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Public safety

From helping to develop technologies that detect explosives and locate survivors in a collapsed building to video software that identifies criminals and high endurance building materials, NIST is working to keep people safe.

The Research

Projects & Programs

Public Safety Communications Program

Ongoing
America’s first responders deal with emergencies every day. And whether it is a routine traffic stop, a multi-alarm fire, or a large-scale event, such as Hurricanes Harvey and Sandy, or the attacks on 9/11, the ability of first responders to communicate with each other--on-scene as well as through

Chemical Foundations for a Cannabis Breathalyzer

Ongoing
NIST's initial work in cannabis science was a series of measurements of the vapor pressure of two important cannabinoids: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Our current effort is funded in part by interagency agreements with the ational Institute of Justice and by the NIST

Extended Cell Testing

Ongoing
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (H.R. 3630) appropriated $7 billion for the establishment of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network under FirstNet, an independent authority in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). FirstNet

Mobile Application and Data Isolation

Ongoing
The security of mobile devices operating within a nationwide interoperable network is critical in maintaining a secure and reliable cellular network for first responders. The inclusion of mobile devices erodes traditional network boundaries, increasing a network’s threat surface, and adding many new

Additional Resources Links

News

How NIST Is Helping First Responders Stay Connected

What do first responders do? It’s an easy question, and I used to think I knew the answer. Firefighters put out fires; police officers enforce the law; EMS workers treat injuries; 911 operators answer 911 calls and dispatch first responders to the scene. Simple, right? I am a computer scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducting research focused on human

NIST Provides Update on Champlain Towers South Investigation

NIST Researchers to Test New Approach for Detecting Cannabis in Breath

NIST’s New Hemp Reference Material Will Help Ensure Accurate Cannabis Measurements

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