The STENTOFON® Security Communication Solution
08 June 2007
SECURING OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGH CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS OVER IP - CCOIP
After the massacre at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities across North America are closely reviewing their campus-wide security/emergency plans. Their goal is to find effective ways to immediately communicate or broadcast warning/evacuation messages.
In the event of an emergency, or an incident such as the Virginia Tech tragedy, a much improved communication and evacuation plan could save lives. Many universities are already making strides to greatly improve their emergency communications - the University of Washington in Seattle is considering use of warning sirens, while the University of Memphis plans to install a system that will act as a campus-wide intercom.
School officials at Virginia Tech were criticized for not sending e-mail warnings or earlier area wide broadcasts about a gunman on campus until two hours after the first killings had occured. Many experts claim that officials waited too long before relaying information about the danger on campus.
With a university campus of 2,600 acres populated by more than 26,000 students, tight security measures are at many times considered simply unattainable. Even so, questions arose regarding the effectiveness of Virginia Tech authorities' response to April's horrific massacre; was the school's crisis planning and emergency communications system in place and up to the job?
Placement of cameras or emergency communication units could have recorded the gunman entering and possibly allowed someone alert authorities after the first shootings at Norris Hall (the classroom building in which 31 people were killed).
Students stated that the gunman was able to strike a second time, saying the first notification they got of the shootings came in an e-mail at 9:26 am. The e-mail mentioned a 'shooting incident' at West Ambler Johnston, reported that police were investigating, and asked students to be cautious, yet no warnings were broadcast over the outdoor public address system on campus at the time.
THE STENTOFON SOLUTION
As security providers, we are always searching to find solutions to our customer's needs. Following the tragic incidents at Virginia Tech, we know that there are not only answers but better solutions to how an effective emergency broadcast system may help save lives in any type of situation. The first question we ask is: 'What could have made the difference?'
What types of systems/procedures need to be in place to offer the most effective results?
By utilizing the STENTOFON AlphaCom E IP based communication system, it is possible to alert via text messaging (email) or audio messaging when an emergency occurs. This can be accomplished by a simple press of a button on any emergency substation that can automatically send a broadcast email to numerous addresses to alert of the emergency and allow for a pre-recorded emergency message to broadcast over a campus-wide area.
Additionally the AlphaCom E can be used to send or receive data commands to the access control system for door lockdowns to limit or prohibit the situation from spreading to other areas.
MORE ABOUT STENTOFON’S CAMPUS/UNIVERSITY SECURITY SOLUTION
STENTOFON's IP communication solution is an integrated audio platform designed to interface with an enterprise's telecommunications infrastructure. The solution provides voice, image and data links by using standard Ethernet network architecture allowing integration of all streams into one cohesive solution. The system employs standard VoIP protocols for audio encoding and control, and utilizes standard TCP/IP protocols for video and data transmissions, providing an area-wide network or broadcast and communication system.
It is possible for external data systems to provide ASCII data commands or contact closures to the AlphaCom to start the same sequence of events as explained above. Additional features such as standard intercom calls, archive logging of events and real time audio announcements are just a few of the many standard features offered in the AlphaCom E intercom system.
Through IP, AlphaCom E improves cost-efficiency, installation, service capabilities and system operations. The AlphaCom E provides full backwards compatibility. New generation IP stations and service can be combined with traditional stations and services, thereby capitalizing on existing equipment and competence. AlphaCom E enhances integration capabilities by establishing a complete security environment.
The key to improved security is to combine closed circuit television with two-way audio. The passive monitoring system becomes an interactive sight and sound security system. Overall it delivers a modular architecture to accommodate growth and change offering a variety of features that can be added as needed, including networking capabilities to extend the system geographically and to interface with other systems.
"School officials expressed that an ideal system would allow you, with the touch of a button, to sound a warning, make a paging announcement, broadcast e-mails, send a text message to a PDA or phone system and perform a campus-wide lock down," said Dan Rothrock, president of Zenitel USA. "That statement was followed up with, 'however that system doesn't exist.'
"It does exist and is part of the cutting edge technology from STENTOFON*#174;. The AlphaCom E is a CCoIP™ (Critical Communications over IP) system that allows for numerous functions to be activated simultaneously. It can tie in to several existing systems to provide communications in many facets."
Zenitel USA is a subsidiary with its parent based in Brussels, Belgium. Zenitel specializes in systems used and integrated in critical and demanding environments. Systems are designed to easily interface with other security systems including CCTV, access control and alarm systems for a comprehensive building security system.
Recent installations include security communications for the US Navy, US Capitol Building, CNN Center, Microsoft and 31 US Federal Reserve banks. Customer groups include high-end security applications, airports, healthcare institutions, banks and financial institutions, and police and correctional facilities.
