NICE Systems, CloudScann partner on mobile app deployed by NJ TRANSIT

NICE Systems and CloudScann recently announced an integrated solution that lets users document incidents in the field via their smartphones and enable two-way transmissions of text, photo and video information with a centralized command center.

Initially developed for NJ TRANSIT in New Jersey prior to a major sporting event conducted last year, the integrated solution leverages NICE System’s Situator situation-management solution and CloudScann’s hosted See It Send It mobile application.

“It puts a lot of power in the hands of the folks who work in the field for New Jersey Transit, so that will allow them to send text messages, video, pictures, GPS coordinates or unit assignments back into the command center via the See It Send It app,” Kevin Tenbrunsel, regional vice president for NICE Systems, said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “Likewise, it allows the command center to send relevant information to those users in the field via the See It Send It app.”

“It’s a pretty powerful tool. The way we think of it is that we’ve extended the command center out into the field and put the information into the hands of the field users, which is important to a security organization or an operational organization.”

CloudScann CEO Dan Kerning said the company’s mobile application is an excellent way for organizations like NJ TRANSIT to augment fixed video-surveillance and sensor-based systems.

“Artificial intelligence is really good, but you can’t beat human intelligence,” Kerning said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications. “You can’t beat the reaction time of a human to be on scene and to be able to report really pertinent information. Basically, with our app, we’re turning humans into sensors for that system.”

With the CloudScann app, users can use text, photos and/or video to depict the situation at their location, which is transmitted automatically, Kerning said.

“So, if there’s a fight at a sporting event—that’s what New Jersey Transit used this particular app for—they were able to say, ‘Hey, a fight broke out on the platform,’ and actually take a picture of what’s going on,” he said. “When you hit ‘send,’ it goes back into the command center, ties into Situator, and it is able to be flashed up on their screen.

“There’s a lot things they can do, with one of them being to have security people dispatch police to that platform for the incident. They’re able to collect all of the data that’s being put in from the different human sensors with the See It Send It app and create a timeline for that incident.”

In addition, a command center can use the same integrated solution to deliver alerts and other information to users in the field. For NJ TRANSIT, that meant providing users with relevant scheduling information and other resources, as well as the ability to leverage the security-related capabilities, Kerning said. NJ TRANSIT officials have contemplated using the integrated application in other areas, including monitoring of the organization’s HVAC system.

“It’s a very open, customizable application,” Kerning said.

Since the initial deployment with NJ TRANSIT, the Situator/CloudScann integrated solution has been improved with better mapping and location functionality, as well as the development of a panic-button feature, Kerning said.

Pat Kiernan, director of marketing for NICE Systems, said NJ TRANSIT officials have expressed interest in using the integrated solution to support customer-service and operations initiatives in the future.