Orbital’s Satellite-based Vehicle Tracking System to Help Dispatch Snowplows in Baltimore
Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the City of Baltimore, Maryland has selected the company’s ORBTRAC-100 satellite-based automatic vehicle location (AVL) and two-way messaging system to help track and manage a portion of its road maintenance fleets. Under the contract, the ORBTRAC-100 system will be initially installed on 75 snowplows, with phased installations of the entire 500-vehicle fleet over the next two to three years. The contract represents the first system installation of this size in a major Northeast U.S. city.
“The ORBTRAC-100 system will help us keep costs under control while improving service to our residents,” said Mr. Robert L. Marsili, Chief of the Department of Public Work’s Maintenance Division of Baltimore. “We are very excited about using this proven technology to better coordinate snow removal activities in Baltimore.”
The ORBTRAC-100 system was designed and developed by Orbital’s Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Division, located in Columbia, Maryland. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology, the system will track the location and status of vehicles, dispatching snowplows where they are most needed during major storms and identifying sections of roadways that have been serviced. It will also capture and store data for post-service analysis to assist in reducing the overall cost of future operations. The system will utilize Baltimore’s existing communications infrastructure for vehicle-to-dispatch communications.
Mr. David L. Mathisen, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital TMS, said, “The Baltimore project will be a showcase for snow fighting operations in the Northeast. By proving the benefits of our ORBTRAC-100 system here, we hope to capitalize our leadership role in this market and secure additional projects in the region and across the country.”
Orbital TMS is the country’s leading supplier of satellite-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems for the expanding Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market. Orbital’s AVL systems are used by 54 transit, utility and state agency customers in the U.S., with units installed or scheduled to be installed on approximately 21,000 vehicles. Orbital TMS generates annual revenues of approximately $60 million and employs over 200 people at its new facility in Columbia, Maryland. For more information about the ORBTRAC-100 system, contact Mr. Chris Body, National Sales Director at (443) 259-7328.
Orbital is one of the largest space technology and satellite services companies in the world, with 1999 total enterprise revenues (including revenues from unconsolidated affiliates) of approximately $915 million. The company, headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, employs about 4,500 people at major facilities in the United States, Canada and several overseas locations.
Orbital is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of low-cost space systems, including satellites, launch vehicles, electronics and sensors, satellite ground systems and related digital infrastructure. Its Magellan subsidiary is a pioneer in satellite-based navigation and communications products for consumer and industrial markets. Through its ORBCOMM and ORBIMAGE affiliates and ORBNAV subsidiary, Orbital is also a major operator of satellite-based networks that provide data communications, high-resolution imagery and automotive information services to customers all around the world. More information about Orbital and its TMS division can be found at http://www.orbital.com
