The Internet of Things is one of the most exciting technological developments since, well...the internet.
If you’re not familiar with this concept, all it refers to are objects - from toys to electric meters to watches - that are connected to the internet. There are plenty of these items connected and in use already. Most of those that have gained a lot of attention are in the private sector: the Amazon Fire TV Stick, for example, and the Apple Watch are both part of the Internet of Things (IoT).
While the public sector is also starting to use the IoT in interesting ways, public safety organizations are really only just beginning to take advantage of the IoT and the many possibilities it offers. Those that are, however, are finding that the IoT presents them with all kinds of opportunities. Check out some of the recent developments in this area below.
The winner of the 2016 IJIS Institute Innovation Award, the Internet of Public Safety Things Wearable Gateway is a wearable communications gateway for first responders. The device connects other devices already used by first responders - body cameras, heart rate monitors, public safety drones, and other sensors - and allows the first responders to share that information with command posts and other relevant parties.
The device can transmit multimedia information, making it useful for all branches of public safety. According to a press release by Mutualink, the company that developed the gateway, potential uses for the device include:
Predictive policing involves the use of analytics, technology, and/or mathematics to identify potential areas or instances of crime before they occur. One company, Hitachi Data Systems, has released a tool called Predictive Crime Analytics that uses real-time social media and internet feeds, along with analytics, to help police make predictions.
According to DataCenter Dynamics, this tool is the first to tie information from social media and the internet together with analytics. The platform is part of the Hitachi Visualization Suite, which brings together data and video from various public safety systems.
Like Physical Security Information Management technology, this kind of data integration tool can greatly improve law enforcement’s situational awareness, as well as provide the real-time information that can help prevent incidents from becoming crises.
ShotSpotter is a new technology that uses sensors mounted in high crime areas to identify the sound of gunfire (you can read about how this technology is being integrated into smart streetlights here). These sensors not only identify the sound of shots, but also pinpoint their location, analyze the sound, and then send all of that data to connected police stations and PSAPs within one minute.
ShotSpotter has been deployed in many cities around the country, and according to news reports, it’s been successful in lowering rates of gun crime. In Wilmington, N.C., for example, gun crime has been reduced by 2 percent, while homicides have decreased by 20 percent, since the city installed the technology. In addition, police response time to gunshot incidents has gotten faster.
As public safety organizations continue to embrace the possibilities of the Internet of Things, cities will continue to become safer places to live and work. To find out more about how public safety technology can help make your PSAP, command post, or security system more efficient and effective, read about KOVA’s software offerings here.
