Red Hen Systems Develops World's First
Prototype for Mapping Camera Phone Pictures

Fort Collins, Colorado, December 16, 2003—Red Hen Systems, Inc., announced their latest breakthrough in mapping technology that will give cellular camera phone users the ability to map their pictures in real time. The prototype works with Red Hen's PixPoint™, a software extension to ESRI's ArcGIS software that enables the collection and management of spatially referenced digital photographs. This application will bring an entirely new set of capabilities to a wide range of users including first responders, municipalities, and law enforcement.

The new software combines the accuracy of Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping with the portability and visual communication capabilities of photo phones. As an audiovisual data collection tool, it will offer a rapid method for gathering and transmitting vital field information from numerous camera phone users to a centralized location.

"Off-the-shelf camera phones are a natural fit with PixPoint and ArcGIS," said Ken Burgess, CTO at Red Hen Systems. "In emergency management situations, for example, this technology will provide decision makers with more descriptive, real-time situational assessments, enabling a quicker, more coordinated response. For municipalities, city workers with photo phones could easily report problems within ArcGIS such as potholes, fallen tree limbs, graffiti, and other concerns. Georeferenced images could be sent to a central dispatcher for consideration and prioritization."

Once Red Hen software is loaded into the camera phone and activated, the program attaches spatial metadata from the GPS to the captured image. Using the e-mail application in the phone, pictures are then sent to an e-mail account and automatically appear on the map. Within ESRI's ArcGIS environment, photographs can be viewed moments after being taken.

Paul Bailey, business development manager for the ESRI–Denver regional office commented, "This functionality will increase the ease of use already inherent in the PixPoint product. The automation of linking location with images from simple telephone cameras that are directly delivered to the ArcGIS desktop will allow rapid access to image information critical to analysis, most notably under times of crisis when information is needed quickly."

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Contact Information:
Chris Betz
Director of Marketing
970-493-3952

Carol Borchert
Connect.Communications
970-225-2853

Red Hen Systems, Inc.
Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Red Hen Systems, Inc., is the leading global provider of spatial multimedia solutions for improved decision making. Easy-to-use data collection tools and digital map making capabilities allow users to publish interactive maps at the push of a button. Through Red Hen Systems technology, a clearer picture of a complex world emerges.