Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and common situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more.
These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety.
Corporate, manufacturing, industrial, and healthcare facilities and public spaces like transportation hubs and schools need three key capabilities from their overarching communication and security solution: 1) detect potential or active problems, 2) notify the right people instantly and effectively, and 3) manage incidents to a successful resolution.
Achieving those goals requires a robust solution that includes video surveillance coupled with AI-based risk mitigation technology, mass notification or reliable and modern public address system, and central alerting software to automate announcements and facilitate response plans. The seamless integration of these systems can enhance situational awareness, improve response times, and provide real-time information to facility personnel, first responders, and the public.
Pillar 1: Video Surveillance with Risk Mitigation Technology
Detecting potential issues before they evolve into actual hazards is a vast opportunity for the security industry, as AI-powered surveillance plays an ever-increasing role in security systems.
By leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, risk mitigation and threat detection solutions turn a traditionally reactive or archiving system of security cameras into a proactive, accurate detection system without adding additional security headcount.
By pairing breakthrough AI technology with existing camera infrastructure, the platforms create a solution that protects against a growing collection of risks, including gun violence and less severe risks, such as slip and fall hazards, trespassing, and more. The AI technology analyzes patterns and anomalies in the camera feeds without storing or using personally identifiable information (PII) or facial recognition.
They autonomously scan for hazards in real-time without human fallacies that include getting bored, fatigued, or distracted. They continue to learn and refine their data sets of risk identification over time.
Once a risk is identified, they can initiate pre-programmed notifications through a central alerting software. Notifications can include emails, texts, and onsite audio and visual responses via mass notification endpoints.
Pillar 2: Effective Mass Communication
Put simply, a mass communication system is a platform for sending messages, emergency alerts, notifications, and updates to a large group of people. Communication mediums include audio announcements, visual messages, emails, text messages, and phone calls.
Mass communication plays a pivotal role in enhancing a facility’s security. As the name implies, it enables the rapid dissemination of information, ensuring that critical updates reach a broad or targeted audience quickly. This is essential during emergencies when timely alerts can inform onsite personnel about immediate dangers, evacuation routes, and safety measures.
Mass communication can also facilitate coordination among various agencies and stakeholders involved in emergency response. By sharing real-time information, these entities can synchronize their efforts, allocate resources efficiently, and avoid duplicating tasks, improving overall response effectiveness.
Pillar 3: Central Alerting Software
Real-time notification is a core element of a comprehensive security and communication solution. Notifications can take several forms, including texts, emails, strobe lights, digital signage, audio broadcasts, phone calls, and more.
Automated and manual triggers for notifications are critical: automated alerts can save valuable time in emergencies, while manually initiating alerts by pressing a panic button or dialing a pre-configured code on the phone is also essential for unforeseen scenarios. Software that is intuitive, configurable, and reliably interoperable with the other pieces of the security system is paramount.
The software allows users to build custom scenarios that outline unique emergency response steps for critical events, including violent acts, severe weather, medical emergencies, and more. These custom scenarios can be tailored to the facility's specific needs and layout, ensuring that the response plan is as effective as possible.
A central alert software can also support daily or routine tasks, including announcements, reminders, and bell schedules. Bell schedules can involve a wide array of tones, bells, or music played through the mass notification system and allow for exceptions.
K-12 Example
In the suburbs of a U.S. city lies a high school of 3,000 students. The main building is a sprawling multi-floor structure of glass and steel surrounding a central courtyard. Flanking the main building are specialized wings: one for the arts, including a 1,000-person theater, and another for the sciences.
Outside the academic building lies an array of athletic fields: soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts. A football stadium dominates the landscape, and separate parking lots cater to teachers and students. There is no perimeter fence save for around the football stadium. Safety is a primary concern, with myriad entry points into the main building and nothing securing the perimeter.
Recognizing a need to secure the campus cost-effectively without interrupting the learning environment or creating privacy issues, school leadership implemented a trio of interrelated technologies to mitigate problems and improve communications between staff, students, first responders, and the general community.
The school expanded upon its existing public address system to provide mass notification capabilities, including audio and video-enabled endpoints in hallways and classrooms. The upgrades included directly tying the mass notification system to the fire detection system for improved response.
A central alert software system was implemented to coordinate communications among varying groups depending on the nature of the alert. Lastly, an AI-based risk mitigation and threat detection solution was incorporated into the existing security camera infrastructure, while additional cameras were added to include coverage of all entry points.
All three platforms are programmatically tied together, so if, for example, a violent act is detected in the parking lot, the risk mitigation solution communicates a risk has been identified and the risk classification with the central alerting software.
The software receives the “message” and, based on pre-programmed directives, sends communications to audio and visual endpoints around the school, as well as district staff in the nearby central office and first responders indicating help is needed. The message is heard and seen by staff instructing them to follow proper protocol. The entire process happens practically instantly.
In another example, after a heavy downpour, a puddle formed at the top of a staircase inside the main entrance carried in on students’ clothing and backpacks. The risk mitigation solution communicates the slip hazard to the central alerting software, which then emailed and texted office staff and facilities about the puddle, allowing them to take the necessary actions to prevent anyone from falling.
Putting It All Together
The value of a comprehensive security and communication solution cannot be overstated. It is mission-critical in any venue that can house hundreds or thousands of people at any time. The goal of the solution is to get the right message to the right person or people at the right time, whether it be information about arrivals and departures, notification of an unattended bag, or evacuation instructions in an emergency.
Integrating mass notification endpoints with “smart” video surveillance, all tied together through centralized security software, significantly enhances public safety and security. This integration provides numerous benefits, including improved situational awareness, faster responses, tailored communications, and better coordination among agencies.
As the security landscape continues to evolve, embracing these technologies is essential for maintaining robust and adaptive security strategies.
