Hexagon: A New Shape to Crisis Response
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Hexagon: A New Shape to Crisis Response

Kalyn Sims, Chief Technology Officer Safety & Infrastructure, HexagonKalyn Sims, Chief Technology Officer Safety & Infrastructure
When it comes to handling a crisis, 911 centers are at the forefront of quickly understanding the depth of a situation and sending appropriate help in response. In the recent past, tragic events have revealed a lack of interoperability and an inability to get timely data to agencies. Emergency response organizations like South Sound 911 are changing this situation. South Sound 911 is the result of collaborative problem-solving between 41 public safety agencies and their communities. They have taken a cooperative approach to connect dispatch, police, fire, and emergency medical services for better public safety. The vendor behind South Sound 911’s success in incident management collaboration is Hexagon—a provider of mission-critical software solutions to governments. By enabling interoperability and data sharing among agencies of different jurisdictions, Hexagon’s consolidated computer-aided dispatch system not only saved agencies time and money but also delivers accurate and faster response to the citizens they serve.

At the core of the company’s success lies its unique approach to eliminating disconnects between people and systems. “Hexagon empowers government organizations to break down operational silos by transforming complex data from disparate sources into real-time, actionable information to deliver effective and sustainable emergency services,” says Kalyn Sims, Chief Technology Officer of the company’s Safety & Infrastructure division. Hexagon develops and deploys an entire fleet of innovative incident and emergency management solutions aimed at transforming and improving mission-critical operations. This includes efforts to fuse advanced analytics with artificial intelligence to attain insights into incidents and provide better tools to dispatchers and others. “The combination of state-of-the-art user experience with embedded analytics enables the users to enhance real-time decision making and increase efficiency into their day-to-day workflows,” says Kalyn. Beyond the operations center, Hexagon’s suite of solutions includes mobile applications, which are used by first responders in the field to identify critical events and data.


When you combine state-of-the-art user experience with embedded analytics, it enables the users to enhance real-time decision making and increase efficiency in their day-to-day workflows

Hexagon’s solutions are built on an architecture that enables interoperability between Hexagon’s and third-party systems and enables scalability and extensibility to address changing requirements. For example, keeping pace with technology trends such as IoT, Hexagon is integrating drone technology, connected devices and sensors in their public safety solutions. These innovations are aimed at providing real-time intelligence embedded into operational workflows to provide better decision support and situational awareness.

Scripting similar success stories across all levels of government, Hexagon also stands as the premier provider of emergency response solutions for the US federal government, helping agencies like the US Marine Corps and the US Army make smarter and faster operational decisions for base safety and security. “We have been accredited with an authority to operate within Department of Defense networks, which means Hexagon’s systems are secure from cyber risks,” Kalyn adds.

Hexagon is currently focusing on delivering IoT-infused mission-critical systems on the cloud via a hybrid approach. This allows government agencies to run their applications on the cloud or on-premises depending on their current requirements. Moreover, Hexagon has recently launched a data visualization analytics suite that facilitates detailed dashboards, reports, and analysis for better decision making. As a representation of commitment to continuous innovation, the company has also recently launched a disruptive technology framework called Xalt that supports an organization’s ability to harness IoT information and accelerates their digital transformation journey. “The goal of Xalt is to create autonomous connected ecosystems—a state where data is connected seamlessly through the convergence of the physical and digital world with intelligence built-in. This can create many opportunities for smarter, safer communities and organizations,” concludes Kalyn.