In a bid to offset the challenges stemming from the issues of violence, a host of law enforcement agencies has sought technologies that can better inform them of gunshots. Gunshot Detection Technology (GDT) has become second to none to automatically detect, notify, and verify gunfire to officers and police. Attributed to a network of advanced sensors mounted on the buildings’ roofs, streetlights, and telephone poles, GDT has become an invaluable tool to address firearm violence. Fortune Business Insights™ estimates the market for gunshot detection system will surpass USD 1,408.3 million by 2028.
A notable rise in gun violence in North America and Europe has expedited the need for state-of-the-art gunshot detection system. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suggested 40 shootings in 2020 termed “active shooter incidents.” The incident is reported to have occurred in government, commercial, open space, residential, house of worship, and healthcare settings. According to the U.K. Office for National Statistics, around 70% of all firearm offenses were recorded during the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2020. Besides, handguns remained the most prevalently used non-air firearm, accounting for 40% of non-air firearm offenses in 2019-2020.
In December 2021, ShotSpotter asserted that over 80% of gunshots are not reported to 911. Accordingly, gunshot detection companies are expected to team up with cities to help police departments become more agile, equitable, effective, and efficient in combating gun violence and bolster public safety. ShotSpotter invests in acoustic sensors placed on lampposts buildings to detect gunshots and determine the origin of the trigger. Furthermore, in June 2021, 3xLOGIC rolled out a gunshot detection system that leverages it to be easily integrated into security cameras.
No Respite from Gunshots Even During COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the education, healthcare, housing, and employment issues globally. Several reports suggested a dramatic surge in gun-related violence, including mass shootings. For instance, researchers from Pennsylvania State University claimed that there was 31% rise in gun violence during the first 13 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Citing the Gun Violence Archive statistics from 2020, the USA Today noted that mass shootings surged by 47%, with the U.S. reporting 611 mass shooting events that led to 513 deaths and 2,543 injuries. Researchers claimed that sudden financial and psychological strains, owing to the pandemic could have prompted a surge in mass shootings.
Bullish Government Policies are a Way Forward
Advanced gunshot detection system solutions could be sought with gun sales soaring during the pandemic. According to the UC Davis researchers, over 47,000 households have become newly gun-owning households during the first five months of the pandemic in California. An uptick in firearm ownership could lead to a surge in violence. Gunshot detection system companies are expected to up their game through innovations and technological advancements.
In July 2021, Alabama city was reported to have increased investments in gunshot detection technology. The report came after the U.S. President Joe Biden trumpeted funds from American Rescue Plan, stating it could be allocated to bullish initiatives for gunshot detection systems.
Governments are blending gun detection systems with camera systems and have upped advertisements about their expanding footprint. Gun detection system technology could help police pinpoint the shooters’ location. Moreover, large metropolitan regions in the U.S., including Baltimore and Chicago, are profoundly using advanced technology.
Man-made intelligence Self Driving Cars Could be the Way Forward
Gunshot detection systems are not the panacea to gun violence crimes witnessed globally. Companies are expected to inject funds into advanced solutions to bolster public safety and help the police respond effectively and comprehensively. However, these systems are not without caveats. In May 2021, a MacArthur Justice Center study found that most alerts emanating from ShotSpotter, a gun fire detecting surveillance system, turned up to show no proof of gunshots or any gun-related crime.
Detection of gunshots could be propelled through the adoption of cars driven by AI driving systems. These cars could be pivotal with the use of sensors to visually detect the gunfire and potentially identify the shooter. It may be too early to deduce that automakers and fleet operators would foray into the gunshot detection domain.
