Operations Director Tailors System to Meet Needs
Margolis is pleased with the performance of the new system, as well as the contractor that installed the solutions. “Paragon was able to do about 95 percent of the implementation independently, and it was very complex with all the old systems that had been patched together over the years,” he says. “They were patient, knowledgeable and effective. Now we’ve got the infrastructure and the platform in place to take care of our needs for many years to come.”
Vojta reports that Margolis has become an expert in what video means to the network, to storage and to system performance. “Milestone lets you effectively manage system performance by working with the frame rate, the resolution and the compression, camera by camera, in the software settings, by day of the week and times, in the flexible and variable scheduling. Managed properly, BFC gets everything they want.”
Initially, the storage disks were filling up and slowing down the system because Margolis activated the archiving without setting it to save to another drive. He simply checked the manual and was quickly able to figure out how to resolve the problem.
“None of this was destructive to the system; it just reacted differently depending on the settings chosen,” adds Vojta. “He tweaked it and found his sweet spots. Bruce has always been in front of us by two or three steps all through the implementation process because it was exciting to move onto the new platform. He can tailor the system to his needs. Using the more advanced features of the software helps keep the costs in line because he’s managing it well.”
HVAC, Video, Access Can Be Monitored Remotely
The Barry Family Campus Corporation is also implementing a new HVAC system with a new KMC EMS that is digital and even more complex than the security system. More than 120 different units control all the elements. Margolis can remotely log into the HVAC system, along with the video/access systems, whenever there is a problem with temperature control or access rights.
“As facilities director for a very busy and complex property, I really like the remote access to the Milestone-Paxton system,” he says. “My wife probably doesn’t appreciate it when I work from home at night, but the system is great – it’s fun! Milestone and Paxton are my new obsession!”
Campus at a GlanceCampus: Located near Minneapolis, the Barry Family Campus Corp. encompasses 200,000 square feet of Jewish community buildings nestled on a 25-acre wooded site. The facilities are used by multiple agencies and include infant daycare, K-8 education, a large health and Problem: The constant flow of traffic and people for so many activities is demanding for operational management. Previously, access control and surveillance systems were added separately in each area, creating a patchwork of disconnected and outdated security systems that were inefficient and impractical. Solutions: An open platform Milestone XProtect IP video management software solution has been integrated with Paxton Access’ Net2 access control for total overview and control. Video from existing analog cameras are converted to digital data via Axis encoders, and additional Axis network cameras have been added in new locations. Results: The campus operations are now set up for a unified system with central control of the community facilities and activities, day or night. Staff members have remote access to video and respond quickly to off-hours alerts. The surveillance software integrated with the access system modernizes the existing HID cards into a networked, video-enabled solution that is more effective and efficient to maintain with the standard IT resources, infrastructure and equipment. |
Courtney Dillon Pedersen is the PR manager for Milestone Systems. For additional information, visit www.milestonesys.com.
