IP-Based Surveillance System Lowers Crime and Leverages Cost-Savings for Center Grove Community School
COMPANY
Center Grove Community School Corporation
CHALLENGE
Create a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for staff and students.
SOLUTION
Tech Electronics partners with Avigilon to design and install cutting-edge HD cameras ranging from 1 MP to 29 MP throughout the district’s 11 facilities.
RESULTS
New surveillance solution lowers risk of crime and will save Center Grove in insurance costs and claims through one-time licensing fee. The Center Grove Community School Corporation in Greenwood, Indiana is located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Indianapolis. It serves more than 7,500 students with a network of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.
BACKGROUND
School security was identified as a top priority in recent community-driven security audits. Center Grove knew it needed an advanced surveillance system to protect its staff and students. “As a suburb of Indianapolis, we do not face the same security issues of an inner-city school, but we want to be proactive in how we protect students and staff,” said Dave Statler, director of maintenance at the Center Grove Community School Corporation.
A SAFE HAVEN FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF
In order to create a safe haven for its 7,500 students, 450 faculty, and 450 administrators, the district turned to technology solutions provider, Tech Electronics to review its existing network infrastructure. Tech Electronics made recommendations on how to best integrate a cost-effective, advanced surveillance system to monitor the district’s eight schools, Transportation & Maintenance Facility, Education Service Center (ESC), and the district’s main administrative building.
Tech Electronics recommended an IP-based surveillance system from Avigilon. Avigilon is a leader in high-definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance solutions. Also, their technologies offer superior image quality, advanced management features, and extended storage capabilities.
Center Grove decided to install end-to-end surveillance solutions using the Avigilon Control Center (ACC) Mobile application with High-Definition Stream Management™ (HDSM) technology. This application allows the district’s three police officers and school administrators to manage centrally the surveillance system from their desktops as well as view live and recorded images wirelessly from anywhere on the network.
The technology solutions provider then implemented a virtual local area network (VLAN) at the Education Service Center (ESC) to connect the entire surveillance system throughout the district’s ten facilities. Center Grove had 41 Avigilon HD cameras ranging from 1 MP to 29 MP installed at all entrances, exits, and parking lots.
“We use the Avigilon HD 29 MP camera to capture a 500 to 700 foot range in our high school parking lot, giving us the ability to see in detail who is entering and exiting our property at any time,” said Statler, who uses Avigilon Control Center Mobile to monitor the district-wide surveillance system from his iPad. “Using the Avigilon HD 29 MP camera, I can look at three entry/exit points of our parking lot simultaneously and zoom in for greater detail if necessary,” noted Statler. “The result allows a much broader coverage of a high-traffic area.”
Center Grove uses its surveillance system primarily for review of prior incidents. The advanced search and playback capabilities of the ACC software allow the district to easily manage video footage from an unlimited number of cameras. Leading to increased productivity and resolves incidents quickly and accurately.
The school district relies heavily on the high-definition surveillance system for investigative purposes making storage capacity a key consideration.
Tech Electronics installed an Avigilon Network Video Recorder (NVR) to store up to 30 days of continuous surveillance footage. The ACC software and exclusive HDSM technology help reduce the cost of video transmission and storage requirements by sending only the requested portions of captured images to operator workstations.
“The centralized server is a unique system for this district because it enables users at physically different locations to be unified as a group,” said Jeff Watson, Director of Tech Electronics of Indiana. “The new surveillance system will control broadcast domains, set up firewalls, restrict access, and inform district personnel of an intrusion.”
LOWER CRIME LEVERAGES COST-SAVINGS
Center Grove has embraced advances in technology to protect against the threat of school violence, but like most schools boards was limited by tight budgets.
“The customized solution provided by Tech Electronics and Avigilon delivers the performance we need with fewer cameras and can be easily integrated into our existing network for cost savings in installation, maintenance, and expansion,” concluded Statler.
CONCLUSION
With the support of Tech Electronics, the district can now effectively address areas of concern and better protect its students, staff, and community.
