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Public safety

Public safety communications research

News and Updates

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Saving Seconds, Saving Lives: NIST-Funded Challenge Crowns Winners in 3D Tracking Technology

January 9, 2024

The ability to pinpoint a first responder’s precise location inside a building can be a matter of life and death.

Top 5 at 5x5: What researchers won’t want to miss at the summit

June 14, 2023

By: The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research

Top 5 at 5x5: Essential guide to public safety “don’t miss” sessions to boost your agency’s communications

June 7, 2023

By: The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research

Image of UAS 3.0 contestant flying drone

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Triple Challenge

April 19, 2023

Imagine hiking in a forest with a friend. As the sun begins to set, the path to the trailhead becomes difficult to see, and the landscape’s topography has

A man wears a virtual reality headset in front of a large projection screen with red and green graphics.

NIST Announces Winners of the CommanDING Tech Challenge

April 3, 2023

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced the winners of the final phase of the

NIST’s Public Safety Communications Lab Network Awarded the DOC Gold Medal

March 30, 2023

In January 2023, eight NIST PSCR staff members received a Gold Medal Award at the 74th annual Department of Commerce (DOC) Honor Awards Program. This is the

Immersive Test Center brings first responders advanced training, opportunities to overcome challenges

March 3, 2023

This blog is a repost from the First Responder Network Authority, originally published on March 2, 2023. One of the biggest training challenges for first

Spotlight: Understanding Human-Tech Interactions With Computer Scientist Shanée Dawkins

February 3, 2023

Meet Shanée Dawkins, a computer scientist whose expertise in the way people interact with technology extends in multiple directions, from phishing to public

America’s First Responders Give NIST Their Communications Tech Wish Lists

January 30, 2023

NIST’s nationwide survey aims to improve communications devices for fire, police, EMT and 911 crews.

The PSCR Pulse Accelerator

January 3, 2023

The closeout of the NIST PSCR Pulse Accelerator Program last year brings exciting impacts across the board for public safety, with technology-based businesses

PSCR Staff Spotlight: IT Security Manager and Security Portfolio Lead

October 31, 2022

John Beltz is the IT Security Manager for NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division where he serves as the Security Research Portfolio Lead

Highlights from the 2022 Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting

June 30, 2022

Thank you to all of our attendees for yet another successful Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting! This work would not be possible without your efforts

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

NIST Prize Challenge Seeks Innovative Incident Command Dashboards for Public Safety

June 7, 2022

The competition is now accepting entries and will have multiple stages running through April 2023.

The Who’s Who of PSCR 2022

May 23, 2022

Join the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) for their Annual Public Safety Broadband

How PSCR and the FirstNet Authority are Connected for Public Safety

May 23, 2022

At the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR), we are frequently asked about our

FirstNet Authority, NIST Launch Immersive Virtual Experience Center for Public Safety

May 9, 2022

Through this partnership, NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division and the FirstNet Authority plan to enable research and development

PSCR 2022’s Exciting Sessions

May 2, 2022

Each year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’s Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) hosts an Annual Stakeholder Meeting

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

PSCR 2022. Register Now. June 7-9, San Diego, CA. PSCR.gov

PSCR’s 2022 Stakeholder Meeting: Nexus

March 8, 2022

Each year, NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) hosts a Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting that brings together representatives

PSCR Staff Spotlight: Exploring the Voices of First Responders with the NIST Visualization and Usability Group

January 21, 2022

The NIST Visualization and Usability Group performs research to develop user-centered measurement and evaluation methods, guidelines, and standards by applying

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

PSCR Staff Spotlight: Electronics Engineer Chelsea Greene

November 5, 2021

Chelsea Greene is an Electronics Engineer with the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division and has been with NIST since 2018. In this role, she

PSCR’s Virtual Lab Tour Now Available to the Public

September 30, 2021

NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division is pleased to announce the public release of its Virtual Lab Tour, a “behind the scenes” look into