Gunshot Detection System Operational Field Assessment Report

Responders need a portable, intuitive technology that can be set up quickly and alert them of shooting incidents instantaneously and provide them critical information ahead of their on-scene arrival.  DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) funded the research and development of a portable outdoor Gunshot Detection System (GDS) with the intention of improving emergency response time and identifying shooter locations. The GDS consists of Guardian outdoor gunshot detection sensors and Guardian Gateway (GW) and situational awareness (SA) applications.

S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) conducted an Operational Field Assessment (OFA) of the GDS with six law enforcement officers. Test activities included setting up the outdoor sensors, overlaying maps and sensors using the situational awareness software, observing gunshot detection notifications on a PC and mobile device, and participating in a debrief with NUSTL to gather feedback.  This report describes the OFA activities performed, the results from those activities, and the evaluators’ feedback.