MIT Lincoln Laboratory Selects Searidge for NextGen Remote Tower Initiative - Program commissioned by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

GATINEAU, QC, May 4 /PRNewswire/ - Searidge Technologies, provider of intelligent video solutions to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and airports, announced its intelligent video platform IntelliDAR(TM) has been selected by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory for a Staffed NextGen Tower (SNT) surveillance research program, commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Currently, controllers located at airport towers provide air traffic control (ATC) services for aircraft on the airport surface primarily by visual means (i.e., looking out the window). The SNT concept provides air traffic services without the requirement for a direct out-the-window (OTW) view; instead controllers will rely primarily on surface surveillance systems to control aircraft. SNT may potentially prove to be an alternative to ATC tower construction/expansion.

One of the challenges for the SNT concept is to compensate for the lack of the OTW view currently provided by the airport tower. To address this, a demonstration system will be part of the program and will include a network of fixed cameras, installed at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, and the use of computer vision techniques to augment surface surveillance.

The Searidge solution supports remote tower operations by providing enhanced situational awareness to air traffic controllers with real-time video for visual confirmation of targets, radar-like coverage of all non-cooperative targets and an out-the-window (OTW) view by using video from cameras deployed parallel to each other and "stitching" them together to provide a single panoramic view of an area.

"We are very excited to be part of such an important project. It's a great opportunity to showcase our intelligent video capabilities for remote towers and to work with a world class organization like MIT", says Alex Sauriol, vice president - ATM products, Searidge Technologies.

About Searidge Technologies

Searidge Technologies provides intelligent video solutions to Air Navigation Service Providers and airports to help them cost effectively increase safety and efficiency of surface management operations. The company's intelligent video platform IntelliDAR(TM) is a robust Non-Cooperative Surveillance System (NCSS) and the first operational system of its kind in an air traffic control tower to provide detection, positioning, and tracking of all targets on an airport surface. Searidge is helping its customers with ATC-grade video, gap filling/A-SMGCS augmentation, apron management, and remote tower capabilities.

Working with industry leaders such as DFS, FAA, EUROCONTROL and NAV CANADA, Searidge solutions are installed in sites throughout Europe, Middle East and North America. Founded in 2001, Searidge is a privately held company based in Canada's Capital region.

SOURCE SEARIDGE TECHNOLOGIES INC.