California’s Army and Navy Academy college preparatory military boarding school, founded in 1910, is located on a 23-acre beach-front property. The school is home to more than 300 students and employs more than 140 faculty and staff members.
As part of its commitment to education, the Academy continuously seeks to adapt and improve. Starting in 2015, they began developing a strategic plan with a focus on supporting the long-term success of their cadets. With approved plans by the Board of Trustees and local government, the school is building and renovating facilities. This means an upgrade to their technology, including their physical security system.
The desire to improve their existing analog camera system was two-fold. First, the cameras themselves were out-of-date. According to Jeffrey Gibson, Assistant Commandant, Operations, Safety, and Security, at the Academy, it was an antiquated system that reached the end of its lifecycle and needed to be replaced.
Second, the system could not keep up with current technology. Gibson knew that he could use new technology as a force multiplier and wanted a system that would support this. In particular, he wanted a solution that would allow his team to use analytics to help keep a close eye on the campus. Says Gibson, “That was one of the main things we were looking for. We wanted a strong package with analytics.”
Upgrading Video Surveillance
After an extensive six-month vetting process, Army and Navy Academy selected to deploy a video surveillance solution comprised of Hanwha cameras integrated with Wisenet WAVE, a highly customizable and reliable IP-based video management system (VMS).
Integrating the Hanwha cameras using the WAVE VMS made it possible to create a video surveillance solution tailored to the campus’ specific needs. The Academy can quickly train security personnel as required because the WAVE VMS is extremely intuitive and easy to use. As Gibson explains, “Since Hanwha cameras and their WAVE VMS both have intuitive features; they were a perfect fit for our needs.”
Today, the Academy has a total of 141 cameras. They use PNM-9081VQ multi-sensor, multi-directional cameras for covering wide areas, which allows them to use fewer cameras while seeing more. Says Gibson, “In some locations, we have a single camera covering an area that would normally need three or four.”
They have also installed PNM-9320VQP multi-sensor multi-directional PTZ cameras in areas where zooming in is required or where there are long distances to cover, like the football fields. And, to be able to effectively monitor between buildings and cover their coastline, the Academy chose PNM-9020V multi-sensor 180° cameras.
Using Analytics as a Force Multiplier
Because the Academy is a boarding school, it must manage unique security requirements that can be divided into two categories. The first is external and cover anything that happens outside the campus, including potential trespassing and homeless activity. When it comes to external concerns, Gibson wanted a security system that would detect and display possible problems so that his team could make informed decisions about how to manage incidents.
The second type is internal. Schools and parents everywhere are rightly focused on student safety. “Our campus grounds are covered with a system that is purpose-built to ensure the safety and security of the Academy grounds as well as the staff and cadets.”
The challenge for Gibson and his team was to configure a system where individuals could tailor the systems display layout to ensure the safety of the entire campus 24/7. How could a physical security system enable such a wide range of security requirements? The answer was with analytics.
Keeping a constant eye on all 141 cameras can be difficult with rotating teams of three people. By taking advantage of the in-camera and VMS analytics available in their new system, the teams can now monitor the primary cameras while the analytics keeps track of the rest. “The system allows us to focus on the details,” says Gibson.
Using analytics in this way means that the security team can focus their attention on areas of greater risk. According to Gibson “The in-camera analytics backs us up because, if it detects unauthorized movement, it will send an alert to the alarm screen and pull up the associated video. This gives my team the information they need to determine if they should investigate further.”
Securing the Campus with Line Crossing and Loitering Boxes
As a result of the upgrade, most of the campus perimeter is now protected using line crossing analytics. With Hanwha cameras installed above the fence, the system sends an alert to the security operations center if it detects something crossing the fence in either direction. Once the system pulls up the feeds from the cameras, operators can see if it is a false alarm and then decide whether to dispatch a security team or call the local police department.
Internally, the security team has developed a strategy that allows them to focus on specific areas at specific times. For example, the gate and open areas on campus are a major focus at the beginning of the school day. Later, security personnel pays attention to building interiors and pathways that link these areas. In the evening, the main focus is on the quad. Here the team is watching to make sure the students are not getting into trouble during their free time.
The in-camera analytics takes care of the rest. For high foot-traffic areas on campus, Gibson has set up the new video surveillance system to turn on loitering boxes during times when people are not normally moving through those areas. Then, if the camera detects movement, the security operations center is alerted and can then determine what is happening and whether to send personnel.
Because their new security system provides both coverage and analytics, the Academy’s security team can focus on what matters. In this way, they too are contributing to the success of their cadets.
