Integrated Security Systems on Campus

    June 2, 2010
    Many of you who attended the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS), an IP video surveillance & integration educational and networking event presented by Milestone Systems in February, may remember a presentation by Chief Barbara O’Connor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For those of you that missed the event, be sure to check out the newly posted video at: http://video.securityinfowatch.com/Case_Studies/Case_Study_Video_Surveillance_at_U_Illinois_at_Urbana-Champaign/86368405001:::::::/
    SD&I is venturing into the video side of things as we showcase the case study presented by the University of Illinois in conjunction with Milestone Systems. 
    The university, one of the top 10 in the country and a major research center, includes a number of assets on campus: from 17 colleges and instructional units to laboratory facilities, museums, auditoriums and performing arts locations, residence halls, parking lots and even a 62,000 seating stadium. Protecting these assets means moving from a decentralized security approach to a centralized format in order to better manage and facilitate security at the campus and within the community that surrounds the university’s ecosystem.  
    As O’Connor cited in her presentation at the event, “our vision at Illinois is integrating security systems that include video, security alarms, laptops in police cars, iPod mobile devices, wireless mesh network on streets, card access systems and more.”
    She added that it is important to develop a policy with one ultimate decision maker and include campus stakeholders. At the same time, it is also imperative to incorporate a “holistic team” that includes not only police officials, who at times do not have the technological skills to develop integrated systems, but also campus IT and vending partners whom are willing to be flexible and work with police like a true partner.
    Be sure to check back in a couple weeks for our June issue online at http://www.securityinfowatch.com/magazine/sdi which features a number of stories that tie into the education market. This vertical holds a lot of opportunities so be sure to read all about them.
    Also stay tuned for more video coverage in the coming months as SD&I and the Cygnus Security Media team head to a number of industry events, including ESX, ASIS, ISC East and more.
    Natalia Kosk
    Assistant Editor, Security Dealer & Integrator