Drakontas: Drexel University spinoff to launch collaborative, public safety DragonForce update

If you were a software engineer with Drakontas, the tactical, collaborative communications shop with offices in Glenside and Camden, you would be a licensed firearm owner. It’s part of the job — and they’re looking to hire someone else now.

When building tools for high-pressure units like SWAT teams, it’s of particular use for developers to know how the customer will be using each product, says Drakontas co-founder and COO James Sim.

“The software engineering team embeds with tactical teams for trials. We put on our pants and goggles and go out into the field,” he said. “Our people have been partnered with a sniper in the mud and freezing cold, getting shot at in simulations with flash bangs and tear gas. It’s a different kind of software engineering experience.”

Following military space research from Drexel University professors Moshe Kam and William Regli and other researchers, Drakontas was founded in 2004 by Sim and Regli’s brother and company CEO Brian.

With nine full time employees, the company is working to roll out in Q3 2012 the latest full version of its DragonForce team collaboration software, built for small tactical groups like SWAT or hazardous waste response or others in security, law enforcement or disaster management, said CTO Alan Kaplan.

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Esri highlights OpenDataPhilly and technology behind Azavea-built project

GIS leaders Esri highlights OpenDataPhilly:

Through the OpenDataPhilly website, the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, now provides access to over 100 datasets, applications, and APIs containing authoritative regional information on a wide variety of topics. The site includes a series of map services built with ArcGIS technology from Esri that offer data and imagery related to census tracts, political wards, crime incidents, hydrology, evacuation routes, bicycle networks, and more.

Deb Boyer of Azavea noted a few new open data projects added to the site this week:

• Phind It For Me – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/166/phind-it-for-me [Technically Philly coverage]
• DisasterMapper.com – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/160/disastermappercom [Technically Philly coverage]
• Property Owner Search – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/161/property-owner-search [Technically Philly coverage]
• Philadelphia Dance Calendars – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/69/philadelphia-dance-calendars/
• Philly Dance Spaces and Dance Directory – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/165/philly-dance-spaces-and-dance-directory/
• Census Tracts (2010) – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/164/census-tracts-2010/
• Street Centerlines API – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/39/street-centerlines/
• Trulia Crime Maps – http://opendataphilly.org/opendata/resource/163/trulia-crime-maps-phila-only/

Friday Q&A: Business continuity with Ginnie Stouffer from IDC Partners

The holiday shopping season is again going to pack — our economy hopes — hordes of consumers into shops, malls and onto roads. The Liberty Bell is going to remain a practical militarized zone.

And while no one thinks the apocalypse is good for business, there is something to be said for having your business ready for disaster.

Wayne-based business continuity services company IDC Partners has built a business on that reality since 1991. They help companies prepare for the worst, and they’re using cool, local technology to do it.

Below, Ginnie Stouffer, vice president of consulting with IDC, takes her 15 years of industry experience to tell us about the cool technologies they implement to keep their clients ready for the worst and just what disaster movie is the favorite of someone who thinks plenty about disaster.

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