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News |
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June 19, 2008 :
Appear to launch its first North American Software Research Labs in collaboration with Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada
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April 15, 2008 :
RED HERRING REVEALS COMPANIES SELECTED FOR THE RED HERRING 100 EUROPE 2008
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April 2, 2008 :
Appear Appoints Aaron Ardiri as Chief Technical Officer
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Events |
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June 17, 2008 :
Appear’s CEO is a featured guest speaker at the annual SITA Air Transport IT Summit in Brussels
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SW Florida International Airport
About South West Florida International Airport
SWFIA serves more than 7 million passengers annually and is one of the busiest airports in the USA. SWFIA’S new modern terminal has deployed a context-based state-of-the-art wireless solution to ensure the targeted delivery of emergency response and security information to first on-the-scene mobile responders such as the fire department, security guards and maintenance workers.
Fast Emergency Response is Critical
Achieving a fast response to critical emergency and security situations such as fire alarms is paramount to the smooth running of every airport. Mobile airport personnel who are responsible for responding to activated fire alarms and security alerts must have access to the right information when and where they need it. Traditional processes of emergency response information sent through dispatch and operations result in slow response times due to the highly complex airport environment. In many cases emergency information is not targeted to the most relevant response team, critical details concerning the incident such as a fire alarm map are not communicated, plus related information is often not included or is inadequately described. SWFIA thus needed a context-aware mobile solution that could overcome these challenges. A mobile solution that could dynamically react to the demanding emergency and security situations that arise in airports everyday.
Context-Aware Wireless Emergency Response Solution
SWFIA deployed a context-aware wireless emergency response solution based on the Appear IQ platform. Using the Appear Context Engine the solution rapidly and dynamically personalises emergency and security alerts plus automatically delivers critical information to the most relevant personnel via their mobile devices. For example, if a fire alarm is set off, alarm information is sent to the emergency response centre. At the same time the system also notifies the closest and most relevant response team to the alert via their mobile devices providing them with the precise location of the fire alarm. Additional critical information such as related maps locating ventilation ducts are also pushed to the mobile devices.
Automatically selecting and pushing precise alert information to the most relevant first time responders such as the fire department, security personnel or maintenance workers gives SWFIA the ability to respond rapidly to emergency and security situations. A situation’s status can be analysed more effectively leading to quicker decisions and a response within the critical “three minute window”.
The Value of Context
- Context ensures that the most relevant emergency response teams are automatically notified of an emergency or security. Central operations also receive notification of the alert.
Context ensures that first on-the-scene response teams have access to rich information concerning the nature of the alert or emergency situation.
- Context ensures better analysis, decision-making and response times due to the automatic provisioning of critical information relevant to the alert or emergency alarm. For example, the location of a specific fire alarm and relevant maps such as ventilation ducts and which areas are affected.
- Context ensures greater passenger security as well as minimal operational disruptions to arrivals and departures due to targeted information flow to key personnel and emergency response teams.
- Context ensures that wireless communication technologies in a highly complex environment such as an airport are effective, simplified and user friendly.
Appear’s Context-Aware technology is transforming the daily operations of Southwest Florida International Airport. Faster response times and more accurate analysis of daily emergency and security alerts enables the airport to continue normal operations with minimal disruptions.
The Appear IQ platform is also laying the foundations for future pioneering IT and mobile projects. Using the software platform additional security services and applications can be integrated. For example, in the event of a security breach, video feeds from surveillance cameras can be automatically sent to the mobile devices of the nearest security personnel giving them the correct information they need to assess and react to the situation. Relevant information can also be sent to other relevant personnel. For instance, if the security breach has resulted in damage that requires immediate attention such as perimeter fencing, a message can be sent to the nearest maintenance team.
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“The Appear IQ platform will close the time gap between an event and closure by providing each specialised incident responder with the specific information they need to perform their tasks.”
Robert C. Smallback, Director Information Technology, Lee County Port Authority
 Case Study in pdf format
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