Excelerate takes STEPS for multi-agency support at emergencies

01/09/2006

Excelerate Technology, in conjunction with its technology partner Imass, has launched STEPS (Strategic Emergency Planning Solution), a system which allows personnel from all three Emergency Services the ability to immediately update emergency plans in pressurised situations – such as major disasters or terrorist attacks – over Excelerate’s wireless mesh technology.

STEPS enables organisations to create plans that deal with various levels of emergency. These plans, created and stored within STEPS, provide valuable information in support of responses to incidents, and can be generated in such a way as to include and integrate multi-agency response details that may be required to resolve a crisis.

The system integrates cordons, points of interest, data sets and overlays such as OS MasterMap, OS Address Point, Census data, CAD plans, aerial photography and flood levels into its powerful mapping capabilities. The usage of simple configurable icons ensures the solution is very easy to customise.

And, when utilised with smart board tools, it is able to record details of an incident as it develops, and offer additional practical features such as a playback facility and freehand drawing.

David Savage, Chairman and CEO for Excelerate Technology said: “One of the main attractions of the STEPS solution is its simplicity of use and its automatic update across the Excelerate wireless mesh solution in a multi-agency response.
 
“It allows the Police, Fire and Ambulance crews the ability to update their plans while keeping all involved parties informed. As soon as one plan of action is made, the information is relayed across the wireless mesh and updated on all the whiteboards in the relevant response units.”

In addition to the benefits given by STEPS’ integration with Excelerate’s wireless mesh solutions, the information can be transferred to any other location, such as HQ, via Excelerate’s Transportable Satellite Broadband VPN (TSBV) technology to another STEPS device.

Should a Chief Police or Fire officer wish to make a decision from that remote location, information will automatically be transferred and updated at the scene of the emergency.

Jeremy Valentine of Imass explained: “Excelerate is, without doubt, one of the most forward-thinking companies in its field, and we are delighted to be forming this partnership for the supply of STEPS to the Emergency Services.

“The solution fits the company’s portfolio superbly, and fully compliments ours. Providing STEPS over the TSBV link simply takes the product to a new level.”

Cardiff-based Excelerate has supplied its TSBV solutions to the UK’s Emergency Services for the past four years after introducing the technology into the sector. It continues to pioneer the use of Satellite Broadband VPN and associated applications.