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In brief .... 26 November 2015

26/11/15

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TfL to extend Pedestrian Scoot trials

Transport for London (TfL) is planning to step up its trials of a system for using video technology to moderate traffic signal timings.

A spokesperson told UKAuthority that it will soon announce three new sites for the Pedestrian Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique (Scoot), joining the two sites that have been under test since the summer of last year at Balham and Tooting.

The technology enables the adjustment of traffic signal timings automatically to extend the green pedestrian cross phase when large numbers of people are waiting, allowing more people to cross the road.

The trials are due to be completed by May of next year. The results will be used in a decision on whether to roll out the technology more widely.

Pedestrian Scoot was cited in a recent Connected Cities report by Deutsche Telekom as an example of how urban authorities can use IT solutions to improve the lives of residents.

 

Coding community to support healthcare interoperability

NHS England has produced a new web tool to support interoperability efforts in health and social care. It was unveiled at the recent EHI Live 2015 conference, and is working under the Code4Health banner.

It is aimed at bringing together a community to to establish open application program interfaces across health and social care. A project board nominated by the community will manage the assurance and governance process and support a number of action groups.

 

Authority opens up coal mining data

The Coal Authority is to make its data on coal mining available under commercial licensing terms from the beginning of December. The move is in line with its strategy to obtain value from its information and operate more commercially.

It has established two operating divisions that will work independently of each other. The Mining Information division will continue to collect, update, quality control and license data, supplying datasets under commercial terms. The Mining Reports Retail division will create reports based on the data and provide other services to customers in the conveying market and other sectors.

The authority’s database was first created from coal mine abandonment plans, and used by solicitors and others to advise clients on mining risks. It produces more than 350,000 reports each year.

 

Police use Trivium 5 against road crime

West Midlands Police is playing host this week to the latest version of the Trivium operation to target criminals on Europe’s road network.

It provides the base for the European Operations Command Centre for collecting and sharing intelligence among police forces in 12 countries, including England and Wales.

Ruth Purdie, Tispol general secretary, said: “Many European member states, including the UK, have been affected by high levels of crimes committed by members of mobile networks. Trivium 5 builds on previous operations to use real time intelligence combined with leading edge enforcement technology to identify and dismantle sophisticated mobile criminal groups responsible for so many crimes.

“In particular, we will be seeking networks with operational networks across borders, as these represent serious harm to some of the most vulnerable people in society, as well as to the communities and businesses they target.”

Similar operations are running in seven other countries.

 

Image under public domain from Wikimedia

 

 

 

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