EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 30, 2015) – Cities and emergency responders now have a new way to deploy gunshot detection technology and will be able to respond to incidents and react faster to protect residents. Current, powered by GE and SST, Inc., developer of the ShotSpotter™ crime detection and location suite, have entered an exclusive agreement to bring the sophisticated ShotSpotter technology into GE’s intelligent LED street lights.
The arrangement adds real-time gunfire detection from ShotSpotter to Current by GE’s Intelligent Cities solution, which features software and sensor-enabled LED lighting powered by Predix™—GE’s cloud-based platform for the Industrial Internet—to help cities realize potential opportunities for reducing cost, optimizing operations and creating value.
How It Works
Communities most affected by gunfire are least likely to call it in. It is estimated that 1 in 10 shooting incidents are reported to 9-1-1*, and when calls do come in, the information is often inaccurate.
Through its proprietary acoustic sensors and enterprise-grade software, ShotSpotter detects and locates gunfire in real time. Alerts are then broadcast to 9-1-1 dispatch centers, patrol cars and even smart phones, with the precise location, number of rounds fired, multiple or single shooters and other valuable situational intelligence. These alerts enable first responders to get on scene quickly and safely in order to aid victims, collect evidence and quickly apprehend offenders.
ShotSpotter is already driving meaningful outcomes in cities today. Embedding the technology in Current by GE’s Intelligent Cities solution takes its benefits one step further by building into a city’s existing infrastructure and by leveraging the GE Predix cloud. With ShotSpotter sensors embedded into lighting fixtures throughout a city, much broader coverage areas will be available on a cost-affordable basis
“We’ve entered an era where lighting is so much more than illumination,” says Rick Freeman, Global Product General Manager, Intelligent Devices, Current, powered by GE. “The ecosystem we are building with our Intelligent Cities solution is transforming street lighting into the analytical brain of urban life, and this relationship with ShotSpotter gives one more option for cities to unlock new potential benefits for their teams and their residents.”
“ShotSpotter is a proven tool in helping cities across the country address chronic gun violence issues,” says Ralph A. Clark, President and CEO of SST, Inc. “This partnership with Current, powered by GE will accelerate the adoption of this technology in other cities by integrating our solution into existing infrastructure in a more comprehensive way.”
Additional Intelligent Cities Benefits
In addition to the agreement with ShotSpotter, the future potential opportunities within Current by GE’s Intelligent Cities solution are nearly endless. For instance, parking downtown may be a pain, but not in the intelligent city of the future. Networked LED street lights will have the ability to direct drivers to available spaces with the help of built-in sensors and wireless transceivers. The same streetlight could serve as a sensor and give warnings in the event of severe weather or other event or help manage traffic and offer residents a faster route home.
To learn more about Current, powered by GE and its Intelligent Cities solution, visit www.currentbyge.com. To learn more about ShotSpotter, visit www.shotspotter.com.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About ShotSpotterShotSpotter Flex helps local law enforcement agencies by directing police to the precise location of illegal gunfire incidents enabling first responders to aid victims, collect evidence and quickly apprehend armed, dangerous offenders. The ShotSpotter actionable intelligence can then be used to prevent future crimes by positioning law enforcement when and where gun crime is likely to occur. With ShotSpotter Flex, police now possess a scientific barometer of success since smart policing leads to fewer shootings.