Combatting Gun-Related Violence Wirelessly

Imagine a world where gunshots could be stopped long before they were fired.

Well, that might be a bit farfetched, but at Johns Hopkins University, researchers are working so that dream becomes a reality. The 140-acre, 6,400-student university in downtown Baltimore is currently testing a gunshot detection system in an attempt to reduce gunfire and increase campus safety.

However, gunshot detection systems aren't new by any means. Law enforcement agencies, homeland security and the military have been utilizing explosion location and detection systems like Shotspotter for years, not to mention stadiums, convention centers and many major metropolitan areas.

Although unsuccessful thus far (aside from detecting two car backfires), Johns Hopkins' system has great potential and could pave the way for more massive private deployments to come. Ninety-three sensors located across the campus can detect and triangulate gunshot activity wirelessly to enable dispatchers to see locations of where a gunshot was fired within ten feet and within five seconds of the bullet being fired.

While the system faces challenges with detecting gunshots fired indoors, as well as differentiating it from similar sounds, such as cars backfiring, this system, and others like it, enable police officers to arrive on the scene to more quickly begin caring for victims and enable more efficient investigations. Plus, some are correlating these initiatives to drops in gun-related violence.

Another layer of protection to reduce gunfire and increase safety...not a bad idea for college campuses to start looking into. I see more universities jumping on this bandwagon, particularly in tougher areas.