WITTEN TECHNOLOGIES INC. CAPTURES TWO HONORS IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S 2004 TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS
As reported in November 15, 2004 edition of The Wall Street Journal, Witten Technologies, Inc. is the 2004 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award winner in the Software category, and received Honorable Mention as a runner-up for the overall 2004 Technology Innovation Award. As noted in the article, "Witten Technologies…won for developing technology that creates detailed images of conditions as much as ten feet underground…based on rapid computer analysis of radar images, much like the way that advanced medical scanners provide three-dimensional images of internal bones, tissues and organs…" Called Computer-Assisted Radar Tomography ("CART" or "RT"), Witten's patented technology is the first commercial system capable of producing highly accurate, three-dimensional maps and images efficiently and non-invasively (without digging). The article noted that the technology can provide maps and "…images that are useful for engineering, construction, environmental remediation and archaeology."
After an initial
screening by Wall Street Journal editors to select 120 semifinalists, the award
winners were chosen by a select group of twelve expert judges from such organizations
as Siemens AG, the Cleveland Clinic, Agilent Technologies Inc., the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology, and Oxbridge Capital. In interviews afterwards, the
judges said three factors were most crucial in guiding their selections:
- Projects must address big challenges for which new solutions would have wide
impact;
- Award winners must offer a truly novel solution, rather than just modest improvement
over existing practices;
- Product claims must be supported by rigorous data on real-world performance;
not unsubstantiated claims of potential.
Witten Founder and Director, Robert Green, is a second-generation utility construction
contractor. In commenting on the award, Robert said "The ability to see
underground has been dreamed about by engineers for centuries. Radar Tomography
is now making this possible -- and rewriting conventional engineering methods
and construction practices in the process. RT is beginning a revolution in the
engineering design process in road and underground utility construction worldwide.
By allowing engineers to "see" into the earth, RT improves the design
and reduces the uncertainty that contractors face when building a road or inserting
new utilities in the increasingly crowded near-surface underground. That translates
into a savings of up to 14% of the $200 billion spent annually on underground
construction in the United States."
Further, Green noted: "We are now beginning to get real data on how much RT can save on road construction projects. The results of our recent Florida Department of Transportation (FL DOT) project show that the use of RT in the design phase would have saved $10 for every $1 spent on RT by reducing the amount of required vacuum excavation and minimizing change orders. Ultimately, I believe the savings will be much greater. Once we demonstrate the extent to which RT can reduce the risk factor that every contractor bids into construction projects, we will see truly 'big money' savings - as much as 25:1!"
Witten CEO, Anthony Clifford, said "Winning this award is a tremendous validation for our company and the vision of its founders. Witten employees have worked long and hard to develop this vision into a commercial technology to bring to the market; and I am thrilled to see their efforts recognized internationally. Moreover, our scientists are not resting their technological laurels, but are striving to enhance the capabilities of our CART Imaging System. We are in the final stages of the Dual Array Project a two-year project designed to extend our subsurface imaging capabilities by developing an array complementary to RT that is based on another non-invasive imaging technology - electromagnetic induction. The AIR (Array of Inductive Receivers) System is designed to find conductive utilities at extreme depth. The US DOT Office of Pipeline Safety, Consolidated Edison, and Witten Technologies, Inc have jointly funded this project."
"Witten is now working to create the next generation of CARTs. By late 2005 we expect the construction and engineering market to be ready to fully embrace our technology; and by then we intend to have our next generation of CARTs ready to deliver."
Clifford also noted: "I recognize the value of this independent assessment of our efforts by the distinguished judges assembled by The Wall Street Journal. Witten, for example, is currently seeking innovative engineering firms, both domestically and internationally, as potential licensees and financial partners. I know that winning this award is certainly going to help us in that process, as well as energize us for the many challenges of growing this business."
ABOUT WITTEN TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.
Witten was founded by Robert E. Green and Dr. Alan Witten. The company is incorporated
in Florida, with offices in Jacksonville, FL, Boston, MA and Austin, TX. The
initial prototype of the company's CART Imaging System was first demonstrated
in early 2002 when the survey of an eight
block area surrounding the World Trade Center site proved quite useful in
planning the reconstruction of the damaged utility networks and subsurface infrastructure
around Ground Zero. Earlier this year, the company completed a demonstration
project with the Florida Department of Transportation in Palm Beach County.
Recently the company completed a demonstration project on the National Mall
in Washington, DC that has led to a contract with the National Park Service.
The company has also completed near-surface surveys for a number of electric
utilities, water utilities and other customers throughout the United States.
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For additional information, please contact Robert Green at 478-474-5024 or visit our website at www.wittentech.com .
WTI - November, 17, 2004
(Download a pdf
version of this press release - here.)