ISU professors developing lifesaving technology for active shooter events

COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT COULD SAVE LIVES. KCCI’S CYNTHIA FODOR SHOWS HOW THIS COULD WORK. CYNTHIA: FIVE PROFESSORS ARE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND VIRTUAL REALITY TO TRACK A SHOOTER IN A SCHOOL AND EVALUATE STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY. [GUNSHOTS] DRILLS LIKE THESE ARE BECOMING ALL TOO COMMON IN SCHOOLS. NOW REQUIRED TO HAVE ACTIVE SHOOTER PLANS TO KEEP STUDENTS SAFE. >> THE AVATAR WILL PULL OUT A GUN. CYNTHIA: STEPHEN GILFORD IS USING VIRTUAL REALITY AND GAME ENGINES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ATTRACT A SCHOOL SHOOTER. >> IT IS COMBINING EXISTING SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY LIKE CAMERAS ALONG WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT WILL DO A BETTER JOB OF RECOGNIZING SHOOTERS IN A CROWD. CYNTHIA: THE PROGRAM AUTOMATICALLY CALCULATES THE QUICKEST EVACUATION PLAN FOR EACH CLASS. >> THIS COULD TELL PEOPLE IN CERTAIN CLASSROOMS THAT YOU NEED TO ESCAPE OUT OF THE CAFETERIA AND IT TELLS OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD ESCAPE OUT OF THE ORCHESTRA EXIT. CYNTHIA: IT LOCATES THE SHOOTER AND INFORMS STUDENTS. >> IF THE SHOOTER PASSES THESE SIGNS, THE SCIENCE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND TURN OF APPROPRIATE LATE. THE SIGNS ARE LIKE LITTLE MINIATURE GUARDS WATCHING OUT FOR YOU. CYNTHIA: THE INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE CHALLENGES OF EVACUATING A CROWD OF PANICKED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. CYNTHIA: ISU HAS RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT AND THEY HOPE TO START TESTING

Iowa State University researchers are creating a computer system that could save lives in the events of an active shooter. Five ISU professors are using virtual reality and artificial intelligence to track a shooter in a school and evacuate students immediately. Industrial engineering associate professor Stephen Gilbert is using technology to figure out how to track a school shooter. The program automatically calculates the quickest evacuation path for each class. "We need a smart speaker system that tells people in certain classes escape from the cafeteria or the orchestra exit," Gilbert said. Hundreds of small cameras and digital signs are used to locate the shooter and inform students. "It is sad this is a problem we have to deal with, but I'm hoping we can help with it," Gilbert said.

AMES, Iowa —

Iowa State University researchers are creating a computer system that could save lives in the events of an active shooter.

Five ISU professors are using virtual reality and artificial intelligence to track a shooter in a school and evacuate students immediately.

Industrial engineering associate professor Stephen Gilbert is using technology to figure out how to track a school shooter.

The program automatically calculates the quickest evacuation path for each class.

"We need a smart speaker system that tells people in certain classes escape from the cafeteria or the orchestra exit," Gilbert said.

Hundreds of small cameras and digital signs are used to locate the shooter and inform students.

"It is sad this is a problem we have to deal with, but I'm hoping we can help with it," Gilbert said.

ISU professors developing lifesaving technology for active shooter events

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