Wednesday, November 28, 2001
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Wednesday, November 28, 2001 |
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Fayette emergency workers have new safety tool for schools By JOHN MUNFORD
The Fayette County School System has taken its emergency preparedness to another level ... and local industries are being encouraged to do the same. A new computer program developed by a local resident puts key information at the fingertips of law enforcement and emergency personnel in the event of a crisis situation. With one simple click, building schematics appear instantly, littered with arrows representing digital photographs which depict, for example, a view down a particular hallway. The technology is viewed as a significant tool should a hostage situation or other crisis arise at local school buildings. It provides deputies and police officers a peek inside the school, which can be crucial because many of them may not be familiar with all the nooks and crannies of the building itself, said Wayne Myers of Fayetteville, who started the company that developed the software. The VIPER (Visual Image Programs for Emergency Responses) software program can highlight closets or other partially hidden danger spots that could be hazardous locations to personnel entering a hostile environment, Myers said. The software also includes aerial photographs along with the floor plans and digital photos of the building's interior views. The technology is also seen as a way to help emergency officials respond to situations at local industries such as chemical spills. The floor plan that pops up on the computer screen can show hazardous materials response crews where certain chemicals are stored, along with fire hazards, alarms and water hook-ups. While the software doesn't come cheap, it is custom designed for each facility. Employees of Quick Image Inc., which sells the VIPER software, visit on-site to record the digital photographs that will be connected to the floor plans. The software can also be customized to fit the specific needs of a particular building, Myers said.
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