PenStuff Joins IBM and University of Florida in Hurricane Andrew Recovery Effort

November 16, 1992 — PenStuff Inc. has developed a data collection application in conjunction with the University of Florida GeoPlan Center to assist in assessing the recent damage caused by Hurricane Andrew.

This project, which is sponsored by International Business Machines (IBM), Trimble Navigation and Dycam Inc. is a pilot program that will employ pen computers to collect data in the field during the disaster recovery effort in Florida.

The Metro Dade Property Appraiser’s office will use IBM ThinkPads to perform damage assessment in disaster stricken areas of Dade County. The appraisers will record observations, collect digitized photographs, and receive Global Positioning System (GPS) data via the IBM mobile computers. The new system greatly reduces the time and cost associated with keying handwritten data, developing film and storing photographs.

The application software, developed by PenStuff, is the first to utilize GO Corp.’s pencentric PenPoint operating system in conjunction with digitized photography and satellite-driven location sensor technology.

A team of researchers, headed by Dr. John F. Alexander, professor and director of UF’s GeoPlan Center, is coordinating the implementation of the various technologies. “We believe that we have the perfect combination of hardware, software and operating system for this challenging project,” said Alexander.

Data gathered in the field will be uploaded to existing Metro Dade property appraisal systems for evaluation and storage. The data will then be used to formulate reconstruction plans for the devastated area.

The PenStuff application displays GPS data describing the appraiser’s location (by latitude, longitude and altitude) through the use of a Trimble Navigation portable sensor, which is affixed to the bottom of the ThinkPad. Live images are displayed at a rate of up to two frames per second via a Dycam Digital Still Video Camera mounted to the computer. The application’s Viewfinder allows users to compose images on the screen prior to capture. This information is combined with pre-loaded data and text entry fields on a single electronic “form.”

“Future uses of this combination of technologies may include government and military applications, law enforcement operations, and utility management,” said PenStuff’s Michael Caito, vice president of Project Development. “We’re seeing a great deal of interest in this approach to data collection.”
The disaster relief pilot application will be demonstrated in the IBM booth throughout Fall COMDEX ’92.

PenStuff Inc., a privately held company founded in July, 1991, is a software development company exclusively serving the PenPoint market. PenStuff is located in Rochester. In addition to special projects such as this, PenStuff develops shrink wrapped products for the PenPoint operating system.

CONTACT:
PenStuff Inc., Rochester
Michael Caito, 716/461-3182