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  5. National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL)

National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL)

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ST-Operational Field Assessment Fact Sheet

DHS S&T works closely with the nation’s emergency response community to identify and prioritize mission capability gaps and to facilitate the rapid development of critical solutions to address responders’ everyday technology needs. These technology prototypes are operationally field tested by S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).

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ST-Social Media Analytics and Reporting Toolkit

Read the latest results and feedback on the usability of SMART for first responders.

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Snapshot: First Responders Assess Drones for Search and Rescue Missions

S&T initiated the FRROST program in 2018 to help the first responder community evaluate drones in real-world field conditions under simulated scenarios to inform their purchases.

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ST-Questions to Ask When Researching Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems

This list of questions was created by DHS S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) to help Department of Homeland Security Components, and other entities with C-UAS authority build a comprehensive understanding of the nuances, capabilities and limitations of C-UAS technology to aid in purchasing decisions.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

Snapshot: S&T Assesses the New FLETC Law Enforcement Operations Driving Skills Course

In an effort to reduce law enforcement officer related crashes, DHS S&T’s NUSTL recently supported the FLETC Training Innovation Division’s (TID) efforts to validate a new Law Enforcement Operations Driving Skills (LEODS) training course in Glynco, Georgia.

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S&T Non-AEL SAVER Projects

The purpose of the SAVER Program is to assist responders with procurement decisions. To this end, SAVER Program knowledge products focus on equipment that falls within the categories of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Authorized Equipment List (AEL)—a list of approved equipment types allowed under FEMA’s preparedness grant programs. While the FEMA AEL encompasses a wide range of equipment types, it does not include all types of equipment used by responders in the commission of their duties.

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S&T Less Lethal Technologies for Law Enforcement

Less lethal technology devices are designed to be less likely to cause death when deployed than conventional weapons like firearms, and are used by law enforcement in two primary situations: crowd control and one-on-one suspect apprehension. For each of these situations, technology subcategories exist based on the modalities of the technology, such as chemical, kinetic and conducted energy.

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S&T Respiratory Protection for Firefighters during Overhaul Operations: Operational Field Assessment Report

After extinguishing structural fires, firefighters carry out fire overhaul operations to locate and extinguish smoldering hot spots. Early on in the overhaul operations, firefighters wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); although, it is common practice to remove the SCBA when the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration drops to a safe level. Studies have shown, however, that after CO dissipates, particulate matter and harmful chemicals are still present during overhaul environments. As a result, firefighters must continue to wear heavy SCBA equipment throughout overhaul operations or risk breathing in the hazardous material present in the overhaul environment. To address this hazard, the Respiratory Protection for Firefighters during Overhaul Operations project developed a filter module that is designed to be used in passive air-purifying respirators (APRs) and powered APRs (PAPRs) to protect firefighters from particulate and chemical hazards while being lighter and more comfortable than the traditional SCBA.

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S&T Automated Driver and Responder Alert System Operational Field Assessment Report

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s First Responder Technologies Division initiated a project with the goal of enhancing roadway safety for first responders. Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) developed the Automated Driver and Responder Alert System (ADRAS) prototype to assist in reaching this goal.

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S&T Activation of Body-Worn Cameras without Responder Manipulation Operational Field Assessment Report

Hitron Technologies Inc. (Hitron) developed the body-worn camera prototypes that were assessed during this operational field assessment (OFA) to address these limitations for U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) First Responder Technologies Division (R-Tech).