February 02, 2005
Super Bowl security uses E-Sponder
Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla., may wind up being known as the Security Bowl.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is coordinating the security activities of 53 local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI, Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, for the Feb. 6 event through a Web-based collaboration system — in place since Jan. 5 — that was also used during a presidential debate and World Series games in St. Louis last year.
t. Louis-based Convergence Communications developed the E-Sponder system using Microsoft Office Professional Enteprise Edition and Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server collaboration software, which agencies can use to immediately report incidents, share documents, view video surveillance, limit Internet capability and communicate using e-mail and instant messaging in dozens of venues and as far away as 20 miles.
Homeland Security Department officials in Washington, D.C., will be able to view what's going on in Jacksonville through the department's Homeland Security Operations Center. The system greatly enhances the situational awareness of law enforcement agencies, officials said.
"The biggest part of the functionality that's been valuable for us is having one place for everybody to go for information," said Beth Horn, information technology officer at the sheriff's office, which has about 2,000 officers.
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