Airbus DS Communications and Collier County Break New Ground to Improve Location Accuracy

TEMECULA, CA, Oct. 26, 2017 -- Airbus DS Communications, North America’s leading Public Safety communications provider, and Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Naples, Florida are breaking new ground to improve location accuracy for 9-1-1 systems. Through their collaboration, they will present new capabilities in the VESTA^® 9-1-1 Call Handling solution and the new VESTA^® Map Local solution using RapidSOS location data.

“Collier County has long been an innovator in Public Safety communications, and we are honored to have them as our beta partner as we launch these new capabilities nationwide,” said Jeff Robertson, CEO and President of Airbus DS Communications. “By tapping into smartphone technology, Public Safety agencies can now quickly pinpoint the location of those calling 9-1-1, allowing Calltakers to save precious time and resources during emergencies.” Collier County has been an Airbus DS Communications customer for nine years.

With the VESTA 9-1-1 system, Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be the first Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to realize how the RapidSOS technology transmits precise, device-based hybrid locations from smartphones directly to the VESTA 9-1-1 console. It does so by using all sensors available on modern smartphone devices—including GPS, WiFi Access Points, Bluetooth Beacons, and Barometric Pressure Sensors.

When using VESTA Map Local, the RapidSOS technology is integrated into the solution, giving Calltakers greater location accuracy for wireless 9-1-1 calls. When a call comes in, the VESTA Map Local system automatically checks the RapidSOS NG9-1-1 Clearinghouse to see if a caller’s device-based data location is available. When the location of the smartphone is available, the RapidSOS location information is plotted in the VESTA Map Local system in addition to the normal, network-provided ALI location.

The beta will be carried out on Collier County Sheriff’s 36 9-1-1 positions, 6 positions at the Naples Police Department,  as well as 10 VESTA^® CommandPOSTs, the VESTA^® mobile emergency communications system.

“We are excited to be the first PSAP in the country to bring these new VESTA^® capabilities to our community,” said Bob Finney, 9-1-1 Communications Director at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. “Location accuracy is critical in a community like ours. We have numerous tourists visiting our beaches and the Everglades – many of whom are unfamiliar with their surroundings. Having greater location accuracy will make a huge difference. The testing we will be doing with the VESTA Map Local solution, in particular, is extremely important. From the Calltakers‘ perspective, if they can’t get an accurate location on the map, they can’t dispatch to the right location. It’s all about location.”

“We are excited to expand access to our NG9-1-1 Clearinghouse data to Airbus DS Communications’ customers,” added Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS. “By leveraging our location data with VESTA 9-1-1 and VESTA Map Local, Collier County’s Sheriff’s Office will be able to locate people in need more quickly, helping save lives and improve the safety of their community.”

“As a beta partner, we have had the unique opportunity to have a voice in the development of the latest products in public safety,” said Justin Koval, technical supervisor, Collier County Sheriff’s Office. “Not only does Airbus DS Communications make it easy to test their new functionality, but they take our feedback to heart and apply our suggestions to the final solutions.”

For information on Airbus DS Communications and its portfolio of Public Safety communications solutions, visit www.airbus-dscomm.com.

Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2016, it generated revenues of €67 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe’s number one space enterprise and the world’s second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Airbus DS Communications (www.airbus-dscomm.com)

Airbus DS Communications, Inc. is a global leader and trusted source for mission-critical communications technologies. The VESTA^® product suite provides Next Generation 9-1-1 call processing systems, land mobile radio solutions and emergency notification applications, creating smarter ways to keep all our communities safe. Airbus DS Communications was awarded the Frost and Sullivan's 2016 Best Practices Award as the NG9-1-1 Company of the Year. www.airbus-dscomm.com

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Minh Le
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