PITTSBURGH -- The ShotSpotter is a high - tech piece of gear that can identify and locate in real time gunshots and Pittsburgh City Council is considering spending thousands of dollars on it. The system has super sensitive microphones that can detect gunshots.

When a gun is fired the ShotSpotter detects the sound, locates the exact street or building it came from and automatically alerts police.

City Council President Doug Shields backs the purchase of the SpotSpotter and says it could be put in high crime areas.

It is already being used in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday city council got a demonstration on how the system works.

Shields said, "It is way past time for us to proactively target gun crime. Funds are available and there is no good reason for the people of Pittsburgh not to benefit as quickly as possible from this relatively inexpensive crime - fighting tool."