DHS Interested in Riot Analysis Technology

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Have the Capitol riots in January increased the awareness of US authorities to the potential of large gathering events? The US Department of Defense is looking for systems that would improve the situational awareness of first responders in order to enhance their ability to manage large crowds during planned and unplanned events.

“When it comes to events with large gatherings of people, responders may need to rely on anecdotal information pertaining to the crowd’s size and movement. Utilizing real-time crowd analysis technology could allow for more accurate and efficient response operations to ensure the safety of everyone involved,” said Tyler Mackanin, from the US Department of Homeland Security’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL).

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) laboratory is exploring the use of technology to aid with crowd count and analysis aimed at providing first responders with enhanced situational awareness, according to a request for information (RFI) on technology solutions. 

The benefits of crowd count and analysis technology may begin before and continue long after a large gathering. The information these systems provide can help prevent delayed, inadequate or misplaced responses to crowds, as well as enhanced awareness on the scene. These tools also gather data that allow more effective planning for future events.

The technologies are considered for inclusion in a market survey conducted by NUSTL.

Solutions should perform crowd count and analysis that includes video analysis and provide for post-event analysis. Software and hardware tools should be products available to first responders, according to homelandprepnews.com.