Four Key Features of Successful Gunshot Detection Systems

An effective gunshot detection system delivers rapid, precise, near-instant alerts to law enforcement by accurately distinguishing gunfire from other loud impulsive sounds and by pinpointing shooting locations. A state-of-the-art gunshot detection system’s value is seen well beyond the crime scene, providing admissible evidence in the courtroom through in-depth forensic reports and resident expert witnesses.

Currently, law enforcement agencies consider implementing gunshot detection for several critical reasons:

• Studies indicate that reports from 9-1-1 callers about the location of gunfire are frequently inaccurate. This leads to delays as officers attempt to pinpoint the scene — time that could otherwise be used to assist victims, preserve evidence, and gather witness statements.
• When systems can’t pinpoint the scene, officers lose valuable minutes — time that could be spent helping victims as well as documenting and securing critical evidence to solve cases.
• If a system can’t distinguish gunfire from other loud noises, precious police resources could be wasted responding to non-gunfire events.
• Without forensic services, prosecutors lose critical tools for building cases — such as establishing timelines, identifying who fired first, and presenting persuasive audio evidence in court.

The right gunshot detection solution to solve for these challenges not only enables officers to respond quickly and precisely to gunfire but also delivers robust reporting tools and forensic services that support both immediate response and long-term investigations.

Key Feature #1: Provide Officers with a Pinpoint Location of the Gunfire Itself

When seconds matter, ShotSpotter delivers the most accurate, near-instantaneous gunfire locations—helping officers reach the scene quickly to save lives, collect evidence, and make arrests.

ShotSpotter’s precision comes from a proven scientific method called multilateration—the same technique seismologists have used for more than a century to pinpoint earthquake epicenters. The system requires at least three sensors positioned around the source of a sound. Each sensor detects the gunshot milliseconds apart, and the ShotSpotter Location Server calculates those tiny differences against the speed of sound. The result is a set of intersecting curves (hyperbolae) on a map. Where the curves cross is the exact location of the shot.

This process allows ShotSpotter to direct officers to the precise latitude and longitude of gunfire, rather than simply pointing them toward a nearby camera or sensor pole. That accuracy is what makes ShotSpotter stand apart—and ensures faster, smarter, and safer police response.

Key Feature # 2: 24/7 Incident Review Center (IRC) Confirms Accuracy of Every Gunfire Alert, Ensuring Police Can Respond Quickly and Effectively

Where other systems misfire on every bang or pop, ShotSpotter combines advanced machine learning with trained human reviewers to ensure unmatched accuracy. Our algorithm filters out fireworks, vehicle backfires, and other impulsive noises—and with over 20 years of experience, we know that pairing automation with human oversight is the only way to guarantee reliability.

That’s why every detection goes through a two-step process. After the machine review, ShotSpotter’s trained acoustic specialists at the 24/7 Incident Review Center (IRC) analyze the data in real time. Once confirmed, the IRC publishes an alert to law enforcement that includes:

• Location within a 25-meter radius
• Number of rounds fired
• Exact address and coordinates
• Precise time of the incident
• Indicators of multiple shooters
• Evidence of a possible drive-by
• Signs of a high-capacity or fully automatic firearm

This entire process takes less than 60 seconds. In fact, field users often report receiving alerts on their smartphones or mobile data computers in half of that time.