Kathleen Griggs

ShotPoint is an acoustic sensor network that incorporates strategically placed nodes Regent Power will be showcasing their Smart City Streetlight that features an integrated camera, Wi-Fi, and gunshot localization system called ShotPoint, developed by intelligent sensing technology provider, Databuoy Corporation.The demonstration will occur at 3940 Industrial Drive, St. Ann, Missouri. This demonstration will be hosted by the St. Ann Police Department and will be on their grounds.ShotPoint Acoustic Sensor NetworkShotPoint is an acoustic sensor network that incorporates strategically placed nodes located indoors or outdoors. The system will automatically identify and locate the source of gunfire and, when integrated with video systems, it will cue cameras to the exact time and location of a shot. ShotPoint immediately communicates the gunshot data in a variety of formats, such as a simple message, or referenced to maps and floor plans.This incident-specific data is transmitted to onsite security personnel or local first responders in seconds. Proactive and precise action can then be taken to save lives in a shooting event. The data generated by ShotPoint also allows responders to secure an often-chaotic incident scene for Emergency Medical Services to administer life-saving care.According to Databuoy President, Kathleen Griggs, “ShotPoint is among the systems that will change the nature of institutional public safety and represents a class of embedded Internet of Things (IoT) devices that transmit event-driven notifications. Public safety applications will benefit by a connected network that rapidly responds to emergency notifications sensed by systems like ShotPoint. Responders need immediate situational awareness and this is what ShotPoint delivers—it connects responders to the real data that they need when they need it.” “Citizens, businesses and emergency services all benefit together” Smart City Streetlight Infrastructure “Databuoy, used in conjunction with an integrated Smart City Streetlight infrastructure, brings the ultimate safety, illumination, and communication to cities and municipalities, especially in high-risk and security sensitive areas,” says Laura Jones, CEO of Regent Power. “Citizens, businesses and emergency services all benefit together. We are delighted to showcase this integrated system to our city officials.”The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted Safety Act Designation Protections for Databuoy’s ShotPoint shooter localization system.Databuoy began in 2006 as a defense contractor focused on embedded systems command and control technologies and has recently realigned to focus on public safety in the private sector.

A gunshot localization solution can turn a video camera system into a real-time safety system in the event of an active shooter. Called ShotPoint, the system is completely automated. Working with a video management system (VMS), it can enable a video image of an active shooter to be provided in seconds based on the location of a gunshot. “For responders, the police department doesn’t have to manage cameras, but has the instant availability of a camera feed,” says Kathleen Griggs, President of Databuoy, which supplies ShotPoint. “All the cameras are available and cued only in an emergency.” ShotPoint is a network of sensors which can be mounted on walls, ceilings, street light poles or other indoor or outdoor locations. Using a “sensor mesh approach,” ShotPoint reliably detects and localizes the source of gunfire; ranging from small handguns to high caliber rifles. The system can cover large indoor or outdoor areas such as schools, office buildings, retail centers, campuses, and parks. Localizing Gunshots Through Acoustic Channels Each sensor has an array of four acoustic channels (microphones) that can locate the source of a gunshot sound, the time of arrival and the time distance of arrival. ‘Hearing’ shots from several vantage points (using multiple sensors) enables the system to take into account the angle and time of the sound, which vary in different environments, thus accurately providing the location of the gunshot. A ‘fusion processor’ box (at the edge) listens to the various sensor nodes and computes the location of the gunshot, relative to a floorplan and/or based on global positioning system (GPS) location. In an outdoor location, additional information may also be inferred, such as the trajectory of the gunshot and/or the caliber of the firearm. An event might cue an integrated video management system to provide a picture of the shooter  to police and first responders Real-time Computer Analytics Unlike other gunshot detection systems, ShotPoint does not require human confirmation of the gunshot, and the alarm is provided instantaneously (in real time and automatically) based on computer analytics operating at the edge. Keeping analytics simple and focusing on one type of event (gunshot) allows computations to be done quickly. “It may not be a real-time system if it takes time to classify many types of sounds,” says Griggs. If a gunshot is detected, the ShotPoint system pushes a ‘shot report’ (including location and a time stamp) to a database in the cloud that sends the result instantly to any ‘subscriber,’ which could be a video system, a lock system, or an emergency notification app that provides a pre-configured message. For example, an event might cue an integrated video management system to provide a picture of the shooter immediately to police and first responders, thus providing vital situational awareness when time is critical. “The more severe the active shooter event, and the longer it takes to clear the victims, the more victims there are likely to be,” says Griggs. “Time equals lives and the sooner they can solve the problem, the more lives can be saved.” ShotPoint can also be used to cue an automatic lockdown system that controls wireless locks. ShotPoint Applications Databuoy, which began as a contractor funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), developed the acoustic sensor technology for military applications, but then realized that it is more useful in static locations than in the on-the-move environment of the military. Looking to commercialize the technology, the company turned to applications in stationary sites such as office buildings or schools. A test installation of ShotPoint at Sandcreek Middle School in Ammon, Idaho, was recognized and awarded $75,000 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The system combines ShotPoint hardware with the school's existing camera systems to provide a live video feed to first responders in real time, thus enabling a fast, effective and coordinated response. ShotPoint reliably detects and localizes the source of gunfire; ranging from small handguns to rifles A technology such as ShotPoint is also a tool to enable police instant access to an independent video system (such as one at a school or business) only in case of an emergency. If police has constant access to video from a private system, that video is subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which in effect provides public access to the video. Sharing video only in emergency situations is not subject to FOIA requirements. Smart City Security In addition to applications in schools and other institutions, ShotPoint is a useful option for security and public safety in a smart city environment; the sensors could be attached to street lighting in various neighborhoods. If there is a gunshot, the system would record it. “Gun activity in some areas is not currently being reported,” says Griggs. “If you integrate it with cameras, you have evidence right there to solve the case and catch the criminals.” She acknowledges the scenario is currently theoretical.   ShotPoint has received Safety Act Designation Protections by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The DHS assumes liability for a terrorist event at a location that uses specified anti-terrorism systems; in effect, the DHS has vetted the system and provides an incentive for its use (in the form of lower insurance costs). Griggs says the push notification system has a ReSTful API and is easy to integrate and install, incorporating network protocols. Infographic: How To Prevent Active Shooter Incidents

ShotPoint is a unique sensor system that provides reliable shooter detection and localisation coverage for both indoor and outdoor areas Databuoy Corporation announces that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted Safety Act Designation Protections for their ShotPoint shooter localisation system. The SAFETY (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies) designation extends DHS liability protection for ShotPoint customers with regard to claims related to or resulting from acts of terrorism where ShotPoint has been deployed. Indoor And Outdoor Localisation Coverage ShotPoint is a unique sensor system that provides reliable shooter detection and localisation coverage for both indoor and outdoor areas. ShotPoint automatically transmits alerts to access control systems, camera systems, notification applications and other subscribers within a second of shooter detection. This effectively removes the uncertainty about whom and where the shooters are, and instantly sets the response in motion with information that is critical to saving lives. Databuoy is committed to providing the most effective and reliable shooter detection and localisation product available. Life-Saving Technology The SAFETY Act provides important legal liability protections for providers of qualified anti-terrorism technologies. Its goal is to encourage the development and deployment of effective anti-terrorism products and services by providing protection against liability. According to Databuoy president, Kathleen Griggs, “Receiving this designation is a great step for ShotPoint. It means that the DHS stands behind our system. They’ve gone through a detailed review and validated that ShotPoint is a potentially life-saving technology.” ShotPoint can provide both indoor and outdoor area protection for private and public spaces including educational institutions, government facilities, retail establishments, parks and stadiums. “Most businesses view an active shooter as their top threat.” says Ms. Griggs, “Now with the SAFETY Act designation, those businesses can look to ShotPoint as a solution to effectively managing this threat.”