The most crucial component of a security system isn’t just the underlying technology, but its ability to support efficient campus safety.
As security continues to become a more pressing concern nationwide, many campuses find themselves looking at new weapons detection system. Modern threats have created a critical need for advanced security measures that can make a real difference in saving lives. But evaluating these systems can be difficult.
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An effective weapons detection system will be designed to create a safer campus by supporting the security officers in their duties, while leveraging the technology to make that a reality.
Are You Asking the Right Questions?
When considering a security technology, there are a lot of questions to ask about everything from timeline and cost, to implementation and training, to technical specifications. But there are three crucial questions that you want to ask at the outset:
- Will this have a direct and immediate impact in making our campus safer?
- Will this improve the efficiency of our security staff and help them be more effective at their job?
- Will this provide oversight to catch what officers might miss?
The first question is the essential purpose of any security system, and one which is usually fairly straightforward to evaluate. If you have weapons being brought onto campus, a weapons detection system can help stop that. If uninvited visitors are lurking in places they shouldn’t be, a visitor management system can address that issue. If people are accessing doors that should be locked, automatic locks can solve the problem.
A combination of all of these systems can help secure a campus against potential threats and malicious actors, providing a clear value for campus safety.
Improving Staff Efficiency and Effectiveness When Screening for Guns, Knives and More
A less obvious question, but still an important one, is how the new security system will support
your staff. A good security system makes your campus safer. A great security system does so while also empowering your staff to be more efficient.
What’s the difference? Consider a weapons detection system at an entry point. If the system detects a concealed weapon, it beeps, thus alerting the officer on duty. But everything else relies entirely on the officer. The officer must notice the alert, possibly take the individual aside for a secondary scan, remember to log the incident as well as any confiscated items, and so forth.
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But modern security technology can complement and expedite this process. If officers wear AR or augmented reality glasses when operating a weapons scanner, they can see all alerts even if they don’t hear the beep. AI-powered body tracking can ensure that secondary scans are being performed correctly in line with DHS recommended practices. Also, automated item logs with prompting can ensure all incidents are being properly reported.
A well-crafted weapons screening system provides more than just the immediate forward-facing detection. It will make it easier for your staff to keep your campus safe and follow proper procedures for follow-ups and reporting, respecting any protected health information/personally identifiable information restrictions while still offering customizable workflows designed to streamline the admin overhead.
AI Constantly Monitors Campus Weapons Detection Systems
One important way a weapons detection system should be evaluated is its ability to catch issues that officers might otherwise miss. No officer can see everything all the time, which means a split-second glance in one direction could mean they miss something important.
For example, a single officer dealing with an issue at a crowded entry point might be distracted and not see someone stepping around the weapons scanner instead of through it, or nudging one of the poles out of alignment.
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AI-powered security technology can serve as a “second set of eyes,” allowing officers to maintain unbroken oversight of a secure entryway. AI evasion detection can identify anyone attempting to bypass the system and send an alert to the officer on duty. Additionally, AI-powered self-diagnostics can identify any disruption to proper alignment or connectivity of the system, likewise sending an alert.
By providing constant oversight to ensure everyone is being scanned properly, AI-powered technology can help security systems fulfill their promise of creating safer campuses.
Technology Can Make It Happen
When it comes to weapons detection, advanced technology may be essential for efficiency. Modern scanners can be precisely calibrated to catch large weapons without triggering for phones and keys. And AI-enhanced features provide reassurance that your security system is fully operational.
Considering these factors carefully will help you to find the security solution best suited for keeping your campus safe.
Lisa Falzone is the CEO and co-founder of Athena Security.
Note: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.
