Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

When police service members engage the use of their dogs to track a suspect, there comes a point where follow-up paperwork must be completed. This process of recording the dog and officer's activities must stand up to the rigors of a legal review, often within the court system. K9 Activity Tracking System (KATSK9) is a canine activity tracking system. The system provides a dynamic record management system for police K9 operators. It includes information about the training and deployment of the dogs. KATK9 is challenged to incorporate innovations in real-time tracking. The use of geospatial technology can provide a solution to this challenge. The Center for Innovative Information Technology Solutions (CIITS) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) will work with KATSK9 Consulting and Training Corp. (KATSK9) to develop a novel mobile application that addresses officer identified canine tracking and training needs for units in the field while involved in a pursuit. The outcome of this research will provide easy access to mobile cameras for photographing and geotagging evidence. It will show the route taken by the dog and the officer. A priority of this project is to have the application operate natively on Android and iOS devices. This will be achieved through the research and development of a prototype using Xamarin (an open source product for dual platform development based on C# language). This application will implement robust GPS route tracking, adhere to strict UI/UX standards and be integrated into the report system within KATSK9's cloud based tracking system. The outcome for the users will be a state-of-the-art GPS tracking system for officer and secure records that hold-up to the rigors of our legal system. The deliverable is a tool that facilitates training, tracking, record management and ultimately reducing the potential that K9 police officers might face legal challenges.