Security Solutions Adapt to Mounting School Threats

March 15, 2016
From access control to video surveillance, technology meets the challenge of campus environment

Protecting our schools, whether it be our K-12 campuses or sprawling universities, has remained a top of mind concern for security professionals because of increased threats. But how can technology ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff without intruding on this traditionally open environment? Security Technology Executive (STE) editorial director Steve Lasky posed several questions to some of the industry’s most respected solution providers to get their perspectives. Here is what they had to say:

Security Technology Executive (STE): How can technology play a role in securing the K-12 campus and still maintain a welcoming, but secure environment?

Brad Donaldson, VP, Product Development, Arecont: Megapixel cameras are deployed as part of many security solutions.  When well designed and equipped with the correct lens and features, megapixel technology can dramatically reduce the number of cameras deployed in a school environment while improving video coverage and overall situational awareness for less cost. The best megapixel cameras are available in extremely compact, ergonomic housings, whether a box camera, dome, or multi-sensor panoramic.  They often blend in easily into the environment. A high-megapixel box or dome camera can often replace additional analog or standard IP versions due to superior image quality with increased field-of-view coverage, reducing the number of cameras needed. That reduces both the cost and the visibility of the surveillance system. Multi-sensor panoramic megapixel cameras are able to reduce cameras numbers further, covering 180-360o with a single, compact device.  Unlike a PTZ or fixed view camera, multi-sensor panoramics miss nothing as they are always recording the entire view when an incident occurs, further eliminating the need for more devices.

Keith Drummond, Senior Director of Sales, IDIS America: One of the things we most respect in our industry is the fundamental truth that for an environment to be welcoming, it must be safe.  That’s not negotiable.  Though many worry that the greater the level of security, the more imposing and unwelcoming a place will become, there’s simply no such thing as an “unsafe, but also welcoming” environment.  For a campus, or any other environment for that matter, to be welcoming it must first be safe and secure. 

Technology provides the pathway to both the creation and maintenance of a safe and secure environment and the preservation of a welcoming atmosphere.  Advances in clarity and performance in video surveillance cameras, reductions in video storage requirements through innovation, and several specific technologies that have been particular priorities in IDIS R&D—including our latest-generation fisheye, two-way communication, and point-and-zoom camera functionality—mean fewer cameras are often needed to cover larger and larger spaces. Less intrusive installations can provide same or better surveillance performance and security outcomes.  Such lower profile, but higher performing, surveillance solutions, are technology driven and help to preserve open, welcoming spaces, that don’t feel overly burdened by large numbers of cameras and imposing, high visibility infrastructure.

Tim Palmquist, VP Americas, Milestone Systems: Technology can play a crucial role in creating an education environment that protects students, teachers, and property in an unobtrusive way. High-quality cameras can be installed to blend discreetly into the environments, ensuring comprehensive coverage with crystal clear image quality without affecting the daily academic atmosphere. A dedicated command center with video management software (VMS) that ties into both cameras and an access control system allows a school to have an optimal unified solution that alerts for fast response, monitoring traffic flow in and out of the lots and buildings, with lockdown triggered when necessary.

Mitchell Kane, President, Vanderbilt Industries: Security leaders need to strike a balance between a combination of policies and new technology solutions to achieve a welcoming, but secure environment in today’s schools. It’s not enough to simply lay down policies and processes. As we’ve seen in recent events throughout the United States and abroad, threats to the safety of students are real, and manufacturers and integrators must work diligently to meet the needs of these schools while maintaining this balance. One way to do this is to build technology solutions that are easy-to-use and install, that easily integrate with the security solutions already in place and that maximize capital investments that budget-conscious schools have made.

Angelo Faenza, General Manager, PERSONA and Vice President of Campus Electronic Access Control Security Solutions, ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions: This question is part of a broader conversation we have with a variety of key stakeholders at schools across the country. I firmly believe this discussion always starts with the culture and attitude of the school and its leadership. The first priority of any school’s administration is to keep students, staff, and faculty safe. The second priority is to provide an outstanding education in an environment that fosters positive growth and development.

There are a variety of technology options that can help to keep schools more secure, from entryways and classrooms to closets or storage rooms that hold confidential student records. However, a tradeoff with enhanced security can be a loss of convenience. Restricting access to specific areas by time of day or by person can be limiting, but that is secondary to the most important goal of safety. Our goal as a manufacturer is to work closely with integrators and the school’s leadership to evaluate their specific building(s). Recognizing that every school is unique, we offer recommendations on how they can find the proper balance between comprehensive security and a nurturing learning environment. This requires a total commitment from all key parties in the process and an understanding that there will ultimately have to be some compromises made to achieve the most important goal of keeping students, faculty and staff safe. 

Russel Ost, Business Development Manager, Pelco-Schneider Electric: Video surveillance technology can be deployed and still maintain the ambience of a warm and relaxed environment.  In an attempt to provide full coverage, a common challenge occurs when a large number of cameras are installed within a small campus, causing the campus to look and feel more like a prison than a school.  Panoramic cameras offer an innovative solution, providing improved coverage with fewer fixed cameras.  A single panoramic camera can replace up to four fixed cameras, also offered in a mini-dome form factor.  These cameras use one or more megapixel sensors, which allow digital zoom into the scene with great level of detail.  Gaps between camera coverage are minimized.  These powerful mini-domes go a long way towards keeping campuses safe and attractive.

Greg Berg, Regional Sales Manager, G4S Secure Integration: Given the incidents experienced in many K‐12 environments, I believe that all stakeholders view a secure environment as welcoming. Most K‐12 facilities are equipped with the IT infrastructure required to support higher levels of security, but are bound by budget limitations that create an environment of doing more with less. In many cases this leads to gaps in optimization of how these technologies are used. Centralization and standardization is the key to ensuring convergence of existing technology and future applications with operational procedures and emergency response.

For example, utilizing video and access control, combined with alarming and real‐time monitoring at all entrances enables a proactive approach to managing access and mitigating potential risk. Main entrances with double door entryways can be easily converted to create a “man‐trap” area where visitor pre‐registration can be completed. Finally, integration of access control and video with an intelligent emergency response system could allow for one‐button activation of emergency alerts and automated initiation of lock‐down procedure, securing classroom doors, notifying and providing mobile access to real‐time situation awareness for first‐responders.

STE: What have been some of the more unique product adaptions you have made with your technology to accommodate the special requirements of securing the campus vertical?

Donaldson: School campuses face the challenge of keeping up with evolving security threats while working within stretched budgets. We have been able to significantly improve video surveillance coverage and enhance situational awareness by integrating with emergency call boxes. New or existing call boxes from parking facilities to campus walkways can be easily upgraded with a multi-sensor panoramic megapixel camera. These cameras deliver 180 – 360o coverage, providing superior live imagery with digital zoom and forensic viewing after any incident. Only a single IP cable and mount is required for the upgrade, and typically only a single VMS license is required for the camera. 

The most advanced models, such as our SurroundVideo Omni G2, cover virtually any angle, including straight down to eliminate blind spots. Each of the four motorized megapixel sensors are mounted on 3-axis gimbals and use the internal 360 o track. Omni features include remote focus for simplified installation, advanced H.264 compression, and True Wide Dynamic Range to support varied lighting conditions, perfect for call boxes and other requirements.

Drummond: Introducing a 360-degree fisheye camera has specifically met the needs of the campus vertical.  Campuses have large areas such as gyms, cafeterias, and other assembly facilities.  In the past, many cameras were needed to cover each section as well as entrances and exits.  A fisheye camera placed overhead in the center of one of these areas can replace many standard cameras.  Essentially, it can provide a live and recorded view of the entire area, and allow for traditional pan/tilt/zoom features, even when looking at archived video.   Additionally, network bandwidth usage is always an area campuses are concerned with.  Technology, specifically video surveillance can utilize large amounts of bandwidth and other network resources.  By introducing network video recorders and cameras that more efficiently use the networks resources, we have been better able to accommodate the special requirements of the campus vertical.  H.264 being the one of the main advancements we have brought to the vertical.

Palmquist: At the K-12 level, Dancing Moose Montessori School in West Valley City, Utah, has implemented the Milestone platform to monitor classrooms and play areas during the school day. Parents and school administrators are interested in the educators’ teaching methods, as well as verifying that students are playing safely, behaving nicely and eating well. With Milestone, they have peace of mind.

Western Kentucky University has leveraged their Milestone VMS for many uses beyond security like monitoring traffic flow to determine the safest location for crosswalks and monitoring lab experiments in the science department.

Utah Valley University loves monitoring construction sites of new facilities and looking at the video in fast motion, tracking personnel safety, equipment security and progress on the project itself.

Kane: Today’s access control systems are doing more than simply granting access: they’re integrating with other network-based platforms, such as building management systems, to add more value to capital investments. Students in higher education are constantly on the move from one place to another, leaving security officials tasked with providing safety and security despite constant change. One way that we’ve addressed this requirement of flexibility is by integrating event management systems with access control solutions that allow students to reserve rooms in a building using their key card, saving from the hassle of manual data entry by facilities managers.

Students are now able to reserve and access rooms through a single reservation system, which allows the university to keep tabs on damage or security issues related to this access. Additionally, security officials are continuing to look for ways to stay mobile, and these applications are being developed so that officials can manage the university’s security infrastructure from anywhere on campus.

Faenza: We have seen a rapid increase in deployments of Wi-Fi across a range of campus security projects. Wi-Fi is a great option in locations where it is difficult or cost-prohibitive to install a wired solution. Without the need to run cable you significantly decrease installation time, costs, and disruption to the school. In addition, this allows schools to take advantage of their existing wireless infrastructure. I strongly believe we will continue to see a significant number of institutions deploy this technology in future projects, especially as they are able to see it successfully used at other schools in their region.

Ost: At Pelco, we have dedicated resources to support Special Modification Requests (SMR).   Nearly all camera domes, housings, and mounts can be customized to help blend into any environment.  Color matching is one of the most popular services, involving matching powder-coat paint to the wall or environment where the camera and mount will be applied.  Another option is to wrap the product in a pattern.  Wraps are perfect for brick, granite and marble surfaces.  The Pelco by Schneider Electric manufacturing facility allows significant product modifications.   Mounts can be modified to a custom length, designed to support multiple cameras, or view around obstructions.  Special Modification Requests are available for large scale and even the smallest projects.

Berg: Adaptability is the number one requirement for the campus environment. The very nature of the stakeholders, assets and environments to be secured require a unique approach to planning and implementation. Whether identifying means to generate revenue via visual emergency notification appliances to improve ROI or customizing command and control solutions that provide facility, operations and IT based monitoring and response in order to reduce complexity and improve overall response via a common operating platform.

Adaptations must be made in the way integrators engage and partner with each unique campus. We must develop open and honest relationships with security directors and have candid conversations about their vision for their campus’ security plan. We must become advocates of their agenda within the leadership of their campus and identify the potential for inter‐departmental partnership opportunities. This adaptable approach creates an environment in which individual departmental projects can be converged into campus‐wide programs that foster collaboration in technology and budgeting.