DHS Seeks Technology Solutions for Crowd Analysis

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has posted a request for information for technologies that can help law enforcement analyze crowds and their sizes. The technology solution should not rely on facial recognition capabilities.

DHS said the RFI will inform the market research being conducted by S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in support of law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

NUSTL engineer Tyler Mackanin said responders still rely on anecdotal information to estimate the number of people in events with large gatherings.

“Utilizing real-time crowd analysis technology could allow for more accurate and efficient response operations to ensure the safety of everyone involved,” Mackanin added.

DHS said crowd count and analysis technologies offer benefits even after an event has already ended, providing data that can improve planning for future events.

NUSTL is looking for commercial-off-the-shelf software and hardware products that are available to the first responder community.

The market survey report will be produced by NUSTL’s System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders program, which was created to help emergency responders make procurement decisions.

DHS said the SAVER program has conducted more than 100 assessments of emergency response equipment since its inception in 2004.

Information submitted to the SAVER program is shared with the federal, state and local responder community, according to the RFI posted on SAM .gov.

Interested offerors have until Sept. 17 to respond.