PlanetGov buys visualization software firm

PlanetGov Inc., Chantilly, Va., has acquired Skyline Software Systems Inc., a provider of visualization and situational awareness software. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Founded in 1997, Skyline offers products under the name TerraSuite that display geospatial information in a three-dimensional view. The state of New York used the company's software to create maps with pertinent information for first responders. BAE Systems plc, Farnborough, U.K., used Skyline's software as part of its own flight simulation solution.

Steve Baldwin, president and chief executive officer of PlanetGov, said the company sees the markets for 3-D visualization tools in the defense, intelligence and homeland security sectors of government. The deal closed Aug. 14.

Skyline will continue to operate under its own name as a wholly owned subsidiary of PlanetGov, Baldwin said. Skyline's employees will continue to work at the company's headquarters in Woburn, Mass., as well as in the PlanetGov's Chantilly office.

PlanetGov specializes in providing information technology solutions, engineering and services to the government market. It reported revenue for 2002 of approximately $300 million. The company was No. 40 on the 2003 Washington Technology Top 100.