First Responder News & Videos

Breaking News. People are holding microphones up. Interested in what we’re working on? Our First Responder News page provides publications, videos, and information about first responder technologies and resources. For a complete listing of first responder news articles, visit the S&T Responder News page.

Recent News

Snapshot: New 3D Crime Scene Mapping Tool Turns Incident Scenes into Virtual 3D Models
Apr. 2, 2019 -- The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has teamed up with the Israeli Police to invest in a new tool. The tool, called 3D-Hawk, can turn a crash or crime scene into an interactive 3D model within minutes, based on high-definition (HD) video footage. This helps the investigation move from an incident scene to the police station for in-depth analysis, so normal activities can resume. Roads could be cleared sooner, evidence documented more quickly, and investigators could have an exact replica of the scene to build a case and verify witness testimony.
News Release: DHS S&T Seeks Partners for First Responder Technology R&D
Apr. 2, 2019 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) invites industry, academia, laboratories, and the innovation community to submit white papers related to 12 first responder technology funding opportunities. The new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicitation (BAA 18-02 Call 0001) will remain open until May 1^st, 2019.
News Release: DHS S&T Awards Auburn University $565K to Improve Canine Detection of Explosives
Mar. 27, 2019 -- DHS S&T has awarded $564,988 in funding to Auburn University for two research and development (R&D) projects designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of canines trained to detect explosives.
Snapshot: 5 Things You Probably Don’t Know about S&T’s EDGE Virtual Training
Mar. 26, 2019 -- DHS S&T Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) virtual training platform provides a safe, immersive environment where first responders, and now educators, can hone their skills and prepare for a multitude of incident responses.
Snapshot: S&T Testing Smart Sensor to Enhance Emergency Communications
Mar. 12, 2019 -- First responders run toward danger; their jobs require it. From rushing into burning buildings to descending far underground, first responders selflessly put themselves at risk to save those in need. Often, their only connection to the outside world during these rescue missions is their colleagues at the command centers who coordinate the rescue effort. They ensure resources are effectively distributed and keep first responders safe by warning them of looming dangers. First responders and incident command rely on stable, multifaceted, modes of communication to avoid the life threatening dangers of their work and to succeed in their missions.
News Release: DHS S&T and Israeli Partners Announce Call for Proposals for Advanced Technologies in Homeland Security
Mar. 6, 2019 -- The Israel – U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is seeking proposals for collaborative projects to develop advanced technologies for the homeland security mission.
Snapshot: S&T Funds Solution to Increase Efficiency of Air Cargo Screening
Mar. 5, 2019 -- S&T funded development of the Opacity and Complexity Analysis Software Tool (OCAST), a support algorithm to assist X-ray operators in determining possible threats in cargo and which areas pose no threat, despite complex X-ray images.

For a complete listing of First Responder news articles, visit the S&T Newsroom.

Recent Publications

Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor for Women
The body armor identified in this market survey report is designed specifically for the female physique, and is available in a variety of colors, fabrics and ballistic performance levels. All products in this market survey report correspond with a ballistic performance level identified in the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor Standard 0101.06.
Automated Driver and Responder Alert System Operational Field Assessment Report
DHS S&T’s First Responder Technologies Division initiated a project with the goal of enhancing roadway safety for first responders. Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) developed the Automated Driver and Responder Alert System (ADRAS) prototype to assist in reaching this goal. ADRAS intends to serve as a holistic system to enhance roadway safety for emergency personnel by alerting drivers as they approach emergency scenes and giving them specific collision avoidance instructions; additionally, it provides responders a warning of inbound vehicular threats with sufficient lead-time to take protective action. ADRAS uses a roof mounted radar and loudspeaker to accomplish these tasks.
Handheld Radionuclide Identification Devices Assessment Report
In June 2017, the SAVER Program conducted an operationally oriented assessment of handheld radionuclide identification devices (RIDs). Four RIDs were assessed by emergency responders at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. The criteria and scenarios used in this assessment were developed with the input from a focus group of emergency responders with experience using RIDs. The assessment addressed 29 evaluation criteria in five SAVER categories: Affordability, Capability, Deployability, Maintainability and Usability.
Multifunctional Textiles for Advanced Personal Protective Equipment
Luna Innovations has designed an advanced uniform incorporating a suite of technologies that, when combined, will be able to provide a lightweight base garment ensemble that can be worn daily and will be capable of withstanding potential hazards for a limited period of time.
Report on Alerting Tactics
The purpose of this Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Report on Alerting Tactics (Report) is to provide recommendations on effective combinations of alerting tactics for various incident types based upon lessons learned from practitioners.
2018 Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) Workshop Summary Report
This two-day Workshop featured more than 30 panelists spread over 16 sessions, covering topics including policy considerations for video use, analytics, forensics, mobile video and multiple case studies.
Digital Volunteer Program Guide
The purpose of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Digital Volunteer Program Guide (Guide) is to provide step-by-step guidance on developing a digital volunteer program to support emergency responders.
Social Media Business Case Guide
The purpose of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Social Media Business Case Guide (Guide) is to provide step-by-step guidance on how to develop a Business Case for integrating the use of social media into emergency management operations.
Behavior Detection Visual Search Task Analysis Project Visual Search Battery Report
The goal of the program is to identify high-risk travelers and subject them to additional screening. This report describes the results of an empirical study that addressed these research goals and furthered DHS S&T’s understanding of the visual search process required for successful BD performance.
Activation of Body-Worn Cameras without Responder Manipulation Operational Field Assessment Report
The DHS S&T National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) conducted an OFA of the prototypes and critical event sensors on March 27, 2018, at NUSTL in New York, New York. Four individuals from law enforcement organizations in Arizona, Illinois, New York and Virginia served as evaluators. The evaluators used the prototypes and critical event sensors in different operationally relevant scenarios to assess their suitability for use by law enforcement personnel.