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public safety

In Glowing Colors: Seeing the Spread of Drug Particles in a Forensic Lab

April 22, 2020

When two scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) brought black lights and glow powder into the Maryland State Police crime lab

Black background. Photo of a penny. Next to the penny is a tiny amount of a white powder.

Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer Drugs

NIST researchers give law enforcement and public health experts new tools to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.

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

Mission Critical Test Platform

Polaris Networks Polaris Networks will deliver a brand-new product called Mission Critical Test Platform (MCPT) that will be deployment...

MCS TaaSting

NEWS Major MCPTT Landmark Reached View a preliminary version of this project at https://www.mcstaasting.com/. The University of the Basque...

The Valid8 MCX Client Conformance Tester

Valid8 To achieve the goals of the NIST Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program: Mission Critical Voice Test Equipment (PSIAP-MCVTE)...

LTE Coverage Tool

This experimental application was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR)

Dozens of cars waiting in a queue in front of a building with large letters reading, "U.S. Border Inspection Station."

Stopping Fentanyl at the Border: Can Chemical Detectors Help?

November 21, 2019

Large quantities of the synthetic drug fentanyl flow into the country at ports of entry along the Southwest border, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. As

Researchers Explore Using SIM Cards for Secure Public Safety Data Transmission

November 13, 2019

In April 2019, NIST's Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division - in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), IBM, and Nok

This image is a screenshot of the ETA software recognizing pedestrians and vehicles from an officer's dash board camera.

Enhancing Public Safety Video Analytics with Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence

November 6, 2019

In a world full of cameras, video understanding – the ability to accurately interpret what is happening in the footage – is likely to become the next revolution

SBIR funds internationally marketable quality audit instrument

November 1, 2019

En’Urga Inc., an advanced diagnostic equipment company, recently found success with a Small Business Innovation Research award from the National Institute of

Venture Capitalists Share Their Insights With NIST

October 30, 2019

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland – The Technology Partnerships Office (TPO) hosted a NIST-wide discussion with experienced venture capitalists about how to pitch

2019 Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting Press Coverage

NYU Wireless: Marco Mezzavilla outlines public-safety benefits of 60 GHz comms, particularly with drones, Urgent Communications Haply...

2019 Stakeholder Meeting Plenary Sessions

The 2019 Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting featured three days of opening plenary sessions. View each day's recording below....

Woman in safety goggles operates an instrument housed in an aluminum briefcase

Sniffing Out Corpses and Other Signs of Trouble

September 10, 2019

Science stinks. So thought Megan Harries as she measured drops of putrescine and cadaverine — the chemicals that give decomposing corpses their distinctive

Fire Data Lab: bringing fire service data analytics into the twenty-first century

August 16, 2019

As the volume of available data swells and analysis methods grow ever more sophisticated, a growing number of public safety agencies are turning to data

Contract Vehicles for Prize Challenges

PSCR’s Open Innovation (OI) team facilitates the use of hack-a-thons, ideation, and other crowdsourcing methods to support research for...

A Safer Way for Police to Test Drug Evidence

September 17, 2019

Scientists have demonstrated a way for police to quickly and safely test whether a baggie or other package contains illegal drugs without having to handle any

Improving Authentication for Public Safety First Responders: 2nd Draft of SP 1800-13 Available for Comment

May 29, 2019

The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at NIST is seeking comments on a revised draft of the practice guide NIST SP 1800-13, Mobile Application

Baltimore CitiWatch is a collaborator of PSCR and its award recipients.

Leveraging PSCR research and demonstrating the power of collaboration

May 10, 2019

The NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Program has funded R&D grants in several research organizations under its Public Safety Innovation

PSIAP MCV Test Equipment

In November 2019, PSCR awarded three applicants the Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program: Mission Critical Voice Test Equipment...

2019 Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of the Haptic Interfaces for Public Safety Challenge for demonstrating the relevancy of haptic feedback for...

Security Analysis of First Responder Mobile and Wearable Devices: NIST Releases Draft NIST Interagency Report 8196

December 3, 2018

(12/18/18) Comment Period Extension: Comments are now due by February 6, 2019. With the launch of public safety broadband networks (PSBNs), mobile and wearable

Making Fighting Fires in Virtual Reality More Like Real Reality

December 20, 2018

It all started with a conversation at the dinner table with my Uncle Dale. Dale had worked at Boca Raton Fire Rescue for 36 years before retiring as a captain

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

New Wireless Networks Division Publication!

November 16, 2018

New documentprovides both an overview and technical details of test scenarios for checking the protocol implementation of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project

Map 901: Building Rich Interior Hazard Maps for First Responders

City of Memphis Indoor mapping is the next big frontier for the geospatial field. Lack of adequate indoor maps is a well-documented public...

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

New Protocol for Measuring Background Levels of Drugs in Crime Labs

September 25, 2018

When crime lab chemists handle evidence that contains illegal drugs, trace amounts of those drugs are inevitably released into the laboratory environment. When

Flying Drones Compete to Complete Unprecedented Feat

August 1, 2018

Whether it’s the effort to redefine the kilogram or researching the Harry Potter realm of quantum mechanics where things can somehow be in two or more places at

Data-Sharing Website May Speed Response to New Illegal Drugs

July 5, 2018

The drug overdose epidemic currently gripping the nation is so tenacious in part because it’s being driven by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that comes in many