August 2004 — Features
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Surveillance 101
Creating a Safer Environment
IP-based systems provide functionalities and benefits not possible with CCTV-based systems, such as remote monitoring capabilities. Schools typically place their network cameras in public areas where violence is more likely to occur such as hallways, cafeterias and school grounds. Because authorized users can view images from any Internet browser, school officials, IT staff, security guards and even police officers can log on and view video as needed. Images can be viewed and managed from one centralized location or several disparate locations, depending on the needs of the school. This capability can be extremely valuable when an incident occurs, because school officials can immediately pull up the video on their computer and watch the incident as it takes place.
Many districts also have installations in multiple schools. To maximize control over their installations, districts may set up a monitoring center in one centralized location — either on school grounds or in a remote location such as a district administration building. This option is cost-effective and creates efficiency by enabling all authorized users to view video from every camera simultaneously. It also makes it possible to quickly identify and respond to issues as they arise.
Schools also benefit from motion-detection applications available with IP-based systems. Most network cameras contain built-in motion-detection capabilities that will trigger video recording if movement or an "event" occurs. A school's system can be set to notify someone if an event occurs by sending messages to a wireless device. For example, if a trophy closet is broken into after hours, alerts can be sent instantly to a designated principal's or superintendent's cell phone.
Parents and teachers alike agree that creating a safe environment where students can focus on learning is the ultimate goal of any technology system a school installs. According to one Canton High School senior, IP-based surveillance helped achieve this goal: "Now you can't get into a fight and say that you weren't in it because the cameras saw you there. It's better that they have the cameras — I personally feel safer [at school]."
Canton High School Looks Beyond Security
While IP-based surveillance is primarily being used to assist with security measures in facilities, some schools are finding new and broader ways to leverage their technology investments with creative applications. One school that is maximizing its surveillance investment is Canton High School in Canton, Miss. Canton High School uses network video servers to convert its 60 analog cameras into network cameras. The high school originally installed its system to create a safer, more productive environment for students and teachers by deterring theft, fights, bullying and vandalism.
After an initial installation around school grounds, Canton High School experienced such a drastic improvement in security that the school district decided to expand the system into each classroom. Today, Canton High School's IP-based system enables it to record video and audio from every classroom to a hard drive. After class, students can access and review recorded classes via the school's network. In addition, the system records the teaching techniques of the school's best-performing teachers, and the video is later used in teacher training sessions.
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