2D Paving Control Platform, is designed to reduce the wastage of expensive asphalt material and help contractors to complete projects within the deadline.

The paving control platform can be mounted on different asphalt paving machines for use. It can also be configured with a combination of sonic tracers, slope sensors, averaging beam and contact sensors.

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Dubai Roads and Transport Authority opens two internal roads

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened two internal road projects to facilitate traffic movement.

The two new roads opened are located at Sama Al Jadaf and Oud Al Muteena 1.

The construction works at Sama Al Jaddaf were part of the RTA’s efforts to rehabilitate road infrastructure, and improve lighting and rainwater drainage systems to benefit the local residents.

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Intel acquires Israeli MaaS platform Moovit for $900m

Chipmaker Intel acquired Israel-based mobility-as-a-service solutions company Moovit for nearly $900m.

Founded in 2012, Moovit is known for its urban mobility app that provides public transit and navigation data to users.

The platform provides travellers with real-time traffic data and best journey routes by integrating information and data from public transit operators, authorities and the user community.

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UK to invest £2bn for cycle lanes and to support e-scooter trials

The Government of UK became set to invest £2bn to encourage cycling, walking and to support e-scooter trials.

The move aimed to mitigate pressure from public transportation services and reduce the resurgence risks of Covid-19 cases, as the country gradually relaxes coronavirus-related restrictions.

As part of the plan, the government allocated a £250m emergency active travel fund to create pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, cycle and bus-only corridors, wider pavements and safer junctions.

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Saskatchewan Government releases C$300m for new highway projects

The Government of Saskatchewan in Canada announced a stimulus package of C$300m ($212m) for new highway projects aiming to improve the state’s economy, as well as its road safety and capacity.

The package is said to be part of the government’s C$7.5bn ($5.3bn) two-year capital plan to support Saskatchewan’s economic recovery.

The C$300m ($212m) package will be invested over the next two years and will be used for carrying out various infrastructure upgrade works, including thin-membrane surface upgrades, passing lanes and improvements to municipal roads and airports.

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UK to invest £1.7bn for local road and bridge repairs

The Government of the UK announced a £1.7bn Transport Infrastructure Investment Fund to improve roads and bridges, and repair potholes.

The move came days after the government agreed to invest £2bn to encourage cycling, walking and to support e-scooter trials in the country.

The latest funding will be used to repair 11 million potholes across the country to improve journeys for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

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Queensland unveils $1.35bn plan to relieve road congestion in Brisbane

The Government of Queensland in Australia unveiled a plan that involves investing A$2.1bn ($1.35bn) to reduce road congestion in Brisbane.

The plan involves building a new arterial road called Moreton Connector between Dohles Rocks Road at Murrumba Downs and Anzac Avenue at Mango Hill to expedite road journeys for Moreton Bay and North Brisbane commuters.

In addition, the plan includes upgrading Gateway Motorway, Gympie Road and the Bruce Highway, as well as building north-facing ramps at Dohles Rocks Road.

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UK to trial connected and autonomous vehicles this year

The UK announced it will trial connected and autonomous vehicles on suburban and highway roads later this year.

Work started to prepare more than 300km of roads in the West Midlands to enable the trials.

The project is being conducted by a consortium of companies, which includes Highways England, WMG, MIRA, AVL, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), Costain, Wireless Infrastructure Group, Vodafone, Amey and Coventry University.

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RoboSense LiDAR and DT Mobile to develop V2I solution for smart city

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) perception technology provider RoboSense partnered with the Chinese communication equipment manufacturer DT Mobile for the deployment of the first vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) solution for the smart city.

RoboSense’s new V2I solution is said to be based on the micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) solid-state LiDAR in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei China, which marks the beginning of MEMS solid-state LiDAR to be used in V2I projects.

The company noted that Xiongan New Area located in North China’s Hebei province is said to have been on the cusp of developing a smart city with new technologies.

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Amazon reportedly in talks to buy self-driving car start-up Zoox

E-commerce retailer Amazon was reportedly in advanced discussions to purchase self-driving car start-up Zoox.

The Wall Street Journal cited people familiar with the development who said that the two companies are discussing a deal expected to be worth an amount under $3.2bn.

An agreement is expected to be reached within weeks; however, the discussions may or may not materialise, the report noted.