Solving an Old Problem with New Technology

Pickpocketing is one of the oldest tricks in the book: thieves catch people unaware by creating a distraction, then use the opportunity to steal from them — and unfortunately, these sorts of acts were becoming more common on CBS’s busy campus. Minor acts of mischief, such as the destruction of flags commemorating the school’s centennial, were further diminishing the sense of safety and security among CBS’s students, faculty and staff.

Lars Bergø, Security Director at CBS, decided that the school needed a new security solution throughout its entire campus. It had to becomprehensive but noninvasive, deterring crime without detracting from the school’s inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Most importantly, CBS had to be capable of monitoring the movement of large numbers of people over wide areas, picking up on unusual activity and keeping track of potential suspects. Bergø tested several hardware and software systems, and Avigilon boasted all the functions and features he was looking for.

Best-in-Class for a Leading Business School

CBS had a legacy security system in place, but it had no intelligent or proactive capabilities. As such, trying to locate evidence of a crime was a time-consuming process that involved scrutinizing thousands of images. Avigilon was able to replace the system's six legacy servers with one Avigilon NVR Premium and integrate 190 of the school’s cameras with Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software. This significantly reduced costs for CBS, and after the initial installations were complete, the remaining budget allowed for new cameras to be added to the school’s security framework.

Along with high-quality footage from a range of Avigilon cameras like the H4 SL, H4 Dome and H4 Bullet, the ACC™ system featured video analytics, Appearance Search and UMD technologies that allowed security personnel to identify possible offenders and follow their movements across campus — both retroactively and in real-time. The installation also included a video wall where 6x50-inch screens provided security personnel with an interactive visual matrix.

Providing a Welcoming Space while Protecting Students

Avigilon cameras with UMD technology enable operators to not only review and track daily patterns across CBS’s campus but also flag events and activities that deviate from the norm, while Avigilon’s Appearance Search technology allows security staff to search for a person across campus based on certain physical descriptions. As a result, CBS now enjoys a much more effective crime prevention and risk mitigation strategy: security personnel can be present in areas where they suspect crime may take place — and if an event occurs, retrieving evidence and coordinating with law enforcement is much easier.

There have been far fewer thefts on the CBS campus since its new security system was installed, as well as several other significant benefits. Minor inefficiencies were identified and remedied, such as issues arising from staff locking facilities incorrectly and alarms being triggered unnecessarily.

Not only is CBS now a safer place for the community, but it’s also been able to improve its internal processes, allowing it to tackle difficult challenges in an effective manner.

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