DHS Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T's) SCITI Labs initiative leverages cutting-edge Smart City and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to deliver new capabilities to DHS components and to enhance public safety in communities across the country. SCITI Labs brings together key government and private sector partners to identify new and existing technologies that both meet first responders’ operational needs and enhance commercial buildings, ensuring the nation’s critical infrastructure and those who protect it are secure and resilient.
S&T established the SCITI (pronounced “city”) Labs initiative in collaboration with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), TechNexus and Smart City Works to focus on applying new and existing technologies to public safety and national security needs, with an emphasis on extensive validation and go-to-market support through industry partners. The SCITI Labs partnership continues to support research, development and test of a variety of prototype technologies in these overarching capability areas:
- Intelligent Building Sensor Suite (situational awareness, building management, digital twin, physics-based effects modeling)—Development of intelligent suites (digital imagery, video, thermal or Wi-Fi finder) that can be mounted on fixed indoor building features, such as smoke detectors or exit signs. This will improve day-to-day operations of building owners/operators and help first responders to rapidly prioritize search and rescue areas when emergencies occur.
- Cybersecurity for IoT and Industrial Control Systems—This effort, based on CISA requirements, will provide a validated network reference architecture and a playbook for procurement officers to help specify “fit-for-purpose, cyber-secure” systems for IoT networks, industrial control systems and critical infrastructure ranging from animal tracking collars to large public facilities.
- Wildland Fire Sensors R&D—This paper provides an update on 200 Alpha phase sensors deployed in the U.S., Canada, and Germany with promising early results—including several wildfires identified within 30 to 60 minutes of ignition.
- Low-Cost IoT Flood Sensors—Development of rapidly deployable, low-cost flood inundation sensors for alerts, warnings and notifications to responders and citizens using Internet of Things (IoT) wireless emergency alerts.
- Vehicle Inspection for Early Warning (VIEW)—DHS S&T is partnering with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Protective Service (FPS) to design, develop, and test solutions that are easily deployed at vulnerable locations to provide early warning of contraband smuggling (e.g., drugs, weapons, explosives, human trafficking). The solutions are designed to be low-cost, automated, fast, and resilient with both permanent and highly-mobile deployments.
- Autonomous Navigation for Indoor Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)—Support for indoor search and rescue in difficult environments, such as tunnels or collapsed or damaged structures, where missions are difficult and endanger responders and those they aim to rescue.
- Body-worn Interoperable Communications Platform (concluded)—Development of a SmartHub that integrates personal area network communications with third-party sensor packages. The SmartHub will enhance emergency responder situational awareness and support enhanced mission-critical operations.
S&T is adding value at the intersection of Smart Cities and IoT by taking a two-phased approach. First, after a highly competitive selection process, performers are awarded funding in Phase I to develop initial prototypes of their capabilities. SCITI Labs identifies new and existing technologies, assesses prototype capabilities and gains end-user and stakeholder input—particularly from industry partners who are critical to bringing these tools to market.
S&T is leveraging this “commercial first” approach by working with technology innovation companies, government public safety officials, infrastructure owners and private sector investment partners to further design, develop and operationally test and evaluate these capabilities for commercial adoption. To achieve this, S&T implements a streamlined path-to-market process focused on technologies that are useable, affordable and scalable to suit the mission needs of DHS components, first responders and industry. As of January 2022 the program has achieved 8X cash-on-cash leverage of private capital to DHS S&T funded companies, created more than 200 new jobs, 16 new patents and 10 new products.
SCITI Labs technology performers demonstrated the applicability of their technologies to public safety and other component operations and the potential overall impact, such as improved first responder efficiency and situational awareness.
As an example, during a simulated search and identify scenario, responders were able to adjust baseline operating procedures using the information provided by SCITI Labs technologies—changed the building ingress point based on video data, donned protective gear outside instead of inside because of a gas sensor reading or modified clearance patterns based on sensor detection of individuals inside buildings.
Although the SCITI Labs technologies were at different stages of product maturity, a number of the technologies funded had already demonstrated impact in the market and to the public safety community.
In April 2019, performers took a more “commercial first” approach by implementing a streamlined commercialization process focused on technologies that are useable, affordable and scalable to suit the mission needs of DHS components, first responders and industry.
Operational evaluations with end users were conducted, providing the opportunity for continued technology enhancement, refinement, and application to customer requirements. These events were closely coordinated with DHS S&T stakeholders, DHS components, and partners from the private sector and showcased how these capabilities could be used during normal operations and in emergency situations.
Next Steps and Path Forward
The SCITI Labs program has now established a network of “Living Labs,” operational facilities and communities already hosting DHS S&T innovations, including flood and wildfire sensors (the Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford, VA), comprehensive in-building sensor and building management platforms (Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.), drone operations (City of Winchester and elsewhere) and other capabilities. As new innovations are matured through the SCITI Labs “Commercial First Innovation” process, these Living Labs become the transition point to push innovations into initial operational use for both civilian and DHS enterprise needs.
Smart City Internet of Things Innovation
Wildfire/Wildland Fire Sensors
- Feature Article: S&T Wildfire Sensor Initiative Heats Up
- Feature Article: During Busy Wildfire Season (and Pandemic), S&T Focus on Sensors Burns Bright
- News Release: S&T Seeks Respiratory Protection Suitable for Wildland Firefighting
- News Release: DHS S&T to Evaluate Select Wildfire Sensor Technologies