A highly integrated and comprehensive remote guarding video surveillance, audio and security solution specified and deployed by Acadian Monitoring Services (partnering with cabling and integrator contractors), has the end-user realizing a $6,000 per month savings in guard costs, and that's only one facet of the application designed for Safety Management Systems (SMS) in Lafayette, La.
SMS provides health, safety, environmental and industrial training to a variety of customers, including the petroleum and construction industries, helping those clients attain their goal of an injury-free environment. Both SMS and Acadian Monitoring Services are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Acadian Ambulance Service.
Acadian Monitoring Services is the founder of the America on Watch Security Network, a system of UL-listed central stations located in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Chicago, with a fully redundant, bi-directional back-up center in Austin, Texas. Acadian is a Five-Diamond Certified Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) member facility and also holds UL 2050 certification. Acadian partners with security dealers and integrators across the U.S. to provide a full portfolio of monitoring services and solutions in security, medical, video, access control, Telehealth and GPS fleet tracking.
Little village of SMS
The installation was performed at the SMS Training Academy in Lafayette, throughout its 40-acre campus which serves as a village in and of itself and includes everything from training areas to retail and housing. The site boasts 15 large multimedia classrooms, a computer-based training lab, restaurant, 120-person living quarters, fire technology school, a sea survival training pool with a Marine Electrical Technical Services M.E.T.S. 30-ton pedestal crane and recreational facilities. The large size of the facility and the different functions held within provided design challenges, which were met with the integration of video with other technologies.
Kenny Savoie, director of Operations for Acadian Monitoring Services said SMS had a number of goals. "They wanted perimeter protection and needed to alleviate guard coverage and associated costs," explained Savoie. "They also wanted system-wide access control throughout the buildings as well as interactive (audio and visual) two-way lodging registration technology and needed to accommodate after-hours access. Another goal was to monitor activity near an on-site pond to avoid the potential for liability and provide intrusion detection and fire alarm coverage throughout."
Acadian Video Systems Engineer Matt Jimenez noted challenges in the scope of work, including the magnitude of the project; the size of the campus; retrofitting services after post completion build out; the addition of night lighting; and the deployment of two-way audio and '24/7' video surveillance signage. Jimenez and Acadian worked with Scott Louviere, account manager of Global Data Systems, also in Lafayette, the cabling installation integrator. Acadian engineers, alongside Global Data Systems, installed the network infrastructure and performed integration functions.
Prior to the installation, Acadian conducted a consultative security assessment and developed a virtual solution and plan of action. Acadian also assisted SMS in developing a comprehensive security policy and standards manual to disseminate to all personnel.
The installation consisted of the deployment of networked IP surveillance, including three pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras to cover the facility's perimeter, 22 fixed cameras inside and out (all set on motion control), and three analytic cameras positioned around the pond to identify activity and trigger alarms and live recording. Since video storage is built into the analytic cameras, it also makes it easy to install at the far edge of properties, using wireless or wired networks. When the alarm video clip is sent, it is clearly marked with colored boxes that outline what was detected, making it fast and easy to review. With its self-learning capability, set-up and maintenance of analytics cameras is as simple as standard IP cameras. Additionally, the three PTZ cameras perform scheduled remote guard patrols at regular intervals, along with the 22 fixed cameras.
All entrances are monitored using access control technology and the camera network is used to verify door events. A two-way intercom system was installed for audio communication and an access point established for authorization, access and registration of lodging guests checking in after hours. Arriving guests press a button and a two-way intercom session is initiated from the Acadian central monitoring station. Each guest is checked against a pre-provided daily roster/log and access granted or denied. All two-way communications are recorded and verified using surveillance. Acadian also provides an access code to a lock box for room keys.
"Acadian was able to provide total security management of burglar alarms, fire, access, video and remote guarding under one command and control platform," said Savoie. "SMS was able to effectively secure critical assets and save more than $6,000 per month in security guard costs through the video verification system and virtual guard patrols. This video verification solution, including the three analytics cameras, was also able to eliminate false alarm dispatch by 100 percent."
The end-user has the added benefit of being able to remotely view event history and manage the system. An additional benefit of video monitoring and remote access has been the ability of the customer to use live or recorded video footage for quality assurance purposes and to conduct work/business performance assessments.
Did You Know?
Acadian Monitoring Services has achieved the highest designation for central station monitoring from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), standard 2050. UL 2050, The National Industrial Security System Category, specifies Acadian meets the standards required to monitor facilities operated by government contractors and integrators who are engaged in security system installations for which a National Industrial Security System certificate has been issued by the Department of Homeland Security or Secret Service.
