Picture the scene, as they say in the classics:

Version #1:

It is a dark, rainy night somewhere in South Africa. Somewhere under these inky wet skies a top-secret military base is sheltering a top-secret visitor. The plane, harbouring a precious cargo, is parked in a cleverly disguised hangar and all the world is sleeping... except for the group of intruders, who are approaching the perimeter of the military base with AK47s in their hands and evil in their hearts. If they penetrate the base, the consequences for the country could be disastrous...

Version #2:

It is a dark, rainy night somewhere in South Africa. Somewhere under these inky wet skies a top-secret military base is sheltering a top-secret visitor. The plane, harbouring a precious cargo, is parked in a cleverly disguised hangar and all the world is sleeping... including the intruders. They have discovered that the military base is protected with Intergraph's SecureView technology, and have consequently decided not to bother hauling out their AK47s but to stay at home instead with the video machine and a steady supply of their favourite beverage.

Version #2 is not as far-fetched as it sounds. SecureView was originally developed to meet the challenging requirements of the US Airforce and its mission to protect its forces worldwide while under new budgetary constraints. Now commercially available, SecureView can provide the operational-personnel of both industry and government with timely and accurate alarm, assessment and equipment maintenance information.

Intergraph's SecureView is designed to protect critical resources and environmental assets in any part of the world, while accommodating security strategies that require economy, mobility, effectiveness and ease of use. It is the market's first available security management system that is based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. This cost-effective, highly reliable software is a modular, rapidly deployable and re-locatable security system designed to protect precious assets. It combines state-of-the-art software technology with expert integration and support.

SecureView is designed for rapid deployment by security personnel to protect perimeter areas, airfields or supply depots. The system is also well-suited for larger applications, such as border defence, or permanent surveillance and security systems for large facilities with mobile assets. SecureView's modular design allows for future expansion. SecureView allows one to achieve physical security that is more reliable, more flexible and more cost-effective.

Based on Intel Pentium-powered workstations running the Microsoft Windows NT operating system, SecureView combines price/performance and ease of use with advanced security and GIS technology. SecureView displays sensors, fire alarms and video cameras for security and environmental monitoring. Sensors transmit and receive status and configuration information via RF (radio frequency) communications or hardware connections with monitoring basestations. This state-of-the-art security system uses a relational database for sensor configuration as well as map and historical information.

SecureView's most unique feature is its use of a GIS to display sensor positions over topologically accurate map data. From the GIS, one can select and load appropriate map images to the design file, which allows one to choose views and layers for displaying and receiving map images. To aid situation analysis, one can select or deselect all layers, simultaneously or individually, with a single mouse click.

Typical applications of SecureView include vehicle and personnel tracking, border defence and rapid deployment, security planning and sensor management and permanent security for fixed installations. In all these applications, Intergraph offers complete integration services for large-scale security solutions. Intergraph is represented in South Africa by Intergraph Systems Southern Africa, a subsidiary of IT group Fintech with an enviable reputation and skills in the world of GIS and Mapping systems.

Intertech's staff can evaluate a site and recommend the hardware, software, training and support to satisfy specific requirements. They will also prepare a fully executable implementation plan, including written estimates with descriptions of the technical work, hardware, software and training, as well as potential project schedules and cost estimates.

Intergraph Systems Southern Africa

(011) 313 1222

pvjaarsveld@intch.co.za