The Digital First Responder: NavVis technology improves emergency
response time by up to 25%
January 18, 2017 – NavVis, the global leader in indoor mapping, visualization, and
navigation, announces the launch of the NavVis Emergency Response Pilot Project. This
project utilizes NavVis's innovative indoor mapping platform to improve emergency
response time. The first test took place this past weekend, with firefighters from the
German cities of Stuttgart, Balingen, Heinstetten, Schörzingen, and Tieringen putting
NavVis indoor mapping technology to the ultimate test.
The NavVis Emergency Response Pilot Project was first devised after the NavVis team
scanned the production facilities of Interstuhl, the manufacturer of high-performance
swivel chairs. Valentin Angst, as part of his research at the University of Kaiserslautern,
found out about the Interstuhl digitization project and recognized a further use for
NavVis technology. As a volunteer firefighter, he is well aware that while GPS technology
has significantly improved the speed at which fire trucks can reach a location, no such
equivalent exists for navigating indoor spaces in emergency situations. Angst
approached NavVis with his idea that indoor digitization could provide a solution, and
the NavVis Emergency Response Pilot Project was born.
As part of the pilot project, the NavVis M3 indoor mapping trolley was used to scan
50,000 square meters of Interstuhl office and production space. This data was then
made accessible from any device through NavVis’ browser-based IndoorViewer
software. In this case, the IndoorViewer was customized for emergency response
navigation.
The results of this first test were astonishing – participating firefighters received no
technical training prior to using NavVis technology but were still able to reduce the time
it took to reach the location of the first alarm by up to 25% using a tablet to navigate a
NavVis 3D indoor map, compared to navigating with the 2D floor plan typically used in
fire and emergency situations.
Following this initial success, further tests are being planned. A detailed analysis of the
preliminary results will be made public in the coming weeks.
Felix Reinshagen, CEO of NavVis, said:
“Applying digitization to improve efficiency is at the heart of what NavVis does. No one
appreciates this more than First Responders - for them, every second really does count. The
NavVis emergency response pilot project is an excellent example of how the digital era is
improving every aspect of our lives.
It is very important to NavVis that benefits of digital innovation are accessible to everyone – we
are therefore especially pleased that firefighters were able to use our technology to decrease
emergency response time without requiring any technical training.
We look forward to the next phase of this pilot project.”
For more information, please contact:
Munich Office:
Viktoria Langley
New York Office:
Evan McPhee
T: (+49) 89 7169 250 20
E: [email protected]
T: (+1) (646) 714-7016
E: [email protected]
About NavVis:
NavVis develops cutting edge technology that fully digitizes indoor spaces and
processes.
Our innovative digital indoor platform is easy-to-use and intuitive to ensure the benefits
of digitization are accessible to everyone. Three transformational technological
innovations comprise our platform: The M3 Indoor Mapping Trolley, a highly-accurate
and easy-to-use indoor mapping and scanning tool that facilitates data acquisition in
even the most complex indoor spaces; the browser-based IndoorViewer software that
brings this data to life by enabling users to access and interact with 3D building models
and maps from any device; and the NavVis Indoor Navigation App, a pioneering
smartphone application based on machine learning and computer vision that brings
highly-accurate and intuitive navigation to indoor spaces, without the need for any
additional infrastructure.
Every industry that uses, manages or builds indoor space benefits from digitization.
NavVis technology is already increasing efficiency and reducing costs in building
documentation, construction planning and monitoring, facility management, plant
planning and logistics, transportation hubs, and multi-channel retailing.
NavVis technology is being used by a growing customer base around the world that
includes Siemens, BMW, Allianz, SAP and Telekom.