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The Malta Independent | Thursday 26 March 2015
Intelligent transportation Scott Gurvey
A
t 41 minutes after midnight, March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur and headed to Beijing. About 40 minutes later the flight crew, now over the South China Sea, was told by air traffic controllers to “contact Ho Chi Minh”, the control centre in Viet Nam next along their planned flight path. The crew confirmed. That was the last voice communication received from Flight 370. The search for Flight 370 continues as of this writing. Adding to the frustration of those working to determine the fate of the plane and the 239 souls on board is the belief that in this connected age it should not be possible to lose track of a commercial aircraft. The Boeing 777 used for Flight 370 was equipped to take full advantage of the revolutionary changes which have rewritten operating procedures in the transportation sector. GPS + IoT The revolution actually began in 1995 when GPS, the Global Positioning System, became fully operational. GPS receivers receive signals from orbiting satellites enabling them to determine latitude, longitude and altitude with enough precision to be used for most navigation tasks. Before GPS complex systems of fixed ground based radio beacons, more than three thousand worldwide at one point, and surveillance radars were employed to help pilots navigate and avoid collision with other aircraft. These ground facilities had limited range and vast areas of
ocean had little or no coverage. Today space based GPS covers the globe providing navigation both in the air and on the sea. But it is the still emerging Internet of Things that is providing the literal missing link. GPS is one-way communication, satellites broadcasting to client devices. With the advanced connectivity provided seamlessly by IoT, clients are able to exchange position data with servers and with other clients. As detailed in a draft from the Internet Engineering Task Force (ietf.org), the result is the integration of communications, control and information processing across transportation systems, allowing for dynamic real time interaction. The intelligent network has enabled intelligent transportation. Navigation For consumers the car navigation system is probably the most visible example of intelligent transportation. Early systems were expensive and consisted of GPS receivers capable of determining position. To display that position on a map, the receiver needed to have an on board database of map images. The ubiquitous connectivity of today’s devices simplifies client requirements dramatically. The GPS receiver client still determines its position, but now it transmits that position data to its server. The server sends the client the mapping data it needs for its local area only. This greatly reduces the cost of the client, and also makes it far easier to keep the mapping data current. But the intelligent network is not limited to data storage. It can also provide computing services. So the route computation function is also transferred to the “cloud” and with real time connectivity, the intelligence in the network can monitor route progress, detecting, for example, when traffic slows compared to average rates indicating unfavourable conditions such as accidents or road construction. Improved safety Both Google and Apple have proposed telematics standards to allow
mobile devices running their operating systems to be controlled in cars through the vehicle’s dashboard controls and display. This will allow the vehicle to take advantage of the computer power and connectivity built into the smartphones many drivers already carry. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is working on standards for auto and truck manufacturers to enable wireless communications between vehicles with the goal of reducing accidents, decreasing fuel consumption and speeding travel. “Vehicleto-vehicle technology represents the next generation of auto safety improvements, building on the life-saving achievements we’ve already seen with safety belts and air bags,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx. The vehicle transmissions can also be received by traffic control equipment, allowing smart management of traffic signals, express lanes, toll collection and other transportation related systems. The technologies may also play a key role in the development of self-driving vehicles. The Federal Railroad Administration is working on similar standards for rail traffic in an initiative known as Positive Train Control. Consumers are already benefiting receiving accurate predictions of arrival times for the next bus or train delivered directly to their mobile devices and displayed at stations and street pickup locations. The Federal Aviation Administration has been developing collision
avoidance systems for planes since the 1980s. Commercial aircraft have been required to have Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems installed since 1993. Initially designed for use during takeoff and landing, they transmit position data directly to other aircraft nearby and notify pilots of traffic posing a collision risk. Improved Efficiency Using GPS, TCAS and the connectivity provided by the latest satellite networking technology, the FAA’s “NextGen” procedures give pilots and controllers more flexibility to fly more efficient routes, saving time and fuel, while increasing safety by increasing the amount of information pilots and onboard automation systems have about other traffic in the surrounding area. The ability to track vehicles and shipments at all points of the transportation is also leading to efficiencies in areas of fleet management and dispatch. Shipping companies are already using the information from these systems to improve logistics planning and execution, while customers are using the information to optimize just-in-time inventory systems and determine the optimal method for priority shipments. For one example, Knight Transportation has equipped its 4,000 drivers with tablet computers. The tablets help navigate, keep logs and monitor maintenance. Knight CEO David Jackson says the system “will help our drivers stay in touch, be more productive and operate safer trucks.”
Connected vehicles can report their physical condition to central locations, advising operators of faults and also warning of potential problems, allowing for maintenance to be scheduled in advance of an equipment failure. Which brings us back to flight MH370. The 777’s Rolls Royce engines were programmed to send status reports during the flight. The aircraft also had what is known as ACARS, Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, which can be programmed to send performance data. It had satellite communications that used the Inmarsat Aero system, and Inmarsat published a report on its search for MH370 in The Journal of Navigation. The highly automated plane even has a system to detect when the flight crew may be disabled and unresponsive. But it is not clear if any of these systems were being used by Malaysia Air. A great deal of often conflicting information has been reported concerning transmissions from the aircraft, but it appears no automated reports containing data were received after the time of the pilot’s last voice communication. However, there are reports that attempts to connect to satellite based networks were detected several hours after that time. Analysts liken those signals to “pings” and say they indicate a loss of power to the satellite transmission system at the point of the last voice transmission and a restoration of power hours later. Was this a purposeful act by someone on the plane? Or was it the result of a fire or on board systems failure? Even in this age of intelligent transportation, the mystery remains unanswered. Used with the permission of The Network - newsroom.cisco.com For more than 20 years, Scott Gurvey was the New York bureau chief and senior correspondent of the PBS broadcast Nightly Business Report. Gurvey conducted interviews with the CEOs of the world’s leading corporations, and wrote a web column, Public Offerings, for the PBS website.
National Coding Competition 92 exciting projects by 216 students The winners of the National Coding Competition have been announced yesterday by Hon. Jose’ Herrera, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth and Hon. Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport. For this competition 216 students hailing from 26 schools (state, church and independent) participated between them submitted 92 digital games. The National Coding Competition was a targeted initiative intended for both male and female students from Year 5 up to Form 5 with a view to encouraging a choice in STEM subjects. The aim of this competition was to demystify “code” and show that everyone is able to be a maker, a creator, and an innovator in a digital economy. The competition
was organised by MITA together with the Ministry of Education and Employment and the University of Malta To participate, students teamed up in groups of two or three and with the help of a school teacher or mentor they created a 3D game using software like Kodu, Gamemaker Studio Standard, HTML 5 or Java Greenfoot. The training to teachers and mentors was supported by Microsoft, Holistic and St. Martin’s Institute whilst prizes were supported by SAP and IBM. During the announcement, held at the St Ignatius College, Girls Secondary School in Ħandaq, Hon Herrera stated that Government is committed to provide various initiatives to increase the take-up of STEM subjects by students. “ICT has become important in various sectors of the economy and thus pro-
vides students the opportunity to pursue different careers in their future,” said Hon Herrera. Hon Agius said that, “such competitions are healthy for the students as it’s a means to enhance their digital abilities and creativity in a competitive environment.” Hon Agius also mentioned that parents and educators should serve as role models, expose children to various experiences and show them that in life everything is possible. MITA’s Executive Chairman, Mr Tony Sultana said that he was satisfied with the feedback showed by students for this competition. “I hope that after this project, you will continue to experiment with technology and to continue doing some programming which you have experienced in your free time.” He also thanked all the educators involved in the project for helping
the students to complete their project. Projects were judged on originality, creativity, fun factor and technical quality. The winners from the Upper Secondary category were Luke D’Amato and Michael Pulis from Savio College who together with their teacher, Mr Charles Axisa, won the opportunity to visit the IBM Super Computer Centre and Cloud
Computing Centre in Barcelona, Spain. The Middle School Category winners were Conor Shaw, Nicholas Vassallo and Luca Trapani from St. Martin’s College and these won a LEGO Mindstorm kit each. Finally, the Primary School winners were Giorgio Fenech, Kyle Borg and Thomas Borg Hedley from St. Augustine’s College and each won a Big Shot DIY Camera Kit.
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The Malta Independent | Thursday 26 March 2015
Roderick Spiteri
Roderick Spiteri is Marketing and Communications Manager at MITA and editor of Malta Independent ICT feature
The Malta Independent ICT Feature
T
he winners of the National Coding Competition were announced yesterday in an event attended by most of the 216 students who participated. The competition was organised by MITA together with the Ministry for Education and Employment and the University of Malta. A total of 92 projects were submitted by
students hailing from 27 different state, church and independent schools. This week we will also look at how technology and the Internet of Things is being applied to integrate communications, control and information processing across different transportation systems and in return allowing these systems to provide dynamic and real-time interaction.
Such an intelligent network has made intelligent transportation a possibility. We can already do loads of things through our smartphones and slowly, but progressively, we will also start using our devices to control our homes. A new study has shown that home buyers are increasingly asking their real estate agents about smart homes.
All ICT Features are available on www.mita.gov.mt/ictfeature
Control your home through your smartphone A
s smart home technology plays a larger role in real estate, Coldwell Banker Real Estate released a survey uncovering what smart features home buyers are looking for when purchasing a home and how those features impact a home’s sale. Smart home appliances and technology are becoming more mainstream in homes. Products and features once reserved for only the highest priced properties are now found in homes at various price points. The proliferation of this technology is not only changing the way we live, it’s also changing our tastes and expectations when shopping for real estate - so much so that making your home “smart” may be smarter than you think. This is slowly but progressively becoming true for the Maltese market. A survey of more than 500
sales associates affiliated with the Coldwell Banker brand found: • Buyers are asking, “How smart is this home?”: Nearly two in three (64%) of the sales associates surveyed agreed that buyers today are more interested in homes with smart home features and technology than they were two to five years ago. • Buyers want to control their home from their smartphone: 62% are seeing more buyers interested in controlling their home technology through their smartphone or tablet now than they were two to five years ago. • Listings are getting smarter: Nearly 60% said they are seeing more smart home features in listings than they did two to five years ago. • Smart homes sell faster: One
in three (33%) noted that homes with smart home features and technology sell faster than homes without them. “Smart homes are solving many consumer and societal needs when you consider all of the security, energy efficiency and entertainment advantages that come along with a connected home” said Sean Blankenship, chief marketing officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. According to the survey, home buyers are most interested in smart home technology for the following categories: • Security (65%) • Temperature control (57%) • Safety (48%) • Lighting (46%) • Entertainment (42%) • Appliances (23%)
“Smart home technology will soon be expected in homes, just like stainless steel and granite are the norm across properties today,” said Travis Gray, a sales associate affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential
Brokerage in Annapolis, Md. “In three to seven years, I foresee homes being completely outfitted with smart technology - for improving both functionality and lifestyle in our homes.”