Minneapolis has been recognized with a major technology award for its new cutting-edge system that improves how police and fire crews get to emergency situations. Minneapolis' new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system won top honors at the eighth annual Tekne Awards, which recognizes companies, organizations, innovations and individuals that make a positive impact on Minnesota's technology-based economy.

The CAD system, which went into service in March 2007, provides 911 operators and emergency responders with new ways to respond smarter and faster to emergency calls by giving them more information.

Among CAD's features is an automatic vehicle location system, which lets dispatchers and emergency responders know the location of all emergency vehicles throughout the city. CAD also has automatic field reporting, which makes it possible for officers to create electronic citations and get records such as building plans, photographs and even medical information.

The CAD system is one of the success stories following the Interstate 35W Bridge collapse on Aug. 1. It helped crews get to the scene quickly and provided essential information to both dispatchers and first responders.

The $4.39 million CAD system was paid for using homeland security grants, and was developed with TriTech Inc. of San Diego.