NIJ and RDT&EPrecision Indoor Personnel Location and Tracking for Emergency Responders Technology Workshop

August 6, 2007

Joe HeapsProgram Manager, CommTechOffice of Science and TechnologyNational Institute of JusticeJoseph.Heaps@usdoj.gov

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Agenda

• Introduction to NIJ• The NLECTC System• NIJ’s RDT&E Process

- Notes on Location and Tracking• Solicitations• Wrap-Up

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Mission of NIJ

• Research, development and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice- Component of the Office of Justice Programs

• Pursue scientific research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) - To enhance the criminal justice system- To increase public safety

• No operational mission!- Do provide technology assistance and outreach services

• Strong emphasis on State and local practitioner needs• Committed to scientific process:

- Open competition- Peer-reviewed, published reports - Archived data

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National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) System

• NLECTC System is integral part of NIJ's OS&T programs- Created in 1994 - Serves State and local law enforcement and corrections agencies,

courts, and crime laboratories - Functions as "honest broker" to help criminal justice personnel perform

their duties more safely and efficiently• NLECTC System:

- Provides scientific and technology support to NIJ’s RDT&E efforts- Provides expertise to support demonstration, transfer, and adoption of

technology into practice - Assists in development and dissemination of technology guidelines and

standards- Provides technology expertise, technology assistance, information, and

support

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NIJ Technology Support System

Office of Law EnforcementTechnology Commercialization

Wheeling, WVWVU Forensic Identification

ProgramMorgantown, WV

-National Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology Centers serving specific regions

- Specialty Offices and Centers (part of NLECTC system)

- Forensic Resource Network

NLECTC NorthwestAnchorage, AK

NLECTC WestEl Segundo, CA

NLECTC NortheastRome, NY

NLECTC NationalRockville, MD

NLECTC SoutheastCharleston, SC

Border Research& Technology Center

San Diego, CA

Office of Law Enforcement

StandardsGaithersburg, MD

Rural LE Technology CenterHazard, KY

Marshall University ForensicScience CenterHuntington, WV

National Center forForensic Science

Orlando, FL

National Forensic ScienceTechnology CenterSt. Petersburg, FL

Border Research& Technology Center

Austin, TX

NLECTC Rocky MountainDenver, CO

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Overview of NIJ’s RDT&E Process

• Begins and ends with the practitioner• Aligned with technology investment portfolios

- For example, biometrics, communications technologies, sensors and surveillance, etc.

• Five Phases- 1. Identify needs and operational requirements - 2. Develop plan to address unmet needs - 3. Perform R&D from concept to field-ready prototype- 4. Test, pilot, demonstrate, and evaluate technology- 5. Assist practitioners in use of new technology

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NIJ’s RDT&E – A Closer Look

Phase I: Determine technology needs Phase IV: Demonstrate, test, evaluate and commercialize

Technology Working Groups

identify technology need

Are there existing

solutions?

Yes

No

Phase II: Develop a plan to address unmet needs

NIJ tests and evaluates the

solution

NIJ crafts a plan to

develop solutions

Phase III: Implement the plan

NIJ defines potential

solutions

Does it work as needed?

No

NIJ solicits

proposals to develop the

solutions

NIJ selects a grantee to

develop the solution

Grantee develops tool or technology

Is development successful?

Yes

Is this a developmental

solution?

NIJ assists developer in

commercialization

Is commercialization

successful?

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

NIJ publishes guides and standards

and provides acquisition assistance to adopting agencies

Phase V: Capacity Building and Outreach

1 2

34

56

7

8

9

10

Independent Peer Panel reviews

applications

Phase I: Determine technology needs Phase IV: Demonstrate, test, evaluate and commercialize

Technology Working Groups

identify technology need

Are there existing

solutions?

Yes

No

Phase II: Develop a plan to address unmet needs

NIJ tests and evaluates the

solution

NIJ crafts a plan to

develop solutions

Phase III: Implement the plan

NIJ defines potential

solutions

Does it work as needed?

No

NIJ solicits

proposals to develop the

solutions

NIJ selects a grantee to

develop the solution

Grantee develops tool or technology

Is development successful?

Yes

Is this a developmental

solution?

NIJ assists developer in

commercialization

Is commercialization

successful?

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

NIJ publishes guides and standards

and provides acquisition assistance to adopting agencies

Phase V: Capacity Building and Outreach

1 2

34

56

7

8

9

10

Independent Peer Panel reviews

applications

Phase I: Determine technology needs Phase IV: Demonstrate, test, evaluate and commercialize

Technology Working Groups

identify technology need

Are there existing

solutions?

Yes

No

Phase II: Develop a plan to address unmet needs

NIJ tests and evaluates the

solution

NIJ crafts a plan to

develop solutions

Phase III: Implement the plan

NIJ defines potential

solutions

Does it work as needed?

No

NIJ solicits

proposals to develop the

solutions

NIJ selects a grantee to

develop the solution

Grantee develops tool or technology

Is development successful?

Yes

Is this a developmental

solution?

NIJ assists developer in

commercialization

Is commercialization

successful?

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

NIJ publishes guides and standards

and provides acquisition assistance to adopting agencies

Phase V: Capacity Building and Outreach

1 2

34

56

7

8

9

10

Independent Peer Panel reviews

applications

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Technical Working Groups (TWG)

• Where the customer and RDT&E meet- Practitioner community identifies high-level technology needs

• TWG – Small groups of mid-level public safety practitioners- Membership is determined by NIJ in conjunction with NLECTC System- In-depth technology expertise is not a requirement

• Do seek experience within the area covered by the TWG- Balanced membership ensures that needs and requirements identified

are representative of public safety community as a whole• TWG established for each NIJ technology portfolio area

- Position Location falls within CommTech• TWG recommendations further reviewed

- NIJ’s Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Advisory Council• Composed of senior-level criminal justice practitioners• Reviews for gaps/omissions, proper prioritization, and consideration of legal,

policy, and training issues

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Position Location – Now A High Priority

• CommTech TWG updated priority in Spring 2007• Description

- "A need for precision locator technology to be used to determine the location and status of personnel. Technology use for routine management of personnel and assets as well as for conveying the precise location of personnel when emergency assistance is required."

• Emphasis on:- Real-time updates- “Officer needs assistance” for use on a portable device

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CommTech TWG and Position Location

• Evaluation of current status of technology for public safety- Currently limited to in-vehicle AVL technologies - Only provides intermittent updates- More reliable resolution (precision) of location is needed

• Law enforcement needs location technology that:- May be activated as an emergency button on portable radio - Provides precision location of user requiring assistance

• Not the vehicle or a fixed "reference point"

• TWG noted current efforts and this conference in summary• Acknowledged existence of policy issues

- Deployment/labor issues will be addressed as policy issues

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Solicitation Process

• Yearly solicitation process- Open to state and local agencies, non-profits, academia and commercial

vendors- Solicitations in over 20 critical technology areas

• Three stage process- First Stage – Open Application

• Solicitations released for technology areas• Concept Paper – short descriptions of intended research• Reviewed by peer groups familiar with the area

- Second Stage – Invited Application• Selected applicants invited to submit full proposal (detailed plan and budget)• Reviewed and ranked by peer groups

- Third Stage - Awards• Highest ranked proposals in all areas compared to NIJ priorities

– This is why TWG priorities matter• Institute makes final decisions on awards

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Next Solicitation Coming Soon

• Approximate schedule in past few years- Solicitations released around October past few years- Concept papers reviewed in December / January- Full proposals due in March / April- Proposals reviewed in April / May- Awards follow

• Watch http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/funding.htm

Questions?Thank you!

Joe HeapsProgram Manager, CommTechOffice of Science and TechnologyNational Institute of JusticeJoseph.Heaps@usdoj.gov