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Falls Church Deploys Homeland Security Technology

Virginia city gains wireless data interoperability.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The city of Falls Church, Va. sought increased interoperability to help city agencies function better together especially during emergency situations.

Falls Church will use IncidentPortal software, a homeland security tool that will provide the city with complete wireless data interoperability across all city functions and organizations, allowing city personnel to collaborate and work together during an emergency. The software can exchange information with other software systems via open standards, such as XML.

The software from mobileFOUNDATIONS will be the city's basis for its "Model Municipality" program, in which all of the city's critical infrastructure will be tied into the software. Protecting critical infrastructure is a key component of any municipality's homeland security efforts. One example of how the IncidentPortal software will be used is automated monitoring of the city's water system.

According to Dan McKeever, city manager for Falls Church, this communications interoperability project will aid the city in better managing public emergencies, and may serve as a model for the region.

Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.