Cameras Will Track Gunshots In L.A.

A new surveillance system can recognize the sound of a nearby gunshot -- and identify the shooter.

1 minute read

December 6, 2004, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


An engineer from the University of Southern California uses his expertise with nerve cells to create a surveillance system that can recognize the sound of a nearby gunshot.

"In a unique pilot program, L.A. and Chicago will deploy test units in high-crime areas... SENTRI uses acoustic recognizers, posted in trios or larger groupings on utility poles or other listening posts, which are tuned to certain specific warning sounds with extremely high accuracy...

Field tests with real weapons have shown 95 percent accuracy with respect to gunshot recognition, and 100 percent accuracy with respect to centering an attached camera on the shooter for those recognized gunshots."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 in University Of Southern California

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