OSU Debuts New Tool Aimed At Preventing Terrorist Attacks At Major Events

Dan Bewley, News On 6

STILLWATER, Oklahoma --  Oklahoma State University is joining the fight against terrorism and debuted a new tool called OverSite Wednesday.

It's a system used to monitor and track an attack any place where a large amount of people are gathered, like a football stadium.

"As a land grant university it's very important to us to develop technologies that serve the public and this is a classic example of that and in this case protecting the public," Dr. Steve McKeever, with Oklahoma State University, said.

Here's how it works: sensors are placed around a stadium or building where large groups of people gather. Some sensors are microphones that track the sound of a gunshot.

Even if the crowd noise is louder than the shot the microphones can zero in on its location.

Other sensors can detect chemical or radiological material used in a terrorist attack.

It warns technicians in the RV that a dangerous chemical has been found.

"It's important because we have these venues everywhere, sporting events, shopping malls," Tim Reynolds, with the University Multispectral Laboratories, said.

Developers say OverSite is on the cutting edge of preventing terrorist attacks or getting law enforcement quickly to the scene. They say this Oklahoma technology will someday save lives.

Being able to be here before hand and prevent it from ever getting into a stadium or getting into a large venue like this is going to be way better off," Major Greg Farr, with the Oklahoma Army National Guard. "It's going to protect the citizens of Oklahoma so that's really good."

The vehicle will spend the next nine months going through tests at the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety in Mississippi. The goal is to eventually have it and similar vehicles deployed to sporting facilities or even shopping malls across the country.