Ensuring the safety and security of university campuses presents unique challenges, given their open environments, diverse populations, and wide range of activities.

As educational institutions strive to create safe learning and living spaces, they must handle the complexities of monitoring large areas, managing numerous access points, and responding to emergencies efficiently. They also need to take steps to keep different types of lone workers safe. 

This article examines these and other challenges and explains how integrated monitoring solutions address the distinct needs of these vibrant, bustling sites.

The Challenges of Campus Security

A wide range of crimes take place on campus. According to NUS, 62% of students and recent graduates have experienced some form of sexual misconduct or violence while at university. Burglary is also common; for example, Manchester City Council states that more than 1,000 student homes are burgled each year.

Again, the size of campuses as well as the range of activities they accommodate present a unique set of security challenges compared to other types of facilities. Let’s elaborate on that. 

Open Environment

Unlike corporate buildings or secure government facilities, university campuses are often open to the public. This creates vulnerabilities as virtually anyone can waltz onto the premises without significant barriers, making it difficult to monitor and control access.

High Population Density

Universities host thousands of students, staff, and visitors daily. The high density of people, especially during class changes or peak hours, raises security challenges, such as crowd control and the ability to respond swiftly in emergencies.

Campuses also host a variety of events, from academic conferences and guest lectures to large-scale sporting events and concerts, each presenting unique challenges.

Multiple Access Points

Campuses are typically spread over large areas with numerous buildings, including academic buildings, libraries, halls of residence, and recreational facilities. Each of these buildings may have multiple entry points, complicating the task of surveillance and access control.

Challenges in Halls of Residence

The residential aspect introduces the need for additional night-time security measures. What’s more, the majority of the campus population typically consists of young adults, many of which are living away from home for the first time. This demographic may be less aware of security risks and more prone to risky behaviours such as leaving doors unlocked or leaving kitchen appliances switched on, increasing the risk of fires.

Intellectual Property and Assets

Universities house valuable assets including scientific equipment, art collections, historical documents, and extensive computing resources. They are also centres for research and development, possessing sensitive information and intellectual property that need protection against theft.

Why Do University Campuses Need Integrated Security Solutions?

Considering these challenges, universities require integrated solutions that combine multiple components and technologies – such as security cameras, access control monitoring, and lone worker solutions – into a unified framework.

Such systems enable continuous surveillance across multiple sites, ensuring that security personnel can monitor diverse activities in real-time and respond quickly to incidents.

Capabilities of GeminiSense Alarm Monitoring Software

GeminiSense, our alarm monitoring solution, is designed to handle the demands of large-scale, complex operations, offering a robust suite of tools that fortify campus security. It can process virtually all alarm signals – from fire alarms to lone worker alarms. 

It’s also easy to scale depending on each institution’s needs and is compatible with the security systems and hardware already in-place. Below are some of its key features.

CCTV Monitoring

The CCTV/Video Module provides comprehensive video surveillance that effectively filters out duplicate and false alarms, ensuring that security personnel only process relevant alerts.

It also supports extensive control over campus facilities, including remote site management with control of access, lighting, and voice communication.

CCTV Guard Tours

Users can configure CCTV guard tours i.e., the automated routing of CCTV cameras to periodically survey predetermined paths or areas within a facility or across multiple facilities. 

Guard tours ensure that cameras cyclically cover critical areas, simulating the route that a security patrol might take. This ensures that all key areas are regularly monitored without requiring constant manual control or intervention.

Ad Hoc Connections to Multiple Sites

This functionality allows the security system to establish temporary or on-demand video connections to different locations or sites as needed. Ad hoc connections are useful for incident response or when specific monitoring needs arise unexpectedly.

GS-Net: IP Network Alarm Signalling

Our IP Network Alarm Signalling Module uses advanced IP network technology to ensure rapid and reliable alarm signalling across university campuses.

This module offers a significant improvement in response times compared to traditional PSTN lines (which will soon be obsolete), crucial in emergency situations where every second counts. High-frequency test signalling is also included.

Key Manager Module

The Key Manager Module provides an efficient solution for managing the distribution and tracking of keys. The module integrates seamlessly with the GeminiSense database so that operators can validate and authorise the person the keys will be issued to.

It includes features for monitoring key usage and automatically alerts operators if keys are not returned on time, ensuring that access to sensitive areas is controlled effectively.

Lone Worker Protection

Our Lone Worker Module is particularly relevant for enhancing the safety of individuals who may find themselves isolated or in potentially hazardous situations on campus.

This module is crucial not just for security personnel that patrol alone at night but also for staff working late in potentially risky areas such as laboratories, maintenance rooms, or remote parts of the campus.

Emergency Communication

The module allows lone workers to send distress signals via apps or dedicated devices if they face an emergency, ensuring quick communication without needing to access a phone conventionally.

Location Tracking

Protecting lone workers effectively requires the alarm receiving centre to have accurate data on the individual’s whereabouts. With this module, should an alert be triggered, their location data is transmitted to the operator so they can quickly be locate and assisted.  

Audio Verification

Our lone worker solution opens an audio channel to allow the control room operator to listen in immediately after an alarm is triggered, helping them assess the situation and respond appropriately.

NB-IoT

The NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) Module is well-suited for universities looking to integrate smart technology into their campus security strategy. It supports communication from IoT-connected devices deployed across the campus, collecting data on a wide range of activities and conditions.

In terms of security, it can be connected to sensors used for the likes of perimeter monitoring, as well as RFID access control solutions.

Aside from security, here are some other IoT alarm monitoring applications that benefit universities:

• Safety monitoring: Devices can be set up to monitor environmental conditions [KM1] such as smoke, gas leaks, or harmful emissions, which are especially pertinent in lab environments. 
• Resource management: Sensors can help manage resources more efficiently, such as energy or water consumption, contributing to sustainability goals and compliance efforts. 
• Infrastructure maintenance: Sensors can detect issues like structural damage or malfunctions in campus facilities, allowing for proactive maintenance and preventing further issues from developing. 
• Parking and traffic management: IoT devices can be used to monitor parking availability or traffic flow, enhancing convenience for students and staff.

Best Practices for Implementing Alarm Monitoring Software in Educational Settings

Deploying alarm monitoring software on a university campus requires careful planning and execution. Here are some recommended best practices for institutions looking to enhance their security strategy:

• Comprehensive planning: Before installation, conduct a thorough security audit to identify all potential vulnerabilities across the campus. This assessment will guide the customisation of your solution to meet your specific needs.
• Partner with compliant technology providers: Make sure that any security software or hardware provider you partner with is compliant with the regulations and standards that apply to their products and services.  
• Regular maintenance and updates: Security needs and technology evolve rapidly. Regular updates to the alarm monitoring software are vital, as well as routine checks and maintenance of the hardware. (With cloud based software such as GeminiSense, software updates are automatic.)
• Training and simulation: Training for security personnel should be rigorous and ongoing. Simulated security drills are invaluable in preparing the team to respond effectively using the new system.

Conclusion

The complex nature of universities – with their constant, diverse activity and large number of visitors – presents unique security challenges compared to other sites.

Instead of using disparate systems to take care of different functions (such as CCTV monitoring, access control, and so on), the most efficient way to manage all these challenges is to use integrated, cloud based software that’s designed to handle it all.

We’ve specialised in delivering such solutions for over 30 years, serving not only educational institutions but government premises, ARCs, the emergency services, industrial facilities, airports, and more. To learn more or book a demo, contact us today.