L. Thomas Sorrell, CEO of BCCLT, Inc. led a seminar called “Campus Security for the 21st Century” at the annual ACUTA conference.
The seminar zoomed in on BCCLT’s technology installation at the University of Kentucky‘s livestock diagnostic center.
The installation featured multiple layers to tighten security at the center, including a new access control system, video management system and wireless lock sets.
Sorrell detailed each layer of the installation, which involved multiple new physical security technologies and methods for central monitoring:
• Video options included a robust video management system, digital network cameras and mobile devices.
• Video management system equipped with cameras, NLSS gateway appliances, smart phones, desktop monitors and tablets.
• Id cards with a built-in memory chip, iClass/prox antennas which involve crypt keys, enabling the university to own its own facility code and change vendors when it is time to get new cards.
• Security management system, which is armed with NLSS gateway appliances, the University of Kentucky Police Department’s Cloud, campus lockdown capabilities and access control methods.
• Emergency communication strategies such as warning speakers and internal overhead notifications to broadcast threats to campus, overhead paging, voice calls, emails and texts.
• Exterior emergency notification technologies, including “talk-a-phones,” which feature a camera, emergency notification outdoor speakers, exterior notification tower, and a voice over IP emergency phone.
Sorrell said the installation’s success stemmed from the development of an executive security committee. He said the committee consisted of IT members, the school’s CIO, director of public safety, police chief, purchasing officer, and others.
“It was a matter of getting the right people together,” Sorrell said. “Talking and determining what needs to be done is the key to success. The technology is maturing so much; there are some bright minds making this work.”
Sorrell also said that with installations like these, colleges will more than likely deter from measuring the ROI in dollars; instead, he said he thinks colleges will measure them by safety reassurance.
“When you turn these [technologies] on you get high profile news coverage, video forensics centrally located, parental reassurance, improved response time, threat deterrence and peace of mind,” he said. “I don’t know if you can measure these with price. It’s hard to quantify on dollar amount. You can’t put a price on what it can do for you.”
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