GEOCommand, Inc. Participates in Unified Incident Command and Decision Support (UICDS) Prototype Demonstration

GEOCommand, Inc. (www.geocommand.com) participated in a data interoperability demonstration for a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program called Unified Incident Command and Decision Support (UICDS). GEOCommand's technology provides real-time local knowledge for preparation, mitigation, response and recovery for fire, police and for public safety organizations. The UICDS architecture has its foundation based on design criteria taken from the National Response Framework, National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS).

UICDS is sponsored by the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is being executed through a contract with prime contractor Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). GEOCommand has been actively involved in UICDS planning and development activities for the past several months including participating in technical workshops conducted by SAIC. In addition to leveraging OGC standards, UICDS also utilizes the CAP and EDXL standards as well as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM).

Albert Koenigsberg, president of GEOCommand, Inc. said, "We feel that this demonstration was a perfect opportunity for us to illustrate that the GEOCommand software suite is in alignment with the goals of the UICDS program. Responders use our emergency response information system to store local jurisdictional knowledge in the form of emergency pre-plans and digital mapping. In the event of a multi-jurisdictional emergency, this critical information can be readily supplied to any responders who need it via the UICDS system as shown in the demonstration. Our existing server technology was designed to function as an extremely flexible broker of critical emergency data and integration with the UICDS framework has allowed us to extend that communication even further. We look forward to continue working with SAIC, the UICDS team and first adopter communities in bringing this next generation of emergency response systems to America's First Responders."

James W. Morentz, Ph.D., Director of UICDS Outreach, said, "Despite all the efforts devoted to data interoperability in recent years, the 23 technology providers represented in the demonstration came to the UICDS program with virtually no instances of sharing data with each other. Using the software development kit for the UICDS middleware and the National Information Exchange Model data exchange formats, these 'first adopter' technology providers successfully demonstrated nearly one hundred real-time information exchanges. This demonstration points the way to a successful continuation of this government-sponsored, technology provider-driven information sharing across the full range of prevention, protection, response, and recovery."

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) hosted the demonstration at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) in Richmond on April 29. The UICDS prototype implementation integrated information from 23 commercial, government and academic technology provider applications, demonstrating how this information is shared among applications and the jurisdictions they serve. The demonstration included six incident vignettes occurring in a simulated East Coast storm, with each vignette showing information sharing among five to seven applications currently in use by police, fire, emergency medical, emergency management, and other response organizations.

About GEOCommand, Inc.

GEOCommand (www.geocommand.com) designs, develops and markets their GEOCommand(TM) suite of software products as a cost-competitive solution for the public safety sector. Incorporating engineering excellence in both the field of GIS and wireless integration distinguishes GEOCommand as an industry leader. GEOCommand serves as an advocate for America's First Responder Community and has filed comments in support of the development of a nationwide voice, data and video network. GEOCommand is an ESRI Authorized Business Partner. For more information please visit www.geocommand.com.

About UICDS

The Unified Incident Command and Decision Support (UICDS) is a middleware foundation that enables commercial and government incident management technologies to share information and support decisions for the National Response Framework and National Incident Management to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from natural, technological, and terrorist events. UICDS is sponsored by the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and is being executed through a contract with prime contractor Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

GEOCOMMAND is a registered trademark of GEOCommand, Inc. ESRI, ArcGIS, www.esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of ESRI in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.