Urban Modeling and Visualization Technology from Harris Corporation and Canadian DREV Demonstrated at Summit of the Americas.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Paris Air Show 2001

Booth F13, Hall 3

PARIS & MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2001

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) and the Defence Research Establishment Valcartier (DREV) recently collaborated to showcase next-generation three-dimensional (3D) visualization tools to the agencies in charge of security during the Summit of the Americas, April 20-22, 2001. The announcement was made at the 2001 Paris Air Show, June 17-24, 2001.

The sophisticated suite of tools, which include realistic scene visualizations of Quebec City for situational awareness was demonstrated to the security forces in charge of protecting the 34 international leaders and other diplomats attending the Summit.

"Research and development in Urban Geomatics is one of many activities in which the Canadian DREV is actively involved, building over 10 years of Geomatics excellence," said Dr. Guy Vezina, head of Information Knowledge Management (IKM), DREV. "During the Summit, this technology showcase allowed DREV to not only test state-of-the-art technologies, but also to capture new requirements and concepts critical in an urban environment. This part of our ongoing strategy facilitates experimentation with advanced technologies and prototypes to ensure that end-users, Canadian Forces, and other security organizations can reap the maximum benefits of innovations."

The 3D urban modeling software developed by Harris was the main focus of the demonstration. Harris supplied the Canadian DREV with a 3D model of Quebec City and the surrounding area; InReality(TM) visualization software; and the Silicon Graphics computer equipment used to display the virtual city.

"We are very pleased that Harris had the opportunity to demonstrate its technology in the context of such a major international event," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "This technology has the potential to play a major role in the way urban security operations will be planned and monitored. It also paves the way for a myriad of new and interesting applications addressing both government and commercial markets."

Harris RealSite(TM) and InReality urban modeling and visualization software provides next-generation tools that facilitate planning and other tasks critical to the safeguarding of resources in an urban environment. RealSite uses imagery from multiple sources and sensors to create and analyze high-resolution, geospatially-accurate 3D models covering large areas. InReality visualization software provides scene navigation and analysis capabilities. Harris is demonstrating this capability at its booth during the 2001 Paris Air Show.

"The Summit was the largest-ever National Security operation in Canadian history," said Major Michel Gareau, military advisor for IKM, DREV. "DREV is proud to have been given such a venue to demonstrate the potential of advanced command and control systems in collaboration with Harris and SGI Canada. Situation awareness is critical to operational success, and the security-related events that occurred during the Summit illustrated the problematic nature of conducting operations in such a complex urban environment. The concepts and technology that DREV and Harris showcased were designed to provide a better understanding of the evolving situation."

Harris GCSD conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces state-of-the-art airborne, spaceborne, and terrestrial communications and information processing systems for military and government agencies, their prime contractors, and the company's commercial businesses, as well as select commercial organizations worldwide.

Harris Corporation is an international communications equipment company focused on providing product, system, and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services for wireless, broadcast, network support, and government markets. Harris has sales and service facilities in more than 90 countries. More information about Harris is available at http://www.harris.com.

The Defence Research Establishment Valcartier (DREV), (http://www.drev.dnd.ca), located north of Quebec City, has a long and proud history in defence research and development and in the application of leading-edge technologies to military problems, with products ranging from mathematical models of information management systems to in-service rocket systems.

Particular emphasis has always been on practical applications that enable modern science to provide the Canadian Forces with a new capability or can improve an existing one.

Special attention is being given to the protection of the Canadian Forces' personnel on the battlefield or in peacekeeping missions, including the wide range of hazards they face: mines, homing missiles, and random or directed fire from a wide variety of other weapons DREV became involved with early in the study of the application of computers to military command and control. DREV now possesses extensive knowledge in this complex field, derived both through analysis of the battlefield environment (land, sea, air and joint operations) and through the deployment of exploratory systems in military field exercises.