New Technology Unit Focused on Wildlife Protection
NEWARK, Calif., April 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ShotSpotter, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI), the leader in gunshot detection solutions that help law enforcement officials identify, locate and deter gun violence, today announced a new technology innovation unit – ShotSpotter Labs – to expand the company’s current efforts supporting innovative uses of its technology to help protect wildlife and the environment. ShotSpotter Labs is launching with an initial focus on helping combat rhino poaching in South Africa. Later this year, the unit intends to explore other applications for global wildlife protection such as combatting illegal blast fishing in Malaysia with underwater sensors.
In 2014, ShotSpotter began a pilot of its gunshot detection technology in the Intensified Protection Zone of Kruger National Park in South Africa, home to 60% of the last remaining rhinos. Given the vast expanse of the park, most poaching incidents went undetected with carcasses found days or weeks after the fact. With the introduction of ShotSpotter to detect, locate and alert park rangers to gunfire incidents in under 60 seconds, there have been multiple poacher apprehensions within the coverage area since its debut.
“ShotSpotter changes the game by giving our rangers the exact location of the shot within seconds,” said Glenn Phillips, Managing Executive of Kruger National Park. “The resulting speed and accuracy of the response not only increases our chances of making contact and effecting an arrest, but over time we hope will send a powerful message to poachers to stay away.”
In addition to significantly expanding coverage area in the park, ShotSpotter Labs plans to integrate with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for automated dispatch to the precise latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the gunfire. The UAVs will provide a video stream to rangers so that they can track the poachers.
ShotSpotter has had to adapt its sensors and software for use in the sprawling expanse of Kruger National Park with no electricity available to power sensors. These types of system innovations required for anti-poaching are already being applied in other applications such as solar-powered sensors in freeway deployments with limited access to electricity.
“I’ve seen the devastation to the rhino population firsthand in South Africa and it’s meaningful that ShotSpotter can make a difference to help these amazing animals survive for future generations,” said Ralph A. Clark, president and CEO of ShotSpotter. “This kind of engagement is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also an opportunity for us to develop innovative technology that can ultimately be incorporated back into core products across our business.”
About ShotSpotter Inc.
ShotSpotter (NASDAQ: SSTI) provides precision-policing solutions for law enforcement to help deter gun violence and make cities, campuses and facilities safer. The company’s flagship product, ShotSpotter® Flex™, is the leading gunshot detection, location and forensic analysis system, and is trusted by more than 90 cities. ShotSpotter® Missions™ (formerly HunchLab) uses artificial intelligence-driven analysis to help strategically plan patrol missions and tactics for maximum crime deterrence. ShotSpotter has been designated a Great Place to Work® Company.
Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to statements regarding the anticipated development of new technologies by ShotSpotter and ShotSpotter Labs and the potential for such technologies to be deployed across ShotSpotter’s core business units, the expectations of ShotSpotter Labs to develop new technologies that provide the anticipated benefits for wildlife preservation and the environment resulting from the deployment of such technologies, the anticipated timing of the development and deployment of new technologies, including underwater sensors to be used to help combat blast fishing. Words such as “believe,” “potential,” “plans,” “predict,” “will,” variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond ShotSpotter’s control. ShotSpotter’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the ability of ShotSpotter Labs to develop and deploy this technology in a timely manner or at all, achieve the anticipated benefits to wildlife and the environment, and the risk that expenditures used in such projects do not result in technologies that can be integrated into ShotSpotter’s core business, as well as other risk factors included including ShotSpotter’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other SEC filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, ShotSpotter undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.
For more media information for ShotSpotter, contact:
Media Contact:
Liz Einbinder
ShotSpotter, Inc.
+1 (510) 794-3147
leinbinder@shotspotter.com