Research in Brief: Three-City Evaluation of Gunshot Detection Technology

• NCJ Number: 309590
• Journal: Police Chief Dated: February 2020
• Author(s): Paige S. Thompson; Daniel S. Lawrence; Nancy G. La Vigne
• Date Published: February 2020
• Grant Number(s): 2015-R2-CX-K147
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Evaluating Gunshot Detection Technology (GDT) to Aid in the Reduction of Firearms Violence
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This brief article evaluates gunshot detection technology (GDT)

Abstract

This article provides an assessment of gunshot detection technology (GDT), a tool used by law enforcement agencies to measure, respond to, and investigate firearm shootings. Since its initial design, the technology has been rapidly adopted by the police, with 16.2 percent of large agencies reporting implementation of GDT in 2016. ShotSpotter Inc.’s GDT detects gunfire using a network of outdoor acoustic sensors mounted on buildings in high-crime areas. When at least four sensors detect a loud acoustic noise, the technology signals a processing algorithm to discern the noise as gunfire from similar sounds, such as construction or fireworks, while generating the spatial coordinates within 25 meters of the gunfire location. This information is screened by technicians at the company’s headquarters, and the verified location is sent to the police department’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system where officers are notified and can respond to the shooting location.