Interoperable Technology and Services Ensure Quick and Effective Decisions

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today officially launched its Autodesk emergency response solutions program. Using the products that comprise the Autodesk Emergency Response Program, emergency response professionals will benefit from the ability to combine digital maps, building drawings, and emergency response information to quickly obtain and understand critical information in order to make informed decisions with confidence.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO )

The solution also allows public safety and emergency response professionals to integrate diverse data types from multiple departments. It employs web and mobile technology to deliver the most up-to-date information to the field when responding to a crisis. Autodesk software tools, partner applications, and Autodesk Professional Services are designed to help emergency professionals save lives and property, as well as save money, shorten response time, and effectively manage disasters. A demonstration of the solution can be found on the web at www.autodesk.com/emergencyresponse.

"After the Murrah Building explosion in Oklahoma City, Autodesk products for emergency response were invaluable to us. Using the software for mapping, floor plans, and 3D visualization shaved three to five days off our schedule," said Jon Hansen, retired assistant fire chief, Oklahoma City Fire-Rescue. "When you are dealing with an emergency like this, trying to locate survivors and uncover victims, any extra time is priceless."

"Unlike any other solution on the market, Autodesk has interoperable desktop, web, and mobile technology that allows you to combine different types of data-like floor plans, demographic information, hazardous material location, evacuation routes, and property information-into one format," said Chris Bradshaw, vice president of Autodesk's Infrastructure Solutions Division. "Your existing technology and data can be integrated quickly and with confidence."

Autodesk has teamed up with world-class companies to deliver the Autodesk solution for emergency response, including:

    -- DESC(R) -- DESC software focuses on transforming available CAD and GIS
       data, (building floor plans and city maps) into 2D and 3D "responder
       friendly" disaster planning and operations maps. For more information,
       go to www.descinc.com.
    -- Kanotech(R) -- CivicCenter Emergency Support provides you with what you
       need when planning for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.
       This GIS solution gives you a centralized tool to capture and
       distribute critical information useful during each of these three
       emergency phases. For more information, go to www.kanotech.com.
    -- California CAD Solutions, Inc. -- Field Investigator from California
       CAD enables field crews to automate the collection of information about
       the condition of critical infrastructure and physical assets, including
       accurate geographic position data, for use in planning, response, or
       recovery efforts. For more information, go to www.calcad.com/ccs.
    -- Focus Geomatics -- WebEnforcer from Focus Geomatics performs web-based
       crime mapping, COMSTAT analysis, and Megan's Law enforcement for
       multiple jurisdictions. It supports accelerated data sharing between
       law enforcement, SWAT teams, firefighters, and other agencies. For more
       information, go to www.focus.ca/focus_security.
    -- Broadware Technologies provides web-enabled, enterprise wide, streaming
       video management, enabling geographically dispersed teams to
       simultaneously view, assess and act upon real-time video feeds.
       For more information, go to www.broadware.com.
    -- Kelar Corporation -- GSP from Kelar records, and reports incidents via
       interactive displays on web and mobile interfaces for airports, ports,
       parks, facilities, hazmat, borders, etc. Aerial photos, audio/video
       feeds, floor plans, form-fills, and GPS are incorporated in GSP.
       Dissemination is via web to PDAs, desktops, cell phones, etc. For more
       information, go to www.kelar.com.
    -- iMove(R) -- Spherical Video from iMove is complete 360x360-degree
       field-of-view digital imagery. Developed for use in government
       reconnaissance applications, iMove Spherical Video is the fastest way
       to capture comprehensive geo-referenced visual documentation. Works
       with all Autodesk emergency response applications. For more
       information, go to www.imoveinc.com.
    -- BIO-key International, Inc., (Nasdaq, OTC Bulletin Board: BKYI)
       provides biometric identification technologies that control access to
       sensitive information. Using BIO-key technology, emergency response
       professionals with multi-jurisdictional credentials can be identified
       by their finder alone, simplifying credentialing and access control at
       the scene. Autodesk manages the "what" and "where" of emergencies and
       BIO-key manages the "who." For more information, go to www.bio-key.com.
    -- Floorview, LLC, software allows emergency personnel located in the
       field to quickly access and visualize building floor plans, aerial
       photographs, exterior and interior photographs, and tactical
       information. For more information, go to www.floorview.com.
    -- Asvaco -- Assessment Software from Asvaco standardizes and communicates
       data collection and reporting procedures and allows for self-assessment
       and self-monitoring procedures. For more information, go to
       www.asvaco.com.

    Autodesk Subscription

For an annual fee, Autodesk Subscription customers benefit from a complete technology, training and support program that protects their software investments by providing them with the most current design technology, Web Support direct from Autodesk, flexible self-paced training options and a broad range of other technology and business benefits. For more information about Autodesk Subscription, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes.

NOTE: Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., in the U.S.A. and certain other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Aune of Autodesk, +1-415-507-8195, or elizabeth.aune@autodesk.com.

SOURCE  Autodesk, Inc.
    -0-                             11/17/2003
    /CONTACT:  Elizabeth Aune of Autodesk, +1-415-507-8195, or
elizabeth.aune@autodesk.com/
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/SFTH083LOGO
              AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/
    /Web site:  http://www.descinc.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.kanotech.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.calcad.com/ccs/
    /Web site:  http://www.focus.ca/focus_security/
    /Web site:  http://www.broadware.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.kelar.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.imoveinc.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.bio-key.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.floorview.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.autodesk.com/emergencyresponse/
    /Web site:  http://www.autodesk.com/subscription/
    /Web site:  http://www.autodesk.com/
    (ADSK BKYI)

CO:  Autodesk, Inc.
ST:  California
IN:  CPR STW
SU:  PDT




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0130 11/17/2003 08:02 EST http://www.prnewswire.com