SpatialNews Press Release
Autodesk Technology Used in Homeland Security Applications for Creating,
Managing, Distributing, and Reusing Infrastructure Data Vital to Public Safety
Pinellas County, Florida, Now Using Autodesk GIS Software-Based Application for Law
Enforcement and Emergency Response
www.autodesk.com
GITA Conference, Tampa Bay, Florida, March 18, 2002 - Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:
ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced
that its GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology is being used in Web Enforcer
and FloorView, two homeland security applications helping law enforcement officials and
emergency response teams to plan for and react to threats and emergencies.
Autodesk's homeland security strategy centers on providing flexible software to help
governments, utilities, and telecommunications firms assess infrastructure capabilities and
security to implement design changes and better respond to emergencies. Autodesk's GIS
software can be used either out of the box, customized by customers, or as a development
platform for third parties with domain expertise. Other homeland security efforts from
Autodesk include solutions that help wireless operators leverage location-based services to
address personal security issues for their subscribers.
Responding to the events of September 11, governments, utilities, and telecommunications
firms began assessing the capabilities and security of vital infrastructure services such as
electricity, natural gas, water, transportation, and emergency response. New threats have
made it clear that fast access to infrastructure data over the Internet, an intranet, or via a
mobile device is critical. The applications that supply this data need to be customizable,
reliable, and quickly developed and deployed and be able to draw on and visualize a variety
of interrelated data including demographics, floor plans, location of physical assets,
evacuation routes, hazardous material threats, and weather.
Autodesk's powerful mapping and distribution technology meets these requirements. Its
open, flexible architecture means organizations can rapidly develop highly customized
solutions that draw on a variety of engineering, design, and other important data, and can
deliver it anywhere it needs to be, anytime. The software supports a wide variety of file
formats, including DWG, providing data accuracy across the entire workflow. Autodesk's
GIS solutions can scale from a few local users to thousands when used with an Oracle9i
Database and is capable of helping address four key areas of homeland security:
Assessment - Identify and evaluate potential vulnerabilities in the existing
infrastructure
Remediation?Implement design changes to reduce vulnerabilities
Monitoring?Monitor infrastructure around-the-clock to quickly identify and fix
problems
Emergency Response?Respond quickly and effectively to emergencies to help
save lives and minimize damage
Although public safety and homeland security have only recently moved to the forefront of
national priorities, Autodesk's GIS, mapping, and data distribution software has been
contributing to public safety for many years. Pinellas County, has implemented Web
Enforcer, a web application developed by Focus Corporation and based on Autodesk
MapGuide software. This application has been helping the county enforce a state statute
barring convicted sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, day-care centers,
parks, or anyplace where children congregate. Together, Autodesk and Focus have created
a Web Enforcer solution that is commercially available and easily customized for other
organizations.
"Protecting public safety is one of the most vital functions of government," said James
Dates, Director of Justice Coordination for Pinellas County. "When we needed an application
to assist in our law enforcement, we turned to Autodesk for its proven track record with
performance, reliability, and flexibility in digital design software. Now that Web Enforcer is
widely available, organizations in all levels of government can use its power and flexibility
to address their specific public safety needs."
"Each law enforcement and emergency response organization faces its own set of
challenges, but one need is common to all?getting the right data into the right hands at
the right time," said Larry Diamond, vice president, GIS Solutions Division at Autodesk.
"Autodesk's GIS solutions are ideally suited to solving these issues because they can be
customized for each unique situation to deliver vital information over the Internet, an
intranet, extranet, or to a mobile device."
The two applications built by third parties using Autodesk's GIS technology are
? Web Enforcer (developed by Focus Corporation, built on Autodesk MapGuide):
Using this application, law enforcement personnel can view, analyze, and distribute
information related to crimes and crime trends over a secure intranet. Automated
procedures help free valuable law enforcement resources for crime prevention
services. For more information, visit www.focus.ca.
? FloorView (developed by FloorView, LLC, built on Autodesk MapGuide and
Autodesk Architectural Desktop): With this application, emergency and law
enforcement personnel can get accurate floor plans, hazardous materials
information, and other important data while on the scene, helping them develop
emergency tactical plans. To view this application, go to www.floorview.com.
"Autodesk's data creation, editing, management and visualization capabilities provide
powerful tools for law enforcement and emergency personnel to work with a variety of
crucial data," said Steve Perkins, senior vice president, Oracle Public Sector and Oracle
Homeland Security Solutions. "By combining these capabilities with the power of Oracle?
database technology, organizations have a potent solution for helping to protect and
maintain critical infrastructure and effectively react to threats and emergencies."
Availability
Web Enforcer and FloorView are available now in the United States. For purchase
information, contact Autodesk at kevin.faus@autodesk.com or any of the vendors
mentioned above.
About Autodesk
Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design and digital media creation,
management, and distribution company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of
markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital
media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity,
Autodesk helps customers throughout the value chain leverage digital design data to work
better, faster, and smarter. For more information about the company, see
www.autodesk.com.
Autodesk and Autodesk MapGuide are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries.
All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. © Copyright 2002
Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
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