public safety

New tool to help cities make the case for public safety funding

The Black-led coalition behind the online tool is also launching an effort to reduce gun homicides in 12 cities by 20% over the next five years. Its inaugural cohort includes Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Indianapolis and Newark.

Public safety data officer wants to break silos, make data more transparent

Better use of data can help the business community work with the city to reduce crime, according to the Greater Baltimore Committee’s new public safety data officer.

Machine learning maps location of lead pipes

An open-source map will help communities find and remove pipes faster.

How AI helps one city spot damaged rooftops

The Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Department is using a mix of artificial intelligence, GIS-based flyover imagery and building code enforcement data to automatically detect at-risk buildings.

Smart street pilots aim to curb parking violations

Chicago plans to use cameras to enforce parking rules, boost safety for pedestrians and cyclists and streamline operations in commercial loading zones.

Tech keeps city’s fleet vehicles within speed limits

Active intelligent speed assistance technology has kept drivers from speeding and cut hard braking by more than a third, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

States should follow feds in Chinese tech bans

With a recent report citing at least 1,600 state and local agencies still buying IT and communications equipment from China, one researcher advised they follow federal guidance more closely.

Flood forecasts in real-time with block-by-block data could save lives – a new machine learning method makes it possible

A sophisticated flood model can be used to train local flood hazard models that can pinpoint conditions street by street using real-time storm forecasts.

NIST cooks up modified yeast for responder biothreat training

The yeast reference material has qualities similar to harmful biological agents, enabling first responders to practice detecting biothreats.

Portable gunshot detector senses firearms’ sound and flash

The system uses the sound and flash of the fired gun to identify and validate each shot, reducing response times and false positives.

Young men have higher risk of gun death in some US cities than in war

In some U.S. ZIP codes, young men are more at risk of firearm-related injuries than military individuals deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, a study finds.

Statistical model predicts daily high tide flooding

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a new model that can predict daily high tide flooding months in advance.

Efficient public safety demands evolving tech

Modern cloud, mobile and data analysis tools are key to streamlined, professional police work, a new survey found.

Chinese drones could expose state, local governments

Amid the uncertainty surrounding drones’ cybersecurity, a new program vets drones to ensure they meet rigorous security requirements.

In northern Minnesota, autonomous vehicles are hitting rural roads

As Grand Rapids becomes the first rural community in the nation to pilot an autonomous shuttle service, it’s a trial by snow and ice rather than fire.

City seeks digital twin for public building interiors

As original blueprints are no longer accurate, Aurora, Illinois, wants indoor digital maps to update records and increase public safety.

Real-time tracking now available for some city school buses

New York City’s efforts to modernize school transportation have been dogged by delays — like its buses — but this new effort will allow parents and schools to monitor them.