GIF 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 1 (February)

GIS Technology Supports Crime Mapping Web Site

The Omega Group has upgraded its crime mapping Website using GIS technology from ESRI. The newly improved site allows law enforcement agencies to automatically upload crime data for public consumption via the Web. Site visitors view digital maps of their area of interest and have a fast and efficient method to point and click their way to information. In addition, people can learn about crime activity near their home or business by subscribing to Crime Alerts, automated e-mail notifications that are sent out whenever new activity occurs in their area. The service is free to the general public. More than 75 agencies from all over the United States take advantage of the site, www. crimemapping.com, including San Francisco, Calif.; Anchorage, Alaska; Fort Worth, Texas; Bethlehem, Pa.; Duluth, Minn.; and Miami, Fla. More than 80 other agencies are scheduled to go live in a few weeks. Omega selected ESRI’s ArcGIS API for JavaScript to develop its rich, interactive application. The API allows Omega developers to add content to the map via online services, develop custom tools and widgets, and add GeoRSS feeds and other Web content. The API connects to ArcGIS Server, which operates as the mapping and spatial analysis platform for publishing GIS functionality as Web services. Using the ArcGIS Server environment to spatially enable crime data significantly reduces storage costs and data processing overhead.

Acquisition Boosts Situational Awareness Capabilities

Harris Corp. has acquired the technology assets of OSI Geospatial’s land-based, situational awareness business. These technologies will enhance the company’s capabilities in delivering assured communications systems and applications for defense and public safety customers. With this acquisition, Harris gains advanced software for capturing, viewing and disseminating critical strategic and tactical information to domestic and international defense and public safety customers. The situational awareness software provides commanders and team members in the field with realtime information, such as the location of deployed personnel. These applications are capable of being embedded into both tactical and public safety radios, as well as electronic devices such as laptop computers. As part of the transaction, Harris is hiring the nine employees who engineered the land-based, situational awareness system technology.

Kevin Aman: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Map Visualization Component Guides Emergency Medical Distribution

C2Logix has chosen MapDotNet UX from ISC for the mapping visualization component to their SNS TourSolver application for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS is a national repository and response system to distribute life-saving medicines and medical supplies to respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters or large-scale public health emergencies, such as the outbreak of H1N1 flu virus. SNS Tour Solver Portal is a central route simulation and optimization decision-making tool that SNS managers use to plan routes for the distribution of SNS materials, including the H1N1 anti-virals and medical supplies. The portal is a customized, Web-based version of the TourSolver route optimization software and heavily utilizes all aspects of the MapDotNet UX product. The portal, which was designed to be map-centric, enables planners to quickly generate and visualize optimized routes to distribute supplies from central storage facilities to multiple local points of distribution in communities. For the H1N1 flu response, emergency managers were able to identify the number of trucks that they required, how long it would take to complete the deliveries, and then visualize the actual travel path and route that each driver would take, all without leaving the map user interface portion of the application.

Integration Platform Enhances Domestic Nuclear Threat Monitoring

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office of the Department of Homeland Security has selected Solace System’s Unified Messaging Platform as a prototype integration platform to enhance threat monitoring and response capabilities of local, state and federal emergency organizations in urban areas. Under this prototype, Solace message routers will be used in conjunction with strategically placed sensors, as well as applications responsible for recognizing threats and coordinating responses, to improve the country’s ability to protect population centers and critical infrastructure. Solace’s content and geospatial routing products are compliant with the Emergency Data Exchange Language suite of standards, which DHS has adopted to improve communication between government agencies and non-governmental organizations. With Solace technology, location can be defined as a single point of longitude and latitude, by proximity to a particular point or by inclusion within irregularly defined areas like security zones, flood plains or radioactive plumes. Any event that occurs within an area of interest generates a message which is securely delivered in realtime to all appropriate first responders, decision makers, complex event processing systems and data warehouses within government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Richard Barton: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it