Fujitsu Mobile Computers to Accelerate Disaster Assessment for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — October 30, 1995 — Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc. and Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international engineering firm, are teaming up to accelerate natural disaster assessment for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Using a mobile computing solution featuring the Fujitsu Stylistic 500, Parsons Brinckerhoff can quickly and efficiently validate homeowner claims and quantify damages sustained in presidentially declared national disaster areas, allowing FEMA to provide rapid financial assistance to the victims.
The force behind the computing solution is Fujitsu's Stylistic 500, the world's lightest and fastest tablet computer. The system is equipped with a high speed modem for easy, paperless transmission of inspection data to FEMA's central processing center. The solution's software package, specially designed by FEMA, includes point-and-touch pull-down menus for a thorough description of the nature and extent of damage caused by a natural disaster, as well as a costing module for generating estimates for damage repair.
"The Stylistic 500 offers the processing power and functionality necessary to perform a full day's worth of complex analyses in the field. Inspectors, who survey up to 20 homes a day when a disaster strikes, simply couldn't do their jobs without it," said Lou Panetta, executive vice president of Fujitsu. "Furthermore, the point of designing this application is to assist real people whose lives have been devastated by natural disaster. We're pleased to see the power of our technology being used this in this way."
Parsons Brinckerhoff, which has placed an order for hundreds of systems, will utilize the Stylistic 500-based solution to facilitate data collection when surveying residential property damage caused by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters. This unique system greatly reduces the time required to carry out field inspections, thereby lessening the wait for Federal financial assistance that many natural disaster victims must endure.
"These inspectors aren't sitting behind desks — they're out in the field, working under some of the most arduous conditions imaginable. They need a system that can deliver real time solutions," said Mike Rugless, program manager at Parsons Brinckerhoff. "The success of the Stylistic 500 has allowed FEMA to reduce paper consumption, human error and, most importantly, the amount of time it takes to send reimbursements to disaster victims."
Within 48 hours of the President declaring an emergency or disaster, FEMA requests Parsons Brinckerhoff to deploy an appropriate number of professional inspectors to the disaster site. Using Fujitsu's Stylistic 500 and FEMA software, inspectors survey residences and conduct damage assessment. The data is then transported over modem lines to a central processing center, where it is reviewed by FEMA and Parsons Brinckerhoff for consistency, logic and accuracy of measurements. Based on this data, financial assistance is then quickly provided to the victims.
The Stylistic 500 is a 2.6-pound tablet computer designed for mobile workers involved in high-end decision support activities. Powered by an Intel 486DX2-50 CPU, the system features RAM expandable to 20MB; two Type I/II/III PCMCIA version 2.0 slots; and an 8-inch transmissive backlit, 64-level VGA screen. It is the only tablet computer to operate on standard Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, which can be purchased in most consumer retail outlets.
Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., is a leader in providing solutions for data collection and decision support applications through the development of super portable palmtop, pen-based and communicating computers. Its solutions are designed to meet the needs of applications where light weight, small form factor and long battery life are essential. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Ltd.
Fujitsu Personal Systems has North American offices in Santa Clara, Calif.; Irvine, Calif.; Chicago; Atlanta; Houston; Dallas; Philadelphia; New Jersey; Rhode Island; Toronto and international offices in England; France; Germany; and Italy. Product information can be obtained by calling 800/831-3183. Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc. corporate headquarters can be reached at 408/982-9500.
CONTACT:
Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc.
Wendy Olver, 408/982-9500
or
Walt & Sommerhauser Communications Inc.
Stephanie Edwards/Robert Walt, 408/496-0900