Orange County & San Francisco BART police get new mobile software

San Francisco and Irvine, CA, Jan. 27, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Police in five California counties are getting new mobile software this winter-spring. In Orange County, invesigative police are getting new in-vehicle software from NetMotion Wireless, while in the San Francisco area, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) police are getting mobile software for in-vehicle computers and BlackBerry handhelds.

BART goes BlackBerry

San Franciso's BART is a elevated track/subway transit system that spans four counties and 26 cities in California, will be providing its police officers with mobile access to information about emergency situations through the use of location-based technology.

BART is updating its desktop-based MapInfo MapXtrem application with integrated mobile applications. The BlackBerry application also uses mBizMap, a mobile application for BlackBerries from mBizTech. The mobile system allows BART police officers to access emergency data and graphics from wireless computers in their vehicles, and via BlackBerry handheld devices.

The new MapInfo-based wireless application integrates with the BART dispatch system to help officers pinpoint the exact location of any emergency along the 104 miles of BART track line, 43 stations or any BART property across four counties.

When a particular police event code is entered into the system, a map will display all necessary information for locating the emergency, including directions. The system will also present data to help officers determine its impact on the surrounding streets and neighborhoods. Other available information includes:

• Schematics for all BART stations, train yards and buildings
• Track milepost markers that indicate an emergency's exact location
• Digital photos that display the location of emergency exits from underground subway tracks or stations
• Locations and emergency telephone numbers for the nearest jails, hospitals and other institutions, in case of the need for evacuation

Since November 2003, BART has used location-based technology from MapInfo to consolidate and electronically manage 40-year-old documentation, such as engineering schematics, and perform complex crime analysis functions. The mapping technology also helps BART address homeland security analysis, personnel and resource management, officer dispatch and information sharing.

MapInfo is collaborating with Galilee Enterprise and TerraNOVA International on the design and implementation.

Orange County juiced over new software

To the south, the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) has selected and deployed Mobility XE by NetMotion Wireless for use by its investigative division. Using Mobility XE, the California agency's 150 officers will gain wireless access to law enforcement applications and databases over any networks they use or traverse, according to the company. The software, which replaces another vendor's product, will also be deployed in 200 patrol cars by the end of this month.

The OCSD Investigations Division required mobility management software that provides access to multiple data networks, key applications, and criminal databases. Using NetMotion Mobility XE, investigators can perform real-time justice system queries into criminal history, local OCSD databases, and jail information, as well as state and federal databases.

Investigators also have access to other commonly used computer applications, including e-mail, the OCSD intranet, Internet sites, and shared network-based documents. They can communicate quickly with judges, obtain an arrest or search warrant, or request backup support from other sheriff's personnel while monitoring the site of suspected criminal activity.

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