Introduction
When you think about public safety technology solutions which companies come to mind first? If you want to link information, people, processes, and systems who are you going to call? I was a bit surprised to find out that you might try IBM. I interviewed Mark Cleverly recently, IBM’s Director of Public Safety Solutions, and he enlightened me about what IBM is doing for public safety agencies large and small.
I have seen the Smarter Planet commercials on TV but did not know much about their efforts to help create smarter cities and even smarter public safety agencies. They focus on cities because that is where most people live and they see the perceived level of public safety as a key part of individuals and corporate decisions to locate in a particular city.
Solution Overview
Mark describes three key observations that drive IBM’s solutions – the three I’s. The first I is Instrumentation. More and more instrumentation is being used in public safety that captures more and more data and information about what is going on in the world. The second I is about the level of Interconnection between people, public safety and other government agencies, and the private sector. The third I is Intelligence and Mark pointed out that as you have an ever increasing volume of data and information coming from ever more diverse systems being shipped around to people who need to use it, you better make sure you are equipped to analyze that information so you can actually make a difference. And this is the main focus area of IBM’s solutions for public safety.
IBM helps public safety agencies achieve their operational mission through the use of their Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) and through the use of analytics and predictive analytics. The IOC is a group of IBM solutions that allow all city agencies to share data and information. The analytics and predictive analytics help them understand what is going on and how to best address current needs most effectively.
For Example
The FDNY uses the IBM analytics solution to conduct inspections based on risk and use their limited resources most effectively. The NYPD built a Real Time Crime Center with IBM solutions.
Here is an overview from the IBM web site about how Memphis PD uses IBM solutions:
When Larry Godwin took over as director of the Memphis Police Department in 2004, crime across the metro area was surging, and city leaders were growing impatient. “The mayor told me I want this crime problem fixed,” recalls Godwin, a 38-year veteran of the MPD. But the new director understood that a business-as-usual approach to crime fighting would no longer be good enough.
Business need:
The Memphis Police Department saw an opportunity to better understand and fight criminal activity by mining the department’s huge digital repository of crime records and police reports. By identifying crime patterns by time and location, the department would be able to pinpoint “hot spots” of activity and better deploy police details to deter crime.
Solution:
The department turned to IBM® SPSS® predictive analytics to chart and analyze crime patterns and develop effective strategies for reducing crime rates while optimizing police manpower and resources.
Results:
Since the data-driven Blue CRUSH program was launched in 2006, the city has seen a 27 percent reduction in serious (Part One) crimes.
Benefits:
The MPD can analyze huge volumes of rime records in seconds, and revealing patterns of criminal activity and allowing more timely and targeted deployment of manpower and resources.
Annual return on investment (ROI): 863%
Payback period: 2.3 Months
Average annual benefit: $7,205,501
IBM also offers these solutions through a cloud computing model which makes them very cost effective for smaller agencies or for regional use.
What Sets Them Apart
IBM is a company people trust. They have been around a long time and done work for all kinds of organizations from around the world. Their depth of experience and capabilities is outstanding. Every client, large or small, benefits from this deep well of experience. They also have one of the largest research organizations in the world and are constantly working to find better ways to serve the public safety community.
Client Quote
Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta - "Combining different existing databases, and linking them with those of other city agencies such as the Department of Buildings, will dramatically improve the information available to our firefighters and result in a smarter, more productive inspection program."
Final Thoughts
If you want to find out more about what is going on in your jurisdiction, if you want to take a good look at data and information and turn that into knowledge and effective and efficient operations, then call IBM. They have solved a lot of different problems for a lot of agencies around the world. They might be able to help you.
Company Facts
Company Name: IBM
HQ City & ST:
1 New Orchard Road
Armonk, New York 10504-1722
# Employees: 426,751 (2010)
Other locations: 170 countries
Primary Contact: Mark Cleverley
Phone: +1-201-608-8213
Email: mark.cleverley@us.ibm.com
Web site: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/public_safety/ideas/index.html
Clients: See Website
Years in business: 100
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