Introduction:

Educational institutions face big challenges when it comes to protecting students and faculty. In today's fast changing world this has become an utmost priority.  Violence at our places of learning has unfortunately reached crisis levels and needs all of our available resources to reduce the threat.  In this climate, mobile towers have emerged as a game changing technology that have been proven to reduce violent crime and property crime. This provide a safer environment for students, staff, and visitors. 

Mobile surveillance units or towers have an imposing presence. This acts as a strong deterrent for would be criminals.  With 24/7 monitoring and the ability to rapidly deploy to hot spots, this sends a strong signal to all stake holders that safety and security are important. These units will absolutely not go unnoticed and just the presence of a unit can be a strong crime deterrent. Flashing lights, audio warnings, and other active measures ensure that security is bolstered. 

These systems can function autonomously or be integrated into an existing campus surveillance network.  They are highly flexible in configuration and can power up to 6 cameras covering many viewing angles. LTE communications allow remote access for live streaming and 2 way communication over a loud speaker. Additionally, these units can also be used for access control at remote gates and entrances that require additional security effectively becoming a virtual command center. 

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages is the cost effectiveness. When compared to hiring additional security staff or building permanent structures, mobile units provide a clear cost benefit and fast return on investment (ROI).  They are scalable and additional units can be quickly added to adapt to changing security needs. 

These units increase trust in the community and show students and staff that their well-being is prioritized. This also encourages stake holders to be vigilant and fosters an encouraging environment where the campus and its constituents collaborate to improve security.

Conclusions:

Incorporating mobile surveillance towers into campus security measures can revolutionize how we protect our educational institutions. Their enhanced deterrence, flexibility, and advanced security measures create a safer environment for students, faculty, and visitors. By investing in these innovative solutions, educational institutions send a clear message that safety remains a top priority, fostering a conducive learning and working environment for all. Let us embrace these transformative technologies and pave the way for safer campuses of tomorrow.

Determining the ROI on security system has always been a difficult thing to estimate.  It usually involves looking at average losses over a long period of time and then trying to estimate the impact of capital expenditures on security equipment and measures.  Understanding the ROI of expenditures rightly involves understanding the numbers but there are intangibles that also must be understood. 

Studies have shown that when a mobile surveillance trailer is placed in the parking lot of a retail store, that losses due to theft in the store decrease.  While it is not fully understood why, the fact remains. 

To gain a better understanding an independent study was recently commissioned by the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC).  Over a 6 month period, mobile surveillance trailers were placed in 2 cities that previously had never had any similar units. The 2 cities were Opeilka, AL and Paducah KY.  No offense but we had never heard of them either.  The study wanted to see how effective the units were in curbing crime over a 6 month period.

Here are the results:

OPEILKA, ALABAMA

System health monitoring can mean many things. At GoView we define this as the ability to see the status of all devices at all times, unified under a single dashboard. Also you need to have the ability to create alarms and be alerted when any of these devices experiences trouble.  

We recently spoke to a security guard company that owned 80 plus surveillance trailers from 3 different manufacturers.  He did not have any way to see the status of each unit remotely other than checking to see if they could connect to the video streams.  As such he had one employ whose responsibility it was to check every system on a daily basis. He also had a storage shed full of backup generators that he would take around during stormy weather to provide backup power to his systems.  This is why system health and status monitoring is critical to being able to scale your mobile surveillance operations.  GoView provides our platform to both end users and companies that have an existing fleet of trailers. 

Here are the major systems on a mobile surveillance trailer that should be monitored to ensure the overall system is healthy and stable:

POWER CORE (SOLAR CHARGING AND BATTERIES)

The core of any mobile surveillance system is the ability to generate power from sunlight and store this energy in batteries. This power is sent through a solar charge controller which regulates this power and efficiently charges the batteries while providing stable power to all the other devices known as "electrical loads"  Modern systems should use an MPPT (maximum power point tracking) solar charge controller sized properly for the wattage of the solar array and anticipated loads. The solar charge controller tracks, stores, and displays data in real time such as the battery voltage, state of charge for batteries, battery temperature, current and power generated by the solar array, charging status, and the current flowing to the loads on the system.  This fluctuates widely from day to day and without the batteries the system would not be reliable.  The batteries smooth out the energy flow and allow the system to function continuously.  Probably the most important variable to read from this system is the battery voltage.  If voltage drops below a preset point, the system will power down the devices. By monitoring solar data trends providers can have an early warning if systems are getting low and can take preventative or corrective measures before there is a lapse in protection.

NETWORK

The network is the next most vital part of the system.  This is your remote link to the trailer. If the network signal is weak or you have exceeded your monthly data allotment then you may lose your connection to your cameras. While the system could still continue to function, the ability for a live human to respond to the system would be compromised.  Network health monitoring helps to diagnose and resolve potential issues. GoView will be notified in the event of a network outage and can take immediate corrective actions such as rebooting the LTE modem or switching service providers.

GPS

All GoView system have integrated GPS tracking. This is helpful in visualizing the location of your fleet and also has a more practical security purpose.  When a system is deployed, you can create alerts to warn you of unauthorized movement.  When a deployed system is moved it will also need to be re programmed for proper intrusion zones and analytics so being alerted to when units are moved is an important function provided by GoView Status.  

NETWORK CLIENTS (CAMERAS, SERVER, RELAYS)

Last but not least is the surveillance equipment such as cameras, relays, lights, loudspeaker, and server.  Any network attached device can and should be monitored. If a device goes offline, GoView is immediately notified and we can begin to take steps to restore service.  We utilize self healing PoE switches which power cycle individual ports automatically when a device loses connection. This resolves most common errors with cameras.  We can also remotely reboot video recording systems and test audio/visual device.  

All devices are summarized and displayed at our network operations center.  Don't allow yourself or your organization to be part of a horror story where you have a security breach while your systems were down.  Contact GoView to learn more about system health monitoring and get a live demo today. 

GoView has recently partnered with several security guard companies to help them offer mobile surveillance services to their existing business plan.  We see this as a win-win collaboration which provides increased security to locations that need full time coverage at a reduced cost point. 

Mobile surveillance solutions are to the guard industry what automatic hamburger flippers are to the fast food industry.  It is automation.  It takes a redundant lower skill task (watching a jobsite for activity) and allows a higher skill person to cover more sites while the surveillance system does the "watching" 

Here is an example.  A construction site hires a security guard company to do nightly patrols of their site.  3 times per night a guard drives to the site and spends 10 minutes doing a patrol.  The driver drives through the site and looks for any suspicious activity and then leave.  Total time on the site is 30 minutes per night. The customer is frustrated because despite paying for security they still have problems with theft on a regular basis. The customer is considering full time security and having a guard posted at the site all night 7 days a week.  The problem is that this type of security is costly and because the site is so large, it may still not fully stop the problems.

In this case a mobile surveillance trailer is the perfect solution. By deploying a mobile trailer to the location, the guard service can be notified of any human activity on the site.  The surveillance unit deploys strobes and recorded voice warnings while the live security guard is routed to the site.  This solution is 1/3 the cost which the customer appreciates. This also helps the security company to retain a customer that they might have lost to another competitor offering a mobile security solution. Most importantly, the solution is effective and stops the losses due to theft. 

Advantages of offering mobile surveillance:

• Improves customer perception as a leader in the industry offering innovative solutions to your clients
• Win more bids and grow your company because you a better lower cost option between patrol and posted gauards
• Force multiplier helps you cover more properties with less people
• Improves customer satisfaction because they can have video evidence when a crime is prevented
• Increase revenue without any additional upfront costs

Video surveillance is a vital and effective security solution that protects all business types. It acts as a crime deterrent and can help identify suspects in the event of a criminal incident.

To ensure your business video surveillance system is operating at peak performance, we’ve compiled a list of five fundamental video surveillance tips from our business security blog.

1. Secure Your Surveillance System From Hackers

Advancements in technology have made it possible for hackers to gain access to security cameras. Today, many businesses utilize Internet Protocol (IP) cameras that require an Internet connection for operation. Consider the following practices whens securing your video surveillance system from cyber criminals:

• Change your surveillance system password every three months and utilize proper password management.
• Always change default usernames and passwords. These factory-preset logins are often readily available online, making it easier for hackers to access your system.
• Secure your business network. An unsecure network risks leaving open access points in your system, giving hackers the opportunity to compromise your surveillance cameras.
• Never connect your cameras to a public network. Hackers can easily access information, like video surveillance credentials, through shared networks.
• Choose cameras with encrypted signals. Encryption disguises information sent over the Internet, making it challenging for hackers to identify valuable data.

2. Avoid Video Surveillance Legal Liabilities

Your business’ safety is a top priority, but so is the privacy of your employees and customers. When installing cameras throughout your business, be sure to avoid areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This includes:

• Bathrooms
• Dressing rooms
• Exam rooms
• Locker rooms
• Hotel rooms

Additionally, understand the laws around video and audio recording so you don’t invade anyone’s privacy. Laws vary from state to state, so visit your State Labor Agency website to learn about camera privacy laws in your region.

3. Strategically Place Cameras

Strategically placed cameras help business owners easily identify and promptly respond to potentially hazardous situations. Video surveillance cameras are most effective when they are:

• Installed above all entrances and exits, to see who’s coming and going.
• Capable of watching over areas with high-value items, like office technology, stockrooms and cash registers.
• Placed under sufficient lighting for higher-quality video footage.
• Positioned to capture wide angles for fuller surveillance coverage.

4. Store Video Footage in the Cloud

Cloud solutions can help businesses increase storage capabilities and more easily access surveillance camera footage. Cloud-based systems offer a strong alternative to traditional analog systems. If properly installed, cloud storage can boost your business’ overall security measures because it’s:

• Cost-effective: IP cameras can eliminate the need for an onsite digital video recorder (DVR) or network video recorder (NVR).
• Accessible: When housed in the cloud, surveillance footage can be viewed via smartphone, tablet or a desktop web browser at any time.
• Flexible: New users, locations and cameras can be added to your existing infrastructure without rewiring.

5. Increase Business Security with Additional Camera Features

You can also improve the effectiveness of your business surveillance system with some additional features, including:

• Adjustable angles: Cameras that are mobile and can tilt or zoom for multiple views.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) technology: Cameras hosted on monitoring platforms powered by artificial intelligence can automatically monitor all footage and alert users about unusual events.
• Day/night capabilities: Cameras with night vision use infrared LEDs to provide clear images in near low-light conditions.
• High resolution: Higher resolutions give the best quality image.
• IP-based versus wired: Video cables are not required with IP-based systems.
• Weatherproof: Cameras that can withstand outdoor conditions.
• Remote access: Sync your video surveillance system to your mobile security app to control settings and view footage on your mobile device.