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OPERATIONAL STANDARDS

Mitigating a terror attack, rushing a patient to the emergency room in an ambulance, responding to an active shooter call. Homeland security operators face scenarios like these every day, and they need to know their equipment and training will work when it matters the most. S&T supported officials throughout DHS in 2016 by evaluating tools and techniques to identify the best possible solutions and to ensure they’re reliable, interoperable and effective.

EXERCISES

S&T participates in live exercises to determine how technology works in the real world.

Video Explosives Detection Canines

Explosives Detection Canines

Video Electronic Jamming

Electronic Jamming

EXERCISES

S&T participates in live exercises to determine how technology works in the real world.

Explosives Detection Canines

Electronic Jamming

OPERATIONAL STANDARDS EXERCISES

To know technologies will work, we must put them to the test.

To do this, operators attend simulated exercises to determine how tech will perform during a real-world incident. In 2016, several S&T groups joined the New York City Police Department and the Fire Department of New York in an active shooter exercise to test responder technologies and coordination skills. S&T’s role was to assess whether new tools and equipment operated as intended and to identify potential capabilities that could be developed in the future.

S&T and its ALERT Center of Excellence participated in a similar exercise with the Boston Police Department, observing how responders used technologies to improve shot detection, situational awareness, explosives detection and countering unmanned aerial systems during a simulated active shooter incident in a stadium environment. Specially trained canine units from Amtrak and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives were also assessed.

We then traveled to the desert in July 2016 to test how electronic jamming impacts first responder communications, which resulted in several mitigation tactics. The data from these exercises informs S&T’s efforts to continuously improve response capabilities through trusted analysis and recommendations.

EVALUATION

S&T provides expert technical evaluation that helps ensure operators can trust their technology.

External link to Response Robot Testing

Response Robot Testing

External link Office of Test and Evaluation

Office of Test and Evaluation

EVALUATION

SS&T provides expert technical evaluation that helps ensure operators can trust their technology.

Mobile External link to Response Robot Testing

Response Robot Testing

Mobile External link Office of Test and Evaluation

Office of Test and Evaluation

OPERATIONAL STANDARDS EVALUATION

In dangerous situations such as disabling bombs, searching for survivors or gathering situational awareness, the rise of robots is keeping first responders out of harm’s way.

Behind the scenes, S&T determines whether technologies are reliable for operator use based on strict performance criteria. In 2016, S&T and the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed a comprehensive suite of testing criteria. The tests simulated real-world scenarios to help operators make informed purchases. And as the testing is an obstacle-course-style competition, it encourages manufacturers to build models prioritizing responder tasks.

S&T also worked with international partners on making testing and evaluation more efficient for the U.S. Coast Guard as they modernize their polar icebreaker fleet. Coast Guard polar icebreakers perform a variety of missions supporting U.S. interests, related to protecting, researching, defending, monitoring and conducting missions in the polar regions.

S&T initiated an international information-sharing agreement with Canada regarding icebreaker ship evaluation data. This will help the Coast Guard efficiently modernize the fleet, since they will be able to build on the Canadian data rather than conduct new evaluations. Back to Top