(News of Norway, issue 6, 1995)
Some 100 leading information technology companies each year nominate the best computer applications systems. The nominees are users or system owners. A separate jury nominates five finalists in each class, and one winner is chosen. Being nominated is considered a great honor; to win it is cyber-ecstasy.
On June 5, the Oslo Police won the Oscar of the computer world for its Police Operations Support System (PO). The system uses a global information system and electronic maps through which Norwegian police forces optimize available resources.
"The system was first used to provide safety, security and rapid response for the influx of 1.5 million visitors to the Lillehammer Olympics and it is now in full operation at the Oslo Police Headquarters," explained Per Waage, director of Police Data Processing Services, during a meeting with News of Norway after the chic evening gala at the National Building Museum. "The system gathers and groups information regarding events, places, persons and vehicles by help of an electronic map and satellite navigation equipment with electronic 'agents' who upload and collect information from the PO and other police databases."
National Bureau of Crime Investigation Director Arne Huuse joined Waage in accepting the prize. All but one of the other awards went to Americans and each was accepted by a single representative. The two Norwegians went up to the podium joking that two people were needed to compensate for Norway being so small.
"I was told yesterday that our satellite positioning system [or GPS for Geostationary Positioning System] was based on the same principle as was used by the United States during the Gulf War," Waage said proudly. "We are planning to use the system in Trondheim as well during the Winter World Championship in 1997. The system could also be used in a proposed police cooperation project to secure the outer borders of the European Union."
The system has been developed by Andersen Consulting, a subsidiary of Arthur Andersen, in cooperation with the Police Data Processing Service. The system is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice.
"We would not like to be without this computer system," says Waage. "We are proud that a computer system developed in Norway for Norwegian conditions receives international recognition. We know that Norway is among the front-runners when it comes to advanced technology, both in the private and public sectors. The challenges to fight crime are big; criminals are using more advanced methods."
The system can also be useful for other types of operations and there are already plans to commercialize the software package for general access. For more information regarding PO contact, Bjørn Boberg at Andersen Consulting in Norway 011-47-22 92 81 33.