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Simulating
War
Along
the Corridor
 Sometimes
you think it's real and it's not. Just ask Russ Hauck, executive
director of the National Center for Simulation in Orlando.
Hauck, who also is mayor of Altamonte Springs, says "some
excitement" has been generated in the Central Florida
simulation and training sector in the wake of the Sept. 11,
2003 attack by terrorists. "Simulation technology has
a variety of applications in training for counter-terrorism
and for meeting other security-related issues," he says.
Orlando-based
Engineering & Computer Simulations Inc. (ECS), for example,
is developing a counterterrorism first responder virtual reality
simulation that includes models of the Orlando Airport Terminal
and large areas of downtown Orlando. ECS provides simulation
services to 14 major airports, including Orlando. www.ecsorl.com
Reality
by Design, another Orlando firm, has developed a virtual environment
training system (VERTS) that is being used to train bio hazard
teams. The VERTS system was used at the World Trade Center.
Recently,
the company won a contract from the U.S. Special Operations
Command at MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa), to design and develop
a state-of-the-art Sea Air Land (SEAL) tactical simulator.
"The United States continues to be challenged by new dangers
and more diverse and sophisticated threats. Conflicts are
transitioning from wide area battlefields to localized urban
environments, with increased terrorism against civilians,"
said Joanne Metzger, RBD Vice President of Business Development.
"Simulations significantly contribute to training and the
exploration of new concepts and equipment by supporting analysis
of emerging tactics, technologies, and systems."
The value
of the first phase of the contract is worth about $850,000.00
over a 30-month period. Commercial potential exists for mission
rehearsal of law enforcement officers, security personnel,
or border patrols in dangerous urban situations such as hostage
rescue, anti-terrorist, and crime-fighting activities. These
applications will support distance learning and distributed
simulation systems, company officials say.
"There
is presently no high performance simulation tool available
for tactical SEAL operations" said Paul Barham, RBD vice president
of engineering. "This award will allow the design and development
of a SEAL tactical simulator that will progress from a collection
of suitable scenarios to development of tactical responses
to determining the relative merits of each option." Exercising
both tactical and judgment skills, this simulation will provide
a compelling environment, recreating actual world scenarios
with stunning realism.
RBD is
leveraging technologically advanced efforts in multimedia
video-branching judgmental and marksmanship trainers with
three-dimensional virtual simulators. Current generation simulators
use video and computer generated imagery in different modes.
RBD's innovative design will combine Ð for the first time
Ð both mediums in a seamlessly comprehensive training regime.
You
Know Best
Youknowbest.com, based in Orlando, was named among the Top
20 most innovative companies in the world by InfoWorld magazine.
(www.infoworld.com) The 2003 InfoWorld 100 is an annual report
compiled by the magazine's editors. Youknowbest.com is focused
on providing technology to solve business problems faced by
manufacturers, retailers and consumers. "We have always known
that the key to our success was building great technology
to solve customer problems," says Robert Wight, the company's
chief executive. "It is rewarding to see a well-respected
publication like InfoWorld take the time to understand our
technology and vision."
Wight
is particularly conscious of the Florida markets, though the
company's services are global. The dot-com's entire staff
came from Central Florida, he says. Youknowbest.com provides
Web services that let customers connect directly to online
dealers. In September, the company signed an alliance with
Microsoft Corp.
– F. Ruiz
fruiz@maddux.com
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© Maddux Report L.C. 2003
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