What ADS System Safety Consulting does

ADS System Safety Consulting was a U.S.-based professional consulting firm specializing in safety, security, and fire-protection engineering for public transport infrastructure. Prior to its October 2023 acquisition by dss+ (DSS Sustainable Solutions Switzerland SA), ADS was described as the largest U.S. consultancy dedicated specifically to public transport system safety, system security, and fire and life safety, serving the largest public transport agencies in the United States and federal, state, and local government entities. Post-acquisition, ADS operates under the dss+ brand as an integrated offering within a broader operational risk management portfolio.

Name

ADS System Safety Consulting

Legal name

DSS Sustainable Solutions Switzerland SA

Website

https://adssafety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ADS System Safety Consulting, now part of dss+, was the largest U.S. consultancy providing safety, security, and fire-protection engineering services to public transport agencies and federal, state, and local government clients, with the dssplus360 AI risk-prevention platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transport Safety & Risk Management Consulting

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban Rail Security, Safety & Emergency Services (THAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Incident, Safety & Risk Management (Accident Response, Investigations) (THAIANAK), Process Safety & Major Hazard Risk Management (PSM) (BPAHAJAE), Public Safety Support Services (Records, Evidence, Fleet, Logistics) (BPAIAGAK)

Keywords

• Public transport safety
• System security consulting
• Fire life safety
• Operational risk management
• AI risk prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: The company generates revenue through safety and engineering consultation services, providing advisory services to public transport agencies and government entities on system safety, system security, and fire and life safety matters. Revenue is derived from professional services engagements with major transit agencies and government clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ADS System Safety Consulting provides safety and engineering consultation services to public transport agencies and government entities. Its core offerings cover system safety, system security, and fire and life safety for public transport infrastructure, complemented by safety performance improvement, culture transformation, sustainability advisory, operations enhancement, and AI-powered risk prevention via the dssplus360 platform.

Product overview

ADS System Safety Consulting (now part of dss+) is a consulting firm that offers a portfolio of interconnected safety, risk, and performance services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include operational risk management, safety performance improvement, culture transformation, sustainability/ESG advisory, and AI-powered risk prevention. Services are delivered across multiple industry verticals including transportation, government, chemicals, energy, and manufacturing. The company previously operated as a dedicated public transport system safety consultancy before being acquired by dss+ in October 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Transport System Safety Consulting Safety and engineering consultation services for public transport agencies, covering system safety, system security, and fire and life safety, now offered under the dss+ brand.
• Improve Safety Performance and Risk Value Protection Consulting services focused on enhancing organizational safety outcomes while protecting business value through risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
• Transform Culture Organizational change management services designed to shift workplace culture toward safer, more sustainable operational practices.
• Maximise Sustainability and ESG Impact Advisory services helping organizations improve environmental sustainability performance and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) metrics.
• Enhance Operations Performance Consulting aimed at improving overall operational efficiency, productivity, and performance across industrial and manufacturing environments.
• dssplus360 - AI-Powered Risk Prevention AI-powered risk prevention platform that leverages artificial intelligence capabilities to identify, predict, and prevent operational risks before they materialize.
• Build Capabilities through Training Training and capability-building programs designed to develop organizational and individual competencies in safety, risk management, and operational excellence, delivered through an online marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• dss+ deepens operational risk management capabilities with ADS acquisition

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• dss+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023ADS System Safety Consulting, the largest U.S. consultancy dedicated to public transport system safety, system security, and fire and life safety, joined dss+ in October 2023. This acquisition deepens dss+'s operational risk management capabilities, expands technical safety, security, and fire-protection engineering knowledge, and diversifies services in public transport, aviation, space, and autonomous and electric vehicle sectors.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arcadis: Design and consultancy firm offering safety, resilience, and mobility advisory services, with significant transit and government sector exposure that overlaps ADS/dbs+'s risk and safety consulting offering.
• Arup: Engineering and advisory firm with deep transit sector expertise, delivering safety, security, resilience, and fire engineering services to major public transport operators and government agencies.
• Jacobs: Large engineering and program management consultancy with a significant transit and rail practice, providing safety, security, and operational risk services to public-sector transportation clients.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering consultancy with a transportation safety and systems practice that serves transit agencies, rail operators, and government clients with similar system safety, security, and fire/life safety advisory services.
• Hatch: Engineering and project management consultancy with a transportation practice delivering system safety, risk, and engineering services to rail and transit operators and government clients.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with an extensive transportation practice that delivers safety, security, and systems engineering services to U.S. transit agencies and government clients — directly competing with ADS/dbs+ for transit safety engagements.
• WSP: Major engineering professional services firm with a strong transit and rail advisory practice, offering safety, systems engineering, and program management to public transport agencies across North America.
• Stantec: Engineering, consulting, and project management firm with a transportation practice serving U.S. transit agencies with safety, environmental, and infrastructure advisory services.

Emerging players

• ABS Group: Subsidiary of the American Bureau of Shipping providing safety, risk, and reliability consulting to infrastructure, government, and industrial clients, with growing presence in transit and mobility risk advisory.

Broad incumbents

• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Large global sustainability and EHS consultancy that serves industrial, transportation, and government clients with operational risk, safety, and ESG advisory — broader portfolio but overlapping EHS/safety capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ADS System Safety Consulting