Cities and their emergency responders will soon have a new way to deploy gunshot detection technology and be able to respond to incidents and react faster to protect their residents. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between GE Lighting and SST, Inc., developer of the ShotSpotter™ crime detection and location suite, lays ground to embedding sophisticated ShotSpotter technology into GE’s intelligent LED street lights.
The proposed exclusive arrangement intends to add real-time gunfire detection from ShotSpotter to GE’s Intelligent Environments for Cities solution, which features software and sensor-enabled LED lighting powered by Predix™—GE’s cloud-based platform for the Industrial Internet—to help cities realize potential opportunities for reducing cost, optimizing operations and creating value.
The collaboration is conditional on a definitive agreement.
How it will work: Communities most affected by gunfire are least likely to call it in. It is estimated that 1 in 10 shooting incidents are reported to 911 (according to 2013 SST Inc., National Gunfire Index), and when calls do come in, the information is often inaccurate.
Through its proprietary acoustic sensors and enterprise-grade software, ShotSpotter detects and locates gunfire in real time. Alerts are then broadcast to 911 dispatch centers, patrol cars and even smart phones, with the precise location, number of rounds fired, multiple or single shooters, and other valuable situational intelligence. These alerts enable first responders to get on scene quickly and safely in order to aid victims, collect evidence and quickly apprehend offenders.
ShotSpotter is already driving meaningful outcomes in cities today. Embedding the technology in GE’s Intelligent Environments for Cities solution will take its benefits one step further by building into a city’s existing infrastructure and by leveraging the GE Predix cloud. With ShotSpotter sensors embedded into luminaires throughout a city, much broader coverage areas will be available on a cost-affordable basis.
Click here to learn more about GE Lighting’s Intelligent Environments for Cities solution.
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