sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sun/NC/north-carolina sunflash-Send requests, problems to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Sun Workstations Used in Olympics Security System SunFLASH Vol 62 #19 February 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62.19 Sun Workstations Used in Olympics Security System Law enforcement application uses 100+ Sun workstations, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), networking, datbases and computerized mapping. (143 lines) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOPHISTICATED COMPUTERIZED SECURITY SYSTEM USED AT WINTER OLYMPICS IN LILLEHAMMER Sun Workstations Track Vehicles Via Satellite MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- February 11, 1994 -- To achieve its difficult objective of providing maximum security without a visible armed presence, the Olympics police force in Lillehammer, Norway, has turned to advanced computer technology from Silicon Valley. As a result, the 1994 winter games mark the official debut of one of the most sophisticated computer systems ever created for a law enforcement organization. It combines advanced computers, networking, databases, computerized mapping and a satellite-based global positioning system. With a motto of "security with a smile," the last thing the 2,770-person Olympics Police wanted was for the millions of visitors -- those in Norway and the huge worldwide television audience -- during the 16 days of the games to see ubiquitous security personnel bristling with weapons. Instead, a network of workstations from Sun Microsystems is enabling police to closely monitor the various Olympics venues and quickly access a wealth of information to assist in making the right decision at the right time. More than 100 workstations are located in the Olympics police nerve center in Lillehammer and in the various sports arenas, press and broadcast centers, the Olympic Village and other strategic locations. All information in electronic databases on people and vehicles that is kept in Norway will be available instantly, as well as data on criminals and terrorists, police reports, and information from Interpol and other sources. The system is unique in the way it searches for data, using an ASK INGRES relational database management system. For example, after reviewing an "incident report," the system makes an automatic search of its own files as well as other police databases to gather a broader range of data than is usually available electronically. Another breakthrough in event security is utilization of a digital mapping system. Patrol cars are equipped with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), which send signals to a satellite that are captured in police headquarters. These signals appear as dots on electronic maps on computer screens of the Olympics region, showing the exact location of all units. When combined with the hand-held and vehicular radios being widely used by security personnel, this ensures instant access. Cars and officers can be immediately deployed where they are needed; security headquarters can fine-tune its coverage at any time. Software Developed in Norway Less than two years in development, the advanced computerized security system being employed by the Olympics Police runs special software created by the Norwegian Police Data Processing Services, assisted by Skrivervik Data, Norway's leading UNIX vendor and one of the police department's partners for this Olympics application. Skrivervik Data is Sun Microsystems' exclusive distributor in Norway. According to Pieter Spilling of Skrivervik, the police department had already been using Sun workstations for software development. Helmer Haukaas, director of the police's data processing service, decided to go with Sun because of the low cost of the hardware, superior networking capabilities and excellent graphics performance. The security system will be deployed throughout Norway's national police department after the games are over. The system is very flexible and can easily be connected to other information databases; the concept can be applied to other services such as emergency and crisis control. The integration of multimedia funtions such as video surveillance, audio and shared whiteboards makes the system even more useful, noted Pieter Spilling. Olympics Police Commissioner Arne Huuse said, "This (system) will be very, very useful for the police in the future. And maybe we will be able to reduce the crime rate and get a better community." Norwegian police have shown their system to a stream of visitors from all over the world, such as the FBI. It is expected other law enforcement organizations might follow their lead and install similar systems. Police officers have quickly learned how to use the simple-to-operate system. It was successfully tried out prior to the games for security at a World Cup qualifying soccer match between England and Norway, at last year's cycling world championships, and during the Russian airplane hijacking in the fall. The computerized security system is part of a thorough security solution for the Winter Olympics that also employs more conventional techniques. These include metal detectors and package X-ray equipment, five helicopters, and bomb squads with specially trained dogs, bomb-handling robots and a mobile reinforced-steel container for bomb removal. Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC), the world's top supplier of open network computing solutions, is an operating company of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Built on Sun's legacy of "The Network is the Computer," SMCC's SPARC(R)/Solaris(R) workstation and server family leads the UNIX market. 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