[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43643-43644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15804]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Office of Justice Programs
[OJP (NIJ) Docket No. 1712]
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Evaluation
AGENCY: National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Justice.
ACTION: Notice of request for information.
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SUMMARY: NIJ is soliciting information on the operational use of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in support of law enforcement. The
focus of the study is on the use of UAS for crash scene reconstruction;
however, information on alternative uses of UAS in law enforcement is
also requested.
The National Criminal Justice Research, Test and Evaluation Center
(NIJ RT&E Center) is performing an operational evaluation of UAS for
Crash Scene Reconstruction. The objective of this evaluation is to
evaluate the utility of a UAS to support crash scene reconstruction in
an operational law-enforcement setting. In particular, the study will
determine whether a UAS could be used to improve crash scene
reconstruction in terms of quality, safety, timeliness, or other
metrics. Based upon previous investigations, the Center has identified
a number of agencies that have operational UAS capabilities configured
to support law enforcement. The Center is now seeking to partner with
those or other interested agencies in order to complete the operational
evaluation.
Information Sought: The Center is seeking law enforcement agencies
with which to partner in an operational evaluation of UAS technology
for Crash Scene Reconstruction. This evaluation will, at the discretion
of the partnering agency, occur during normal operations or during
scheduled exercises. Agencies or vendors who respond to this request
for information are invited to provide general comments with regard to
the evaluation for NIJ RT&E Center to consider, including which uses of
the system and which performance metrics are appropriate for the
evaluation. It should be noted that the purpose of the evaluation is to
assess the utility of UAS technology; this includes assessment of both
current and possible future practices. The Center is not evaluating the
participating law enforcement agencies, just the application of using
UAS for Crash Scene Reconstruction. Information will be obtained
through responses to the information requested below as a baseline for
initial information gathering from responding law enforcement agencies.
Follow up discussions will be conducted in some cases. The request for
information is intended to reach a consistent understanding of the
needs for UAS for Crash Scene Reconstruction and the ways each agency
uses the technology.
Information sought includes the following:
1. Law Enforcement Agency Information
a. Agency Name
b. Agency Location
c. Agency Point of Contact
d. Number of crash scene reconstructions in the past year
e. Primary tools used for crash scene reconstruction
f. Number of crash scene reconstructions in the past year using UAS
only
g. Number of certified reconstructionists on staff
h. Total number of operational flights since your agency's
implementation of the UAS
i. Number of operational flights in the past year
j. Future plans for operational use of UAS
k. Federal Aviation Administration Certificates of Waiver or
Authorization documentation, if applicable
2. UAS Technology Information
a. UAS Vendor Name, System Name, and Model Number (may be plural)
b. Sensors available
c. Current sensor use
d. List of additional components and accessories
e. Previous system deployment scenarios or locations
f. Types of data currently stored in reconstruction records
database
g. Personnel/operators required and training
h. Manufacturer suggested retail price, without optional features,
accessories or service plans
i. Any additional information not covered above
3. Current and planned capabilities
a. Types of Crash Scene Reconstruction data collected by UAS
b. Capabilities to support a forensically sound process for
preserving the integrity of collected data for use as evidence
c. Types of analytic techniques used (e.g., photogrammetry, 3D
modeling) and methods used to preserve evidentiary value of analytical
results
d. Installation, Start-up, Launch, and tear-down times
e. Type of data output and processes used to ensure its forensic
value
f. Types of real-time monitoring features
g. Other features or capabilities not covered above
Protection of Sensitive Information: Organizations responding to
this request for information should be aware of the following
guidelines for handling of information:
1. The NIJ RT&E Center does not require or desire access to
privileged information. For example, while the Center has interest in
data pertaining to reconstruction, such as road closure time, tools
utilized, and manpower, the Center has no interest in sensitive
information, such as names or other Personally Identifiable
Information. The Center will work with participating organizations to
prevent disclosure of sensitive private information to the
representatives of the NIJ RT&E Center.
2. Results of the operational evaluation will be published to
ensure maximum usefulness to the law enforcement community.
Participating law enforcement organizations will be provided an
opportunity to review documents prior to any public release to ensure
that the content of these documents does not in any way compromise
their operations.
DATES: Responses to this request will be accepted through 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time on August 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Responses to this request may be submitted electronically in
the body of or as an attachment to an email sent to
[email protected] with the recommended subject line ``UAS
Federal Register Response.'' Questions and responses may also be sent
by mail (please allow additional time for processing) to the address:
National Criminal Justice Research, Test
[[Page 43644]]
and Evaluation Center, ATTN: UAS Federal Register Response, Johns
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins
Road, Mail Stop 17N444, Laurel, MD 20723-6099.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on this request
for information contact Emre Gunduzhan (NIJ RT&E Center) at (240) 228-
7269 or [email protected]. For more information on the NIJ
RT&E Center, visit http://nij.gov/funding/awards/pages/award-detail.aspx?award=2013-MU-CX-K111 and view the description or contact
Martin Novak (NIJ Research Division) at (202) 598-7795. Please note
that these are not toll-free telephone numbers.
Nancy Rodriguez,
Director, National Institute of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2016-15804 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
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