The rising specter of mass shooting events continues to drive the urgent demand for sophisticated security solutions across the United States. As gunshot detection technology matures, its efficacy and benefits are becoming increasingly apparent to a broader range of users.
At ISC West, Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), a subsidiary of Alarm.com, unveiled its groundbreaking SDS Perimeter Outdoor Gunshot Detection System. Building on its robust portfolio of indoor gunshot detection solutions, the company significantly expanded its exterior offerings with this dedicated system, a natural progression from its initial outdoor forays showcased at last year’s event.
In an exclusive interview with asmag.com, Rich Onofrio, Chief Technology Officer for Shooter Detection Systems, shed light on the unique challenges inherent in extending the company’s precision solutions to outdoor environments.
“Outdoor spaces inherently present a more complex landscape,” Onofrio explained. “Firstly, their sheer size necessitated a significant extension of our coverage capabilities. Secondly, these environments endure harsher conditions, with greater temperature fluctuations. Crucially, the outdoor soundscape is entirely different. We encounter numerous noises — such as fireworks or a motorcycle backfiring — that can mimic gunshots to the human ear. This elevates the stakes, demanding the highest precision in gunshot detection.”
The SDS Perimeter system harnesses the company’s proven multi-factor sensing methodology. It meticulously verifies firearm discharges by simultaneously analyzing distinct acoustic signatures and detecting the infrared muzzle flash. Designed for seamless integration, the system can connect with wider security infrastructures, including Video Management Systems (VMS) and cloud solutions, enabling critical, escalating alerts within mere seconds of a gunshot being detected.
Precision through Specificity
Onofrio drew a parallel between gunshot detection and a smoke alarm system, highlighting their shared core principle: both are precisely tuned to identify a singular, common threat with unparalleled accuracy.
“Our solution meticulously compares the sound and heat signature of potential discharge events,” Onofrio elaborated. “Beyond its remarkable accuracy, the true power of SDS Perimeter lies in its deep integration with video security, mass notification systems, and access control. This synergy empowers users to make immediate, informed decisions — whether to initiate a lockdown or open doors to facilitate egress from the affected area.”
He underscored the critical interplay between indoor and outdoor systems, noting, “Active shooter events often originate outdoors before moving inside. Our key message for ISC West 2026 is clear: the trust and accuracy associated with our indoor systems are now equally available for outdoor protection.”
Onofrio revealed that the infrared sensor presented in Las Vegas was specifically engineered for demanding outdoor environments, where a multitude of heat signatures constantly exist. This innovative design includes cooling internal sensing components to near zero degrees Celsius, effectively minimizing thermal noise and maximizing detection clarity.
Critically, SDS Perimeter processes all sensor data exclusively at the edge, guaranteeing minimal latency between event detection and system response. This edge processing capability also upholds the highest privacy standards, as Onofrio confirmed: “No sound or visual data ‘leaves the box.’ Only AI-derived metadata is transmitted.”
Greater Accuracy Thanks to Advanced AI
Achieving the pinnacle of accuracy required SDS Perimeter to “learn” to differentiate genuine gunshots from similar-sounding events, a process akin to how large-language AI models master the nuances of voice commands.
“Machine learning was instrumental in enabling us to discern the subtle differences between gunshots and sounds that might deceive the human ear,” Onofrio stated. “We developed our own unique ‘language model,’ built upon an extensive, proprietary database of gunshot sounds. To further refine the system, we deliberately incorporated sounds frequently mistaken for gunshots, such as fireworks or engine backfires.”
AI Understanding and Upcoming Features
Broadly speaking, AI-based gunshot detection systems are far more acutely attuned to the “language of gunshots” than the human ear. Understanding human language, in some ways, might even be considered the simpler task, as context often aids AI in comprehension. For instance, if a natural-language system grasps the beginning and end of a sentence but misses the middle, it can often reconstruct the meaning through context.
Gunshots, however, occur without context, making multi-factor sensing absolutely essential for reliable detection.
“SDS Perimeter leverages the fundamental principle that the infrared signature of a gunshot arrives a fraction of a second before the acoustic signature,” Onofrio explained. “This difference in signal travel speed — light versus sound — is vital for maximizing system accuracy, and it will ultimately enable future systems to pinpoint the exact location of a shooter.”
He hinted at future advancements, adding, “An upcoming feature will empower SDS Perimeter to precisely locate the shooter through an array of interconnected sensors.”
Open Integration
Shooter Detection Systems champions an open-architecture philosophy, facilitating seamless integration with various VMS and access control systems, including cloud-based platforms, via open APIs. To this end, the company has fostered easier integration with over 40 partners for its professional systems, as well as with Alarm.com’s cloud platform for indoor gunshot detection systems designed for residential use.
Market Focus Within and Beyond the US
While the United States remains its primary market, SDS is experiencing a growing interest across North America. “We are seeing significant interest emanating from Canada and Mexico as well,” Onofrio confirmed.
He emphasized that even if threat scenarios differ, with a potentially lesser focus on mass shootings outside the US, Shooter Detection Systems’ solutions offer substantial security benefits across a wide spectrum of potential threats and scenarios globally.