Acoem Fortifies Critical North American Utility Infrastructure with State-of-the-Art Gunshot Detection System

Acoem, a global frontrunner in advanced physical security solutions, has announced a significant partnership with a major North American utility company. This collaboration sees the utility leveraging Acoem’s cutting-edge ATD Gunshot Detection system to safeguard critical infrastructure across numerous sites nationwide.

Over the past few years, utility companies across the United States have grappled with a disturbing trend: direct gunfire attacks on electrical substations and vital energy assets. Whether motivated by vandalism, sabotage, or reckless target practice, the consequences are severe. A single rifle round can cripple a million-dollar transformer, leading to months-long replacement efforts. This catastrophic damage often occurs when the cooling fluid drains from the transformer, causing rapid overheating and potential ignition.

This alarming trend is echoed in the recent DHS Homeland Threat Assessment, which warns, “We assess that domestic and foreign violent extremists will continue to call for physical attacks on critical infrastructure in furtherance of their ideological goals.”

One of North America’s largest electric power and natural gas utilities firsthand experienced this critical risk. A series of gunshot attacks on substations resulted in power outages affecting tens of thousands of customers. In one tragic instance, power remained unrestored for days, directly contributing to the loss of a life-support-dependent individual.

The Challenge: Bridging a Critical Awareness Gap

Before implementing a new solution, the utility recognized the urgent need to re-evaluate the synergy of its existing security technologies. Traditional security cameras excelled at documenting visible issues but proved inadequate for reliably detecting subtle damage, like a bullet hole in a transformer. This left a glaring awareness gap. The primary challenge wasn’t just detecting a gunshot but doing so with enough speed to initiate action before cascading failures could escalate.

Threats Beyond the Perimeter

Many substation attacks originate from hundreds of feet outside the facility’s fence line. The muzzle blast’s sound may never reach the site, leaving only the supersonic ballistic wave as evidence of incoming rounds. A system limited to triangulating muzzle blasts within the immediate perimeter would completely miss these long-range threats.

Seamless Integration with Existing Security Systems

Faced with these unique requirements, the utility sought technology capable of providing instant notification coupled with both video and audio verification. This dual capability was crucial for discerning malicious acts from accidental occurrences. Integration with the utility’s existing video management system (VMS) was non-negotiable, while direct control over a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera was essential for operators to immediately focus on the gunfire source and assess the threat’s reality.

“We needed immediate, accurate alerts to prevent catastrophic damage,” stated the utility’s physical security program manager. “Whether a threat is close-range or from a high-powered rifle fired from hundreds of feet away, we needed a modern, self-contained, highly accurate system to provide a full picture.”

The Imperative of a Closed, Secure Network

Cybersecurity presented another defining requirement for this utility. The company strictly prohibits internet connectivity within its operational network – an “air-gapped” policy that automatically disqualified any cloud-based system. For these secure environments, any new security technology had to operate entirely on-premises, integrating directly with existing video and access control platforms.

Discovering the Optimal Solution

To address the complex nature of these threats and meet stringent demands without a full infrastructure overhaul, the utility required a specialized solution. Following extensive testing, Acoem’s ATD (Acoustic Threat Detection) system emerged as the chosen technology. The utility has since deployed numerous ATD systems across multiple states and regions, with new installations continuing weekly as part of an ongoing modernization plan.

A key factor in selecting the Acoem ATD system was its advanced operational methodology compared to legacy solutions. Unlike systems that send audio data from multiple sensors to a remote server, Acoem’s sensor processes detections directly on the device. When a gunshot occurs, it simultaneously detects both the muzzle blast and the ballistic wave, confirming the event and precisely calculating its location instantaneously.

This on-the-edge analytics processing provides operators with precious response time. This might involve rerouting power, isolating a substation, or taking a transformer offline before a total failure occurs. Such immediate situational awareness can be the critical difference between a swift repair and a prolonged regional outage.

Acoem specifically developed an on-premises version of its Cadence software to meet the utility’s cybersecurity requirements of restricted internet access. The platform presents live maps, sensor health data, and provides audio verification clips, allowing operators to hear what the sensor detected while simultaneously viewing the shooter’s position overlaid on the map. Cadence seamlessly integrates with the utility’s Avigilon video management system.

“Running software on-premises was non-negotiable,” affirmed the utility’s program manager. “We needed the benefits of automation and analytics without exposing operational systems to the internet.”

Enhanced Situational Awareness with “Eyes on Target”

Detection, however, is only half the battle. Integration with on-site PTZ cameras provides immediate visual confirmation. Upon gunshot detection, the sensor automatically commands the camera to pivot to the exact coordinates of the source. Operators can witness events unfold in real-time, even if the shooter is hundreds of yards beyond the fence line.

In certain locations, thermal or infrared cameras may further complement the acoustic sensors, detecting movement in treelines or along rights-of-way. This powerful combination of acoustic and visual intelligence fundamentally transforms response operations, enabling the utility security team to verify alarms instantly and coordinate effectively with law enforcement or maintenance crews as needed.