Lod, Israel - Rontal Applications, Ltd. (www.rontal.com), a developer and provider of innovative incident management and operational continuity systems, today announced a special version of its SimGuard incident management system for assuring border checkpoint efficiency and maintaining operational continuity during real time events. The system is based on lessons from various border checkpoints around the world. The new version allows border control authorities to evaluate the facility’s efficiency by using various simulations. For example, the system can analyze crowd evacuation in the event of a suspicious object with different sizes of doors, thus determining the optimum door size to be installed (simulations in one scenario have shown that there is almost no difference between 1.2- and 2-meter wide doors in evacuating 200 people ). SimGuard can also predict the damage to a building that would be caused by explosives. Another example: The system can check in advance the implications of implementing a new detection system on the flow of people and vehicles at a border crossing checkpoint. In the first phase, a 3D model of the crossing point is built into SimGuard's database. The system analyzes various aspects (such as efficiency and vulnerability) of the various parts of the crossing point, such as inspection rooms, areas used for storing goods withheld at inspection, vehicle lanes, passport control booths, terminals, parking areas etc. The system analyzes the impact of various devices installed at the crossing point, such as cameras and detection systems, and a virtual installation of additional devices can be conducted, including checking their impact and efficiency. Following analysis of the devices, the checkpoint’s managers conduct simulations for various potential scenarios, such as being alerted of a fire at the checkpoint and its implications on crowd evacuation. Another scenario includes a suspicious bag that might include explosives, necessitating an evacuation. SimGuard can predict the damage to a building that would be caused by explosives or the propagation of gas inside the terminal, based on a combination of location, infrastructure and other characteristics. The variety of possible scenarios is enormous. The scenarios are stored in SimGuard’s database and help train the checkpoint staff. Checkpoint officers gain an early understanding of various situations before they occur, thereby decreasing response times and preventing incidents from escalating. SimGuard gathers information from all available sensors and devices in real time, fusing and presenting it on one situational awareness display. If an incident occurs, whether it is a security incident or electricity systems malfunctioning, a burst water pipe, etc. it enables the operator to understand rapidly the implications of the incident,entify the relevant scenario from the scenario library, and predict the potential impact on routine site operations. The system advises the operator as to what optimal course of action should be taken. Following the incident, SimGuard’s debriefing mode allows the checkpoint’s officers to learn from the real time incident by analyzing it and the team’s behavior. “In designing the special version of SimGuard for border checkpoints we analyzed the structure of various crossing points and learned various incidents that occurred or might occur in these facilities,” said Roni Zehavi, Rontal’s co-founder and CEO. “Border checkpoints are high-security sensitive areas, and severe incidents are liable to cause not only local damage, but also create severe situations such as a blocked border for hours, utilizing the chaos that might ensue for illegal acts, like smuggling and other harsh situations. Immediate analysis of incidents in real time and taking the right steps are of utmost importance.” About Rontal Applications Rontal Applications has developed an innovative approach to assuring operational continuity across a wide spectrum of government, civilian and business environments. Established in Israel by a group of Israel Air Force pilots in mid-2003, Rontal's vision is to apply modern aviation concepts to the challenges arising from today’s uncertain world within the fields of security, safety and business continuity. Rontal’s SimGuard is capable of fusing real time data into a single 3D, virtual-reality display for greatly improved situational awareness within command and control centers. With the company’s headquarters in Lod, Israel, and regional offices in the US and the UK, Rontal is a private company owned by the founders and private investors. For more information please visit www.rontal.com. For more information, contact: David Kanaan Kanaan Public Relations Phone:  +972-3-5408188 Email: david@kanaan.co.il