Autodesk Extends Homeland Security Initiative to Microsoft Tablet PC with Successful Pilot Program at Major West Coast Airport

Business Wire, Nov 7, 2002

Business Editors and High Tech Writers

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2002

Pilot Program Delivers Evacuation Plans, Aerial Images, and

Annotation Capabilities Delivered Real-Time to Help First Responders

Manage Emergencies

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that it has extended its Homeland Security Initiative to take advantage of the Microsoft Tablet PC with a successful pilot program at a major West Coast airport. The pilot program combines the use of live spatial data, maps, aerial imagery, and situation planning with the mobile computing power and inking capabilities of the Tablet PC to give emergency responders and airport managers critical information at the scene of a crisis. Sections and departments participating in the pilot include Airfield Operations, Terminal Operations, IT, Project Management, Facility Management, Environmental, and the Airport Managers Office.

Airport Security

Providing effective security and responding to emergencies and threats to public safety at airports requires maintaining accurate maps, aerial photography, and evacuations plans. This information needs to be available on a mobile platform and easily shared between emergency response teams via wireless networks and a centralized database.

To meet these needs, the airport turned to Autodesk and Kelar Corporation, an Autodesk Homeland Security Initiative partner, for Kelar's Geographic Security Portal software. The software is an incident management application that provides mobile incident tracking, reporting, and administration using a combination of voice, images, and freehand redlining. The Geographic Security Portal application was built by Kelar using Autodesk MapGuide(R) and Autodesk(R) OnSite View. For the pilot project, Autodesk(R) OnSite Desktop was used to extend the Geographic Security Portal's capabilities to the Microsoft Tablet PC. As an incident unfolds and emergency teams respond, they can access, update, and share up-to-the-minute data over a wireless network using the Tablet PC.

"When an emergency occurs, getting accurate data quickly to the scene of a security incident and being able to share it with other emergency personnel is critical," said Larry Diamond, vice president of the Autodesk GIS Solutions Division. "The combination of the Geographic Security Portal solution and the mobile computing power of the Tablet PC will give the airport the flexibility to react much more swiftly, efficiently, and accurately, which is critical when the public safety is at stake."

"Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, with its versatile digital inking, is an excellent example of one the benefits the new Microsoft platform offers to both Autodesk and its customers," said Alexandra Loeb, vice president of the Tablet PC division at Microsoft Corp. "Application development time for Autodesk is significantly reduced while customers get a flexible application they can easily customize to meet their specific needs."

Autodesk's Homeland Security Initiative

The goal of the Autodesk Homeland Security Initiative is to deliver a suite of design and mapping applications to give first responders and emergency personnel data to protect critical infrastructure protection, enhancing public safety, and manage emergencies. As part of the initiative, Autodesk is working with Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) partners, software developers, and hardware vendors to create combined software and hardware technology.

By integrating design, spatial, and emergency response information in a geographic context, these applications handle the creation, integration, analysis, and visualization of information from multiple sources. Data sharing improves between agencies and across jurisdictions. The applications also integrate building floor plans and other engineering data with spatial data describing the surrounding environment--a critical requirement for facilitating safety and security both inside and outside the buildings.

For more information on Autodesk's Homeland Security Initiative, visit, www.autodesk.com/hls. For more information on Geographic Security Portal, visit www.kelar.com/gis/gsp.> About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design software and digital content company. Autodesk offers solutions for professionals in building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering progressive products and services, Autodesk helps customers create, manage, use and maximize the value of their digital data throughout the lifecycle of their projects. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, Autodesk OnSite Desktop, Autodesk OnSite View, Autodesk MapGuide, and Discreet are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.