Avtec Owners Donate Dispatch Software, Products, and Services to Alma Mater
Lexington, S.C. – Sept. 9, 2016 – Three Clemson alumni – Avtec CEO Michael T. Branning (Class of 1986); Donna Branning Thompson (1988); and Linda Branning Doherty (1992) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University for a gift-in-kind donation of Scout™ Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) dispatching software, products, and services valued at approximately $428,000.
“We are excited to provide Clemson with our mission-critical dispatch consoles, developed and supported from our headquarters in Lexington, South Carolina,” said Michael Branning. “Many of Avtec’s team members have graduated from Clemson – and from our friendly sports rival, the University of South Carolina. We participate in both schools’ cooperative educational programs, which has resulted in our hiring many talented software engineering and computer science graduates,” he added.
With the tremendous success of the Clemson Tigers football team last season and loyal fans, home games are expected to be sell-outs all year. The Frank Howard Field at Clemson
Memorial Stadium, popularly known as "Death Valley,” can host crowds in excess of 85,000, which means that efficient and rapid emergency communications is vital to successful events.
“Avtec’s generosity has allowed Clemson University to skip at least one technology generation to continue its quest to be the most responsive and resilient college campus in the world,” said Lynn Fisher, Clemson’s emergency manager. “Not only did Avtec donate the equipment, but it also sent its “A-Team” of project managers and engineers to Clemson University to see the installation through to its successful conclusion. It has been a phenomenal experience.”
“This gift is about ensuring the safety of the students and sports fans who visit the Clemson campus each year. It also demonstrates our family’s appreciation to our alma mater,” said Branning.
The donation of Avtec dispatch communications products serves several purposes. After a successful pilot program during the Spring game, six Scout dispatch consoles were permanently installed in the Clemson Unified Command Post for emergency management and operations. This command center will be operational during home football games, as well as other large campus events, and used by officials who manage all police, fire, and emergency medical responses.
A fully redundant Scout dispatch system has also been installed in another location on the Clemson campus for academic, research, and public service activities. Both dispatching systems are connected to operate as one large system, yet each can operate independently in the event a network connection is interrupted. Additionally, plans are being finalized to integrate HigherGround Capture911™ software, which will enable detailed chronological reconstruction of every element of simulated or real incidents, including voice conversations and screen displays, for learning and after-action analysis in both academic and operational settings.
The university also received two mobile Scout consoles, which can communicate with other consoles and radio resources from any campus location, such as the 10,325-seat Littlejohn Coliseum, home to Clemson’s men’s and women’s basketball teams; the Doug Kingsmore Baseball Stadium; or in a mobile command vehicle.
The Avtec Scout dispatching system was installed in August 2016, and in addition to police, fire, and EMS staff, supported Clemson’s traffic control and housing staff to assist thousands of students and their families with logistics related to the university’s annual freshman “move-in” weekend Aug. 12-13.
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About Avtec, Inc.
Avtec, Inc., based in Lexington, S.C., provides pure Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console solutions for the transportation, public safety, utility, business and industry, and government markets. For more than 35 years, customers have chosen Avtec’s award-winning technology for their mission-critical dispatch centers. There are nearly 6000 Scout Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) consoles installed worldwide. Visit www.avtecinc.com to learn more.