Fire Department of New York Selects IBM for Intelligent Fire Safety System

NEW YORK, NY, Jan 12 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) has selected IBM
(NYSE: IBM) to build a state-of-the-art system for collecting and sharing
data in real-time that potentially can prevent fires and protect
firefighters and other first responders when a fire occurs.

FDNY's new Coordinated Building Inspection and Data Analysis System
(CBIDAS) will use business intelligence technologies, including predictive
modeling and advanced data analytics, to anticipate fire exposures,
analyze possible impacts, and improve processes that can minimize risks,
such as collecting and disseminating data on building inspection, permits
and violations.

"This technology will allow us to shift to a risk-based inspection system
that will prevent fires and improve public safety," said Fire Commissioner
Nicholas Scoppetta. "Combining different existing databases, and linking
them with those of other city agencies such as the Department of
Buildings, will dramatically improve the information available to our
firefighters and result in a smarter, more productive inspection program."

"The FDNY's strategic shift to a 'smarter' risk-based inspections and
using technology to improve data sharing directly supports its mission to
advance public safety through the timely delivery of fire prevention,
investigation and education services," said Charles L. Prow, Government
Managing Partner, IBM Global Business Services. "IBM is pleased to apply
our expertise to this lifesaving work."

An important element of the project will be enabling better communication,
information sharing and coordination of fire inspection and site/building
structure information within FDNY bureaus, and between FDNY bureaus and
other city agencies such as Department of Buildings, Department of City
Planning, and Department of Environmental Protection, and contractors.

The transformational FDNY initiative also will enhance fire prevention
capabilities through:

A single, unified view of a property;
Improved resource deployment and utilization for inspections;
Expanded management analysis and preparedness planning;
A risk-based inspection system for field inspections.

In August 2007, two firefighters lost their lives in a fire at the
former Deutsche Bank building in New York City, which had been scheduled
for demolition. Investigators attributed the loss of life to a lack of
timely information available to responding firefighters. Mayor Michael
Bloomberg launched an initiative to prevent similar events from happening
in the future.

The goal of the CBIDAS is to ensure that firefighters and other first
responders have timely access to the information they need for effective
fire suppression and for maximum public and personnel safety when a fire
occurs.

With the completion of the project, FDNY will also move from a strictly
cyclical, schedule-based inspection process to a risk-based assessment
methodology.

For more information on IBM visit www.ibm.com.

Press Contacts

Frank Gribbon
Deputy Commissioner, FDNY
gribbof@fdny.nyc.gov
718.999.2025

Lia P. Davis
IBM Media Relations, Government
lia.p.davis@us.ibm.com
202.285.5333

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