Australia-based IntelliWhere launches new tracking software

Australia can stake a claim to have developed a new real-time tracking software platform that is already being used for homeland security

applications overseas. Intergraph has based the product development of IntelliWhere in Brisbane. IntelliWhere is a global division of Intergraph with a focus on the development and marketing of solutions for the rapidly growing location-based services industry. IntelliWhere TrackForce is the latest offering from this local product development team. Introducing IntelliWhere TrackForce

IntelliWhere TrackForce lets enterprises and service providers track and manage the location of field crews and mobile assets, integrating asset and spatial data with work order information and real-time resource status from the field. The system provides an enterprise platform for the real-time tracking, presence management, job assignment and work monitoring of mobile resources. IntelliWhere TrackForce

can take into account a changing business environment and external pressures, the parameters of which can be integrated with knowledge of the current location and status of the mobile resources.

Data source: Brisbane City Council

IntelliWhere TrackForce provides an adaptive environment allowing data from a range of sources to be accessed, fused, analyzed and acted upon in time to effectively manage mobile resources. These resources can include the skills and equipment of a mobile workforce, as well as the definition and attributes of mobile assets, such as cargo in transit. Mobile resources can be directed to where they are needed, in time to respond to the growing business pressures that are being exerted on the enterprise.

“Presence management” is a relatively new term coined to describe an approach which involves constantly monitoring the location and status of mobile resources to maintain a clear view of where they are, what they are doing and where they have been. Positioning technologies make this a manageable task, and Intelligent Transport Systems are increasingly providing a base for real-time information for routing, navigation and monitoring.

©2004 Intergraph Corporation

©2004 Intergraph Corporation

Centralized management views where mobile resources are, and can use sophisticated spatial analysis tools to assist in their management. These tools allow enterprises to calculate and manage routes for mobile units, assign work based on the location and availability of field crews, and set spatial alarms and triggers to alert office supervisors to certain events. For instance, commanders might be alerted to unauthorized travel into secure zones (“geo-fencing”). Rules can also be integrated with telemetry systems to trigger alarms if the vehicle stops for longer than a certain period, requires assistance, breaks down, or exceeds limits. Agencies are using this real-time information to prove attendance on site, monitor contractors, and respond to emergencies. For instance, agencies can not only monitor the location of mobile units, but they can also use alarms and notifications to raise alerts to issues such as unauthorized travel into secure zones or off course from designated routes. In an emergency situation, resources can be managed and mobilised quickly and efficiently. Furthermore reparations can be fast-tracked, as field crews are located and dispatched with the relevant corporate information to complete repairs. As government agencies around the world focus on homeland security, the management of mobile assets, vehicles and field crews is coming under the spotlight. By tracking the location and activity of these mobile resources, agencies can tighten security and prevent attacks, particularly where critical infrastructure is concerned. In the eventuality of an attack, they are also in a better position to minimise the impact to the community and maintain business continuity. Take the example where an agency is alerted to a direct terrorist threat at the local airport. Depending on the severity of the threat, the agency would immediately establish an exclusion zone around the airfield. By setting up spatial boundaries, and using real time tracking, a commander would trigger alarms if unauthorized vehicles travelled into or out of the restricted zone. Using real-time location and status, the local commander would quickly locate the nearest mobile units needed at the scene, such as troops, fire trucks, hazardous materials units, police, and even government buses for evacuation purposes. By reducing manual processes and using real-time information to aid decision-making, the homeland security agency can ensure a coordinated and effective response. Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions is a leading geospatial solutions provider for the following markets: local, state, and federal government; transportation; utilities; communications; location-based services; photogrammetry; remote sensing; cartography; and military and intelligence. IntelliWhere is a division of Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions. IntelliWhere's focus is on the rapidly growing location-based technology and services market. The division combines more than 30 years of experience in spatial and location-based technologies with a global infrastructure that supports the implementation of solutions around the world. IntelliWhere is represented in more than 60 countries through Intergraph Corporation's wholly owned subsidiaries and distributor network. For more information, visit http://imgs.intergraph.com/, and http://imgs.intergraph.com/iwtf/default.asp, or call John Lockton on telephone number (07) 3510 8932.