MARKETS: TRANSPORTATION

Critical to the world economy, transportation demands heightened levels of emergency preparedness across airlines, mass transit, railroads and shipping. Each mode has its unique vulnerabilities-but all are at risk of sabotage, mishap and terrorist attack. Incidents such as the July 7, 2005 London subway bombings have spurred new levels of vigilance and progress in Critical Response Notification Systems (CRNS).

Now, REACT addresses the urgent need for secure, reliable, real-time communications and coordinated action in crisis or threat, enabling new levels of preparedness, automation, speed and effectiveness. The system manages emergencies and threats to air travel and airports, highways, freeways, railways, ports and borders. REACT protects people, property, and business continuity with instantaneous, coordinated notification to first responders, transportation personnel and the public, delivering:

• Multiple, simultaneous audio, image, voice, and text alerts delivered and updated in seconds
• Targeted messaging to staff, patients and visitors based on location, recipient and responsibility
• Central or remote control
• Messaging via wired or mobile platforms, or automatically through integration with access control
• Swift, cost-efficient integration with automated transportation security and communications systems

Maritime, lake and river ports

More than 13 million containers will enter the U.S. from foreign ports in 2007-most of their contents uninvestigated. Although Homeland Security budgeted $400 million to protect ports in 2008-double the 2007 allotment-and the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater Systems will receive another $698 million, vulnerability to sabotage, terrorist attack, mishap or disruptive threat remains high. REACT is an integral measure for safeguarding the integrity and security of people and goods traveling by water, as well as for those on shore.

Airports, planes and passengers

The tragedy of September 11, 2001 stunningly revealed the true vulnerability of air travel to terrorist attack. And the need for instant, coordinated, secure and effective response to threat by air has only grown as the airline industry continues to expand. In 2006, more than 660 million passengers flew on 10 million U.S. airline flights alone. REACT's instantaneous notification capabilities are a major advance in alerting those at risk during criminal attack or mishap, with accurate, targeted information, instructions and updates to reduce confusion, maintain control and save lives in airline emergencies.

Railways, freight and stations

While millions of Americans ride passenger trains every day, the largest railway risk factor is for sabotage or accidental release of toxic and hazardous freight. Underscoring this vulnerability, the Homeland Security budget for 2008 allotted $400 million for the protection of transit systems-double the 2007 allotment. REACT's instant notification and response capabilities are vital in containing the damage and casualties caused by accidents, terrorism or criminal activity on the rails. Targeted, updatable alerts and instructions for emergency response can be launched from desktops, telephones, wireless devices, or triggered through integration with security systems to speed assistance to remote areas and deal with spills, derailments and other emergencies.

Trucking, higways, and borders

Because of U.S. size and geography, the domestic highway infrastructure and borders are particularly vulnerable to incursion by terrorists transporting biological, chemical or nuclear hazards. In response, the 2008 Homeland Security budget of $36.3 billion directs $1 billion to the Secure Border Initiative's Network Border Surveillance System, consisting of cameras, sensors, towers and other infrastructure. REACT's real-time critical response notification system is a key resource for preventing or containing threats, ensuring that accurate information and instructions reach first responders who can act to mitigate risk and protect the public during incidents.