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Press Release For Immediate Publication May 9, 2000  Columbus, Ohio Police Department in National Spotlight for use of MetaMAP Columbus, OH -- The Columbus Police Department Helicopter Division is the first police agency in the country to implement a complete detailed Geographic Information System (GIS) in their police helicopters. They are using a customized version of MetaMAP, Inc.’s MetaVUE product, which is interfaced with an on-board global position satellite (GPS) system. They use MetaVUE for navigation to specific addresses and as a moving map when engaged in chases and surveillance. The pilot and the observer have unprecedented access to mapping details such as building footprints, road edges, rivers, streams, catch basins, poles, fire hydrants, topography, and high resolution aerial photography. The system can literally put addresses on the roof of the buildings, and provide accurate navigation information to a specific address. The system uses the state of the art GIS data produced by the Franklin County Auditor. Columbus’s use of the system has been receiving national attention. Film Garden Entertainment (Studio City, CA) has just completed filming a feature on the use of this innovative crime fighting tool for The Learning Channel. The film crew accompanied the police on two helicopter patrol shifts and spent the rest of the day interviewing representatives of the Columbus Police Department and MetaMAP, Inc. The feature will air later this year. The system was also highlighted with a full article on PoliceOne.com, an internationally known web site serving the law enforcement community. The link to the article is: http://policeone.com/cgi-bin/article/getarticle2.asp?title=183 The article details the considerable impact the system has made on the effectiveness of the air support program of the Columbus Police Department. Because of the success of the system, other law enforcement agencies across the country are implementing MetaMAP products for their mobile law enforcement needs. This technology can be utilized in the office and police cars as well as aircraft. The system has recently been ordered by the Pasadena, California, Sacramento, California and Houston, Texas police departments. Many other agencies across the country have chosen the system and are in various stages of working out funding and data issues. MetaMAP, Inc. was formed in 1992 to develop, distribute, and support geographic information system (GIS) software. MetaMAP, Inc. is an industry leader in the efficient distribution of GIS data. They are based in Lexington, KY. MetaMAP, MetaVUE, and MapVUE are trademarks of MetaMAP, Inc. Other brands and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. |
