#Public Transit Technology

[maxvalueplus]

The Role of AI in Public Transportation Optimization

Explore the evidence-backed journey into the future with 'The Role of AI in Public Transportation Optimization.

Navigating Efficiency: AI’s Transformative Impact on Public Transit In the bustling world of urban mobility, a silent orchestrator takes the stage – The Role of AI in Public Transportation Optimization. This article embarks on an insightful exploration, unraveling the ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping and optimizing public transportation systems to create efficient,…

[zadokthepriest]

by Anton Hangschlitt

[bioethicists]

it's quite offputting to me when ppl can't disentangle their hatred for capitalism from a hatred for... new technological innovation? the ways in which capitalism has shaped the development of certain technologies has been deeply negative, not to mention that imperialism ensures that new technology is usually produced via extractive relationships with both the planet + ppl in the global south.

but this weird tying of capitalist impact on innovation (+the idea of what is/is not innovation) to hatred of innovation itself (or even more disturbing valorization of "the good old days"/implications that technology is causing social degeneracy) is baffling to me. perhaps it is impossible to achieve specific technologies without unconscionable resource extraction practices, in which case they should not be pursued. but so many ppl act like there is something inherently morally suspect in pursuit of tech such as autonomous vehicles or AI or automation, independent of the material conditions that produced them/that they may produce.

tesla is evil because they exploit ppl for profit + participate in an economy built on the exploitation of the global south + use 'innovation' as a marketing tool to mask serious safety concerns. they're not evil bcuz they want to make vehicles that move on their own. there are actually a great deal of fantastic applications for vehicles which move on their own? equating technology with moral decay is not a radical position; you need a material analysis of why technological innovation has become characterized by harmful practices.

[jocrudedispatches]

INHUMAN INTELLIGENCE

Is there an inhuman intelligence here?

The tramlines move

Their speakers speak

And they carry us.

So large they could obliterate us in an instant

To say nothing of the systems that enable them!

Electricity

Radio

Internet

Consuming more in an instant than we can in a lifetime

And we say we are our masters

That we have created them

Are we not the masters of animals?

Has the Sorceror's Apprentice lost control of His powers?

All that is solid melts into air

All that is holy is profaned

Is there an inhuman intelligence here?

I'm so afraid.

God help me, I'm afraid.

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - April 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi! Also, if you tip me on here or Ko-fi, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week - almost double the content! (I'm new to taking tips on here; if it doesn't show me your username or if you have DM's turned off, please send me a screenshot of your payment)

1. Millions Of Maggots Donated To Charity In Honour Of The Maggot King

“[Blizzard Entertainment] donated millions of maggots to Tiggywinkles UK, a leading wildlife hospital, […] in honor of Duriel, the Maggot King, a notorious character in the Diablo series. […] This significant contribution is expected to feed the patients at Tiggywinkles for two years.”

2. New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled

“A team led by researchers at the University of Washington developed a new PCB that performs on par with traditional materials and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss. Researchers used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer—a cutting-edge class of sustainable polymers—to a jelly-like substance without damaging it, allowing the solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling.”

3. How a Cloned Ferret Inspired a DNA Bank for Endangered Species

“This black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) [is] the first endangered species in the U.S. to ever be successfully cloned […] from [a] cryogenically preserved cell line, obtained from a ferret named Willa, who lived in Wyoming in the 1980s. [… T]he FWS [is now] on a major project to cryogenically store tissue from every endangered species in the U.S., [… as] “an insurance policy against future loss of biodiversity in the wild.””

4. Maine Signs Trans And Abortion Sanctuary Bill Into Law, Despite Violent Threats

“[The new law] states that criminal and civil actions against providers and patients are not enforceable if the provision or access to that care occurred within Maine’s borders, asserting jurisdiction over those matters. It bars cooperation with out-of-state subpoenas and arrest warrants for gender-affirming care and abortion that happen within the state.”

5. $70M for Fish Passage Projects Address Climate Resilience, Strengthen Local Economies

“The Department of the Interior today announced more than $70 million […] that will improve fish passage around […] barriers fragmenting the nation’s rivers and streams [… as an] “investment to restore our nation’s rivers and streams, safeguard endangered fish species, protect Indigenous subsistence practices and provide communities with increased opportunities for outdoor recreation and economic growth,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.”

6. A Golden Age of Renewables Is Beginning, and California Is Leading the Way

“California—the fifth-largest economy in the world—has experienced a record-breaking string of days in which the combined generation of wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and solar electricity has exceeded demand on the main electricity grid for anywhere from 15 minutes to 9.25 hours per day.”

7. Collaborative conservation efforts keep lake sturgeon off the endangered species list

“The Service’s 12-month finding [that these sturgeon are not endangered] shows ongoing management efforts, such as fish stocking, have contributed to the conservation and resiliency of the species. “Today’s announcement shows the power of collaborative conservation and the impact it can have for species like the lake sturgeon,” said Midwest Regional Director Will Meeks.”

8. French municipalities bordering Luxembourg to offer free transport to commuters

“Luxembourg is the only country in the world to offer entirely free public transport. […S]ix French communities located near the border and many of whose residents work in Luxembourg have decided to band together and also offer a free shuttle for daily workers. […] Last year, governments in the two countries said they would work to increase train services to run every 10 minutes between Metz and Luxembourg City by 2030. There’s also a plan to extend Luxembourg City’s tram service to reach all the way to the border – a trip that would take only 30 minutes when ready.”

9. Solar is about to get a lot more affordable for low-income households

“The EPA granted 49 state and territory awards totaling $5.5 billion, six tribal awards worth more than $500 million, and five multistate awards amounting to $1 billion. Together, the awards cover all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. All of the funding is dedicated to low-income and disadvantaged households.”

10. Amsterdam will cover cost of changing one's gender on documents

“[T]he city’s residents will be able to change the gender on their birth certificate and Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) free of charge. [… T]he local government will also reimburse (part of) the costs of a new passport, identity card or driver's license.”

April 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[meat-loving-meat]

I want to write a Vanyel/Stefen modern-with-magic AU soooo bad but I don’t know Valdemar lore like at all. There are six books standing between me and feeling comfortable enough in the lore to imagine what Valdemar might look like with the internet and planes

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

As fun as it is to talk about how solarpunk the various Studio Ghibli movies are, Ariel and I decided to stay truer to Season 5's theme of tech in this bonus chat. One of our listeners is interested in converting cars to run off of a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen, so we decided to take a look at the issue of using hydrogen as a fuel in general.

It's a hot topic, one of those that we all have feelings about, without necessarily knowing much of the facts. Worse, at the moment, the hype over (and use of) hydrogen fuel constitutes little more than greenwashing - especially egregious, because it's becoming a policy issue raised as part of a net-zero energy solution in many countries.

We do our best here to bring you the facts about what hydrogen fuel is, how hydrogen fuel is made, whether or not hydrogen could actually be a sustainable fuel, and what role hydrogen fuel would most sensibly play in our attempts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions ASAP.

(PS: Apologies for the potato quality audio; my mic decided to die right before recording. Am fixing it as we speak because I finally have time...)

[troythecatfish]

[zadokthepriest]

by Maciej Drabik

[ailifehacks]

The Future of AI in Transportation

AI in transportation is reshaping how we move. Discover how autonomous vehicles, smart systems, and AI-driven public transit lead the future AI in transportation is driving innovation, reducing traffic issues, and increasing safety across cities in the USA, UK, and Europe. View more 🟩 Smart Transportation Systems Are Becoming the Norm Smart transportation systems use AI algorithms to manage…

[flexiblemovestransportation]

Transportation is a crucial determinant of health. Access to reliable transportation is a big part of maintaining good health, particularly for older adults. As we age, getting to medical appointments becomes more challenging, making dependable transportation services invaluable.

[itns-eco]

[zadokthepriest]

via JR Urbane Network