From the announcement:

Air travelers whose flights have been canceled or diverted can now greatly improve their chances of finding a seat on the next available flight thanks to a new flight availability service from FlightStats.com and mobile.flightstats.com. FlightStats’ availability service will show available seats by class and cabin on planes that are either at a nearby gate or will soon arrive, giving those who use the service a head start and reducing the risk of becoming stranded at an airport.

Direct to Both Services via web and mobile web:
http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightAvailability/flightAvailabilityByRoute.do

Mobile:
http://mobile.flightstats.com/go/Mobile/flightAvailabilityByNextAvailableFlight.do

From the NY Times article:

Microsoft on Thursday plans to introduce a Web-based service for driving directions that incorporates complex software models to help users avoid traffic jams.

The new service’s software technology, called Clearflow, was developed over the last five years by a group of artificial-intelligence researchers at the company’s Microsoft Research laboratories. It is an ambitious attempt to apply machine-learning techniques to the problem of traffic congestion. The system is intended to reflect the complex traffic interactions that occur as traffic backs up on freeways and spills over onto city streets.

Source: NY Times

An online, user-friendly map that tracks flood conditions has been developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

As expected rains drive flood waters higher along the Mississippi River Valley, USGS crews are in the field collecting data needed to update the flood maps, prepare forecasts, manage the flood and warn communities

Source: USGS

ResourceShelf Webcam Collection: Mt. St. Helens
Live shots of the volcano that update every 5 minutes. The cams, including the new “HD” cam, come courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.

Source: USFS

Two of these cams allow users to pan, zoom, etc.

+ Huntington Beach (Orange County), CA
2 cams.

+ Sydney Harbour, Australia
Tilt, pan, and zoom. Requires Flash and Java.

+ Niagara Falls, ON
4 cams including a tilt/pan cam. Streaming video also available.

+ San Francisco (via Marin Cam)
A view of SF skyline from the Marin County side of the SF Bay

+ Various views of ships using the Panama Canal

+ Five Live Webcam Images of Vatican City

Sources: Various

See Also: More Webcams and Real Time Information Resources.

We continue developing our collection of databases and other services offering real time or near real time public transportation information.

+ Boston: MBTA Service Updates
Rider alerts and advisories for the entire MBTA system.
See Also: T-Alerts

+ New Jersey Transit: MyTransit: Alerts Sent to Mobile Devices

+ Montreal: Buses
The service is called AUTOBUS.

+ Philadelphia: SEPTA Trainview
Learn More.

Georgia is one state that is planning to offer hourly (or when large updates take place) email messages with the latest returns.

You can register for the free service on this page direct from the Secretary of State. You can also access Georgia returns on this SOS web page. Look for more info on real-time returns in upcoming posts.

Real Time Information: New York and New Jersey Bridge & Tunnel Alerts Page (E-Mail, SMS)

The Port Authority is launching the first phase of a motorist alert service for our bridge and tunnel customers. We are seeking subscriber information to further refine the system. We value your input! Please send us your comments by using the feedback button on the left hand side of the page.

Port Authority Bridge & Tunnel Alerts is a free subscription service that notifies customers of incidents or events that may delay their trip across Port Authority bridges. When you register, you will:

* Receive free alerts directly to your cellular phone, PDA, pager, or e-mail account
* Be able to select the facilities as well as the time ranges you wish to monitor

See Also: Many More Real or Near Real-Time Tools

Source: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

From FlightStats.com:

The delay index gives travelers a clear indication of the likelihood of disruptions in their travel plans at a glance. The system monitors delays and cancellations at airports worldwide and assigns a “delay index” ranging from 0 (little or no disruption) to 5 (severe disruptions) for each major airport. Users can then easily click through for details on specific flight status and create email and text message alerts to stay informed.

An airport’s flight delay index reflects its current on-time departure performance adjusted for delay severity and cancellations. Delay index scores appear as an overlay on country, regional, continental and global maps so travelers can see current conditions anywhere they expect to travel. Pop up windows appear when specific airports are selected that provide detailed scoring, an indication of the index trend (better or worse), and links to get current status information on individual flight arrivals and departures.

See Also: Our Most Recent Update of Places to Track Aircraft in Near Real-Time

We’ve talked about many tools to track airplanes (and other forms of transportation) in near real-time on ResourceShelf. In the past few years tools like SkylineGlobe and Google Earth allow users to track flights in near real-time and in 3D.

This post has a list of most of them.

Each service has its strengths and weaknesses.

That’s why knowing about and using more than one is a good idea. Like we have said on other issues, libraries often have more than one or two reference books and databases covering the same topic.

Now it’s time to add another source to that list via the Virtual Earth Blog.

Say hello to iFLy.com which uses MSFT Virtual Earth imagery and 3D technology (which, of course, you’ll need to have installed on your system). 2D views and stats are also available.

Unlike other services, FOUR different views/maps/images are available. 2 require VE 3D technology:
+ Planned Route
+ Cockpit View (cool!)
+ Center-on-Plane
+ WingMan

Safe and Easy Flying, Great Flight, Good Night!

ResourceShelf: Real Time Info Collection: Chicago-Gary-Milwaukee Area

Includes:
+ Real-time Videos and Snapshots (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin)
+ Travel Times
+ Personalization (My Maps)
+ Dynamic Message Sign Report
+ Related Links
+ What’s New

++ New: Alert Service for Illinois: IDOT Email Alert Service

This system currently includes 72 route segments and we are working diligently to add other route segments in the near future…You may use the links on this page to register for free traffic alerts…

Source: Chicago-Gary-Milwaukee Area Corridor Transportation Information

We use three services to track (near real-time) flights to and from the U.S., Canada, and in some cases in many other countries. Like all reference sources each has it’s strenghts and weaknesses so that’s why it’s useful to know what all three offer.

1) FlightAware
Ability to see all fleets in the air, sort by aircraft type, etc. Tail number tracking. 40 days worth of historic data free for registered users (registration is free).

2) FlightExplorer
Good maps including a layer for maps that shows turbulence. Ability with two clicks to track flight using SkylineGlobe’s Digital Globe in 3D.

3) FlightStats
Mobile version at http://mobile.flightstats.com/, ability to combine codeshare flights, airports delay info, etc. Very strong (and getting stronger) in non-US/Canadian coverage. Registered users (free) get extra data.

TODAY, we’ve learn that FlightStats now has a Facebook application that can be accessed at http://facebook.flightstats.com.

From the announcement:

The interactive Flight Tracker application refreshes automatically as the flight progresses showing the flight’s progress over a Google ™ map. Companion screens show weather information in both the arrival and departure cities and alert users to any airport delays that might affect the monitored flight. Flight information displayed below the map includes the on-time arrival performance rating for the monitored flight, its scheduled and actual departure time, and its estimated arrival time.

Flight Tracker for FaceBook lets a user set up any number of flight status alerts for specific flight arrivals and departures, each with its own notification options. For any given flight alert, a user can select to have messages:
- Be sent as a Facebook Notification to their own account
- Posted to their mini-feed along with a flight description for sharing with friends
- Emailed to any specified address
- Sent as a text message to a mobile device

Alert messages are sent for:
- Status confirmation up to 3 hours prior to departure
- Notification if the flight is delayed by more than 30 minutes
- Notification if the flight is canceled or diverted
- Arrival notification when the flight lands

See Also: Review the Entire ResourceShelf Real-Time Information Compilation

Land
+ Honolulu Police Department Real-Time Traffic Incident Database

+ Honolulu Real-Time Traffic Cams
Numerous Cameras Around the City
+ Kona Cam
+ Maui Webcams
+ Maui Beachcam
+ Waikiki Beach Cam (Ground Level)
+ Waikiki Beach Live Camera
+ NASA Live Webcams from Infrared Telescope Facility
+ Surfing Cams

Sea
+ Hawaiian Islands Recent Marine Data
+ Dial a Buoy (1-888-701-8992) or Buoy Info via RSS
+ Tsunami Watches and Warnings ||| The Tsunami Map Viewer

Air
+++ Honolulu International Airport Real-Time (Flights Scheduled to Arrive and Depart)
Airport Overview

++ Kona International @ Keahole ||| Airport Overview

++ Kahului Airport ||| Airport Overview

++ Hilo ||| Hilo Airport Overview

++ Lihue ||| Airport Overview

Other
+ Current Weather Conditions ||| Imagery
+ More Hyper-Local, Real-Time, Weather Stations
+ Hawaii Surfer Forecasts
+ Drive Akamai
+ Pacific Disaster Center Atlas
+ Public Transport: The Bus

Listen
+ Hawaii Public Radio
+ Live NOAA Weather Radio Stream

NY investment house, Allen & Co., has invested an undisclosed sum in mobile product search service, GPShopper.com, according to this Dow Jones story.
GPShopper is the provider of Slifter that uses GPS to find products located close to where you current or future location(s). It can also be used without the GPS component and downloadable app by entering a location (Zip Code, address, etc.).

The GPS-enabled version is currently available for certain phones on the Sprint network.

Additionally,

At the end of September, Nokia Corp. (NOK) began offering the Slifter application to users of its N95 mobile devices and other N series and E series phones, which are GPS enabled. Nokia is GPShopper’s first big handset partner. The handset maker’s devices can be used on any GSM carrier’s network, which in the U.S. is primarily AT&T Corp.

Other mobile versions (using an applet) are available for other networks and on various devices. Here’s a Flash demo.

PC/Mac, mobile, and SMS versions are available without the GPS functionality. Here’s a search using the PC version (Paint, 10036) and a search on the mobile version for iPhones 90210 after selecting the model we wanted. Some personalization is available on the mobile version (non-app) if you register your phone number and Zip Code.

The mobile app version provides provides more tools. Slifter also offers merchant, location, and product browsing.

See Also: GPShopper Partners (Nokia, Sprint, Java, and TruePosition)

See Also: Where2GetIt Out from Under the Radar (via ScreenWerk)

See Also: In this ResourceShelf Post from July, 2007 we mention Slifter as well as other GPS/Location-Based Services mobile services including:
+ loopt
+ uLocate
+ TrackEm
+ MapQuest Find Me

See Also: AtlasBook, PhotoFinder, FamilyFinder, and other services from Networks in Motion.

See Also: A Roundup of Wireless/Mobile Shopping Databases and Tools

See Also: Ask.com* offers a GPS Phone (via Sprint) that includes Evite, Driving Directions/Maps, CitySearch and other features.

See Also: Inside the Private World of Allen & Co. (via Fortune, 2004)

* Gary is Director of Online Information Resources at Ask.com