First responder preparedness

News and Updates

Two men in high-visibility vests (Nguyen and Hamel) stand outside preparing electronic devices for taking measurements.

Can Mobile Networks Connect First Responders in Remote Areas?

February 26, 2020

The high plateaus of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, known for panoramic vistas, wildlife, old gold mines and sports of all kinds, are attracting new pioneers

Calling all first responders: NIST needs your feedback!

December 7, 2018

NIST recently launched a nationwide survey on public safety communication technology and needs input from first responders. If you’re a first

An aerial drone sits on a launch pad before lifting off to start the NIST performance test course. Three sections of the course, poles with white bucket-shaped targets attached, are seen in the background.

NIST Performance Tests for Aerial Response Robots Become National Standard

December 4, 2018

Tracking the spread of a wildfire. Searching for a missing person. Detecting toxic fumes after an explosion before sending in rescue workers. These are just

This is Not a Game: NIST Virtual Reality Aims to Win for Public Safety

May 4, 2018

Virtual reality produces entertaining video games. But it’s also a serious training and testing tool. Pilots test their skill with flight simulators, and the

Industry Impacts

Photo of NIST scientists with the PSCR Deployable LTE Cell-on-Wheels

First Responder Communications

First responders must be able to communicate during an emergency. Too often in critical situations, communications among public safety agencies are hampered by

Projects and Programs

Metrology and Standards for Canine Olfactory Detection of Explosives

As part of a multi-year interagency agreement between the Office of Standards of the Department of Homeland Security and NIST, NIST is developing measurement

Surrogate Materials to Support Training in Biological Sampling and Detection in the Field

Developing and maintaining a nationwide capability in field biological assessment requires routine training with biological materials. Attenuated biothreat

Sensing and Imaging of concealed objects

Emergency response, law enforcement and military personnel must face threats and dangerous situations as part of their jobs. These threats can vary from knives

Living Yeast Cell Reference Material

Confidence in total or viable microbial cell counting methods is lacking, due in part to a dearth of relevant reference materials. NIST is developing a living

Publications

Public Safety Communications Research Division Impact Report: Fiscal Years 2017 2019

March 31, 2020

Author(s)

Jeremy E. Glenn, Isabel Shaw, Marc Leh

The Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) at NIST plays a primary role in research and development to impact public safety operational

Voices of First Responders – Examining Public Safety Communication from the Perspective of 9-1-1 Call Takers and Dispatchers: Findings from User-Centered Interviews, Phase 1, Volume 4

March 24, 2020

Author(s)

Michelle P. Steves, Mary F. Theofanos, Yee-Yin Choong, Shanee T. Dawkins, Susanne M. Furman, Kristen Greene, Sandra S. Prettyman

With the newly created Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), the public safety community has a unique opportunity to review and improve

Indoor Localization Accuracy of Major Smartphone Location Apps

April 15, 2019

Author(s)

Nader Moayeri, Chang Li, Lu Shi

NIST carried out comprehensive testing in five large buildings to evaluate the accuracy of Fused Location Provider (FLP) Application Programming Interface (API)

PSCR 2017 Stakeholder Conference Presentation Materials -- Day 2

October 16, 2018

Author(s)

Jason D. Kahn, Anthony Trevino, San Antonio Police Dept, Heather M. Evans, Joe Fournier, Canada's Centre for Security Science, David Lund, Public Safety Communication Europe Forum, Gordon Shipley, UK Home Office Emergency Service Mobile Communications Programme, Dereck R. Orr, Jeff Bratcher, Rich Reed, Salim Patel, AT&T Technology Architecture Planning, Ryan Felts, Marc Leh, Mary F. Theofanos, Kristen Greene

This document is a compilation of the slides presented during Day 2 of the 2017 Public Safety Communications Research Program's (PSCR) Annual Stakeholder

Tools and Instruments

Large Aperture Scanner

The Large Aperture Scanner (LAS) scans a radar transceiver over a 5 meter by 20 meter aperture. Image reconstruction techniques enable a three-dimensional