INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Wayne Township firefighters will soon be adding new life saving equipment to their trucks but this new gear won?t be used for humans.
A donation from the Invisible Fence Company means fire trucks will be carrying oxygen masks designed for pets.
Firefighters say they frequently pull pets from burning homes and often times the pets do not survive further adding to the family?s suffering.
It?s estimated that as many as 40,000 to 150,000 pets die in fires each year.
Contact: George Hunka ghunka@aftau.org 212-742-9070 American Friends of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University researcher develops computer software to revamp city parking
For those who live or work in cities, parking is a major source of stress and frustration. Researchers estimate that for every 110 vehicles circulating on the roads looking for spaces, there are 100 available spots, both in lots and on the street.
Now Nadav Levy, a Ph.D. student at Tel Aviv University's Porter School of Environmental Science, along with his supervisors Prof. Itzhak Benenson of the Department of Geography and the Human Environment and Dr. Karel Martens of Holland's Radboud University, are answering the need for a more efficient way to park. They have developed a computer simulator that models the real-life parking challenges of a particular district or city, identifying different strategies for improvement and testing the impact of new policies before they are implemented on the roads.
The simulator, called PARKAGENT, takes into account real parking policies, drivers, and parking inspectors for an exact replication of any given city, including roads, buildings, and parking lots. Recently published in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, the software has already been put to the test, evaluating the potential impact of parking policy changes in Israel and Europe.
Predicting policy outcomes
When considering issues such as where to place parking lots or how to establish the routes of the parking inspectors, city officials have few resources to measure the success of their choices. Their decisions, though seemingly mundane, have a high impact on a city's traffic flow. Up to 30 percent of cars driving in the center of the city at peak hours are looking for parking, says Levy, wasting gas and creating congestion, pollution, and noise.
The simulator tests a new parking policy by implementing it into the PARKAGENT environment, gathering information on how these policies impact the drivers, who have individualized parking needs. The software takes into account their probable destinations, how long they require parking, and how much they are willing to pay. Policies could include a change in the amount of time permitted in a public parking space, the construction or closing of a parking lot, or the construction of a new building in the environment all of which alter parking demand.
The software assesses key values such as the drivers' cruising time, how long they park for, and the distance from the parking space to their destination. Levy analyzes the resulting data to determine whether a policy would decrease the time the drivers would spend to find a parking place near the destination. The software can also be used to determine which routes parking inspectors should travel for optimal distribution of parking tickets.
Levy and his supervisors have already completed an analysis to determine the impact of an additional multi-story parking garage in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan, and they are now working in collaboration with the city of Antwerp, Belgium, to predict the outcome of a plan to replace a parking lot with a boardwalk along a river.
Solving the parking woes of urban living
According to Levy, urban parking policies can use a major overhaul. Until now, he says, city officials have not dealt with these issues scientifically, working more on "hunches" about where they suspect parking is required, and for how long. PARKAGENT removes the guesswork.
Many major cities make two main mistakes with their parking policies, he adds. In North America and Israel, on-street parking is typically cheaper than off-street. Drivers then aim to find cheap parking in the city, and drive around more than necessary just to "check," explains Levy. City traffic would move more efficiently if drivers had incentive to park in lots straightaway. The second error is not enforcing a strict time limit for high-demand parking areas. Increased turnover, caused by time restrictions, will benefit both businesses and drivers, making the quest for a parking spot much easier.
Nonetheless, Levy predicts that the future of urban transportation lies in alternatives to private cars, such as mass transportation systems, bicycles, and car-sharing systems. As cities get denser, private cars will become inefficient, hindering urban mobility, he says.
###
American Friends of Tel Aviv University (www.aftau.org) supports Israel's leading, most comprehensive and most sought-after center of higher learning. Independently ranked 94th among the world's top universities for the impact of its research, TAU's innovations and discoveries are cited more often by the global scientific community than all but 10 other universities.
Internationally recognized for the scope and groundbreaking nature of its research and scholarship, Tel Aviv University consistently produces work with profound implications for the future.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Contact: George Hunka ghunka@aftau.org 212-742-9070 American Friends of Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University researcher develops computer software to revamp city parking
For those who live or work in cities, parking is a major source of stress and frustration. Researchers estimate that for every 110 vehicles circulating on the roads looking for spaces, there are 100 available spots, both in lots and on the street.
Now Nadav Levy, a Ph.D. student at Tel Aviv University's Porter School of Environmental Science, along with his supervisors Prof. Itzhak Benenson of the Department of Geography and the Human Environment and Dr. Karel Martens of Holland's Radboud University, are answering the need for a more efficient way to park. They have developed a computer simulator that models the real-life parking challenges of a particular district or city, identifying different strategies for improvement and testing the impact of new policies before they are implemented on the roads.
The simulator, called PARKAGENT, takes into account real parking policies, drivers, and parking inspectors for an exact replication of any given city, including roads, buildings, and parking lots. Recently published in the journal Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, the software has already been put to the test, evaluating the potential impact of parking policy changes in Israel and Europe.
Predicting policy outcomes
When considering issues such as where to place parking lots or how to establish the routes of the parking inspectors, city officials have few resources to measure the success of their choices. Their decisions, though seemingly mundane, have a high impact on a city's traffic flow. Up to 30 percent of cars driving in the center of the city at peak hours are looking for parking, says Levy, wasting gas and creating congestion, pollution, and noise.
The simulator tests a new parking policy by implementing it into the PARKAGENT environment, gathering information on how these policies impact the drivers, who have individualized parking needs. The software takes into account their probable destinations, how long they require parking, and how much they are willing to pay. Policies could include a change in the amount of time permitted in a public parking space, the construction or closing of a parking lot, or the construction of a new building in the environment all of which alter parking demand.
The software assesses key values such as the drivers' cruising time, how long they park for, and the distance from the parking space to their destination. Levy analyzes the resulting data to determine whether a policy would decrease the time the drivers would spend to find a parking place near the destination. The software can also be used to determine which routes parking inspectors should travel for optimal distribution of parking tickets.
Levy and his supervisors have already completed an analysis to determine the impact of an additional multi-story parking garage in the Israeli city of Ramat Gan, and they are now working in collaboration with the city of Antwerp, Belgium, to predict the outcome of a plan to replace a parking lot with a boardwalk along a river.
Solving the parking woes of urban living
According to Levy, urban parking policies can use a major overhaul. Until now, he says, city officials have not dealt with these issues scientifically, working more on "hunches" about where they suspect parking is required, and for how long. PARKAGENT removes the guesswork.
Many major cities make two main mistakes with their parking policies, he adds. In North America and Israel, on-street parking is typically cheaper than off-street. Drivers then aim to find cheap parking in the city, and drive around more than necessary just to "check," explains Levy. City traffic would move more efficiently if drivers had incentive to park in lots straightaway. The second error is not enforcing a strict time limit for high-demand parking areas. Increased turnover, caused by time restrictions, will benefit both businesses and drivers, making the quest for a parking spot much easier.
Nonetheless, Levy predicts that the future of urban transportation lies in alternatives to private cars, such as mass transportation systems, bicycles, and car-sharing systems. As cities get denser, private cars will become inefficient, hindering urban mobility, he says.
###
American Friends of Tel Aviv University (www.aftau.org) supports Israel's leading, most comprehensive and most sought-after center of higher learning. Independently ranked 94th among the world's top universities for the impact of its research, TAU's innovations and discoveries are cited more often by the global scientific community than all but 10 other universities.
Internationally recognized for the scope and groundbreaking nature of its research and scholarship, Tel Aviv University consistently produces work with profound implications for the future.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
MANILA, Philippines ? The estranged father of singer Charice Pempengco of the hit TV show "Glee" was stabbed to death in her hometown in the Philippines, causing the teen star to fly home and cancel the rest of her tour dates.
In a statement, Charice said the killing was a "terrible tragedy." She thanked fans for their support.
Her father, 40-year-old construction worker Ricky Pempengco, was at a small grocery store in San Pedro township south of Manila late Monday when he brushed against a drunk man who became angry and stabbed him with an ice pick in the chest and back, according to the Laguna province police chief, Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz.
A manhunt has been launched for the suspect. Cruz said the killing appeared random.
Charice had long been estranged from her father. Local media reported that Charice's mother left him when Charice and her younger brother were small children.
In a Twitter post Tuesday, Charice said she once had a "really great relationship" with her father before their family troubles began.
"I loved him and I will still love him," she wrote. "He's still my Dad after all."
The 19-year-old songstress, born Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, is widely known throughout Asia from concerts and TV talent shows in the Philippines and South Korea.
She eventually broke into the American market when she was invited at age 15 to appear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" after the show had seen a fan video of her on YouTube that went viral.
She also appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and has had a recurring role on "Glee" as the character Sunshine Corazon.
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? A month before he directs and co-produces his second Academy Awards show, Don Mischer will receive an honor of his own at one of the key Oscar precursor shows, the Producers Guild of America's 23rd annual Producers Guild Awards.
The PGA announced on Monday that Mischer, a veteran of decades in live television, will receive the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television, the first time a producer known for live television has been given the honor.
"Don Mischer is an extraordinarily talented producer whose work is amongst the best and most watched entertainment in the world," Producers Guild Awards co-chairs Paula Wagner and Michael Manheim said in a statement announcing the award. "His ability to consistently deliver live event productions of the highest caliber is unmatched in this industry."
Mischer's track record includes last year's Oscar show, numerous Kennedy Center Honors, Super Bowl halftime shows, Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies and dozens of music-themed specials.
The Producers Guild Awards will take place on January 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The PGA's award for feature film production is one of the most accurate barometers of what film will win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Mischer is producing the next Oscars with Brett Ratner; he also produced the last show with Bruce Cohen.
Sarah Drew gets the giggles while posing with her baby belly - her first child is due in January! - at the Friends Without a Border Gala, held Tuesday at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
People remove bricks after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake hit the area in Ica, Peru, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.The earthquake centered off Peru's central coast sent people running panicked into the streets Friday in cities badly damaged by a another strong quake in 2007. There were no reports of damage though hospital directors reported at least 20 people injuried. (AP Photo/El Comercio) PERU OUT - NO USAR EN PERU
People remove bricks after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake hit the area in Ica, Peru, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.The earthquake centered off Peru's central coast sent people running panicked into the streets Friday in cities badly damaged by a another strong quake in 2007. There were no reports of damage though hospital directors reported at least 20 people injuried. (AP Photo/El Comercio) PERU OUT - NO USAR EN PERU
LIMA, Peru (AP) ? Peruvian authorities said Saturday that 134 homes were destroyed and 103 people treated at hospitals for injuries during a 6.9-magnitude quake just off the central coast.
Civil defense chief Alfredo Murgueytio told The Associated Press there were no deaths and most of the collapsed homes were of adobe.
Two adobe churches also were seriously damaged, including the 18th century cathedral of the provincial capital of Ica.
The cathedral, build by Jesuits, already was weakened by a 2007 earthquake as well as temblors in 1813 and 1942. Both it and another church in Ica were too damaged to safely enter, said Alberto Bisbal, a top civil defense official.
President Ollanta Humana said he was cutting short his stay in Paraguay for the IberoAmerican summit to head directly to the quake zone, where nearly 600 people were killed in an 8.0-magnitude quake in August 2007.
Friday's quake sent people running panicked into the streets in cities that were badly damaged then.
Authorities said many people slept outside Friday night.
"The people are tense and a lot of us didn't sleep," said Cristhian Rodriguez, a vendor in Pisco, which was mostly leveled in the 2007 quake.
Murgueytio said two army engineering battalions were joining police in supporting residents who lost homes or otherwise had property damage. He estimated the number at 1,220.
At least nine aftershocks followed the Friday quake. The most significant had a 5.5 magnitude, as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Public release date: 31-Oct-2011
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