4 ms·

Lots of differences that can be pulled out algorithmically. Gunshots are much sharper, as they're mechanical/aerodynamic rather than chemical, and are linear ra

by saulrh 11y ago

Lots of differences that can be pulled out algorithmically. Gunshots are much sharper, as they're mechanical/aerodynamic rather than chemical, and are linear rather than point sources. Receivers placed across the city will record differently dopplered shockwaves based on how close they are to being in line with the bullet's trajectory. If you really wanted to, I bet that you could go around the city after installation and set off firecrackers in a grid to map out the city's acoustics, then reconstruct bullet trajectory down to thirty or forty meters. Which'd be pretty cool. Of course, all that goes away in the case of subsonic rounds. Then your only real difference is that a gun propellant is going to have a much faster velocity than the gunpowder in fireworks and the explosion is going to be rather better contained. You'll probably still be able to differentiate, but I'm not sure how effectively, especially over long distances.

ggreer 11y ago
> Of course, all that goes away in the case of subsonic rounds. I'm pretty sure that presents a problem. Many handgun rounds have subsonic muzzle velocities, and most are subsonic within 50 feet. And according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports[1], almost half of all murders are committed with handguns. Rifles are used in around 2-3%. (For comparison, 5-6% of murders are committed with bare hands.) Those numbers underestimate the ratio of rounds fired by handguns vs rifles, as being shot with a rifle is far more likely to result in death than being shot with a handgun. If the victim doesn't die, they won't show up in those FBI stats. 1. FBI Uniform Crime Report on murder weapon type: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_8_murder_victims_by_weapon_2009-2013.xls https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/...
- saulrh 11y ago
  I figured the numbers were something like that. Darn.

by saulrh 11y ago

ggreer 11y ago

> Of course, all that goes away in the case of subsonic rounds. I'm pretty sure that presents a problem. Many handgun rounds have subsonic muzzle velocities, and most are subsonic within 50 feet. And according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports[1], almost half of all murders are committed with handguns. Rifles are used in around 2-3%. (For comparison, 5-6% of murders are committed with bare hands.) Those numbers underestimate the ratio of rounds fired by handguns vs rifles, as being shot with a rifle is far more likely to result in death than being shot with a handgun. If the victim doesn't die, they won't show up in those FBI stats. 1. FBI Uniform Crime Report on murder weapon type: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_8_murder_victims_by_weapon_2009-2013.xls https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/...

saulrh 11y ago
I figured the numbers were something like that. Darn.