News and Updates

Displaying 1 - 25 of 44

Two first responders stand at the open back of an emergency vehicle, looking at a computer screen, with firetrucks in the background.

Spotlight: Gathering Intel From Social Media for Emergency Response

June 30, 2022

When someone needs help, fire departments and ambulance crews need to know what the problem is and where to go ASAP. One answer is to use artificial

NIST Launches Prize Challenge to Improve Unmanned Aircraft in Indoor Search and Rescue Scenarios

April 27, 2022

The First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge is the agency’s sixth prize competition aimed at advancing the use of unmanned aircraft systems indoors for first

Illustration shows two houses from above with distances marked between house, woodpile and shed for fire safety.

NIST Offers First-of-a-Kind Guidance for Holistic Home and Community Wildfire Protection

March 1, 2022

Once they have a foothold, severe wildfires can quickly overwhelm a community, particularly one that is densely packed. To shield houses against such a fierce

PSCR Announces $7M Award Program

November 22, 2021

NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division recently released the Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program - 2022 (PSIAP-2022) funding

Draft California Fire Code Includes NIST Tool to Evaluate Wildfire Hazard

September 13, 2021

Severe wildfire disasters are often the product of numerous factors — vegetation, drought, a lack of firefighting resources, and many others — coalescing

NIST Prize Challenge Launches Research for Unmanned Aircraft in Search and Rescue

July 7, 2021

BOULDER, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new prize competition to advance the use

New Timeline of Deadliest California Wildfire Could Guide Lifesaving Research and Action

February 8, 2021

On a brisk November morning in 2018, a fire sparked in a remote stretch of canyon in Butte County, California, a region nestled against the western slopes of

K9 Chemistry: A Safer Way to Train Detection Dogs

December 2, 2020

Trained dogs are incredible chemical sensors, far better at detecting explosives, narcotics and other substances than even the most advanced technological

ghostly black and white map of a building

Spotlight: Navigating First Responders Through Unfamiliar Spaces With Laser Light

March 30, 2020

If first responders knew what the inside of a building looked like before arriving at an emergency, they could save time, property and lives. Here at NIST

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

Clear Talk for First Responders

October 25, 2017

For first responders, such as firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians, a successful outcome to a mission—and perhaps the difference

Three people looking at drawing of Fire Escape Plan

NIST Study Suggests Frailty Makes Elderly More Likely to Die in Home Fires

August 22, 2017

A new study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shows scientifically for the first time that an individual’s ability to respond quickly

NIST Awards $38.5 Million to Accelerate Public Safety Communications Technologies

June 13, 2017

BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded $38.5 million to 33 research and development

Two vials, one with heroin and one with an equivalent dose of fentanyl, which is a much smaller amount.

Fentanyl Can Sicken First Responders. Here’s a Possible Solution.

May 9, 2017

Dan Kallen, a detective in southern New Jersey, was searching a home with fellow officers in August 2015, when they found a bag of white powder. Kallen removed

NIST engineer Ben Posthuma demonstrates the use of NIST's Rapidly Deployable Public Safety Research Platform

NIST’s Rolling Wireless Net Helps Improve First-Responder Communications

August 10, 2016

First responders often have trouble communicating with each other in emergencies. They may use different types of radios, or they may be working in rural areas

R&D by NIST and Partners Yields New Standard for Safer Ambulances

September 22, 2015

Thanks to a newly updated standard for ambulance design based on research and development by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and two

NIST and NTIA Seek Industry Partners for Public Safety Communications Test Bed

July 14, 2015

The Commerce Department's Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program is signing up a new round of industry collaborators for the test bed used to

Research Roadmap Traces the Path to 'Smart' Fire Fighting

June 18, 2015

Interconnected technologies can help to reduce nation's fire toll When responding to the more than 1.2 million blazes reported annually, the nation's

Dereck Orr with a variety of radios and cell phones

NIST Develops First 'Roadmap' for Public Safety Communications Research

May 26, 2015

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published the first "roadmap" for the next 20 years of research needed to establish seamless

FDNY Says 'Thanks' to NIST Engineers

May 13, 2014

Most New Yorkers may not realize it, but their first responders are better equipped for search and hazmat operations thanks, in part, to standard test methods

NIST Tests in New York City Suggest How to Improve Emergency Radio Communications

April 17, 2013

Radio communications can be unreliable in underground tunnels and other large, complicated structures, posing a safety hazard for emergency responders. New

House burning. Firefighters are using a host to douse the flames.

'Live Burns' in Spartanburg, S.C., Will Benefit Research and Firefighter Training

January 24, 2013

Fire researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and colleagues from fire service organizations will turn abandoned wood-frame

NIST Headquarters
-Management Resources
--Management Resources
---Associate Director for Management Resources
----Associate Director for Management Resources - HQ
---Business Operations Office
----Boulder Business Operations Group
----Business Operations Office - HQ
----External Partnerships Group
----Operations and Customer Management Support Group
----Project Management Office
---Emergency Services Office
----Emergency Management, Preparedness and Coordination Group
----Emergency Services - HQ
----Fire Protection Group
----Security Systems and Access Control Group
---Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility Office
----Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility - HQ
---Information Services Office
----Research Library Group
----Digital Services and Publishing Group
----Information Services Office - HQ
---Fabrication Technology Office
----Fabrication Technology Office - HQ
--Office of Facilities and Property Management
---Boulder Design and Construction Division
----Boulder Design and Construction - HQ
----Facilities Improvement (Boulder) Group
----Reimbursable Work Group
----Facilities Modernization (Boulder) Group
---Gaithersburg Design and Construction Division
----Facilities Improvement (Gaithersburg) Group
----Reimbursable Work (Gaithersburg) Group
----Facilities Library, Archives, and As-Built (Gaithersburg) Group
----Construction Contract Management Group
----Facilities Modernization (Gaithersburg) Group
----Gaithersburg Design and Construction - HQ
---Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance Division
----Building Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Operations Engineering Group
----Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance - HQ
----Facilities Enhancement Group
----Operations and Maintenance (Gaithersburg) Group
----Planning, Estimating and Materials Group
----Steam and Chilled Water Generation Plant Group
---Facilities Services Division
----Logistics Group
----Materials Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Site Services Group
----Facilities Services Division - HQ
---Boulder Facilities Maintenance Division
----Engineering and Management Group
----Site Support Group
----Safety and Compliance Group
----Building Management and Maintenance Group
----Boulder Facilities Maintenance- HQ
----Support Services Group
---Emergency Services Division
----Police Services
----Security Systems and Access Control Group
----Fire Protection Group
----Emergency Services - HQ
----Emergency Management, Preparedness and Coordination Group
---Office of Facilities and Property Management
----Capital Asset Management and Facilities Planning Group
----OFPM Program Management Office
----Office of Facilities and Property Management - HQ
----Boulder Site Management Group
----Administrative Operations Group
----Program Office
----Reimbursement Projects Group
----Safety, Health and Compliance Group
--Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
---Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
----Administrative Support and Document Control Group
----Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management - HQ
----Policy and Compliance Group
----Reimbursable Agreements Coordination Office
---Grants Management Division
----Grants Management - HQ
---Acquisition Management Division
----Acquisition Management - HQ
--Office of Information Systems Management
---Applications Systems Division
----Applications Systems - HQ
---Research Services Office
----Research Services Office - HQ
---Business Systems Division
----Business Systems Division - HQ
---Information Technology Security & Networking Division
----Information Technology Security & Networking - HQ
---Identity, Credential, and Access Management Division
----Identity, Credential, and Access Management - HQ
---Customer Access and Support Division
----Customer Access and Support - HQ
---Infrastructure Services Division
----Infrastructure Services Division - HQ
---Office of Information Systems Management
----Office of Information Systems Management - HQ
---Innovation and Solutions Division
----Innovation and Solutions Division - HQ
---Platform Services Division
----Platform Services Division - HQ
--Office of Human Resources Management
---Operations and Strategic Programs Division
----Operations and Strategic Program - HQ
---Human Resources Management Office
----Human Resources Management Office - HQ
---Compensation, Recognition, and Effectiveness Division
----Compensation, Recognition, and Effectiveness - HQ
--Office of Safety, Health and Environment
---Office of Safety, Health and Environment
----Office of Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
---Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Safety and Health Group
----Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
----Fire and Facilities Safety Group
----Environmental Management Group
---Radiation Safety Division
----Radiation Facilities Group
----Program Development and Compliance Group
----Radiation Safety - HQ
---Boulder Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Boulder Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
--Office of Financial Resource Management
---Financial Systems and Reporting Division
----CBS Core Support Group
----CBS Feeder System Support Group
----Financial Systems and Reporting Division - HQ
----Financial Statements Group
----Data Control Group
----Reconciliations Group
---Office of Financial Resource Management
----Office of Financial Resource Management - HQ
----Internal Controls Management & Evaluation Office
----Enterprise Risk Management Office
---Finance Division
----Finance - HQ
----Financial Statements Group
----Data Control and Cost Execution Group
----Accounts Payable Purchase Orders, Grants & Foreign Payments
----Accounts Payable Contracts and Government Group
----Receivables Group
----Reconciliations Group
----Travel Group
---Financial Operations Division
----Travel Group
----Agreements Group
----Accounts Receivable Group
----Accounts Payable II Group
----Financial Operations - HQ
----Accounts Payable Group
---Budget Division
----Technical and Extramural Programs Group
----Institutional Support and Facilities Group
----Budget - HQ
----Formulation and Financial Management Group
-Laboratory Programs
--Communications Technology Laboratory
---RF Technology Division
----High-Speed Waveform Metrology Group
----Superconductive Electronics Group
----Metrology for Wireless Systems Group
----Guided Wave Electromagnetics Group
----Electromagnetic Fields Group
----RF Technology Division - HQ
---Smart Connected Systems Division
----IoT Devices and Infrastructures Group
----Networked Control Systems Group
----Smart Connected Manufacturing Systems Group
----Smart Grid Group
----Transformational Networks and Services Group
---Spectrum Technology and Research Division
----Applied Systems Metrology Group
----Fiber Sources and Applications Group
----Shared Spectrum Metrology Group
----Spectrum Technology and Research ? HQ
---Wireless Networks Division
----Internet Technologies Research Group
----Radio Access and Propagation Metrology Group
----Wireless Networks Division - HQ
----Wireless Systems Innovation and Performance Group
---Public Safety Communications Research Division
----Public Safety Communications Research Division - HQ
----Advanced Communications Research Group
----Network Operations Group
---Communications Technology Laboratory HQ
----Communications Technology Laboratory HQ Gp
----Boulder Laboratory Director Office
----Communication Test Coordination Office
--Engineering Laboratory
---Building Energy and Environment Division
----Building Energy and Environment - HQ
----Mechanical Systems and Controls Group
----Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group
----HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group
----Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group
---Intelligent Systems Division
----Intelligent Systems - HQ
----Manipulation and Mobility Systems Group
----Cognition and Collaboration Systems Group
----Production Systems Group
----Sensing and Perception Systems Group
---Materials and Structural Systems Division
----Earthquake Engineering Group
----Infrastructure Materials Group
----Inorganic Materials Group
----Community Resilience Group
----Materials and Structural Systems - HQ
----Polymeric Materials Group
----Structures Group
---Engineering Laboratory Office
----Applied Economics Office
----Engineering Laboratory - HQ
----Engineering Laboratory Data, Security, Technology Group
---Fire Research Division
----National Fire Research Laboratory Group
----Wildland Urban Interface Fire Group
----Flammability Reduction Group
----Fire Research - HQ
----Engineered Fire Safety Group
----Fire Fighting Technology Group
---Systems Integration Division
----Life Cycle Engineering Group
----Process Engineering Group
----Information Modeling and Testing Group
----Systems Integration - HQ
--Information Technology Laboratory
---Applied Cybersecurity Division
----Applied Cybersecurity - HQ
----Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications Group
----National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
----Trusted Identity Initiative Group
----National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
---Computer Security Division
----Computer Security - HQ
----Cryptographic Technology Group
----Secure Systems and Applications Group
----Security Components and Mechanisms Group
----Security Test, Validation and Measurement Group
----Security Engineering and Risk Management Group
---Applied and Computational Mathematics Division
----Mathematical Software Group
----Mathematical Analysis and Modeling Group
----Computing and Communications Theory Group
----High Performance Computing and Visualization Group
----Applied and Computational Mathematics - HQ
---Statistical Engineering Division
----Applied and Computational Statistics Group
----Statistical Design, Analysis, and Modeling Group
----Statistical Engineering - HQ
---Software and Systems Division
----Systems Interoperability Group
----Software Quality Group
----Software and Systems - HQ
----Cyber Infrastructure Group
----Information Systems Group
---Information Access Division
----Information Access - HQ
----Image Group
----Multimodal Information Group
----Retrieval Group
----Visualization and Usability Group
---Information Technology Laboratory Office
----Office of Computational Science for Metrology
----Office of IT Standardization
----Office of Government and Industrial Liaison
----Information Technology Laboratory Office - HQ
----Office of Chief Cybersecurity Advisor
--Laboratory Programs
---Research Protections Office
----Research Protections Office - HQ
---Standards Coordination Office
----Standards Services Group
----Standards Coordination Office - HQ
----National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
---Special Programs Office
----Special Programs Office-HQ
----Law Enforcement Standards Office
---Associate Director for Laboratory Programs
----Associate Director for Laboratory Programs - HQ
--Material Measurement Laboratory
---Office of Reference Materials
----Business and Quality Management Group
----Business Application Development, Support, and Security Group
----Sales and Customer Services Group
----Publication and Web Services Group
----Office of Reference Materials - HQ
----Materials and Physical Services Group
---Office of Data and Informatics
----Office of Data and Informatics - HQ
----Data Services Group
----Data Sciences Group
---Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
----Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group
----Cellular Engineering Group
----Biomaterials Group
----Genome-Scale Measurements Group
----Complex Microbial Systems Group
----Cell Systems Science Group
----Biosystems and Biomaterials Division - HQ
---Chemical Sciences Division
----Biochemical and Exposure Science Group
----Chemical Informatics Group
----Optical Measurements Group
----Chemical Process and Nuclear Measurements Group
----Gas Sensing Metrology Group
----Inorganic Chemical Metrology Group
----Biospecimen Science Group
----Environmental Chemical Sciences Group
----Chemical Sciences Division - HQ
----Marine Biochemical Sciences Group
----Organic Chemical Metrology Group
---Biomolecular Measurement Division
----Biomolecular Structure and Function Group
----Mass Spectrometry Data Center Group
----Bioprocess Measurements Group
----Bioanalytical Science Group
----Biomolecular Measurement Division - HQ
----Applied Genetics Group
---Applied Chemicals and Materials Division
----Applied Chemicals and Materials Division - HQ
----Thermodynamics Research Center Group
----Thermophysical Properties of Fluids Group
----Nanoscale Reliability Group
----Fluid Characterization Group
----Fatigue and Fracture Group
---Materials Science and Engineering Division
----Thermodynamics and Kinetics Group
----Polymers Processing Group
----Mechanical Performance Group
----Polymers and Complex Fluids Group
----Materials Science and Engineering Division - HQ
----Functional Polymers Group
----Functional Nanostructured Materials Group
---Materials Measurement Science Division
----Security Technologies Group
----Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group
----Nanomechanical Properties Group
----Nano Materials Research Group
----Materials Structure and Data Group
----Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Group
----Synchrotron Science Group
----Materials Measurement Science Division - HQ
----Materials for Energy and Sustainable Development Group
---Material Measurement Laboratory Office
----The Material Measurement Laboratory Office of Operations Group
----Material Measurement Laboratory - HQ
----Genome-Scale Measurement Group
--NIST Center for Neutron Research
---NIST Center for Neutron Research
----Research Facility Operations Group
----NIST Center for Neutron Research - HQ
----Reactor Operations and Engineering Group
----Neutron-Condensed Matter Science Group
--Physical Measurement Laboratory
---Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division
----Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group
----Microsystems and Nanotechnology - HQ
----Nanostructure Fabrication and Measurement Group
----Photonics and Optomechanics Group
---Time and Frequency Division
----Atomic Devices & Instrumentation Group
----Atomic Standards Group
----Ion Storage Group
----Optical Frequency Measurements Group
----Time Realization and Distribution Group
----Time and Frequency Metrology Group
----Time and Frequency - HQ
---Quantum Physics Division
----Quantum Physics - HQ
---Radiation Physics Division
----Dosimetry Group
----Radioactivity Group
----Radiation Physics - HQ
----Neutron Physics Group
---Sensor Science Division
----Ultraviolet Radiation Group
----Sensor Science - HQ
----Dimensional Metrology Group
----Thermodynamic Metrology Group
----Remote Sensing Group
----Optical Radiation Group
----Fluid Metrology Group
----Surface and Interface Metrology Group
---Applied Physics Division
----Advanced Microwave Photonics Group
----Applied Physics - HQ
----Faint Photonics Group
----Quantitative Nanostructure Characterization Group
----Quantum Devices Group
----Molecular and Bio-Photonics Group
----Optoelectronic Manufacturing Group
----Magnetic Imaging Group
----Quantum Nanophotonics Group
----Sources and Detectors Group
---Quantum Measurement Division
----Quantum Optics Group
----Mass and Force Group
----Quantum Measurement - HQ
----Laser Cooling and Trapping Group
----Fundamental Electrical Measurements Group
----Applied Electrical Metrology Group
----Atomic Spectroscopy Group
---Quantum Electromagnetics Division
----Quantum Processing Group
----Quantum Sensors Group
----Quantum Electromagnetics - HQ
----Nanoscale Spin Dynamics Group
----Microfabrication Group
----Spin Electronics Group
----Magnetics Group
---Nanoscale Device Characterization Division
----Atom Scale Device Group
----Nanoscale Device Characterization Division - HQ
----Alternative Computing Group
----Nanoscale Spectroscopy Group
----Advanced Electronics Group
----Nanoscale Processes and Measurements Group
---Physical Measurement Laboratory Office
----Boulder Microfabrication Facility
----Physical Measurement Laboratory- HQ
----PML Information Office
----Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
----Office of Weights and Measures
----Boulder Laboratory Director Office
-Innovation & Industry Services
--Office of Advanced Manufacturing
---Microelectronics Manufacturing Division
----Microelectronics Manufacturing ? HQ
----Microelectronics Strategy and Enterprise Group
----Semiconductor Coordination Group
----Semiconductor Operations Group
----Workforce and Equity Development Group
---Office of Advanced Manufacturing
----Office of Advanced Manufacturing - HQ
---Partnerships and Outreach Division
----Communications and Marketing Group
----Education and Workforce Development Group
----Partnership Engagement Group
----Partnerships and Outreach - HQ
----Technology Hubs Development Group
---Policy and Strategy Division
----Analysis and Benchmarking Group
----Policy and Strategy ? HQ
----Strategic Planning Group
---Program Operations Division
----Competitions Group
----Institute and Program Management Group
----Performance Management Group
----Program Operations - HQ
--Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
---Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Office
----Award Process Group
----Director's Office, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
----Administrative Support/Electronic Information Group
----Outreach and Communications Group
----Publications Management Group
----Workforce Development Group
--Innovation & Industry Services
---Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services
----Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services - HQ
---Advanced Manufacturing Office
----Advanced Manufacturing Office - HQ
---Economic Analysis Office
----Economic Analysis Office - HQ
---Technology Partnerships Office
----Technology Partnerships Office - HQ
---Technology Innovation Program Office
----Technology Innovation Program Office - HQ
--Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
---Network Learning and Strategic Competitions Division
----Network Learning and Strategic Competitions - HQ
---Regional and State Partnerships Division
----Regional Management Group
----Regional and State Partnerships - HQ
---External Affairs and Performance Division
----External Affairs and Performance - HQ
----Program Evaluation and Economic Research Group
----Marketing and Communications Group
---Finance Management and Center Operations Division
----Finance Management and Center Operations - HQ
----Center Operations and Financial Management Group
---Extension Services Division
----Extension Services - HQ
---Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program Office
----Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program - HQ
-Director's Office
--Director's Office
---Ombuds Office
----Ombuds Office - HQ
---Public Affairs Office
----Media Liaison Group
----Video and Digital Media Production Group
----Public Affairs Office - HQ
----Internal Communications and Inquiries Group
----Conference Program and Audiovisual Services Group
----Boulder Meetings Support and Services Group
----Web Content Development Group
---Program Coordination Office
----Program Coordination Office - HQ
---Director's Office
----Director's Office - HQ
----Onboarding Group
---Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office
----Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office - HQ
---Human Subjects Protection Office
----Human Subjects Protection Office - HQ
---Management and Organization Office
----Management and Organization Office- HQ
---International and Academic Affairs Office
----International and Academic Affairs Office - HQ