Ensuring Safety In The Campus - Video System Monitors Students
Campus-surveillance system upgrade to digital technology provides efficient control and management. As the video system monitors students, the school safeguards their wellbeing.
Author:George EvansSep 01, 2024749 Shares74.9K Views
When a video system monitors students, their security, while they’re within the school premises, can be guaranteed.
Protecting the collective 30,000-plus students, faculty, and staff at the various Missouri State University campuses is a daunting job that requires the best in personnel and technology.
From its founding in 1905 to its distinctive mission and identity in public affairs today, the university has spread across four physical campus locations, including:
- the main campus in Springfield, Missouri
- a satellite campus in West Plains, Missouri, that offers two-year associate degrees
- a satellite campus in Mountain Grove, Missouri, that focuses on fruit science and agricultural research
The fourth campus is located in Dalian, China, in partnership with Liaoning Normal University.
A total of 23,838 students are enrolled in Missouri State in the university’s domestic campuses, with approximately:
- 4,000 students living in university housing
- 4,000 faculty and staff members
Modifying The Security System
One of the most recent enhancements to the university’s safety program occurred when the video-surveillance and security system was upgraded from an analog to a digital platform.
The new video-surveillance system has been initially deployed at the main campus in Springfield, where a centralized public-safety dispatch center was installed.
At the heart of the public-safety dispatch center is a video wall that displays feeds from the more than 500 constant and motion-activated cameras located throughout the 225-acre campus.
To efficiently control, manage, and record the large number of cameras deployed in the system, the university installed Ocularis, a video management system (VMS) by On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (OnSSI), in Pearl River, New York.
Jay L. Huff, assistant director at the Department of Safety and Transportation at Missouri State University (MSU), said:
“„Much of the credit for MSU moving toward OnSSI rests with our own university telecommunication specialists. Their technical knowledge and assistance have been instrumental in making this transition happen.- Jay L. Huff
Non-Stop Security
The university’s cameras are monitored live on a 24/7 basis and recorded to a server.
The video wall in the public-safety dispatch center has eight 55-inch monitors and four 32-inch monitors, with two 19-inch monitors. Video can be pushed back and forth between the monitor wall and the operator consoles to track specific activities.
Huff said:
“„One of the things that really intrigued us was the ease in pulling up individual camera feeds to specific monitors in our dispatch center.- Jay L. Huff
Live feeds are directed to the public-safety dispatch center, where they can be viewed on two desktop monitors on both dispatch consoles.
Satellite monitoring stations are located in various academic buildings, allowing campus security and/or administration personnel to view cameras locally as well as from the public-safety dispatch center.
Jacob Welch, radio communications supervisor at MSU, said:
“„Compared to the older analog-matrix switching system we were using, the new digital architecture and video-management platform is very user friendly and much more efficient.- Jacob Welch
He added:
“„We can now easily scan through the live or recorded video, or move it from the monitor wall to a console monitor for up-close viewing.- Jacob Welch
‘Less Infrastructure, More Security’
Conversion of the video-surveillance system to digital is an on-going process that started more than two years ago and is being handled by Netwatch, Inc., a systems integrator in Springfield, Missouri.
To date, more than 300 of the 500 video-surveillance cameras have been converted to IP (Internet protocol) technology.
Future plans include integrating the video-surveillance system with other security systems around the campus, such as the blue-light and emergency phones, as well as the access-control system.
The system will also eventually be expanded to include the additional satellite campuses using the IP architecture and video-management system.
Welch added:
“„Our goal is to have less infrastructure and more security. IP surveillance with the Ocularis video-management software is a cost-effective and efficient solution to achieve this goal.- Jacob Welch
It Gets Better With Ocularis
The Ocularis video-management platform is designed with open architecture to optimize and ease system integration and place all facets of the campus security under one umbrella for improved control and access.
The system is also highly scalable and will enable MSU to continue adding IP and/or analog cameras as needed, without having to incur substantial costs for cabling, power, or installation.
Once all of the campuses are on the network, any of the cameras at any of the locations will be accessible to authorized personnel through a web browser.
When ready, the university will also be able to deploy the system as a mobile application using Ocularis Mobile.
The mobile client allows real-time wireless streaming in HD of as many as 16 cameras simultaneously onto an iPad or iPhone.
Mobile apps can be used for security at special events or in emergency-response programs. The video is recorded live and sent to the server with the capability for reviewing footage captured as many as 20 minutes prior to an incident.
Currently, video footage from the system is used by MSU for a number of purposes including promoting and publicizing the school’s extensive security measures.
For instance, the communications personnel in the dispatch center often observe suspicious activity in parking lots that leads them to dispatch field officers to investigate.
In another case, video footage captured by the university’s video-surveillance system was instrumental in providing evidence about a work-related accident.
According to Welch, when a security officer fell on an ice-covered parking deck, the incident was captured by their video-surveillance system, and the footage helped to substantiate his claim.
Huff said:
“„We are excited about all the potential and continuing improvements that OnSSI provides.- Jay L. Huff
He added:
“„I feel that we are moving from an older standard system to a more modern, advanced system that will enhance our campus-safety platform.- Jay L. Huff
Final Thoughts
Universities today are facing challenges that range from safety and security to financial and academic misconduct.
The vision and integrity of Missouri State University have put the school on a solid track to keep these issues at bay, and the video-management platform is playing an important role in the process.
The video system monitors students and parents can be comforted with the fact that MSU looks after their children’s safety, too.
Protecting the collective 30,000-plus students, faculty, and staff at the various Missouri State University campuses is a daunting job that requires the best in personnel and technology.
From its founding in 1905 to its distinctive mission and identity in public affairs today, the university has spread across four physical campus locations, including:
- the main campus in Springfield, Missouri
- a satellite campus in West Plains, Missouri, that offers two-year associate degrees
- a satellite campus in Mountain Grove, Missouri, that focuses on fruit science and agricultural research
The fourth campus is located in Dalian, China, in partnership with Liaoning Normal University.
A total of 23,838 students are enrolled in Missouri State in the university’s domestic campuses, with approximately:
- 4,000 students living in university housing
- 4,000 faculty and staff members
Modifying The Security System
One of the most recent enhancements to the university’s safety program occurred when the video-surveillance and security system was upgraded from an analog to a digital platform.
The new video-surveillance system has been initially deployed at the main campus in Springfield, where a centralized public-safety dispatch center was installed.
At the heart of the public-safety dispatch center is a video wall that displays feeds from the more than 500 constant and motion-activated cameras located throughout the 225-acre campus.
To efficiently control, manage, and record the large number of cameras deployed in the system, the university installed Ocularis, a video management system (VMS) by On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (OnSSI), in Pearl River, New York.
Jay L. Huff, assistant director at the Department of Safety and Transportation at Missouri State University (MSU), said:
“„Much of the credit for MSU moving toward OnSSI rests with our own university telecommunication specialists. Their technical knowledge and assistance have been instrumental in making this transition happen.- Jay L. Huff
Non-Stop Security
The university’s cameras are monitored live on a 24/7 basis and recorded to a server.
The video wall in the public-safety dispatch center has eight 55-inch monitors and four 32-inch monitors, with two 19-inch monitors. Video can be pushed back and forth between the monitor wall and the operator consoles to track specific activities.
Huff said:
“„One of the things that really intrigued us was the ease in pulling up individual camera feeds to specific monitors in our dispatch center.- Jay L. Huff
Live feeds are directed to the public-safety dispatch center, where they can be viewed on two desktop monitors on both dispatch consoles.
Satellite monitoring stations are located in various academic buildings, allowing campus security and/or administration personnel to view cameras locally as well as from the public-safety dispatch center.
Jacob Welch, radio communications supervisor at MSU, said:
“„Compared to the older analog-matrix switching system we were using, the new digital architecture and video-management platform is very user friendly and much more efficient.- Jacob Welch
He added:
“„We can now easily scan through the live or recorded video, or move it from the monitor wall to a console monitor for up-close viewing.- Jacob Welch
‘Less Infrastructure, More Security’
Conversion of the video-surveillance system to digital is an on-going process that started more than two years ago and is being handled by Netwatch, Inc., a systems integrator in Springfield, Missouri.
To date, more than 300 of the 500 video-surveillance cameras have been converted to IP (Internet protocol) technology.
Future plans include integrating the video-surveillance system with other security systems around the campus, such as the blue-light and emergency phones, as well as the access-control system.
The system will also eventually be expanded to include the additional satellite campuses using the IP architecture and video-management system.
Welch added:
“„Our goal is to have less infrastructure and more security. IP surveillance with the Ocularis video-management software is a cost-effective and efficient solution to achieve this goal.- Jacob Welch
It Gets Better With Ocularis
The Ocularis video-management platform is designed with open architecture to optimize and ease system integration and place all facets of the campus security under one umbrella for improved control and access.
The system is also highly scalable and will enable MSU to continue adding IP and/or analog cameras as needed, without having to incur substantial costs for cabling, power, or installation.
Once all of the campuses are on the network, any of the cameras at any of the locations will be accessible to authorized personnel through a web browser.
When ready, the university will also be able to deploy the system as a mobile application using Ocularis Mobile.
The mobile client allows real-time wireless streaming in HD of as many as 16 cameras simultaneously onto an iPad or iPhone.
Mobile apps can be used for security at special events or in emergency-response programs. The video is recorded live and sent to the server with the capability for reviewing footage captured as many as 20 minutes prior to an incident.
Currently, video footage from the system is used by MSU for a number of purposes including promoting and publicizing the school’s extensive security measures.
For instance, the communications personnel in the dispatch center often observe suspicious activity in parking lots that leads them to dispatch field officers to investigate.
In another case, video footage captured by the university’s video-surveillance system was instrumental in providing evidence about a work-related accident.
According to Welch, when a security officer fell on an ice-covered parking deck, the incident was captured by their video-surveillance system, and the footage helped to substantiate his claim.
Huff said:
“„We are excited about all the potential and continuing improvements that OnSSI provides.- Jay L. Huff
He added:
“„I feel that we are moving from an older standard system to a more modern, advanced system that will enhance our campus-safety platform.- Jay L. Huff
Final Thoughts
Universities today are facing challenges that range from safety and security to financial and academic misconduct.
The vision and integrity of Missouri State University have put the school on a solid track to keep these issues at bay, and the video-management platform is playing an important role in the process.
The video system monitors students and parents can be comforted with the fact that MSU looks after their children’s safety, too.
George Evans
Author
George Anderson, an exceptional architectural designer, envisions and brings to life structures that transcend the realm of imagination. With an unwavering passion for design and an innate eye for detail, George seamlessly blends form and function, creating immersive spaces that inspire awe.
Driven by a deep appreciation for the interplay of space, light, and materials, George's innovative approach redefines the possibilities of architectural design. His visionary compositions leave an indelible mark, evoking a sense of wonder and transforming the built environment.
George Anderson's transformative designs and unwavering dedication continue to shape the architectural landscape, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring generations to come.
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