Technology Briefs - June 24 - June 30
The Latest Headlines:
- Waste Management Equips Workers With GPS Phones
- Smart Intersections May Help Prevent Accidents
- Stonepath Agrees to Buy Customs Services
- Smart Intersections May Help Prevent Accidents
Waste Management Equips Workers With GPS Phones
Waste Management, a provider of landfill and recycling services, said Monday it had equipped 1,800 workers with Nextel Communications' assisted global positioning system-enabled phones and the atRoad mobile resource management service.The company said in a release it would use the technology to redesign its service routes, leading to reduced operations costs.
Dispatchers with the technology would be able to monitor driver activities and quickly locate mobile workers. Transport Topics
Smart Intersections May Help Prevent Accidents
Federal Highway Administration officials believe that smart intersections and smart cars that warn drivers they are about to run a red light would help prevent thousands of traffic accidents every year, the Associated Press reported.On Tuesday, the government demonstrated the nation's first "futuristic" intersection. As a vehicle approached a red light at a high speed, sensors emitted a signal to the vehicle, which then triggered a high-pitched beep and a red light on the dashboard to stop.
Engineers are currently experimenting with bells, speech-related devices and systems that make cars shake as if they're driving over a rumble strip, AP said.
The Bush administration wants to spend $1.7 billion over the next six years on intelligent transportation systems, AP said. Highway officials noted drivers probably will not see smart intersections for another five years. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Stonepath Agrees to Buy Customs Services
Logistics provider Stonepath Group said Thursday it had agreed to buy Customs Services International Inc., a Miami-based international freight forwarder and Customs broker.Stonepath said in a release it would pay $1.4 million in a combination of cash and common stock. In addition, CSI would be entitled to as much as $3.8 million, contingent upon the future financial performance of the company.
Stonepath said the deal would enhance its presence in Miami and provide Stonepath Logistics with more business throughout Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
