Illinois, Microsoft team on fusion architecture

The Illinois State Police and Microsoft have developed a standards-based architecture for intelligence-gathering fusion centers. The architecture, named FusionX, seeks to provide a model for information sharing that other state and local governments can adopt. FusionX encompasses operations research, technology experimentation – including the proof-of-concept architecture – and a set of best practices for deployment of commercial technology. The architectural approach was unveiled earlier this week at Microsoft’s Homeland Security and Public Safety Technology Symposium in Redmond, Wash. Eric Rosenkranz, industry manager at Microsoft’s Public Sector business unit, said FusionX implements the National Information Exchange Model that includes the Global Justice XML standard. He said FusionX is based on a service-oriented architecture “to support interoperability with a wide variety of existing and future systems.” The architecture, in its initial proof-of-concept phase, focuses on a number of capabilities. Those include automating the intake, assignment and tracking of tasks as well as the packaging of results and dissemination, Rosenkranz said. The proof-of-concept architecture also provides collaborative workspaces for teaming on tactical and strategic work and supports situational awareness. Other features include mapping and geospatial assisted analysis and display, he said.