Sentinel Technologies and the City of Joliet Team Up to Improve NASCAR Event Security

Downers Grove, IL (PRWEB) July 13, 2007 -- Sentinel Technologies, one of Chicagoland's leading technology providers, has teamed up with the City of Joliet to improve security communications at Chicagoland Speedway, host of this year's NASCAR USG Sheetrock 400 race. Sentinel, with equipment on loan from Cisco Systems, has designed and installed a wireless network tapping into the recently completed high-speed city-wide wireless metro network also installed by Sentinel.

"The needs and challenges the city faced from a technology perspective were apparent," says Robert Keblusek, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for Sentinel. "Improving event security starts with improving communication from a central location; in this case, from the city's command van to the city's network. Additionally, they needed the ability to tap into NASCAR's track Pelco video system for on and off-site surveillance. Our team was more than up to the task."

Using high-speed connections, Sentinel has installed a Cisco 1500 series mesh network around the track in critical areas for WiFi access from city devices, primarily for public safety. The city will have an on-site 911 center that will benefit from the connectivity to critical systems. The new network will also bridge communication between the city and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who will provide added security presence with a command vehicle positioned at the track. "Our network lets the FBI tap directly into the city's security cameras via the wireless network," Robert adds. "It's a multi-channel security framework that gives the city instant flexibility to share surveillance and communication with other departments on an as-needed basis."

Sentinel's solution, including the wireless metro network, provides the city staff connectivity to systems as if the track was another city equipped facility. In addition, the mesh network provides secure high speed WiFi access in many areas around the track, including future wireless IP phone telephony and a Cisco Unified Communications VoIP system Sentinel is completing for the city later this year.

Brian Osborne, Sentinel's Executive Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, sees this as the natural progression of a strong on-going relationship with the city. "We've worked with the city on past technology initiatives in various areas, so this made perfect sense. Security and safety at public events is critical these days, and as a technology solutions provider, Sentinel is happy to apply our skills to make this event even safer. Our expertise lies in assessing the needs and determining the best technology to make this happen."

The benefits of improved technology communication will extend beyond this year's NASCAR event. Future events at Chicagoland Speedway will benefit from complete track coverage and will offer the added ability to equip public safety staff with WiFi phones and other intelligent data devices for more access to information both at the track level and in surrounding areas.

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